The holiday season has definitely arrived! I love this time of year. I hope everyone who was celebrating had a fantastic Thanksgiving weekend! There is no Thanksgiving in England, but our dear American friend and her family invited us to a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration on Sunday. The food and company were just lovely and I’m so grateful for their friendship and the chance to enjoy Thanksgiving with them!
At the Hearth and Soul Link Party, you can share blog posts old and new, about anything that feeds the soul. This includes – but is not limited to – family, home, recipes, decorating, crafts, DIY, travel, organisation, book reviews, the arts and self improvement.
We made a great start to the holiday season this weekend. We hosted our annual cocktail party for 60 friends on Friday evening, and then on Saturday we travelled to the New Forest for a black tie celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Wessex section of the Rolls Royce Enthusiast’s Club. The dinner was held at Beaulieu Palace House, the home of the Montague family since 1538. I’m excited to share more about the evening with you in a blog post in the next week or so! In the meantime, here’s a photograph of my husband and I with just one of the many exquisite Christmas trees decorating Palace House at the moment.
What’s New On The Blog?
I’m highlighting one of my favourite holiday season recipes this week on the blog.
My Aunt Dorothy’s Old Fashioned Butterscotch Squares have been a favourite in our family for over fifty years. Bonus – they are no bake and keep really well in the fridge!
Thank you to everyone for visiting and sharing at last week’s party!
Holiday Season Features
Holiday season features (from top, clockwise):-
Don’t miss fun Barb at French Ethereal’s Hot Chocolate Bar – what a fun idea for holiday season entertaining
Decorate your Christmas cake with this pretty Homemade Cake Topper from Michele at The Scrap Shoppe Blog
Why not host a holiday brunch? Miz Helen has 12 Holiday Brunch Recipes perfect for entertaining
I love being a social butterfly at the holidays, but not everyone feels the same way. If you prefer a quieter celebration don’t miss Jennifer A Lambert’s Introvert Holiday Survival Guide. Actually, I thought that Jen had some great ideas for everyone in terms of celebrating the holidays in this post, not just for introverts!
Julie at This Gal Cooks has a healthier holiday dessert option. These Baked Pears with Honey, Cranberries and Pecans look gorgeous and sound so delicious! They are perfect for a holiday dinner party – and in the unlikely event of leftovers, I’d enjoy these for breakfast as well!
Right, on with the party!
The Hearth and Soul Link Party
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Please share your blog posts about anything that feeds the soul!
Sounds like you had a fabulous weekend! I love that cake topper, and I definitely need to check out the introvert guide.
We really did, Barbara! I’m so glad you like the featured posts. Have a wonderful week!
Wish you and yours a great time!
Thank you for the party!
many greetings
Uwe
Thank you so much for visiting and sharing, Uwe! Have a wonderful week!
Thank you for hosting, April! What a lovely time and beautiful tree!! This week I’ve shared all about the winter solstice and the benefits and how to make your own dandelion salve. Have a wonderful week!
It really was a wonderful evening, Suzan. I can’t wait to share the other trees we saw – one was almost 2 stories tall. I look forward to your posts! I hope your week is wonderful too!
Thanks for hosting in the midst of the busy holiday season! Wonderful photo of your and your husband!
– Nancy ( Nancy On The Home Front)
Thank you so much, Nancy! Have a lovely week ahead!
Lovely photo of you and your husband!
Michelle
http://mybijoulifeonline.com
Thank you, Michelle!
Hi April,
What a lovely surprise, thanks so much for featuring my Holiday Brunch Recipes, I really appreciate it. I just love the holiday parties with so many great suggestions! Hope you have a fun filled week and thanks so much for the party!
Miz Helen
It’s my pleasure, Miz Helen! I hope your week is wonderful too!
Beautiful photo of you and your husband — definitely frame-worthy!
Thank you so much, Emily!
April, thanks so much for hosting. Can’t wait to read about your visit to Beaulieu! I’d love to tour that kitchen!
Thank you, Jean! They actually still cook in the Victorian kitchens, especially for the daytime Christmas tours 🙂
This is a very beautiful photo of you and your husband at the Palace House, April! Your butterscotch squares look very tasty–I love a butterscotch flavor and must try these soon.
Thank you so much, Pat! And I’m so glad you like the squares. If you love butterscotch (as I do!) you will love these! 🙂
Thanks for hosting another fun party. You and your husband look gorgeous together…
Thank you so much!
Great party, thanks for hosting.🎅
Thank you for sharing your beautiful creations, Anita!
Thank you for hosting! This is what I featured the week of 11-25 to 11-29 on my blog. On Tuesday morning were Christmas Almond Balls. Wednesday was a Red Velvet Oreo Trifle. And wrapping up the first week of Christmas baking is a Marilyns Treats original. My Death by Peanut Butter and Chocolate Trifle. Enjoy!
Another delicious week, that is for sure, Marilyn!
April,
The picture of you and your husband is exceptional in your beautiful outfits! Sounds like a wonderful time as well. Thanks for hosting and have a great week
Thank you so much, Judee! It really was a magical evening 🙂 I hope you have a lovely week as well!
April, that is an adorable photo of you and your husband! It really sends the Christmas Spirit. My husband and I did photo Christmas cards this year. The shoot was so much fun. I blogged about it And where to get the cards printed.
Thank you so much, Helen! I love photo Christmas cards, so I look forward to your post. I haven’t had my cards printed yet this year – I need to get my skates on!
Fabulous pic of you and your hubby! Thanks so much for hosting! Have a wonderful week.
Thank you so much, Katie! I hope you have a wonderful week as well!
Love the picture of you and your guy! What a dress!
Thank you so much, Michele!
those butterscotch squares have my mouth watering. laurensparks.net
Thank you, Lauren!
I can’t wait to hear more about your black tie evening!
Thank you, Joanne! I’m working on the post now 🙂
Great pic of you and your husband. Very nice. Thanks for hosting and I hope that you have a wonderful week.
Thank you so much, Patrick. I hope your week is wonderful too!
Thank you so much for the feature, April! I appreciate it very much. <3 And what a whirlwind weekend you both had!! You look lovely, as always. I have to say… Rolls Royce are beautiful automobiles… I enjoy seeing them on episodes of Downton Abbey and other BBC and period films. It would be fun to ride in one one day! I have ridden in a couple of vintage Jaguars, though (in the 1970's) which belonged to a friend's father who flew down to work in Hollywood. The wipers swooped inwards from the outside of each side of the windscreen and I always thought that was fun!
Thank you again and enjoy your Christmas season,
Hugs,
Barb 🙂
It’s a pleasure, and thank you so much, Barb! Vintage Jaguars are a particular favourite of mine too. I once saw one in the most beautiful shade of blue. I haven’t had a ride in one though (although my car is a modern Jaguar). I love the old cars, and I feel really lucky that my husband even lets me drive his Silver Shadow 2 and the Bentley. I prefer being a passenger though 😉 I hope you are having a lovely Christmas season too.
Hugs,
April 🙂
PS – If you visit England I’m sure I can arrange a ride for you 😉
I always love popping in here for the party – I find such inspiring ideas and recipes. Thank you for hosting. I hope you’re having a FANTASTIC week.
Thank you, Tamy! I hope you are having a fantastic week as well! 🙂
Have a wonderful week April – everything looks so lovely on your blog! 🙂
Thank you so much, Ramona! What a lovely compliment! I hope you have a wonderful week too!
Your dress is beautiful! And those squares look so good! (probably can’t eat them all if you want to wear the dress though! LOL)
Thank you so much, Rebecca! And you are right, I really do have to just have small tastes of things if I want to stay in the dress! 🙂 I really savour my small bites!!