Monthly Archives: December 2020

……………………..For as long as I can remember Jac and her mother always had a Stolen on Christmas morning. Jac’s mother’s family has been making this Christmas bread  as far back as they could remember……at least the 1800s…….I haven’t had it for 4 years…..the last time Jac baked one. Her sister, Marianne was making one for this Christmas and sent me a text photo of it. I thought it was time I gave it a try. She sent the receipt to me…..I couldn’t find Jac’s in the stacks of receipts she has. We went over it step by step and I started…….flour, yeast, eggs, water, milk, mace, butter, sugar, currants and powdered sugar. It takes all day between waiting for the 4 rises after kneading the dough forever. What you see above is already half way through the process. The braiding of the dough with the currants already mixed in is the job Jac always gave me. She just couldn’t get the braiding right. I’m not sure if my braids were 100% right, but thy were good enough. After the braid is made on a cookie sheet you cover it with towels, put it in a warm place and let it rise over night. The photos at the top left show the braid. The photos at the bottom left show the bread after the overnight rise!!! It was always fun in the morning to uncover the bread to see just how big it grew. All I can say is the yeast did its’ job!It was enormous!!! It lapped over the cookie sheet. Into the oven it goes at 350 for 30-35 mins.. The pictures at the upper center show the bread right out of the oven, slightly golden brown, and basted with melted butter. Then you wait until it cools and sprinkle powdered sugar all over…….Jac used to call me and say it’s time to put the snow on the mountain…..That was a fun part……Now it’s ready to eat……………..For my very first time I would give it 8 out of 10….not bad……………..It really tasted wonderful, and brought back lots of Christmas morning memories.

Hello everyone, I can see from my comment that I regretfully opened a Pandora’s Box. Firstly, I am sorry for bringing the Trump family into the conversation. That is a line that should never ever be crossed. Family, especially children no matter the age, should always be off limits…..However, I stand by my comments about Trump…..Nowhere in my statement did I mention or refer to Republicans or Democrats. Many members of my family including my brother, SIL and their adult children are Republican. We respect each other, and respect each others views. There are positions that the Republicans take that I do agree with, likewise their are positions the Democrats take that I oppose. I do not walk any political line blindly……Be clear this is not about Republicans or Democrats…..It is only about Trump…..From day one when he boasted his inauguration had the biggest crowd ever which was an total exaggeration, and quickly proven wrong, then  to his vile comment to Billy Bush about touching women….I knew this man did not deserve to be sitting in the Oval office as the head of this country. It always astonished me how so many women gave him a pass. Over the four years he has given us a litany of lies which have all been proven to be such. Has he done things that I agree with, yes. I do think illegal immigration has gotten way out of hand, but do I agree with his methods, absolutely no. Children taken away from their parents [many are still lost, and have not been reunited with their parents] just to scare others from entering this country was wrong and heartless. This is not the way America should behave or be seen as a nation. His constant goading right supremacists, and telling them to be on the ready is unconscionable to me…….Where is the dignity that this office deserves? Have other presidents done wrong things, for sure, but this president has taken it over the top. If he could he would be the next Putin. He behaves like a dictator, not the leader of the free world………There are those, most of which I have never seen posting on my website before,who have taken this opening, this opportunity to blow my statement totally out of context, and to use my website to expound their views…….Let me be clear….I said nothing about Republicans or Democrats…..my comments were directed totally about Trump. Has he done good things or bad things, I will let historians decide. I only speak about the character of the man, which I firmly believe is such that he should never ever be the spokes person, the leader, the head of this country. You may agree with me or not about Trump, but again let me me clear….my statement was not political….it was strictly about the individual. I hope this puts an end to this conversation and we can go on to enjoy 2021.

The WHISPER KNIT TANKS have miraculously reappeared. The colors are great and these are fabulous layering pieces. The PINE looks perfect under the PINE/BLACK tartan jacket. In the winter layer it with a long sleeve Tee or crew neck…….The tobacco is the perfect match to the DESERT STRIPE Kimono…….food for thought………get them while you can………………………..

enjoy…………………much Love…………………………Louis

…………….My second show for QVC was a fall show in SEPT. of 2000. I remember loving this collection. There were so many beautiful items……..Starting with the picture at the top left of the chart was a big shirt, and below it a maxi skirt in a burned out velvet that was then over printed…..next was a cable front wool and acrylic sweater in peacock, fuchsia and purple…..next a fun funnel neck sweater in the same wool blend. The banding on the sleeve was in a contrast color and the INSIDE of the funnel neck was in a contrast color. The funnel neck was wide and loose enough so you could see the different colors.. Next was my first pig suede jacket. It was bordered in a contrast color and it had contrast suede scroll work appliqued  on top…..look at the pics at the bottom left. Next was a pair of pants, but I don’t remember the fabric…..on the SECOND ROW, the burn out velvet skirt….next a silk charmuse tunic shirt that was dip dyed….The top was lime and the bottom olive….the top was Fuchsia and the bottom deep purple….the top was peacock and the bottom was a dark grey…..these three shirts were beautiful and in REAL SILK!…….Next a SILK charmuse classic darted shirt in fuchsia, purple, peacock and lime. I showed these under everything….a great layering shirt…….Next was a fabulous jacket. It was in a QUILTED SILK TAFFETA. The turn back cuff and the under collar were in contrast taffeta colors. The combos were peacock/lime, olive/peacock and fuchsia/dk. purple…..There was a scarf in the burnout velvet…….and next a long skirt, but I don’t remember the fabric…..it could have been in the wool blend sweater knit or suede…..maybe the pant was suede and the skirt in the sweater knit….that would make sense, but I don’t remember!……..That was my first year at QVC!,

………………..Cathy came to pay me a Christmas visit. For those of you who may not know Cathy, I have been working with her arm in arm on the jewelry collections for years!!!! Cathy makes sure it all gets done! She took some photos of me in front of my tree and my fireplace in the “gathering room”…..where we gather and have a good time! Cathy brought me many many tins of all kinds of Christmas cookies that she baked…..yummy…….I was wearing my mask, YOU MUST ALL WEAR your masks! Wearing mine has become so much easier with the attached chain I’m selling on QVC…….Honestly, it was Cathy’s idea, and I thought it was a terrific one. I wanted it in MATTE BLACK, so we added that color to the selection, gold, silver, gunmetal, and my matte black. This is totally a functional piece and not a fine piece of costume jewelry, though, if you wish, you can wear it as a curb link chain necklace…….you could even wear more than one at a time…..I like that it has THREE purposes………it holds your mask, it has little black elastic loops that you can easily attach to the “Lobster Claws” to hold glasses and it can be used as a necklace. The initial reaction, and sales were so good we have reordered them. “They” are saying mask wearing will definitely be required through most of 2021!………Later on that evening I took Cathy to one of my favorite restaurants……..”TARRY LODGE” in Westport Ct……sadly there were on 6 people including Cathy and myself in the entire restaurant. After dinner I took Cathy to see downtown Westport. She had never been there. I was shocked to see how many stores were closed on the main shopping street, and the buildings were totally empty. This was not what I was expecting to see especially in Westport which is a wealthy community……..Unfortunately, if the government doesn’t get help for these businesses QUICK I’m afraid there are going to be many many more empty store fronts. I wish this current president would stop playing with peoples lives and get the money to them pronto! His antics drive me crazy!!! I hope he’s having a good time golfing in Florida while Americans are trying to survive!! It may not be enough money to solve all of the problems, but it’s a start, and better than nothing when people can’t pay their rent or get food for their families…..I know, with a new president, 2021 will definitely be better. At the very least he won’t be jerking around playing with people’s lives……..Be safe my lovelies, and wear your masks!………………..much Love…………….Louis