Merry Christmas!!

With temperatures in the 70's all this week, it has been a little hard to get into the Christmas mode. Not really any point in decorating or baking as I've been here at the beach all on my lonesome for the last few weeks. I'll fly out on Friday to meet up with Jim and we will be spending this Christmas in Chicago with Jim's brother and his family. It has been far too long since we have seen them so we are looking forward to catching up. At any rate, I'll have to content myself with pictures from last year.

Our favorite place to spend Christmas, Bar None, is San Antonio, Texas. Last year was extra special because it was our first Christmas with our new grandchildren, Savannah & Talon.



I made a Prime Rib dinner on Christmas Eve, we opened presents and then went down to the River Walk to show the kids the tree at the Alamo and the lights along the river.
They are such great kids and we love them dearly. Little Heart Stealers!




While we really, really miss them this year, we are happy to announce that next Christmas we have even more cause for Christmas Joy as we will be celebrating with Talon, Savannah...........................................................................
our daughter Jasmine, son-in-law Jason and their new baby boy who is due in March!!! WE ARE OVER THE MOON HAPPY!!!!!
I hope everyone has a beautiful Christmas

Cheers!

Ry

Sotto Il Monte Vineyards

Photos By: Ryannan Bryer de Hickman

VERO BEACH, PALM COAST & FERNANDINA

On our way back to Savannah from Palm Beach, we checked out a few more places along the Florida coastline. We went through Vero Beach during a rainstorm, it was very beautiful. I could easily live there.
Came across some interesting architecture and beaches along the way..............................



to Palm Coast, were we spent a couple of nights.....................................
This lot was for sale on the Intercoastal Waterway........................................

On this street.........................across from this house............which I love............but it's NFS..........


On to Fernandina..............it has the sweetest historical downtown..........................

This lot looked promising.........................................and a bit like a jungle.......................
On this street.............................................
Not too far from this beach.............................................................
Cheers!

Jim & Ry

WHERE ARE YOU?

I receive a lot of these queries in my inbox. Truth be told, sometimes when I wake up in the morning, I have to ask myself that same question. Where am I? Lately we have been living in three different places with numerous cross country road trips and plane flights in between. I'm either packing or unpacking.

When I started this blog, I thought it would be a great way to keep family and friends apprised of our whereabouts. Clearly, I have failed miserably! So, in an attempt to keep up, this is where we have been in the last couple of months:

Palm Beach Florida

We have been exploring the east coast of Florida to look for our own little spot in the tropical sun for the winter months. We love living by the ocean and are looking for the warmest climate we can on the mainland. That means Florida. After having lived along California coastline, we both agree, it's just not warm enough! We hadn't ever really considered buying in Florida, but now, with the price of real estate down so much, it's time to take a look.

A nice place to stay? The Breakers. Total Lux!

In many ways, Palm Beach reminded us of Montecito. Lush and tropical with beautiful Mediterranean style homes..........................................................................................

And, much to my frustration, just like Montecito, they are largely hidden behind gates and hedgerows.

The difference being that the water is warm enough here to actually swim in and there is less of a marine layer. More sunshine!


I've never seen so many empty boat slips in the Marina. A sign of the economic climate, no doubt.
My darling beach combing husband enjoying the warm white sand and turquoise sea.

Photos: Ryannan Bryer de Hickman

Sotto Il Monte Vineyards

Fig Season

Our fig tree is quite prolific and when I can manage to get to them before the raccoons make of f with the entire lot, we have them for lunch with Mascarpone Cheese, Tuscan Melons, Prosciutto and Green Grape Gazpacho Soup..
Inspiration came this morning by way of Monique's beautiful Blog for figs, goat cheese, rosemary and bacon crumbles. I used a bit of prosciutto in place of the bacon and will pop these under the broiler for a few minutes to crisp it up.

Green Grape Gazpacho

1 pound white seedless grapes, washed and stems removed

1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded and rough-chopped

1-1/2 cups plain yogurt

3 scallions, chopped, using the green and white parts

1/4 cup cream cheese

1 Tablespoons olive oil

3 to 4 Tablespoons white wine vinegar

1 tsp kosher salt

1/8 tsp white pepper

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

1 Tablespoon fresh dill

Sliced Almonds

Puree all ingredients except dill & almonds in a blender: strain through a coarse strainer.

Garnish with sliced Almonds, dill and some grape halves

Have a beautiful day!

Ry

Photography By: Ryannan Bryer de Hickman

Sotto Il Monte Vineyards

Beach Houses - Folly Beach

As the outer bands of Hurricane Irene begin to knock at my door, I'm starting to rethink my obsession to find that oh so perfect beach house. Living at the beach comes with the reality of being washed out to sea if Mother Nature so decides.

Even so...................If one as beautiful as this one came along.........I could be tempted..................
Charleston Interior Designer Amelia Handegan's summer house at Folly Beach was featured in the July 2011 issue of Architectural Digest. I love the way she

combined a collection of textiles from around the world to bring in a global feel.
Sometime beach houses can seem a little "theme like". This one hits all the right notes.



Subtle.........but you still know that you are at the beach......................



Irene's knock is getting a bit louder and the ocean is not looking quite as calm as the photo below, so I'd better sign off and batten down the hatches.
Cheers!

Ry

Photos: Architectural Digest