Fruitcake, schmoot-cake.

Mom does it best: A tradition passed down from my mom, and her mom, is making homemade potica.
On my wedding day the recipe was given to me on a kitchen recipe card. She named the recipe "My Favorite Potica Cake" The twist? Its actually 2 rolled up poticas layered on top of each other and baked in an angel food pan. Moister, more buttery, perfection. The only potica in my eyes!

In choosing a photo this morning, we were ready to post a nice one at the Union Depot, but, for some reason, with the scent of cinnamon and butter still lingering in the air,  this one got chosen.
Hmm.  The treats of the season. Pueblo certainly has its favorites.

Fruitcake, schmoo-tcake. Foods from diverse backgrounds are part of what make a Pueblo holiday special. We either  gotta make em' or buy em' but either way they are our staples till New Year's. Have you made your potica yet? Have you ordered your tamales? Can you still find cardones? Did you get your sugar cookies? Where's the pizzelle iron!? Better hurry!

What are some foods on your holiday must have list?

The Spirit of Christmas

Santa, Kris Kringle? Spirit of Christmas? He sits at he base of the entry way stairs welcoming you into the Inn. Have quests coming in for the holidays? Treat them to a night here.  It will put them into a relaxed holiday spirit!

On my way out the door from a meeting at the adorable Rusted Poppy Inn - Bed and Breakfast, I realized I  hadn't even snapped one photo of which I knew I'd be asked "What's it look like inside?".  With wonderful woodwork, exposed brick and spectacularly tasteful decor, the spirit of Christmas is definitely alive and thriving throughout the renovated house on Orman Ave. Molly and her mother made us feel welcome and warm. And we just have to say to them "great job". Its great to see such elegant businesses like this in town.

Last Minute Decorations

With exactly one week left till Christmas, we thought we'd show you some easy last minute holiday
decor ideas that you can do cheap, and on the fly.

Have any garden urns that have since lost their flowers? Gather a bunch of clippings from the bushes or trees in your yard, (or ask a neighbor!). Poke in some twigs or pepper berry branches or anything around the yard you can find. Maybe a few faux  poinsettia blooms that have fallen off a larger arrangement or from the Dollar Store. Anything to give it touch of  color.  It will look naturally beautiful.  But and when it snows, like it did on this urn last week, it will look magnificent!

 

The snowman above, sprayed on a glass door with canned snow found at Hobby Lobby and adorned with a Santa hat, adds cheer to the twinkling lights.

The tree in this front yard of this always festive house is adorned with "presents" wrapped in plastic gift wrap to stand up to the weather. Be sure to add rocks to your empty boxes before wrapping so they don't blow away!

This peppermint candle was homemade using a small, found jar, and a wick held in place by a piece of wire, and then filled with olive oil found in the kitchen. Peppermint candies (from Sonic happy hour) were dropped in to get a peppermint smell, but you can use whatever scent you'd like. Just be sure to use olive oil, as it has a more tolerant smoking point than other oils.

A Sign of Things to Come

We couldn't help notice Campbell's Florist is gearing up for the demand of Christmas decor that is
sweeping the city. What a wonderful time of the year!

Let the season begin!

This photo, taken from the second floor balcony of the Rawlings Library shows just a tiny part of the millions of twinkle lights on display during the Pueblo Parade of Lights.

We hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! It feels like its been holiday season since the arrival of autumn, and Halloween, but nothing kick starts it like the day after Thanksgiving. Lights, parades and decor have gone up all around us. Pueblo announced Christmas is in the air Saturday, with a glimpse of Santa at the annual Parade of Lights.