• About

Larry Muffin At Home

~ Remembering that life is a comedy and the world is a small town.

Larry Muffin At Home

Tag Archives: Tree

The tree is up

14 Saturday Dec 2019

Posted by larrymuffin in Christmas

≈ 15 Comments

Tags

decorations, Food, happiness, HoHoHo, Holiday Season, people, Tree

Will and I have put a lot of effort in having a wonderful tree each year. We carefully collected ornaments from all the place we lived around the World, it is all very personal and full of memories. As we decorate we think of friends gone long ago and those still with us to this day.

Will has always like doing something special at Christmas and he puts an awful lot of effort in preparation and our yearly traditions. This year it is all the baking from Christmas pudding to the many little special treats prepared with care. Then the table for Christmas day with our Christmas good quality crackers, special little bags for each luncheon guest full of imported chocolates and sweets. We have our formula and we follow it all those many years. And one special tradition is to invite people who are on their own on that day for lunch at home with us.

Will we have a White Christmas, that is anyones guess, today 14 December it is pouring rain with high winds and tomorrow it will be 12 C. The Winters on the Atlantic are very different from central Canada, Ontario and Quebec. I do prefer a mild Winter more in keeping with Northern European climes.

So here are some pictures of our tree and goings on at our house in preparation for the Holiday Season.

IMG_5402.jpg

Our little Nora, who is back from the groomers and is ready for the Holidays. She is now 11 yrs old but still feisty.  Typical wire hair Dachshund.

IMG_5412.jpg

This is a neighbours house, it is quite large and occupies a large lot, C. 1830. Typical Island style, Prussian blue in colour, candles in the windows for Christmas.

IMG_5416.jpg

Our 2019, Xmas tree, all decorated with its 42 year old Star on top. Who knew that a gold aluminium star would last so long.

IMG_5387.jpg

This year I did the honours of shining the silver balls for the tree.

B26A8484-3B72-48CF-8AF3-BD84DA1A44E6.jpg

46D4403C-1058-4992-8F2F-27E986587397.jpg

I also cleaned those Silver Floral Ornaments made by Towle.

IMG_5341 2.jpg

Wishing everyone Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!

Getting ready

12 Thursday Dec 2019

Posted by larrymuffin in Christmas

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

cuisine, Food, Friends, home, Noël, ornaments, PEI, Tree

This Monday we had another Birthday party for Will this time with a few friends across the Street at the Water Prince, we had Malpeque Oysters, Lobster and Halibut one of my favourite fish. Will had coconut cream pie made on the premises, it is so good. A friend who is a baritone and actor came in to sing Happy Birthday to the boy who was surprised. It was a fun afternoon.

Well we are getting ready for the Holidays, Will has been cooking up a storm, muffins, cookies, Christmas Puddings 2 big and 2 small, a very rich recipe with lots of Brandy. He also made bread (no machine) by hand, mince meat pies (45) small ones. Today it was Tourtière or French Canadian Meat pie, something English Canadians find exotic and cannot make on their own, one of those strange Canadian Factoids. The Tourtière is no longer made with the Tourte Bird which is extinct since 1914. It is a mixture of veal, pork and beef, very nice and the smell in the kitchen screams Christmas Season. This meat pie should not be confused with the Acadian Meat pie which is a very different recipe and preparation, made of shredded beef and mash potatoes. The Acadians live in the Maritimes in Canada and are a distinct French speaking group from other French Canadians in Canada. We already have a year old Fruit Cake soaking in Brandy which is a traditional gift from our Friend John in Ottawa. Every year for the last 38 years no matter where we might be in the World, he makes one for us and sends it to us. It is truly a marvel unlike any other Fruit cake I know of.

IMG_5341.jpg

Our one and only Pointsettia which is a mixture of pink, red and yellow, it stands 2 feet across.

We are going to make Amuse gueule for our Xmas Eve Party, note that I use the old French culinary expression Amuse gueule and NOT Amuse bouche which is so common today amongst the prissy class. The word gueule is an old French word and refers to the mouth of the lion or wolf, meaning that the food in small bites is so good you devour it. The new expression means nothing to me and is frankly silly, a bit like saying; Oh I will have one but should not because I’m on a diet. Well then honey let me show you the door.

I am looking for a good Stilton Cheese and I may have found one today. No Stilton is not like other blue cheese. Stilton is an English cheese, produced in two varieties: Blue, which has had Penicillium roqueforti added to generate a characteristic smell and taste and White. I want the Blue. Which I will put into a light pastry and served hot.  Will also wants to make other little bouchées for our guests. We will also have sweets like the mince meat mini tarts. We make all of this from scratch which means that I go out with long lists of ingredients.

IMG_5338.jpg

Cheese star crackers made with very old Cheddar for that extra sharp taste, you cannot eat only one.

IMG_5378.jpg

Mince Meat tarts, first make the mince meat and store in jars and then the pastry and assemble. Again very nice to have with a drink or coffee.

Today I also went to the dentist for a cleaning and well I was told I have beautiful teeth, again the Colgate poster kid, what can I say… Afterwards came home and polished the famous 30 Sterling Silver Christmas balls and the 10 Towle Sterling Silver Floral Ornaments,  so tomorrow we can decorate the tree. We have Delft ornaments this year to add after our trip to The Netherlands. Photos coming.

6BE608FF-9AC2-4652-9F9D-9B9DFBC18B10.jpg

Sterling Silver ornaments all hand polished each year. Neiman Marcus has them each year.

We have our menu planned for Lunch on Christmas day, we will be 6 people. As for New Year’s Eve I really don’t know at this time, I prefer to either stay at home or maybe we will go to the Club for a drink. Then for January 1, 2020, Levée Day in PEI, I am wondering if I will go either to volunteer at Government House or to the Club. Not sure what to do. In either case you greet hundreds of people in 2 hours, a little exhausting.

So it is all coming together. Not to forget there is also Hanukkah on 22 December, in fact every year at Christmas lunch we give our guests some chocolate geld which come in the form of Canadian $1 and $2 dollar coins.

images-1.jpeg

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas trees

20 Tuesday Dec 2016

Posted by larrymuffin in Uncategorized

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

2011, 2016, Berlin, Charlottetown, Christmas, Milan, Munich, Ottawa, PEI, Rome, Strasbourg, Tree, Vienna, Vilnius, Warsaw

Some example of favourite City and their Christmas tree, 2016.

Cz46Rk5XgAA-j30.jpg

Milan in front of the Duomo (cathedral) of Milan 2016.

new christmas tree rome-large.jpg

Rome, Piazza Venezia in front of the Altar to the Italian Nation.

11656450393_a2a3a784be_o.jpg

Berlin, Brandenburg gate, Pariser Platz

488_small.jpg

Munich in front of City Hall, Christmas market.

Athens_Christmas_Tree.jpg

Athens, Syntagma Square in front of the Greek Parliament.

vienna_065.jpg

Shönbrunn Palace, suburbs of Vienna

image.jpg

Vilnius, Lithuania

Choinka4-1080x675.jpg

Warsaw, Poland in front of the old Royal Palace.

23Trending-blog480.jpg

Strasbourg, Alsace

christmas-trees6.jpeg

Ottawa, Canada, behind the Parliament Buildings

IMG_2223.jpg

Our tree at home in Charlottetown, PEI.

lw-jan-2011-rome

Christmas in Rome 2011, at the top of the stairs of the Church of Santa Maria Ara Coeli in Capitolinum. One of my favourite photos of us on that last Christmas in Rome, I remember it was a crisp but sunny day.

Christmas Traditions

08 Tuesday Dec 2015

Posted by larrymuffin in Uncategorized

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

Basilica, Christmas, dachshunds, Epicurian, Goose, Ottawa, Star, Tallis Scholars, Tree

Some traditions always observed. Here I put the Star on the Tree as the final touch, same 8 point Star we have had for all these years, 37 in all. I think it is the oldest ornament on the Christmas Tree and the least expensive bought at the Dollar store in those days it was called the 5-10-25 cents store, yes we are that ancient and wise.

laurent star tree 2015

The Plum Pudding is ready, Mince Meat Pies made, Goose ordered and so is the two Tourtière (meat) pies made of veal and beef with potatoes, carrots and onion, beef tenderloin. I think we are ready and did not have to confront crowds or malls.

As for gifts, well I do not know, I cannot think of anything I want and nor can Will. The Puppies got training lessons, though I do not think that they appreciate this much, being Wire Hair Dachshunds they are very independent minded.

IMG_1376

Nora in the sunshine, where is the biscuit? 

IMG_1378

Small Mince Meat Tarts, a large one was also made.

IMG_1380

The Concert of the Tallis Scholars at the Notre-Dame Basilica in Ottawa, over 1100 people attended this wonderful concert presented by ChamberFest. Built in 1848 it is Baroque Canadian Catholic, really over the top architecture. I call it Early Catholic Kosher. 

Fans of the Muffin

  • travelwithgma
  • Cuisine AuntDai
  • A Beijinger living in Provincetown
  • theislandheartbeat
  • LES GLOBE-TROTTERS
  • Antonisch
  • ROMA ARCHEOLOGIA e RESTAURO ARCHITETTURA 2020-22
  • ROMA ARCHEOLOGIA e RESTAURO ARCHITETTURA 2010-20.
  • The Body's Heated Speech
  • Unwritten Histories
  • Philippe Lagassé
  • Moving with Mitchell
  • Palliser Pass
  • Roijoyeux
  • Fearsome Beard
  • Verba Volant Monumenta Manent
  • Spo-Reflections
  • KREUZBERGED - BERLIN COMPANION
  • My Secret Journey
  • Buying Seafood
  • Routine Proceedings
  • The Historic England Blog
  • Larry Muffin At Home
  • Sailstrait
  • dennisnarratives
  • Willy Or Won't He
  • Prufrock's Dilemma
  • domanidave.wordpress.com/
  • theINFP
  • The Corporate Slave
  • OTTAWA REWIND

Blog Stats

  • 116,192 hits

Birthplace of Canada

C1A 1A7, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Follow Larry Muffin At Home on WordPress.com

Archives

  • May 2022 (10)
  • April 2022 (11)
  • March 2022 (14)
  • February 2022 (9)
  • January 2022 (14)
  • December 2021 (17)
  • November 2021 (12)
  • October 2021 (12)
  • September 2021 (13)
  • August 2021 (10)
  • July 2021 (13)
  • June 2021 (12)
  • May 2021 (12)
  • April 2021 (15)
  • March 2021 (12)
  • February 2021 (11)
  • January 2021 (8)
  • December 2020 (22)
  • November 2020 (16)
  • October 2020 (17)
  • September 2020 (13)
  • August 2020 (17)
  • July 2020 (16)
  • June 2020 (23)
  • May 2020 (24)
  • April 2020 (23)
  • March 2020 (28)
  • February 2020 (20)
  • January 2020 (12)
  • December 2019 (17)
  • November 2019 (15)
  • October 2019 (18)
  • September 2019 (5)
  • August 2019 (9)
  • July 2019 (10)
  • June 2019 (6)
  • May 2019 (5)
  • April 2019 (12)
  • March 2019 (8)
  • February 2019 (7)
  • January 2019 (9)
  • December 2018 (15)
  • November 2018 (6)
  • October 2018 (7)
  • September 2018 (6)
  • August 2018 (7)
  • July 2018 (7)
  • June 2018 (6)
  • May 2018 (10)
  • April 2018 (7)
  • March 2018 (7)
  • February 2018 (5)
  • January 2018 (11)
  • December 2017 (19)
  • November 2017 (13)
  • October 2017 (20)
  • September 2017 (12)
  • August 2017 (11)
  • July 2017 (24)
  • June 2017 (17)
  • May 2017 (24)
  • April 2017 (23)
  • March 2017 (21)
  • February 2017 (22)
  • January 2017 (23)
  • December 2016 (19)
  • November 2016 (21)
  • October 2016 (25)
  • September 2016 (4)
  • August 2016 (15)
  • July 2016 (13)
  • June 2016 (13)
  • May 2016 (8)
  • April 2016 (21)
  • March 2016 (17)
  • February 2016 (30)
  • January 2016 (23)
  • December 2015 (36)
  • November 2015 (23)
  • October 2015 (26)
  • September 2015 (22)
  • August 2015 (15)
  • July 2015 (21)
  • June 2015 (27)
  • May 2015 (17)
  • April 2015 (16)
  • March 2015 (15)
  • February 2015 (12)
  • January 2015 (21)
  • December 2014 (4)

Blog Stats

  • 116,192 hits

Blog at WordPress.com.

travelwithgma

Journeys of all kinds

Cuisine AuntDai

Journey as an owner of a Chinese restaurant in Montreal

A Beijinger living in Provincetown

Life of Yi Zhao, a Beijinger living in Provincetown, USA

theislandheartbeat

LES GLOBE-TROTTERS

VOYAGES, CITY GUIDES, CHATEAUX, PHOTOGRAPHIE.

Antonisch

from ancient to modern and beyond

ROMA ARCHEOLOGIA e RESTAURO ARCHITETTURA 2020-22

ROME - THE IMPERIAL FORA: SCHOLARLY RESEARCH & RELATED STUDIES.

ROMA ARCHEOLOGIA e RESTAURO ARCHITETTURA 2010-20.

ROME – THE IMPERIAL FORA: SCHOLARLY RESEARCH & RELATED STUDIES.

The Body's Heated Speech

Unwritten Histories

The Unwritten Rules of History

Philippe Lagassé

In Defence of Westminster

Moving with Mitchell

Jerry and I get around. In 2011, we moved from the USA to Spain. We now live near Málaga. Jerry y yo nos movemos. En 2011, nos mudamos de EEUU a España. Ahora vivimos cerca de Málaga.

Palliser Pass

Stories, Excerpts, Backroads

Roijoyeux

... Soyons... Joyeux !!!

Fearsome Beard

A place for Beards to contemplate and grow their souls.

Verba Volant Monumenta Manent

Tutto iniziò con Memorie di Adriano, sulle strade dell'Impero Romano tra foto, storia e mito - It all began with Memoirs of Hadrian, on the roads of the Roman Empire among photos, history and myth!

Spo-Reflections

To live is to battle with trolls in the vaults of heart and brain. To write; this is to sit in judgment over one's Self. Henrik Ibsen

KREUZBERGED - BERLIN COMPANION

Everything You Never Knew You Wanted to Know About Berlin

My Secret Journey

The road I have traveled to get to where I am today.

Buying Seafood

Reviewing Fish, Shellfish, and Seafood Products

Routine Proceedings

The adventures of a Press Gallery journalist

The Historic England Blog

Larry Muffin At Home

Remembering that life is a comedy and the world is a small town.

Sailstrait

Telling the stories of the history of the port of Charlottetown and the marine heritage of Northumberland Strait on Canada's East Coast. Winner of the Heritage Award from the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation and a Heritage Preservation Award from the City of Charlottetown

dennisnarratives

Stories in words and pictures

Willy Or Won't He

So Many Years of Experience But Still Making Mistakes!

Prufrock's Dilemma

Oh, do not ask, “What is it?”/Let us go and make our visit.

domanidave.wordpress.com/

Procrastination is the sincerest form of optimism

theINFP

I aim to bring delight to others by sharing my creative endeavours

The Corporate Slave

A mix of corporate and private life experiences

OTTAWA REWIND

Join me as we wind back the time in Ottawa.

  • Follow Following
    • Larry Muffin At Home
    • Join 487 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Larry Muffin At Home
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...