Merry winds ~ blow fair upon you!

A Victorian greeting card to wish you

a joyous holiday!

May the holiday festivities keep you

in good spirits!!!

* * *

xoxo ~ Debi

Merry Mocha Roca . . . yum! yum!

This Mocha Roca recipe that I had made for the December

2nd Saturdayz show--which we couldn't attend--is

is my gift to YOU for your Christmas cooking.

Hope you enjoy making and eating it!

Ingredients:

* recipe is doubled *

4 sticks unsalted butter

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup white sugar

3 tsp. molasses

3 tsp. instant espresso powder

1/4 tsp. flaky sea salt

2 cups chopped semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup chopped, toasted, blanched (no skin) almonds

1 cup chopped fine toasted, blanched (no skin) almonds

First, prepare 9 x 13 pan by sprinkling in

1/2 cup of finely chopped almonds

then add 1 cup of chopped semi-sweet chocolate pieces.

This will form a "bottom layer" of chocolate.

Next, melt butter, brown & white sugars, molasses, salt & espresso powder

in a sturdy, 4-quart sauce pan. Cook over medium

heat, stirring occasionally with a whisk,

until temperature reaches 250 degrees . . . then

stir constantly until temperature reaches 300 degrees.

(This could take ten minutes or more--be patient!)

Remove from heat and quickly stir in the 1 cup of

chopped, toasted almonds.

Quickly pour this mixture over the prepared pan with

finely chopped nuts and chocolate.

. . . pretty, no?!

Next, sprinkle the last of the chopped, semi-sweet chocolate

chips and the toasted, fine-chopped almonds.

Now, off to the fridge to *set-up*!

After about an hour--if you can wait that long--invert

pan onto cutting board and tap lightly

with a hammer. It should

pop right out!!

* * *

Break into pieces. Store whatever

you and family have not initially devoured into

wax-paper lined tins and refrigerate.

* * *

Bon Appetite my friends!!!

. . . simple-but-elegant Christmas decor . . .

Reflective of this past year, our Christmas decor

is simple, restrained but

more peaceful--and therefore--elegant

than ever. I love it!

Less, fuss . . . less *stuff*. And, as much as I love

Christmas decor, this is truly a load

off the usual *over-the-top* decorating I seemed

to put myself through in years past.

This feels good . . . and it's delightful to know it will be equally

simple to move the Christmas theme into New Year's,

and the continuation of a quiescent,

pure winter season.

Like many of you, I'm already thinking about how things

could be different in 2011. I'm quietly

optimistic but know it will

be challenging.

It seems this stretch in our history either brings out the

best in us . . . or leaves us feeling bruised,

frustrated and questioning.

Maybe I've got a bit of all that going on, BUT I'm

determined to make the most of

what comes along . . .

. . . the best is yet to be!!!!!

Wishing you and your family a blessed, fun and healthy

Holiday Season!

* * *

Expressions of my deepest

gratitude for your friendship and support

can't be put into words--thank you

from my heart!!!

xoxo ~ Debi

. . . . Christmas tidings . . . .

Ormolulu is open for business--always--on this blog.

If you see items you love, they can certainly

be shipped. Please inquire by email

if something catches your

eye. Don't be shy!

Unfortunately, our opportunity to show special Christmas merchandise

at 2nd Saturdayz is behind us, due to the *Grinch virus*!!

Many things are still packed--some are at Pac Gal--

and here are just a few sweet treasures

still here in our home.

Please feel free to scroll through ORMOLULU's previous

posts to see if something is on your gift list.

Quicker than a nod from Donner

and Blitzen--it will be sent

to your home!!!!!!

* * * *

It's a busy, busy time . . . so much to do, especially

if you have small children in the home.

I'm wishing all of my friends

a holiday season filled

with the quiet

reflection

of

special moments

with your family and friends!!

xoxo ~ Debi

. . . a few of my favorite things . . .

Having missed the December 2nd Saturdayz due to illness (Jim

first, and now me) . . . we're especially looking

forward to the market in January.

Yes, I should be focused on the Christmas season--and

more of that will be coming too, once all the

decorating is finished. Had a good

start . . . and then I just

stopped. Weird,

huh?!

Meanwhile, these are my "ornaments" . . . ha-ha!!!!

Hope you're enjoying all the festivities

and NOT catching any bugs!

xo ~ Debi

* * * 2nd Saturdayz Urban Market * * *

With our last show of 2010, favorite symbols of

Christmas will be decking

the halls!!!

Many cherubs and angels from my own

personal collection will fly into

your holiday home!

Please join us at the 2nd Saturdayz Urban Market

on December 11th. The very best of the

season awaits . . . it will fill

your heart with

JOY!!!

The beauty and abundance of the season

will be in full bloom

THIS SATURDAY . . . come early for

the best selection!!!

Happy Holidays!

May this most important of celebrations fill your soul with

the true spirit of Christmas, no matter your beliefs. The promise

of love is eternal . . . but it begins in our homes and

hearts. Merry, merry everything!!!!!

xoxo ~ Debi

* * * * * * * * Re-Post of Sand Point * * * * * * * *

Creating content from a show location proved to be challenging.

Without our beloved *iPhoto*, the previous

post (now deleted) just didn't

make the grade.

So, here's a bit of a *re-do* on the

December 5th Sand Point Antique & Design Market.

Thanks AGAIN to all the fabulous customers

who bundled up and joined us in the chilly

hangar--you really ROCK!!!

Unfortunately, I re-fractured my foot on

that cold concrete . . . grrrrr!!!

But--with feet up for a few days--I'm still looking forward

to the next fabulous 2nd Saturdayz Market in

the workshop (ooh, warmth!!) on

December 11th.

There will be LOTS of holiday joy for you

to see . . . always an experience

like no other show!!!

With all the *bad news* the media keeps throwing at us,

let's keep our spirits UP . . . and be supportive

of each other. It's not an easy time

for anyone I know .

I truly have so much admiration for the hard-working,

creative, and durable people in this business.

There are certainly much easier ways

to make a living.

But the LOVE . . . the joy of doing what compels

and inspires us . . . that's just

irreplaceable!!

Last Sand Point Antique & Design Market of 2010

Sunday, December 5th . . . 8:00 a.m. early buying.

Yes, it will be cold . . . so layer, layer, layer!

Bring lots of Christmas spirit and

your gift list!!!!!

I'll be holding nothing back--economic times notwithstanding!!!

Rare, lovely song-birds taxidermy from a museum

in Lynden, Washington . . . okay, maybe not for

everyone--but certainly some*lucky*one!

Vintage Christmas ornaments, antique books . . .

"French" goodies . . .

Seasonal delights of EVERY size and budget . . .

Truly divine antique sewing boxes and exquisite, carved

jewelry boxes from Germany . . .

Garden elements--old, fab barn vents

and galvanized crates . . .

Wire planters, egg baskets, trash bins . . .

Vintage and antique jewelry: sterling, hand-painted brooches,

miniature bronzes, boxes, compacts, earrings, rings,

rosaries, Victorian silver plate, Staffordshire . . .

Necklaces, tiny boxes, brooches . . .

For one-of-a-kind gifts and unique, Christmas decorative accents

and special small furnishings . . . your holidays

won't be complete if you

miss this show!!

Happy Holiday Wishes . . . let's get this party started!!!!

xoxo ~ Debi

Dress Forms . . . "lost in space"

~ HOME ~

Somehow I managed to *lose* these images on yesterday's

post . . . but my little family wouldn't be

complete without them.

The photo above was taken at The Farm Chicks Show

in June . . . all these forms have new homes!

The unique "jockey form" on the right is at Pacific Galleries in

Seattle (the other two were *adopted*).

* * * *

Hope you've enjoyed visiting the family . . . we never argue,

fuss and fight!! ;0)