"TEXAS IS CLOSED" ~ENTERING ~" THE TWILIGHT ZONE"

Day 3...Ice,Ice baby! It is no secret to those that know me_that Fall & Winter are my favorite times of the year! I love Fall Foliage &
Winter days filled with the Sun shining bright, crispy coldness in the air, S-N-O-W on the ground knee-deep, the cookstove fired up & a pot of "anything" on the stove,wine in my glass,..& the list goes on...BUT...ICE,SLEET & FREEZING FOG(WTHeck!)..didn't know FOG could freeze???_Day 3..aaaah,it's time for a WARM-UP....words you'd Never, Ever hear me say in a million years!!! I have seen this each morning for the past 3 days_

Weather folks say we will NOT be unfrozen,
thawed out, clear for take-offs, etc... until Wednesday!!! WT??? It looks like an Ice Capades Show watching "some folks" car-
skate on this rural country road in front of our
Farm_amazing the slow motion or the IDIOTS that try to go faster,faster in what is already a 30 mile speed zone...oh & this morning the City sent out an automated voice message that due to inclement weather "NO CHRISTMAS PARADE"today...guess the ICE GRINCHES are stealing Christmas this year....I had to cancel but re-schedule my Scandinavian Christmas Party for today because my friends"TEXAS IS CLOSED" & has entered~
            "THE TWILIGHT ZONE"!!!!

The 1959 American TV Show_ "The Twilight Zone"_ an American  television anthology series created by Rod Serling. It is a series of unrelated stories containing drama,psychological thriller,fantasy,science fiction,suspense and horror,often concluding with a macabre or unexpected twist. A popular and critical success, it introduced many Americans to serious science fiction and abstract ideas through television.

Unlock the door,another dimension of sight,sound,mind,shadows,substance....it has remained the "SAME" for three days..."I've just crossed over into the TwilightZoneLand".....

                                        Frozen Texas Sage Bush above..

                                  Frozen Rosemary Bush & yellow Garden Flag

                         My Favorite_Heavenly Bamboo Nadina Bush & Cupid
ALL ICE,SLEET,FROZEN FOG,NO SNOW!!!

BUT FOR...the 514 episodes of the Peyton Place TV Series(1964-69) on DVD_of which I started watching three weeks ago....due to INCLEMENT weather ...I'm on Episode #489! I said to myself.....

Until next time.....I might try this "thingie " purchased on line....

 

I'm In A Viking ~Christmas~ State Of Mind.......

Yes,that is correct! I have exactly 5 weeks to plan a "Scandinavian Christmas Party"for our 12th Annual Christmas Around the World party.We'll be able to add another stamp to our Passport Party Book! We have had many_but not all are included on this Blog.I'm working on sharing others to post soon. Here's a look & see: 
http://sagebookwhisperer.blogspot.com/2011/12/griots-of-pinotagewine-storytelling.html
http://sagebookwhisperer.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-essence-of-christmas-in-spain.html
http://sagebookwhisperer.blogspot.com/2011/10/wondrous-wondermarvelous-marvel_17.html


Today_"MORE"memorable moments at the"Russian Zakuska Christmas" 2010. The names have been changed(my friends) to protect the innocent ones! I blame it on the "Vodka Tasting"!

The Menu~

A Zakusha , is a Russian term for hot and cold hors d'oeuvres, snacks, appetizers served before meals.Usually presented buffet style, it often consists of cured  meats and fish,various pickled vegetables such as beets, cucumbers,hard cheeses, caviar and breads. I added several other items that research showed would be served at such an affair.

My Zakusha Buffet~

Appetizers: Fish: Sardine Pate,Tomato w/minty Sardines,Herring canapés. Meats: Deli Turkey & Kobe Beef. Pickled Veggies:Beets,Okra.Mixed, "DRUNKEN VODKA TOMATOES",Cornichons & Apricot Canapes. Hot: Potato Pancakes w/chives & sour cream and "BORSCHT SOUP".

Salads:Texas Caviar,Russian Sauerkraut,Hermitage Slaw,Deviled "Jilly P " Eggs.
Entrees: Beef Stroganoff & Cabbage Rolls_Helga taking photos!

  
Lemon Vodka Cake,Ameretto Cake,Balena,Mandola & Pfeffer-Nusse Cookies served on Amber Dishes.
Beverages: Vodka Tasting, Sparkling Juice and Russian Caravan Tea

~Many thanks to the ladies for bringing their favorite Russian
dishes to the Russian table~

The Vodka Tasting~

There were 12 different Vodka's _they were all "TASTED"! I chose to literally have a dropper full in my mini-Russian tea glass shown on the left. I am NOT a fan of Vodka...I Love RED Wine! Tastings like this become HILARIOUS at some point. 

I invited the Regional Mgr.from Candoni Wines to conduct a Wine Tasting for my birthday party themed "Under The Tuscan Sun"(2011). I'm gathering those photos to Blog about later! Don't miss it! My friend Jilly P. was in charge of the Vodka Tasting,because..."I Know Nothing,Nothing" as the Luftwaffe prison-camp guard Beloved Sgt.Schultz (Hogan's Heroes)_often said when asked a question. 

   

                             Russian Caravan Tea in Russian Tea Glass & Holder
The Décor~ My intent was to create an "ambience"of 
the "Russian Tea Room". 

   

Tablescape~

Other Décor~

The Names Are Changed To Protect The Innocents~ we all had Russian female names & chose to dress in a Russian Style. Oksana,
Natasha,Helga,Ekaterina,Raina & my aka Sasha! Each name had a meaning_can you figure out Raina "The African Queen"? 

We listened to Russian Music_& being Christmas time we sang Carols! BUT...the cream De La Crème was the singing of
"From Russia With Love"...that I dare NOT place that video on this blog _which included a creative dance by Raina which we all agreed represented the Afro-Russian Bolshoi Ballet Company! Did NOT sound like this....

BTW...Before the party got started Oksana & Sasha decided to pose...I'm dressed as a Russian Sailor.

And Oksana & Natasha (Boris Badenov of Rocky and Bullwinkle ) _his sidekick!

 

What a Wonderful Time we had at my rendition of "A Russian Zakusha Christmas Party"(2010)!

Our Watch Cat Guard...My Hank "The Cowcat"

Next stop,Scandinavia(Denmark,Norway & with

 an emphasis on Sweden~Peace Out!!!

"Keep Calm and Get Your Irish On Party 2013"

Over the weekend that is exactly what we did! For the past couple of years, my friends and I celebrate all things Irish with one friend being the "Birthday Girl" around St. Patrick's Day. Also, it is a tradition I started many years ago to celebrate my husband's heritage as well. I armed myself with an Irish Cookbook _the one pictured _and learned how to make a traditional historical Irish Meal.

And added this book as well....

Now,there may be different dishes to feast on_But,the traditional Colcannon and Bacon are always on the Menu.This year it was Colcannon w/four different cheeses & Brussels sprouts instead of Kale,Lemon-Peppered Green Beans, a couple pounds of Nitrate-free Bacon,Herb cornbread muffins,Veggie Bowl(red,green,yellow peppers,tomatoes,celery & carrots)with a Heart of Palm Dip,Hummus Dip w/Pita chips,Castelvetrano whole green olives and a Cherry Lemonade...and WINE,WINE,WINE! Especially one called "Chicken Run Organic"...awesome! Dessert was East Texas Lemon TeaCakes & Fruit sorbet.While the Celtic music played _we were up to our usual antics_FUN! BTW_Heart of Palm Dip was a NEW dish for us,Delicious!

This was the settings:
2013_Keep Calm and Get Yo'Irish On"

                                                   Jilly P was the Birthday Girl

Here's a look at some of our other Irish Parties_take a look:

2009_Pam & Her Peeps Irish Party

We "Roasted " a friend as Ms.Artichoke,presented her w/ a handmade scepter and crown_because she made the same delicious Artichoke Hot Dip for EVERY party given!

Food:Potato,Bacon and Leek Pizza,Turkey Pepperoni,Swiss Chard Pizza,Green Goddess,Dip Artichoke Dip,etc....

2010_It's Hooley Time

                                         My Buds_Birthday girl in dark green blouse!

2011_Riggin'The Jig

Note: A couple of the regulars were out of town on this one_it's usually about 6 to 8 at any given time for Birthday and Christmas Parties.But we partied on.....

2012_Bacon Get Me Bodied

                                      We had a throw -down  on the food...MmmmGood!

                                      Love these Sister-Girls,they are my FRIENDS!!!!!!!!

So now the next party is my birthday party in May. Jill will Host again at her home. We're going Caribbean_yah mon,Jerk Chicken,Pigeon peas,Fried Frog Legs(not me!),Mambo & Limbo dancing,Reggae music,etc....Then,Christmas back at my home_we'll be doing "A Scandinavian Christmas 2013"_we are gonna be "Viking Women Goddess or Warriors" as in....

We always dress the part, enjoy the music ,food and decor from each country we visit! We've been to 10 countries so far...can't wait!!

Until next time....as in the movie_

"Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure"1989
Ted:Bill, I think they want us to say something.
Bill: What should I say?
Ted: [shrugs] Make something up.
Bill: Be excellent to each other.
[room murmurs appreciatively]
Ted: Party on, dudes! 

                ~Party On, Party On~