Breaking the silence

So - as usual - so many blog worthy things - so little actual blogging

This is due, in part, to the fact that I was receiving very unseemly comments from a local, anonymous blogger. I temporarily shut the blog down, and now have it posted at the new address. It is open - no password necessary, but it is not Google-able. I'm hoping this is enough to make it safe for posting things about my family and house, without requiring you good blogging friends to sign in every time you want to read it.

I will attempt to catch up on things, but this is always easier said than done. In the meantime - here is something to get me going:


It is a very Southern thing to receive lots of invitations. One weekend in November we had invitations to several events on the same night.


Appetizer club, dinner at the neighbors, and the margarita ball (and a baby shower earlier the same week). The margarita ball sounded fun - black tie, bring a boy and girl toy for charity, but expensive all night babysitting and charity toys. Appetizer club sounded boring. Dinner at the neighbors - a little scary. The bottom of the invite read:

"Corks popped at 6 pm. Food and games to follow.
No sitting next to your spouse. What happens at Chez Fogg stays at Chez Fogg."

We opted for dinner at the neighbors once we verified that they were being cheeky, not creepy on their invite.

So this past weekend, WE hosted a party. It was luminary night in our neighborhood and we decided this might be a great opportunity for an open house. It was my idea, but Scott gets the credit for making it happen. I thought it was too unrealistic and out of the budget, but he decided we should just do it! I think he realized that we (that being mostly me) needed some holiday activity and cheer. It was wonderful for us to plan together, tackle finishing touches on our house decorating and unpacking, have a reason for Christmas baking and decorating. Overall it was a success, and we'll remember not to buy as much food and drink next year AND to invite more people.

Kids buffet:
Grapes, cheese & crackers, caprese on a stick on our phone desk


Scott's Mom's Lennox Nativity on my Grandparents' piano

Flea Market Chair (2 for $15) over Scott's Mom's Red Rug.


Dessert Table #1 in our red dining room:
pizelles, frosted butter cookies, persimmon cookies, chocolate cupcakes
(a terribly UN-impressive recipe from Martha Stewart)

Dessert table #2:
Emma's Advent Jesse tree -
24 ornaments representing a different Bible story from creation to redemption
and a devotional book to go with,
chocolate covered peanut butter balls
(which my neighbor can maker better.
I know because she told everyone at the party
and then kindly shared her tips for perfection to me),
more butter cookies, cookies another neighbor brought over to share.

AWESOME coffee table that Scott made!!!!!
(I picked it out of a catalog; he redesigned the scale and materials and made it)
Super cool rug - one of the only decor items we've actually purchased since moving


View from living room into dining room.
(Thank you other really nice neighbors for letting us
borrow some dining room chairs. And a baking dish.
And a carafe or two.)

Grown up buffet on the island: a Kirkland ham and fixin's for sandwiches.