Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Guess Who's Home...

The pages of my blog have been silent this past week.  I have been enjoying this way too much to do anything else.




Mace returned home on Friday evening and Anna and I have been blissfully attached to his hip ever since.   I hope we never have to go 5 months being apart again, it just plain sucks.  But, we did it.  We made it through.  And being together as a family has taken on a whole new light.   I've learned with all my soul, during this Fall, that absence really does make the heart grow fonder.  I have a whole new appreciation for my husband.  And not just the things he does around the house (although I am so grateful for this too), but the love and laughter he brings to our family.  Our home feels warmer and cozier and more peaceful with his presence filling the walls.  This man makes my heart beat wildly, makes me giddy and giggly, makes me feel like every day is Christmas.  He's just so darn amazing.

So, besides being all googly-eyed at each other, we did some other really fun stuff this weekend.  We got our Christmas tree, the second tree we've ever gotten together.  We decorated and smiled as Anna stared at the tree in awe, and then tried her hand at some tree trimming. You know, for her first time, she did pretty good.


We ate some really good food.  I was a very naughty food blogger and didn't take as many pics as I should have, but I made an amazing savory galette for Mace's homecoming dinner.  I got the recipe for this butternut squash and cabbage galette from Mind Over Batter and it was out of this world!



I am going to make it again for Christmas Eve dinner, and if I can get my mind out of the gutter I'll take some action shots with my new Canon Rebel T2i and post my version of this recipe.

What's that?  Oh, the Canon Rebel?  Its nothing really.  Well, okay, its something.  If you really want to know...maybe I'll gush just a little...its pretty amazing...I like it a lot...okay, I am wild about this new toy!!  In crazy wild passionate love with this camera.  My early Christmas present.

I have no clue how to operate it.  Well, except the very basic point and shoot settings (which I happen to think still takes pretty phenomenal pictures).  If anyone has any photography tips regarding DSLRs I'd love to hear them.  I'm on a mission to conquer this Canon.


My tummy is butterflying like crazy in anticipation of Christmas.  We're spending it in Missoula, which we've never done before.  We are going to wake up in our own house, in our own bed, and have coffee on our own couch.  Together.  My in-laws are coming on Friday for the weekend and Danesa and her family are coming over for Christmas Eve dinner.  My mom-in-law and I are going to make one of my favorite meals of all time on Christmas Day.  Its a Tuscan recipe with spinach, mushrooms, homemade ricotta and fresh pasta.  Stay tuned, I am chomping at the bit to share this one.  Its a good 'un.

Have you ever seen one of these?


Such a cool gift for a cook.  My mama sent this to me for Christmas, its a Cooks Wreath from Williams-Sonoma, and the herbs on the wreath can be used in cooking.  I hung it on a wall in my kitchen and I've already used herbs off it a couple of times.  This theoretically will last up to a year...but I have a feeling it will last more like 3 months in my house.  Look at all those gorgeous bay leaves!  Can I say: SOUP all winter long?

I'm rambling today.  My mind is still blissfully foggy and lovey from Mace's arrival and I wanted to share this joy.  My heart is running over with all this good stuff.

What are you most grateful for at this very moment?  I'd love to hear the holiday jabber in your heads.

19 comments:

  1. I love this post. Love to you all :)

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  2. So happy for you! What wonderful joy in your life--soak up every minute!! I'm wishing you the happiest and most peaceful of holidays. Don't worry about posting, some things are just more important. :)

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  3. Maggieee!! Your daughter Anna is adorable. Good to hear Mace is back and you celebrating Christmas together. Its the warmth of these festivals which give a reason to celebrate with families. Isn't it!
    You know even I recently purchased a Canon DSLR. I am myself on a quest to understand and learn. In case you have any tip. DO MAIL IN!!

    Have a Merry Christmas! I liked your pics of the christmas tree and your family.

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  4. This post brought such a smile to my face!!

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  5. congrats on the homecoming I hope you guys have a wonderful Christmas :)

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  6. How wonderful for you and your family to be together again, especially at this time of year! Your galette looks simply delicious. Galettes are so beautiful to look at it's almost a shame to cut in to them - almost. In the end you just have to dig in to that yummy goodness. Merry Christmas to you and your lovely family and congrats on your new camera, we're sure your photos will be beautiful! Although Adam uses Nikon cameras he'll be happy to help if he can. You can email him at info@pictureperfectmeals.com if you have any questions about how to use your camera.

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  7. Congratulations! I am so glad that your husband is home. 5 months is indeed a long time, he won't have to go away again will he?
    Enjoy your Christmas and that rockin' new camera.

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  8. I am so happy for you! Great that the other half has come home to make your family as one again, especially for the holidays. I know I am just not really myself without my beloved husband. Congrats on getting that cool camera, I know you will get a lot of use out of that. It is not even Christmas yet and you are already having an awesome time, your post is oozing with excitement and happiness! I could say enjoy the holidays-but you are already there. Merry Christmas!
    Also, that galette does look yummy!

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  9. I love this post. It made me smile. The pictures are priceless. I'm happy for y'all. :-)

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  10. Your daughter is adorable!!! Happy Christmas!

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  11. That is wonderful! I love everything about this post - the story, the meal and your happy face :D Merry Christmas to your wonderful Family!

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  12. That's so great that your family can be together again for Christmas. Anna is just too cute! And I'm crazy jealous of your camera. I really need a new one! Happy holidays :) I hope you enjoy your time in Missouri!

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  13. Love, Love, LOVE this post! I'm SO glad your hubby is home and that you are together for the holidays! THEN to make it even better you got a DSLR AND a cooks wreath? It's gonna be a GREAT Christmas!

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  14. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas! I know how hard it can be to have your spouse away, but I'm so happy for you that he is home for the holidays. Wonderful pictures! I've got the same camera and I love it too. I don't know if you've read it, but Plate to Pixel: Digital Food Photography and Styling by Helene Dujardin is great tool for food photography. I'm still not much of a photographer, but the book really helped me to improve my pictures. Again, have a great Christmas!

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  15. I am grateful for you Maggie. I love you. Mama

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  16. So glad your hubs is home! Your hubby and a camera?! Does it get any better?!

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  17. Oh Maggie! I have such a lump in my throat as I read this wonderful post! I am so glad you have your family back together again. I hope you have such a wonderful Christmas! The galette looks fabulous and I am so excited for your new camera! I am still trying to figure mine out! So I am going to look to YOU for advice! Enjoy your husband and your beautiful daughter and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas! : )

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  18. How exciting you got a new camera! Your galette sounds amazing and so perfect to welcome your hubby home. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas :)!

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  19. I'm so happy for you!!!! Your photos are just full of the Christmas spirit! Congrats on your new camera...I use the same one and am still learning!

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