The cottages of Sag Harbor

Oftentimes I can't believe how lucky I am to live in such a picturesque town as Sag Harbor. I never tire of walking it's streets lined with such lovely homes and cottages. The history in the architecture is so lovely. Here are just a few of the houses I've seen on Instagram.

Ken

I met Ken a couple of days ago.
A very nice guy who lives in Settler's Landing. He's an artist. He showed me his studio and his large canvas works.

He used to be a model in the '80's.

Don

I met Don one night this week.
He was staying at The Baron's Cove Hotel in town.

The rooms there are very nice, sort of like the Shutters Hotel in Santa Monica.

He was here only two days for work, a shoot of some sort. I didn't ask if it was print or video. He was hoping it would snow since it's been terribly cold. I assumed it would be more picturesque for the photos?  I was going to walk across town but thought better of it and drove. Thank goodness it was not far. His room was, oddly, upstairs and in the back of the hotel. Since there were hardly any people staying there and it's the height of the off-season you'd think they'd have given him a better room. I knew I had the right place because his room service tray was still sitting outside the door. The TV was on and he was watching the old movie "East of Eden" with James Dean. I told him I had just read the book and seen the movie a few month ago. The birthday party scene was happening, I explained that things didn't go well for the brother, LOL.

He was a very nice guy.

Mom's Christmas tree

Last year I posted about all the Christmas decorations I put up every year, including the little Christmas tree I keep in the dining room. I cover it with many of the ornaments my mother has given me over the years. When I went home this year she asked my if I actually use those ornaments, so I took these pics to prove it to her. It's nice to look at when I'm having my morning coffee or cooking in the kitchen (baking Christmas cookies!).

Runner and pillows

My sister called me last month to say she had a nice piece of fabric and did I need something for the house that she could sew for me from it, some pillow covers or a table runner for example. It was a nice thick upholstery in some lovely jewel tones. So I said "yes!" and she made me two covers and a runner for the dining table as a birthday gift. I put one pillow in the easy chair in the fireplace room and one on the sofette in the dining room. I think they look great for my 'winter look'. I'll change them out in the Spring.

Promises kept

I'm proud of myself. My New Years resolution last year was that I was going to read more 'classic books'. I did well, I got through ELEVEN (!) That's almost one a month. Not bad considering most of them were pretty hefty tomes AND I read other more modern stuff in between them. Here's this year's accomplishment, I plan on doing the same next year as well.

Gingerbread

It's not Christmastime unless you make some holiday cookies, preferably gingerbread in fun seasonal shapes. I have a set of cookie cutters I love, all the classics: reindeer, snowman, star, angel, snowflake, candy cane, and, of course, a gingerbread man. I found a recipe that I like several years ago. The dough is very easy to work with, it doesn't stick to the cutting board or rolling pin (my biggest frustration with difficult doughs). It's a Paula Dean recipe that I got from her holiday cookbook years back. I feel a little guilty using it given what a racist she turned out to be, but when you find a good thing you have to stick with it.
Here's how this year's batch came out of the oven:

I decided the next day that they really needed some icing details...but I just couldn't bring myself to get into multiple batches of icing in different colors. One classic color would do, white! The recipe I use calls for corn syrup and vanilla so the icing comes out a nice off-white and it's a nice counterpoint flavor to the ginger in the cookie. Here's how they turned out. Who's going to eat all these cookies now? I only allow myself ONE on my new diet. Oh, well. It's a good thing they last a long time in the fridge.