News from the Nest, November 27
Goedmorgen from Amsterdam!
We arrived yesterday morning and, is our modus operandi, hit the ground running. We always try to tough it out the day we land, with the goal of getting on local time as soon as possible. That being said, we crashed early after walking around and getting the lay of the land.
Our hotel is gorgeous and so very cool. Some brilliant people used a block of 25, 400-year-old canal homes to create a truly unique hotel. Our room is one of two rooms on the 5th floor of one of the old homes and just oozes charm and character.
Table of Contents
We had the very best lunch after a full day of travel. We found a little ‘brown cafe’ along a canal that was just perfect on a chilly and wet day and were served gfrilled sandwiches (mine was goat cheese, arugula, dill and honey…absolutely divine) and the best bowl of thick and hearty split pea soup.
Today, we visit the Anne Frank Museum and tomorrow we will visit the Rijksmuseum to take in a few Van Goghs, Rembrandts and Vermeers. Tomorrow evening, we have a reservation at an Indonesian restaurant for a Rijsttafel, which as we understand it, is de rigueur when visiting Amsterdam.
Wednesday, we board our Viking River Cruise for our voyage down the Rhine. I promise to take pictures along the way.
We had a wonderful, albeit very hectic Thanksgiving. In retrospect, I bit off more than I could chew with only one oven and my small Breville toaster oven. The food was good, but it was difficult to keep everything warm. I will re-think my plan for next year.
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We ended the evening with a visit from our neighbors and a rousing, if sometimes raunchy, game of Ransom Notes. If you and your fellow game players aren’t easily offended, I highly recommend Ransom Notes. That said, it is only as raunchy as the prompts, which can be selected for the audience.
From the Knit Studio
- This Half-Linen Stitch blanket is made all the more special with this oh-so-soft faux fur edge. I knit one for our home, and then was asked to knit another one for a wedding gift for a friend of my daughter.
- We knit on the faux fur edge of the aforementioned blanket with an applied i-cord. If you need some instruction or a refresher on this useful knit technique, this i-cord post will help.
- When you give a hand-knit gift, the recipient will always appreciate a little care tag detailing the fibers of the yarn and how to best care for it for the longest life. Print off and fill out these knit care tags to accompany your knit gifts.
From the Kitchen
Got Leftover Turkey?
- This so very delicious Creamy Turkey Soup has a secret ingredient that gives it its creaminess…and it’s not cream or flour! Curious?
- Swap out the ham hocks and swap in smoked turkey for a lighter, healthier 15-Bean Soup.
- Use turkey instead of chicken in this Curried Chicken Salad.
Kitchen Gifts for the Dogs!
When you are baking treats for your human friends, don’t forget the best four-legged friends!
- This recipe for Three-Ingredient Dog Treats is ALWAYS in the top five of the most popular posts on the blog.
- Dehydrate these Pumpkin Dog Treats to keep them fresh, longer.
- Use your oven or dehydrator to make these Sweet Potato Dog Chews.
- And make sure to use print off these free gift tags to accompany your dog treat goodies.
Christmas Recipes and Projects
Entertaining This Holiday?
- Add this Spiced Pomegranate Cocktail to your menu.
- Tips for making a lovely Holiday Charcuterie Board.
- Print off these Christmas Wine Tags to accompany the bottle of wine you take to your host and hostess.
- These Christmas Gift Bags are easily made with free, printable iron-ons. They will hold a bag of cookies, a jar of jam, handmade spa gifts, and other small gifts.
Free, Printable Gift Tags!
Some Fun Finds and Few Favorites
- If you are in the market for an artificial Christmas tree, several National Tree Company Christmas Trees are up to 53% off.
- I am an unabashed cheerleader for the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro. With just the two of us, we can go weeks without turning our big oven on. It has many features, but the ones we use most are the Toast, Bagel, Pizza, Air Fry, Dehydrate, and Proof functions. It is currently 29% off.
- For the person who has everything, Ancestry DNA and Pet DNA kits are up to 59% off.
- Many Nespresso machines are 30% off.
- Along with our Breville oven, we are fans of our Vitamix blender. If you are looking to add one to your home or would like to gift one this holiday, several models are on sale, up to 38% off. We have had two over the past 15 years and only have good things to say. They are a true workhorse and get a regular workout with my husband’s smoothies, nut butter, and the like.
Well my friends, we are off to explore Amsterdam. I wish for you a wonderful week, full of joy and light.
See you next week!
Hugs,
