Hi everyone. Happy new week to you. And hello to everyone who stops by for T over at Bleubeard's and Elizabeth's blog.
It's been another cold and windy week in my area. Especially today, Monday, the 15th. With wind chills our temperatures felt like they are in the single digits (degrees F) or somewhere in the negative teens (degrees C). Brrrr. Thankfully we are lucky to have a woodstove on the first floor that helps keep the house nice and toasty.
One day last week I went out with a friend. We ended up in downtown Portsmouth (New Hampshire) where the historical society was putting on a gingerbread house show. This show was open to anyone who wanted to join, and they had different categories you could enter. Those categories included youth (12 and under), teen (12-17), adult, business related, professional (for profession bakers) and multi-age.
Some of these houses were amazing, and some of them, although not houses, were creative gingerbread sculptures. I thought I'd share a few photos today. It was a great way to enjoy some holiday spirit.
First up, for those of you who like color.
And here's one of several Grinch themed pieces.
The ski chalet,
the garden house,
some Asian inspired design,
and I really wanted to break off a chocolate moose and eat him when I saw the next scene. (But of course I didn't. 😏)
These next 2 photos show the winning creation of the teen category with another Grinch scene.
This one is based on the Disney movie Encanto (which I haven't seen but this is a gorgeous gingerbread book.)
Then we had a gingerbread basket.
I'm not sure if this is a village view or a church, but it's still a pretty winter scene.
And lastly for this post, this one built by a local candy store.
I have a few more photos to share, but for the sake of not making this post too long, I'll save those for another day.
After we left we needed lunch, so we checked out a newer restaurant downtown called Cheese Louise. They only serve grilled cheese sandwiches, plus some soup and other things to have with your sandwich.
I had a traditional Vermont style grilled cheese (just cheese in my sandwich) meal, which came with a drink (I had ice tea) and a side. I went for their tomato soup. The photo at the order counter showed the side as a small cup but mine came as a huge bowl. The other drink on the table is my friend's lemonade. It made a delicious warm lunch on a chilly day.
That's all for me this week. Stay warm if it's cold where you are. Wishing everyone a happy T day and week ahead.
18 comments:
I love all of these, especially the first one. It IS very colorful.
I love the name. Though, I can't eat dairy so I'd be outta luck but I love this idea of cheese sandwiches and soups. Fun stuff.
Those gingerbread houses and so flippin' fun. Such personality and they just went for it.
Love that.
Creative gingerbread houses! -Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com
Gingerbread houses can be incredibly elaborate!
A grilled cheese (and nothing else) restaurant was open here for a while. I was skeptical about its chances, and in fact it didn’t last long. People like choices, especially when a few friends get together. What if one of them doesn’t want cheese? They will go somewhere else.
...Erika, you saw some colorful and creative houses! I find it interesting how the humble grilled cheese sandwich has taken on a whole new life.
Some incredibly beautiful and festive gingerhouses!
Great houses - we´re about to "build" one, too!
Love the name Cheese Louise and weee would I love such a sandwich! Have a great T-Day, hugs
Lunch looks tasty! Such intricate and time consuming cake creations, can imagine there was a lovely sweet aroma in the air.
B x
Are these all works of art? I'm truly amazed by your imagination with all these gingerbread houses!
Looks delicious, what you're eating!
I was so glad you shared them with us here, thank you! hugs Elke
I loved seeing all those ginger bread houses. My D-i-L always makes one with her children. (But a traditional one).
And your cheese tosti looks yummy. We make tosties with a slice of ham plus a slice of cheese. I hope it was real cheese. When I was in the States I often got a slice of processed goo that was supposed to be cheese. Awful (in my opinion, sorry)
Happy T-Day,
Lisca
When my daughter was little I used to take her to a local Christmas fair where a ginger bread house contest took place. She always enjoyed it, and to this day loves gingerbread. As for the restaurant, I am not a huge fan of either grilled cheese sandwiches or tomato soup! All the best - David
Thanks for sharing the gingerbread creations--such creativity! And your lunch--yum, yum, yum!!! Grilled cheese and tomato soup on a wintry day--doesn't get better than that!
oh wow, those are some gingerbread houses! I love the moose(s?) they look really cool, and that Encanto book. Had to laugh at Cheese Louise lol. I replied in my comments but just in case you don't see it, It's not that no one told me to see a different doctor, it's that we need a referral to see a different doctor based on what treatment they decide we need. I asked from the beginning to see orthopedics and was told I didn't need to see them. Happy T Day! xx
I just bought a little gingerbread house for the kids to decorate while they are here. I can absolutely promise it will look NOTHING like any of these masterful creations! They are totally fabulous. Grilled cheese and tomato soup -- my favorite, any time of the year, but especially winter. Yours looks fantastic!
Sorry for the confusion Erika, we don't have private health insurance here, it's all free treatment on the NHS, but I think they misdiagnosed me from day one, telling me orthopedics wasn't necessary :/ So I've had nearly two years of seeing a physio who told me to keep doing the exercises, for a condition that I don't have. :(
The gingerbread houses are so colourful and unique.
Cheese Louise—such a fun name.
Looks like a very tasty lunch.
Happy T Day!
Burrr yeah it's cold where you are. Wow! On all of the gingerbread houses. These are pretty spectacular. Also back in the 70's I wanted to open just sandwich and soup place. The grilled cheese idea is excellent. Hope they do well. Have a nice evening.
The Gingerbread houses are fabulous ... so colourful.
Happy T Day.
All the best Jan
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