celebrations – Karla's Cottage

Merry Merry

By Karla Nathan / December 25, 2025

My boy is in town with Dewdrop and Jacquelyn, and we’ve had some holiday adventures. I was jealous about their ice skating fun, since I couldn’t join it, but I got lots of joy watching them. They were a delightful show.

Adam and his sweetie have some enviable skills that deceptively make the sport look easy, but I was smart enough to know that my clumsy, concussion prone, bad shouldered, just recovering from two viruses, self, really should not attempt the ice rink.

The kiddos had a good time, but were ready to sip some tummy warming Starbucks with us and let their dad glide on without them for a while.

Not only are they graceful skaters, my boy and Jacquelyn are excellent cooks and have been treating us to spectacular meals each night too.

Our first day was iffy, we me still being under the weather, and our plans shifted a few times, trying to figure out the best way to go. Instead of picking them up at the airport and spending the day, we sent Sugarwings as chauffeur and I rested til it was time to go so we were able to keep our evening plans.

And the show was so cute. Silly, with less drama than most Cirque programs. Just right to kick off our holiday week.

Each day we have been crafting late into the night! I’m still a bit worn out and my creativity isn’t at its peak, but Adam’s pieces have been magnificent. And we still have days to go, with time for more beading. Along with cookie making, a ping pong tournament, and watching some holiday shows. Plus, as an added bonus, Santa has delivered some 60 plus degree weather, so we will be getting in lots of dog walks.

I hope the week brings you joy, also. Merry Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving

celebrations, cottage, holiday decor

By Karla Nathan / November 27, 2025

It is a quiet day for me on this holiday. Rich has to be out of town, and Sugarwings is with family in Missouri. Spending two days on one meal isn’t really something I look forward to anyway, so I will not be missing that part of the holiday.

But I will be thinking of all my grand fairies, and the whole big group of people I love and wishing them a lovely day.

Since I was ill for more than two weeks, I’ve gotten extremely far behind on my prep for our next First Friday weekend at Good Juju So I will take advantage of this solitary day to make things sparkly and bright for the Christmas sale there.

And when the day is done, I’ll enjoy my fall table display one more night before it gets a Christmas glow up to match the rest of the house.

All the while, feeling grateful for having a family to love whether we share a turkey together or not. I hope your days are filled with caring too. Have a great Thanksgiving!

A Woodland Wedding

celebrations, family

By Karla Nathan / October 29, 2025

My week in Florida ended, but my vacation did not.

Sissy and I attended Bobbie’s granddaughter’s wedding in Indiana the next day.

It was a joyful event, so much happiness and love.

The day couldn’t be more perfect, nor the location.

I’d grown up near it, but had never even known that park existed. So the day after the celebration, some nieces and I explored the trails.

We might have also goofed around with some of the remaining decor before helping pack it all up for the bride and groom.

Not living in the same state as my family means that I’ve missed out on too many special occasions, haven’t been able to watch the babies grow up, or be a part of get togethers.

Which meant that being there for this was an emotional night. I was already verklempt from happy tears, then I was wiped out when I saw bouquets with sterling charms featuring Bobbie’s fingerprints.

Ack, there I go, I’m teary again just looking at this picture!

Sights like Hannah dreamingly watching her brand new husband as he had his mother/son dance, made me cry too. It didn’t help that my seat was facing a sweet memorial table with a framed photo of Bobbie looking directly at me. I’d glance at the picture, thinking about how proud my sister would be of her kids and I’d lose it.

Tears are even more contagious than yawns, so I infected the table with them and we were a soggy mess. I kept telling myself not to do it, but I was a time bomb, ready to explode with tears at each and every endearing moment, then causing a chain reaction among my tablemates.

My time in Pendleton was much too short, but was jam packed. I got to visit with the family who didn’t go to Florida, see my beautiful grand dog, Ryder, go with Sissy to eat our favorite lunch (at the hospital we spent so much time in while Bobbie Sue was ill), walk in the woods, visit friends from school, then plan another big get together with the nieces next year at the beach, and mostly just be happy to be there with them all.

At sea with the Pirates

celebrations, family, Travel

By Karla Nathan / July 25, 2025

The Disney Wish cruise was a magical weekend, and not nearly long enough. 3 days zip by, and I’m just starting to figure out how to find my cabin when it’s time to leave.

While there was a ton to do, and so many activities that you could never do them all, I have to say the pirate night was the highlight for me.

My kids and I have always been all in for any reason to play dress up. Add in a night of frolicking , dancing, and glee?

Under a rainbow of sparkling lights in the sky?

Surrounded by people I love, family who came from long distances to celebrate together?

Aargh, matey, ye can bet thy barnacles I was ready to dance the night away like a swashbuckling sailor and love every minute of it.

Our kiddos were over 18 except Dewdrop, who seems older than her age, so we joined the party from the upper deck away from the heavy crowds down below us on the dance floor. I’d asked a bartender where the best spot was to view the fireworks and watch the band, and he was right. We hung out together above the fray on the adult deck lounge, as he suggested.

Plenty of seats, and a big open space to dance or just watch the spectacular made me almost glad that I didn’t have tiny grandfairies to tend to. (Almost, not quite, I’ll always miss those sweet, magic years with preschoolers). There is something to be said for traveling with near adults.

I don’t think I’d ever even seen the adult deck before. Let alone watch the serene sunset with a glass of wine while enjoying catching up with family. Which doesn’t mean I was too grown up to abandon my own adult behavior and dance like a kid myself once the band of pirates began rocking out to 80s music.

It’s of course, good to be home again. But my heart might still be at sea for a bit. I’m missing my pirate gang.

A celebration

celebrations

By Karla Nathan / June 16, 2025

Rich turned 65 and we celebrated with some friends. He’d been out of town, and I hung a collection of banners up to greet him when he got home.

We have one more, possibly two, dinner parties coming up, so those festive banners are staying up a while. I’m enjoying having my morning coffee under them every day.

A big surprise

celebrations, friends

By Karla Nathan / May 15, 2025

My birthday was a thoughtful one. My husband planned a surprise party and a bestie offered to host it at her house.

She even baked her mom’s special Italian Cream Cake for me. And it was even better than it looks. My buddies knew about this for a couple months and all kept the secret. I almost blew it by doing yard work all day til 5, then begging for Rich to go pick up a pizza so I could stay home and eat in my Jammie’s instead of going to a dinner reservation at 6.

ooops

Shan’s home has a screened in porch where we took in the perfect, May weather while eating dinner. Then I was surprised again by being showered with bouquets and plants, as well as a bag of vintage goodies from Angie, and a hand made friendship scrapbook compiled of over twenty years worth of photos of people I love.

It was a lovely evening, always is when I spend time with friends.

One more surprise was seeing this painted tin I’d done decades ago for my pal’s mom. It’s now hanging in her own home and I don’t remember the last time I saw it. I was pleasantly pleased to see I still liked it. (Sometimes art of the past can cause remorse.)

There were even balloons! And a banner! Both are happily on display at the cottage. I don’t think I’ve gotten either since I was a kid.

Thank you, Rich, and to all my friends. It was kind of you to do this for me.

It’s still February, so it’s not too late to celebrate Valentine’s Day

celebrations, family, Food and Drink, friends

By Karla Nathan / February 22, 2025

I had a Galantine Party planned for before the holiday, but the weather cancelled it. Too bad, because with this dreary, cold, endless winter, we needed a break to be together and have some fun.

After the February Juju sale, I brought home my leftover inventory with a heart theme and decorated with it to make the cottage festive for my friends.

We rescheduled our gathering for after the 14th and I did not mind savoring all of my roses and hearts in the kitchen for an extra week.

Our party was right before more snow and hideously cold temps were beginning to rage across the plains again. So I salted my sidewalks, had logs blazing in the fireplace, and lit lots of candles for a cozy evening and we made the best of it. Our timing was pretty good, snow started falling later that night, we had our evening together before it hit too hard even though it was bone chillingly freezing already.

Originally, I’d planned mostly snack type foods. With the never ending cold and the dismal forecast, I figured we needed a more hearty meal and whipped up a beef stew casserole topped with Duchess potatoes, and set the table for a dinner party instead of a casual hang out evening. I was glad I did that, it’s good to enjoy your pretty things and spoil your buddies sometimes, isn’t it? I eat off of paper plates a lot, and completely forget I have these lovelies.

The day before, I made a chocolate cake. But not just any old cake, this was Bobbie’s buttermilk cake, a trademark, family favorite, best cake ever cake.

I’m not a recipe person, but I got out Bobbie’s cookbook where she’d complied recipes from our entire Downey clan and followed her directions to a tee to bake her cake.

Between Valentine’s Day being the adoption date for my sons, and Ryan loving that holiday so much, my sister’s last name being Valentine, and the 16th being the anniversary of her death plus her daughter and our mom’s birthday, well, I desperately needed that buttermilk, fudgey delight.

And it was sooooooo good. It tasted like home.

I was glad to have my friends to share it with, and served it on my grandma’s plate. Which I did not put away back in the high cabinet. That chintz floral pretty is going to stay out year round and get the use it deserves. We never forget the ones we lost, but I think honoring them in small ways keeps them close. Like using their things, making their favorite foods, doing things they loved.

For me, sharing these moments and talking about them with others I love is healing. Thank you to my buddies for indulging me.

A Cottage Christmas Open House

celebrations, cottage, Food and Drink, friends, holiday decor, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / December 18, 2024

Angie, Beth, and I cohosted a holiday get together at my house last week.

We had planned for plenty of food, and generous guests brought delectable goodies too.

It became a true feast!

And a feast for the soul too.

I loved having a houseful of festive friends filling up my space and my heart too.

Dorothy got plenty of attention and spent her days choosing which laps she wanted to visit. The hooligans, I mean, big dogs, were banished up to Ryan’s apartment.

Because they’d have loved to be climbing onto laps too. It’s not as cute when a 60 pounder does it as it is when a 6 pound dog wants attention.

Two nights earlier, I’d made dinner for my book club buddies, then Rich was out of town, Sugarwings was at mama’s house, so the cottage was already for party number two. I just shifted the extra tables around and brought in chairs from the studio.

Since I was on my own for a couple of days, well except for said hooligans, the house stayed cleaned up. I did need to re-mop, but with 2 doodles and a golden retriever that is the story of my life. I’m a full time mopper.

The outdoor tables with lights strung underneath worked well for the dinner party on Tuesday and just as well for Thursday afternoon’s gathering. They are my new favorite hosting trick and I’ll be wrapping lights under them all the time in the future. It will be a nice bit of sparkle for a summer night’s garden party too.

The cocoa station got beefed up for the day too, and we set out some tasty liquors plus whipped cream to mix in with the chocolate.

I might’ve gone overboard on the cocoa packets. But as much as Sugarwings and I enjoy our parties by the tree, plus with family coming, it might not be too over the top.

I feel quite blessed to have had these fun ladies all come to our party. Most were from Kansas City, so had to make a drive to get here. I appreciate them making the time to come and celebrate with us.

Holiday party season, part one

celebrations, Food and Drink, friends, holiday decor, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / December 13, 2024

An event that I look forward to every year is our book club Christmas party

We do a book exchange, have dinner and wine together and just take time to chat.

I try to come up with party favors to reflect the season. This year I made stretch bracelets in genuine stone beads the colors of the holiday and used them as napkin rings.

Dinner was slow cooked beef with red wine gravy, rice, and sweet potato/squash casserole. Plus a salad. I realized at the last minute that I forgot to buy salad dressing, so whipped up a cranberry vinaigrette with the berries I’d bought to serve as a side dish. Lucky I had them available, huh? Plus, now that is my new favorite salad topper. I boiled the cranberries in orange juice with cardamom, then whipped it up in the blender with olive oil, apple cider vinegar, and fresh thyme, from my flower bed with a little salt and pepper. The blender made it almost creamy, I guess that is called emulsified?

Typically I make the entire meal, but this year I asked if friends could bring desserts. What a great idea! These bon bons were sorta like cake pops, but even better.

And who knew you could make cookies with tumeric? Oh my, what a treat.

We have a large group, which meant I had to be creative with the seating. Instead of setting up a folding table, I brought in my two glass topped garden tables. Our special farmhouse table that we had made has a an epoxy river running down the center and lights below it. To match that, I taped up some lights under the glass of the two I brought inside and I really loved the outcome.

Then we had a few cancellations, and ended up not needing either one. Oh well. It’s party week and I am using them again for the next group, so am glad to have carried them into the cottage before it got so cold outside. It all worked out. In the meantime, I was playing musical chairs, switching up place settings as each person dropped out.

In my world, the best time to host a party is the same week you just had one- you only have to clean your house once! I had a great time with the book club and am looking forward to part two with the next group.

The chickens made some friends and my mushrooms went to a new home

celebrations, cottage, Food and Drink, mushrooms

By Karla Nathan / September 20, 2024

My friend, Mindy, came by to purchase some mushrooms for her online shop, Myrtle and Mo.

Since I believe that most occasions should be parties whenever possible, I told her to bring the kids with her for a spooky cocoa party.

Instead of having the inventory packed up in the studio, I used it as a centerpiece, and Sugarwings set the table with our Halloween themed cups and teapot.

We were ready to welcome a couple of adorable guests.

Dessert was scary cherry pies.

Their mom was a good sport about all of the sweet treats before dinner time. We also had fruit skewered onto witch leg picks, and a cauldron full of guacamole to dip pretzels in. So, maybe that counter acted some of the decadence.

The tarts were in silicone teacups made to bake in, lined with crust, cherry pie filling, then topped with a circle of pie dough that I cut faces into with a knife. I added noses and eyebrows from the trimmings.

But the big hit of the party was the henhouse.

The ladies are some of the sweetest chickens we have ever had, and seemed happy with the attention.

There was plenty of snuggles to go around, and those birds got lots of attention.

Mindy went home with kids filled up with sweets, tired from chasing chickens, and a nice selection of mushrooms.

If you are one of the people who have been asking me to list schroomies in my poor, neglected boutique to sell online, uhm, you might be better off checking out my pal’s store. I do not seem to be filling that shop up, am I?

It’s still open, and I’m paying fees for it, although I sure haven’t used it much this year. But Mindy has a full shop, with a few dozen mushrooms along with her fantastic vintage goods.

You can find her (and my velvet mushie creations) here:

https://www.myrtleandmo.com/shop-1/artist-spotlight/karla-nathan