New Years Day Dinner

Our New Years didn't come in with a bang, it came in rather peacefully actually.  It was a very busy day with taking down all the Christmas trees and lights outside then all the clean up.  Despite all the hard work, we even managed to enjoy our annual New Years dinner of Hopping John and Collards. 

Being Southern, this is a dish that I have been accustomed to having on New Years day for eva! 

 There are many legends surrounding the choice of these foods in particular.  Basically it is the black eyed peas that are so lucky.  There are legends about the black eyed peas that go back as far as the war between the North and South and the availability of these foods to the confederate soldiers.   There are legends regarding the availability of these foods to the slaves surrounding the time of the emancipation.  I really don't have any big concerns about knowing exactly where it all started, I just know why I should eat these foods so I do.

 

The black eyed peas are key, they are supposed to be lucky!  Eaten on New Years day they will bring you luck and prosperity.  Prosperity because they resemble coins, the more coins you eat on the first day of the new year the more coins you will receive that year as well.  Hopping John is a mixture of black eyed peas, sausages, ham hocks, and spices served over rice.  It is a southern dish that is native to South Carolina from the low country.   There are many legends surrounding how this dish got it's name as well as the tradition of eating this dish on new years day.  We eat it because apart from tradition I actually like it.  There are many variations to making Hoppin John which makes it so appealing to me, since you basically can come up with your own version after using the essential ingredients. I have my own version that I make in a crock pot, that simmers all day.  Then, it is very easily served over rice in the evening.  Perfect for a busy New Years day, wouldn't you say!

Somewhere along the same lines the legend also goes that collards will bring prosperity and good health as well.  Collards eaten on new years day represent, folded money, or green money..dollar bills!  Good health because, let's face it, collards are really good for you even if they do preform quite a number on your digestive system.  LOL!  I am not a fan of collards!  I have in years past substituted spinach for this part of the legend on New Years day.  However, after a year of not having a job and any personal income I decided I would suck it up and eat my collards this year.  How bad can it be?

I set the table very simply this year since it was just the three of us for dinner.  It was actually very nice to have a simple stress free dinner on this day too.

As you can see, I pulled out the Franciscan Ivy again.  I find I am using this more and more as our everyday china.

No big glitzy setting here, just simple homegood elegance.

Hey, maybe since I used this china on New Years day it will mean my garden will grow abundantly this year too! 

My centerpiece is very simple here also.

In case your wondering, I chose this centerpiece because it's functional.  My casserole dish doesn't just look good there on the lazy susan.

I actually filled it with the collards.  I knew some of us would not be eating these, so they were optional for the bravest of the three of us.

Here's my sons dish, he didn't go for the collards.  Too bad for him!

Here's my dish.  Now hold on there, I know what your thinking, I ate some collards too...

See!  I chose to put mine in the little fruit bowls, on the side.  I didn't want those collards touching my Hoppin John you know!

Yum!  It really was delicious, and I feel so much more relieved to have insured my prosperity for one more year!  :)))

I hope you'll stop by Tablescape Thursday to see many more ways ways you really could set a beautiful table.

Thanks for visiting Today!  I hope you enjoyed your visit. 

Do you have any New Years day traditions?  I would love to hear them, drop me a note.

Happy New Year Friends!

Mary

Clearing the Tabletops!

Since our dear friend Marty said anything goes today for Tabletop Tuesday I've decided to show you my after holiday peculiarity.  First off, you need to know I totally love Christmas and everything about it!  I love all the festive decorating and really enjoy pulling out all my Santa's and all the other whimsical and glittery decor associated with the season.  However, when I put out quite a bit as I did this year it really does begin to overwhelm me and I'm often ready to break it down very soon after the holidays.

But...we have a tradition in our house to leave the tree up until new years.  It took me several years to realize that just because I didn't want the tree to come down didn't mean I wasn't ready for everything else to be put up.  So as I promised to reveal to you, here is my quirky holiday peculiarity.   I take things down in stages!  Yes, I am a bit of a procrastinator.  I break it all down a little at a time.  Today I removed a good bit of the holiday decor.  Gone are all the Santa's, the bows, balls, and greenery.  Now I can sit back and enjoy the holidays for a bit more without feeling the red and green overload. 

The den feels so much larger now.  Whew!  I can see my mantle again too!  I love it!

I moved this secretary that we had in the dining room awhile back in the den now.  It had been in the Mr.'s office after we got the new china hutch but I've changed my mind and moved back here in the den instead.  I really wanted to store my crystal back in here again so I'll have more room in the china cabinet for china.

Off came the red and green ribbons and away went all the Christmas balls and gingerbread men on this tray.  In it's place remains a simple candle arrangement with my country duck basket to hold all the remotes.  The Mr. sure loves this arrangement!

The kitchen is no longer a candy wonderland but still has just a few holiday touches.

My side table no longer reminds me of the Night Before Christmas, instead it holds a few of my newest holiday gifts.

In the dining room all the extra holiday dishes and serve ware are packed away along with all the glittery balls and greenery hanging everywhere.

A simple silver tray holds plenty of left over candy..any takers?

I feel so much more relaxed now, and ready to face tomorrows adventures, returns and after holiday sales!

That's how I roll y'all, how about you?  How do you break it all down.  Do you drag it out like me or do you take it all down quickly in one swoop?

I know I am a bit late today but I'm linking to Metamorphosis Monday also.  This is one change I always look forward to every year.

Don't you?

Mary

 

Tis the Season

Hi Friends! I hope all of you have had a wonderful Christmas!  I certainly have..and I am stuffed and tired!  Whew!  This post will not fill your appetite for anything wonderfully decorative or anything inspirational.

However, if your interested in taking a peek into my world from the last few days your in for a treat.  If not that's okay, because this post is really for me to remember the year it snowed the day after Christmas.  That's right, I said the day after, technically we didn't quite make it Christmas Day here in our neck of the woods.  It was more like right after 1:00am when it started snowing so it doesn't qualify.  But since my family still had Christmas celebrating to do the day after, I still consider it the year it snowed for Christmas!

Here is our den Christmas morning after we dolled out all the gifts between the three of us.  Our oldest son didn't make it home this year so his gifts are still under the tree.

My youngest son with his pile of gifts.

One of our cats, Patch was trying very had to find some presents of her own.

Here's my pile, cause I know you all wanted to see this.  LOL!

Our cats that are normally outdoor cats have been loving all the perks of being inside lately.

Our other cat Misty perched right on the footstool in front of me and stared at the tree for the longest time.  She really did not understand why I hadn't gotten a present for her too.  I felt so bad about that!  After opening all our presents we headed off to my brother and sister in laws to celebrate with my husbands side of the family on Christmas Day.

This is what we woke up to the day after Christmas.

It wasn't much to start with but was notable non the less.

As the day progressed the view outside my windows became more interesting.

It basically continued to snow off and on all day!

The backyard started to get coated with whiteness!

And the front yard even got a bit whiter and brighter too!

Look!  I even spotted a few snow gnomes out playing by the steps.

This beauty of the day was it didn't stick to the streets and the roads were still clear.

That was a good thing because my family was still able to make it for our side of the family's Christmas celebration.

And I got some really pretty things I will show you later.

After all the celebrating, and our guests had left I peeked outside to see an evening wonderland still hanging around.

One of our neighbors across the street has a great bit giant blow up Frosty in their yard.  LOL!

Inside I am toasty and warm and ready for a long winters nap!

Joining Season Sunday for all the fun!

Have a wonderful evening my friends, 

thanks for stopping by!

Merry Christmas!!!

Mary