~Walking Through the Garden~

Our garden this winter is so green.

We've had so much rain in San Diego.

I planted some Sweet Peas, love them!

The cabbages just love this weather!

Our alstroemerias will be blooming soon.

I can't wait!

~Forget-Me-Not Flowers~

~Miniature Gardens~

~Pansies~

Stan did a good job on this succulent arrangement!

The succulents love growing in this birdbath.

Stan definitely has a green thumb growing his Spanish Moss.

This arch is not in bloom yet.

It has a rose, snail plant and purple trumpet.

I can't wait to share it with you when it does bloom!

~Happy Gardening~

~Simple Winter Mantel & Chocolate Dipped Biscotti~

It's always hard to put everything away from Christmas.

Adding our small boxwood wreaths

 on the mantel adds some greenery.

I added some mini lights too!

Fresh cut flowers from the garden .

A very simple Winter mantel.

Since it's been raining in San Diego, 

I decided to make some biscotti.

Rachael Ray has a good recipe here:

Chocolate Dipped Almond Biscotti

Some melted chocolate and crushed almonds.

Make a very good Winter treat!

Hope you're all staying warm this winter!

~Winter Days in the House~

After the holidays, I was looking for a little inspiration 

from our garden. I wanted to bring some flowers inside to add some color.

 A garden vignette!

Antique silver trays and garden pots with pansies 

add some color to the miniature lights. 

I decided to keep the lights up from the holidays.

They give the house a warm feeling.

I think I'm going to keep my 

star up for awhile.

 I love sparkle it gives the entryway!!

We made a Winter Crostata over the holiday.

I promised to give you the recipe.

It's a Ina Garten recipe.

Crostata 

 I just changed the fruit to winter berries,

 I bought them at the farmers market.

We also made brie in a puff pastry with stars.

I served it with pears and crackers.

I just tried a new recipe from Giada.

Grilled Salmon and Pineapple with Avocado.

Salmon Recipe

Our daughter, Carly, loves her Spinach Pine Nut Pesto,

 so we made that instead with it.

Spinach and Pine Nut Pesto

It was so good!!

We are so happy!

San Diego has gotten a lot of rain lately.

I love sitting next to a fire,

 thinking about how beautiful our garden will look!

~Time for New Beginnings for 2017~

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year's 

celebrating with family and friends!!

I've enjoyed these past years hosting Simple & Sweet Friday parties.

I can't believe it's been 252 weeks of fun.

Which adds up to almost 5 years and over 1,000,000 pageviews!

Looking back it went by so fast.

I've been so amazed with your creativity each week!

Your inspiring posts and projects have been awesome!!

But, I have decided to take a break from the parties for awhile.

I will still be posting on my blog, 

Rooted in Thyme.

I would like to start taking classes in;

Art, Flower Arranging, Cooking and Garden Design.

I will definitely be sharing,

 what I learn with all of you!!

There's some new ideas, I'd like to make on Etsy too!

I just want to thank all of you for your continued support throughout the years.

I have to say a very special thank you to my daughter, Carly.

Without her help,

 I would never have started the blog or the parties.

Of course, Stan, my family and Justin too!

I want to wish all my blogging friends

 a very

 Happy 2017!! 

You have inspired me and I will always love you for that! 

May you be blessed with a happy year filled with

 good health and happiness!

"You are never too old

to set another goal or

to dream a new 

dream"

-C.S.Lewis