Where does the time go?

I love New Year's Eve.  It represents the closing of one chapter and the beginning of another.  It's the promise of a fresh start, a new beginning.  2010 was a year of high highs and low lows, both personally and professionally.  While I so enjoyed the bright spots in the year and will treasure those moments, I am ready to move on.  My last post made me really think about taking time to enjoy the little things in life that bring me pleasure, so I decided to make that my New Year's Resolution for 2011.
   

A gift from our guests, a champagne-like beer.  Delicious!

Two of the things that bring me pleasure are good food and time spent with dear friends, so that's how we began 2011.  I also really like pretty things, so using our china and crystal was a must!  (I think I have only used it two other times since we got married back in 2005.)  This dinner was going to serve as a "Last Supper" of sorts before we began our attempt to shed some of our winter weight, so it needed to be decadent.  The Hubs was kind enough to chronicle the evening through the eye of his lens for me. 


Beautiful dishes, glasses and cutlery always make food taste better



English Gadroon

I love getting my silver out, even if it's just to polish it. 

Why?  Because I always get to re-read this sweet note from my Granny every time I open my silver chest. 

I love you too, Granny.  I think about you every time I use my silver and how you used yours every single day and for every single meal.  It didn't matter if it was a fancy-schmancy dinner or just cereal for breakfast.  You truly believed in using the things that brought you pleasure each and every day.

Fry Guy

The Hubs did a fabulous job Christmas shopping this year.  There were several key pieces of kitchen equipment I lacked and he made sure I received each one.  One of the items I had been wanting for a while was a mandoline.  And not a cheap, wimpy one.  I wanted a good high-quality, yet affordable, mandoline.  I did my research, got the opportunity to test one during a cooking class this past summer and eventually settled on the Benriner Mandoline. 



The Hubs using my new toy.


I. LOVE. IT.