It's a Wonderful (weekend) Life!

This has been a weekend to remember.  Good friends, good food and wonderful surprises to boot.  Yesterday, a neighbor left a pkg on my door that had been delivered to her by mistake and it contained these lovely ornaments from the Tiki Hut Ornament Exchange.  Dear, sweet Brandy sent these for our tree and they are so perfect.  The cardinals are the perfect reminders of our home in St. Louis and the gold ornament compliments our others perfectly.  What I did not discover until I hung the circular one of the cardinal amongst the ivy was that back lit, it looks like a Tiffany creation.  Brandy...love!

This past Friday, which happened to be the day we wake once a month and say, "Thank you dear Missouri State Teacher's Retirement Fund for being in the top 3 in the U.S. and for never letting the state get their paws on our money" .  And, to celebrate this monthly event, we go out to eat.  Sometimes it is breakfast, sometimes lunch and upon occasion dinner.  Last Friday we headed to one of our new favorites, Tarpon Tavern, where (Pam Bennett) they now have the menu posted. 

E had the blackened sirloin burger with feta and roasted tomatoes accompanied by the parm fries (to die for btw)

And I had the spinach, feta and sun dried tomato flat bread.  Soooooooooo good.

Then, Friday night, our dear friends, Susie and Justin, came by for our annual holiday dinner and gift exchange.  And look what Susie made me.  I thought she bought it at a florist and it smells so divine with the pieces of fir cut from their Christmas tree. 

 

E fixed grilled chicken on a cheesy black bean mash with a lemon cream sauce garnished with grape tomatoes and cilantro.  Then for dessert, he created a chocolate cheese cake with a dark chocolate ganache  (for recipes you can email me at eeickmeier@hotmail.com and put recipes in the subject line). 

Hope your weekend is going well.  Oh, and I only have one more family gift to buy and I am D-O-N-E done.