Thanksgiving 2013

Flashback to Thanksgiving 2013. I've been feeling nostolgic for the blog lately and went searching for something and found that I have way too many drafts in the old Stone Hill Farm Blog. Hope you all are well and that this glorious fall is treating you well. Halloween is next week, but that only makes me look forward to Thanksgiving. These pictures are from 2013 at Stone Hill. Enjoy.

We loved that old stair case with Mohawk runner. My MIL Jeano hated the fact that we didn't have a railing. I loved how open it felt.

What a sweet memory with Lucy and Susan visiting from NY.

Time to polish the silver and stack wood. 

We are so lucky Eric's family lives so close. Makes me sad my family has never been to our house for Thanksgiving or Christmas in Baltimore. We did one big Christmas at the Nook in DC and that was a riot with about 10 people in our little 600 sq. foot place. We were crammed but it was so much fun.

If you need inspiration for an incredible alternative to mashed potatoes this curried mushroom rice casserole from Garden & Gun is incredible. 

Charles and Jeano

Lots of love for the weekend an as you prepare for the holiday season.

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving from Baltimore!

Eric's turkey was perfect once again this year. We kept referencing last year's post for direction. We used the exact same recipe from Martha Stewart and it was better than ever!

We think this is the best way to cut the turkey once it has rested. Slice the breast off of the bone and cut thick slices. It keeps the heat this way too. My aunt would be very proud that all of the food was hot on the table today.

The dry brine is the key to the gorgeous bird and amazingly moist meat. E. chopped fresh thyme and used a half cup of Kosher salt to brine this baby. 

This year after the dry brine he wrapped it in a large plastic bag and then put it in the fridge overnight.

Then he prepared the herb butter for roasting. After the brine is wiped off you then add the butter mixture inside and out.

I was E's sous chef and chopped the apples, onion and got the lemons and butter ready.

E. did all the turkey heavy lifting!

My grandmother always says, "If you can read, you can cook." It is so true. I'm just so thankful my husband loves to cook. He basted every 30 minutes.

I made the cranberry sauce. This year with Port, peeled ginger and grapefruit zest.

I switched up the dressing and made it with corn bread, sausage and pecans.

We put the house together as best we could but did NOT polish the silver in time. 

Last week I prepared the firewood and kindling in case it was chilly enough for a fire. It was way too pretty and warm today for a fire however.

Our little porch is shaping up nicely after E. added the screens this summer. 

I added a fleece throw to cozy up with for cold mornings. I also found this great herb planter at Whole Foods. It has sage, rosemary and thyme.

The Whistler joined us on our last trip from Mom's house in Michigan. It works as a great front door stop and reminds me of my Grandmommy Nancy.

I switched up the Brussels Sprout recipe and added bacon for my Mother-in-Law. The pine nuts and bacon were crazy rich. Next year we are steaming broccoli!

We had a much smaller family gathering this year and a much smaller bird.

This allowed us to use all of our favorite wedding gifts and crystal and spend great time with Eric's parents and sister Kim. We always laugh and the joke of the day was that the kitchen was a "comment-free-zone"! 

We are thankful for another year of life. I'm especially thankful for our Baby Nephew. There truly is so much joy and hope in this child and I'm so thankful for Mac and Elise growing our family. 

For all of those who are not with us, we miss you and love you and are thankful for you.  We are thankful for the bounty of the feast we had today. We pray for the people who are left wanting. Thank you Lord for sending your son to die for our us so that we may have life. That is such good news. Amen!

Charm City

Baltimore is called Charm City. I couldn't be happier to live in this town due to the fact that the people are SO nice, but also that I'm a geek for my charm bracelet. My grandmother gave me this bracelet for Christmas about 12 years ago. It was her sisters. She lost the one she was going to give me for Christmas one year. She was devastated when she went to look for my wrapped present in New York and couldn't find it. She's convinced she dropped it on the corner of 11th Street at 2nd Avenue at my aunt and uncles place. Has anyone seen it in NYC?

I have been adding charms after significant trips. Momma finally gave me one of her two old charm bracelets. I added her charms to mine. I'm still begging her for the one she hasn't worn since she was married to my father like a thousand years ago. But her generosity of the first one left me with some of my most favorite charms. Her little debut book is so sweet.

It opens and has the date of her debut on the back.

My great aunt Dunkie's charms included items from her travels. My godmother Harriet traveled around the world and she would bring charms back to Dunk. This boot represents the Swiss Alps.

I wore this cross every day in high school. I'm almost positive my grandmother Mary Frances gave it to me. The turtle is from my trip to Haiwaii in 2004 and the arms and legs move. This is Mom's tennis racket. I played tennis in high school and college so it fits for me too. Mom said she had a little pearl as the ball when she was in college on the charm. The Eiffel Tower was from Dunkie.

The phone has to be one of my favorites. The ruby dial moves. I remember when phones looked like this. Such an antique. The next one is another from my Hawaii trip and is a fabulous lei with hibiscus flowers that move. Next is a shoe from Siam, now Thailand. Eric lived in Thailand so I love this little slipper. Momma's 17 birthday medallion is so sweet and was a gift from her parents. The next is a shoe from Hong Kong from Harriet or Dunkie, not sure. The bunch of bananas was from Mom. She was a camp counselor in Hawaii. We both clearly love that state.

My all time favorite is my bicycle from our honeymoon. We went to The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island where cars are not allowed. Transportation is only by horse and buggy or bikes. We found the charm on the main drag and I was so excited to find it. The hoola girl is another from Oahu. Next is a wooden shoe from Holland.

Mom knows I love the beach and found the starfish at a garage sale for something like $5. It's 14 karat gold and reminds me of Destin! Next is Mom's ten second hour glass with rose quartz.

Finally is the changing of the guard from Dunk and my St. Cuthbert cross from my first holy pilgrimage. The beefeater moves on a spring in and out of his hut. There is still room and I'm in need of an Irish icon. I think a round tower would be perfect. I also need a fan for DC that represents where Eric and I met, at Mandarin Oriental. And it would be fun to have a gold Pride of Baltimore charm. It would be amazing to have a "Nelle's Castle" from Kalamazoo too. It's sad but jewelers don't make gold charms anymore. That's why it is so fun to hunt them in a new city while travelling. 

Do you have a charm bracelet with a story? If so please send me a photo or link to the comments. I've found this bracelet is the best conversation starter at dinner parties. Men and women are fascinated with it. I have to take it off during conference calls because it can be so distracting but I wear it all the time. My office mates can hear me coming from down the hall, jingling all the way. 

Momma, Francie and Harriet thank you so much for the incredible gifts and stories of your travels. Mom, next year is a big birthday. Maybe you would consider giving me your bracelet. I'm dying to have Daddy's PKA pin! Love you so.

New Years Day

Eric's parents came over to celebrate Christmas with us today. We exchanged prizes and had a great dinner together.

E. even picked up cupcakes from Carla's brother's company for dessert. 

We will take the tree down tomorrow but I was glad we could sit by the glow of its light one last time. 

Happy New Year!