Christmas in Cape May, NJ Part 2 and More

 Well lovelies, this is my last post until the New Year. Warning it is photo heavy so if you're looking for the art part scroll down to the end. Oh , and internet /Windows 10 are improving but we still may have to resort to buying more internet speed.

                               it was very cold so the beach was pretty empty

  This is the last group of photos from our trip to Cape May recently. In my last post I showed the photos of the suite we stayed in. Now here are photos of Leith Hall's community rooms:

                                                        in the parlor

 Fresh breakfast is served on a table in the entryway and each morning it is something different.  It is all prepared from scratch by owner Elan-delicious!! There are tables set in the two parlors for the guests.

Tea (or sherry) is served along with home baked goodies at 4 PM each day.

 We also had the most wonderful food everywhere we went to eat-some places we frequent, and a few new ones which we intend to go to again:)

lunch at Delaney's- crab cake sandwich and turkey panini. A place we enjoy every time.

another lunch at a small restaurant (Georges Place) that's been around a long time but this was our first visit and it was fabulous!!

 appetizers (OMG to die for!!) and drinks at Oyster Bay which was recommended to us by a local we got to know well. Looks like a new hang out for us:)

 and a special dinner at The Merion Inn- a restaurant we get to every time we're in Cape May:

hubby's arm in the top pic. The room we dined in was gorgeously decorated, and the whole experience - top notch-from food to service to the live piano music!

And now- Christmas time in Cape May at night:

there was a tree lighting ceremony.We truly felt like we were in a Hallmark Christmas movie. Some dressed in costume including some of the four legged kind:

                                                                          awe
Scenes on the pedestrian mall:

horse and carriage rides about town (love hearing the clippity clop of those horses!):

Decorated homes and inns:

Fun with Suzanne and Arielle(mother and daughter) on the porch at Leith Hall (whom we just met there and had a great time all together during our stay). The parade passed right by so we enjoyed wine with a front seat:)

 It was such a wonderful trip all around and we can't wait to return next year again-hopefully in early Spring!

 The art part: my second quirky bird inspired by Tam Laporte's online class. My wish for all of you:

 and a happy, healthy , creative New Year! XO

Linking to T Stands For Tuesday and Paint Party Friday later this week. I'll be around to visit:)

"Celebrate your life with love and gratitude by giving thanks for this very precious moment, as well as all the wonderful blessings that surround you every day."

Christmas in Cape May, NJ Part 1

 How are you all??? It's been awhile-busy, yes, but more so are the internet issues we are experiencing again-UGH! This time our son is trying to help because it looks as though the new Windows 10 update is causing lots of weird errors and loss of connection and it is completely frustrating.  But enough of that.

 Recently hubby and I spent 4 wonderful days in Cape May to see the Victorian homes all decked out for the holidays. We also enjoyed the parade and cold but decent weather. In this post I will share the photos I took of our suite at Leith Hall Bed and Breakfast. It was like having our own little apartment and I LOVED the decor in our Turkish Suite!(We stayed at this B & B 3 years ago in another themed room called The Highland Room).

 Walking in the door there is a kitchenette to our left which takes us to the sitting room:

 This TV is in the lower left corner of the photo of the sitting room above it. The partition is blocking the kitchenette.

 A closer view of the end table . On the left is a vintage instrument used for saying Tibetan prayers.
Walking through the door on the left is a settee

 

 along with a huge elaborately decorated half canopy bed. (See the green door? It's a closet-the only one in the whole house!! Every other room has armoires for clothing.) The ceiling is decorated with gold and silver stars. The bed faces the ocean view window where there is a table:

 To the right of the table is an antique dresser:

On the dresser is an antique samovar (Turkish tea urn). Here's a close up:

The door to the right of the dresser above leads to the bathroom with a hot tub and shower. There is also a mantle and large antique trunk for blanket storage:

 And here are a few photos of the decor on the walls:

I felt like I was in a dream. It was so comfy and beautiful. If we could move to Cape May we both said we'd be able to downsize and live in this space. And now I want stars on my ceiling at home too:) In my next post I'll share photos of the Christmas lights etc.

 Finally decorated at home but I only put out half of what I usually do. This is just a little table display showing some vintage ware- the square dish, and a glass bowl in which I placed a collection of vintage ornaments given to us by our great Aunt Betty. I decided that they were of no use wrapped and stored in a box in the attic and never out to enjoy:

 Now for the art part-which is very limited because there just hasn't been time. In November I took advantage of a huge sale for Tamara LaPorte's online classes and signed up for the "Quirky Birds" class. Oh what fun-and I can't wait to have the time to create more!

 The first layer. I used two watercolor panels side by side to have an extra panel for another bird. Washi tape, stencils and spray inks.

 The next layers:

and my finished bird:

 Joining in at T Stands For Tuesday this week, and Paint Party Friday. Looking forward to catching up with everyone (fingers crossed internet will be my friend).

" Happiness is a spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude." 
                                                                                Denis Waitley

This and That

 Hope all who celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday had a wonderful time, and for those of you who DID go Black Friday shopping  I hope all went well and you didn't overdue it:)

 Our turkey day was fairly low key-just 6 of us.

  My table was set with pretty much the usual - mostly vintage tableware, decor and tablecloths from family. And here's a peek at the desserts after dinner:

 There were 5 pies all together-for 6 people!! Clockwise from top-apple pie, funny cake,(both made by my Mom), pumpkin pie made by me ( the other was in the fridge), and a cherry crumb pie that Aunt Betty brought. I couldn't touch a piece of any so I saved mine for my coffee at breakfast the next morning.
 Oh, and since we're on desserts, I promised a few blogging friends I'd post my recipe for Pumpkin Rolls (photo here). You can find it at the end of this post :) Joining my peeps over at Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog for T Stands For Tuesday.

 For  the Simon Monday Challenge (theme is "Oh Christmas tree") I made this card:

 another view:

 I had seen a demo for making these folded trees on a tv show last year. Unfortunately I don't recall what show it was and have no links but perhaps these pics will help-it really is pretty easy:

 Use 2 sided card stock. This measures 5 1/4" along the bottom and just about 3" at the peak of the arc.
 The folding:

 I have this last journal page for Art Journal Journey, the theme this month being "collage with a twist". Thanks so much Susi for a fabulous theme! Looking forward to seeing next month's theme and host. Also linking to Paint Party Friday:

                                                     Nighttime Cityscape

 Those buildings look like they're leaning a bit don't they? Oh well...
 Now it's off to the next holiday preparations, upcoming getaway, wedding, etc. Busy time, but I'll see you soon!

     " Find a way to express what moves you."      Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi


                                        Pumpkin Rolls (recipe makes 3)

Cake: 2 c liquid egg substitute(such as Egg Beaters)    2 Tbsp. canola oil
          2 c sugar    1 16oz. can pumpkin puree   2 Tbsp. lemon juice    2 1/4 c. flour
          1 Tbsp. baking soda   1 Tbsp. ginger       2 Tbsp. cinnamon    1 tsp salt

Filling: 1 1/2 c. powdered sugar    2  8oz. pkgs. low fat cream cheese
             1/4 c. butter      1 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract


To make the cakes: In lg bowl beat egg substitute 2 1/2 min. Add oil and sugar and mix well. Stir in pumpkin and lemon jc. til well blended. In separate bowl combine flour, soda, ginger, cinnamon, salt. Add to pumpkin mix and blend well. Spread 1/3 batter into into each of 3 pans (15" x 10" x 1") that have been generously sprayed with cooking spray (such as Pam). Bake 12-15 min. in 375 F. oven. Cool in pan 5 min then turn cake onto dampened cotton tea towels. Fold edge of towel onto one cake edge then roll up along with the towel tightly. Let stand until cool.

To make the filling: beat all ingredients together until smooth.  

To finish the rolls: Unroll cake from towel and spread cake with 1/3 of the filling. Roll up cake around filling. Repeat for remaining two cakes. Wrap and refrigerate or freeze.