A Quiet New Year's Day Dinner

After several days of Christmas festivities, outdoor activities, and a long drive home from the mountains of Colorado, we intentionally chose to ring in 2013 in a more peaceful manner.

And Mother Nature cooperated.

A steady snowfall all day on New Year's Eve day and night painted our little corner of the world in white and quiet.

PHOTO SOURCE:  http://isaacalongi.com/spring/snow-covered-trees-winter-in-kansas-city/

So, to truly celebrate the New Year and since we did so much travel and very little entertaining over the holiday season, I decided one last "hurrah" in the formal dining room with the table decorated for Christmas would be fun.  And with freshly fallen snow outside and the beauty of my winter wreaths still on display it was a perfect setting.

A simple meal consisting of a small roasted turkey breast, stuffing, and green bean casserole was all that was called for.  No mashed potatoes...sweet potatoes...orange fluff...or cranberry sauce.  Just enough to feed our family of five for one night.

The painted stemware was a gift from my sister-in-law many years ago.  Each goblet represents one of the 12 Days of Christmas.  I just love them...but after breaking one while hand-washing (they are so fragile) I decided to fore go using them with guests and family and, instead, use them as part of my annual holiday table setting.  (So sad for my 5 Golden Rings!)

A simple white votive inside each one allows the beauty of the artwork to shine through, and tucked in amid greenery they make a beautiful, yet simple statement that Christmas is not yet over...it's actually just begun!

(Did you know that the Twelve Days of Christmas actually starts of Christmas Day and runs through the 5th of January, thus honoring those days between Christ's birth and the Feast of the Epiphany...the Biblical visit of the Magi or Three Kings!)

I love that Christmas does not end on December 25th and we actually leave our home decorated until at least January 1st, but more often until January 6th, the Feast of the Epiphany.

For dessert we enjoyed a decadent brownie pie.  Hot from the oven and served with premium vanilla ice cream it was a rich ending to a beautiful New Year's Day.  Be sure to come back tomorrow for the recipe.

Wishing you a Happy New Year and many blessings for 2013.

P.S.  No collard greens or black-eyed peas for us this year!  Hope we still find some good luck.  ;)

XXX OOO