Dior Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2021 Collection

Perhaps the best find from our E-vacation in France, hope you enjoy. The future of fashion shows? B

 Lovely nature themed needle art. B 

The Link: patchwork fields and embroidered landscapes by victoria rose richards

Snowstorm & Icy Cold River | Falling Snow & Polar Wind | Sounds of Winter

Pretty cool drop into existing space. B 

Link to Suspended Nest Concept

 So, we are SO tired of 2020 and have decided to live in 18th century simplicity in 2021, and that includes living an experiment for the next 12 months of the music, the clothes, the food, and a much slower, more spiritual lifestyle. Still working on the specifics, but there will be a LOT of Y's cooking, and my woodworking, and indoor/outdoor lifestyle in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Found this today on tea culture. So done with the 21st century, this will be a staycation from. Blessings Be. The pic and the link. B

The Link: https://theteamaestro.com/category/colonial-tea-history/

Beautiful Zen retreat, love the soft lighting, the low furniture, the plunge pool, the honest textures. B

The  link: Peaceful Wellness Retreat by Z_lab

This is how a real, moral, compassionate, intelligent, informed, decent leader sounds. After 3+ years of the other guy, Biden has my vote. We miss you Obama! B

A dose of the damn happy, on this day of social distancing. Love how people are pitching in to make a difference to each other's lives. Original Hamilton Cast sing Alexander Hamilton with Emily Blunt on SGN. Take care! B

Good concert, in case you are needing some entertainment suggestions while we are locked down. The National - Live at Sydney Opera House. Stay safe! B

One of the Best Mutual Funds you can buy for Wealth Building - Potential to double your Nest Egg in 5-years.

I know I am all over the map here, but I'm a 4D person, living in a 3D world, in other words, I'm complicated. :). Part of what I would like to accomplish in this blog, is to explore wisdom on sound, old-fashioned, Geo. Washington-style wealth building.

Today I wanted to share some investment research I recently completed (in case you don't know, I'm a research junky) hoping it is a value to some of you. The email I sent family earlier, FYI:

Dear Family,

I've mentioned a mutual fund to you that has been a really good investment for us over the years, having doubled our modest 401k/IRA in 5 years, it was John Hancock's Blue Chip Growth Fund JBGAX or JIBCX, depending (same fund, one is IRA, the other 401k).

In case you've considered that investment, or even invested in that fund, I wanted to tell you about an even better fund, and one I've moved our retirement funds into this month, and that is the T.Rowe Price Blue Chip Fund symbol TRBCX. It has the same fund manager, and a very similar investment profile, indeed, it appears the top 10 investments are the same in each fund, as I recall. The reason it is better, is that it has outperformed JBGAX over the years, AND, importantly, the fees are 40% less, which adds up A LOT over time, considering compounded returns.

Here's a snapshot of the investment trend, with a top rated Lipper score of 5, and good reviews which I'll copy you on. I thought, just in case you have invested in JBGAX on my recommendation, I didn't want to leave you out of this better opportunity for growth.

Review links:

Zacks - 3 Top-Rated Mutual Funds for your Retirement Dec. 2019

Motley Fool - 10 Best Mutual Funds to Buy in 2020, Jan 2020

You might note the historical 111% growth over 5 years on the graph above, in other words if it performs as it has historically, which is no guarantee [and you should seek a 2nd opinion on this investment considering your appetite for risk (moderate in this case), and life stage], you will double your investment in 5 years. Not too shabby :).

Expect this fund to rise and fall over time, but ultimately it is likely to have an upward trajectory as you see in the graph over the long haul, which is what I, like Warren Buffet, seek in an investment. Trust in investing in strong, well-managed, profitable American companies long-term, and don't sweat the short-term corrections, which are inevitable. Later life stage folks may have to be careful about how much of their nest egg to put in this fund, since it can be somewhat volatile short-term (Warren, for example, has suggested his wife invest in index funds when he shuffles off this mortal coil).

If you've questions, please let me know.

Found this on Designboom, wanted to share the beauty of this, and keep this for my own inspiration. Hope you enjoy.

The link: Dreamscape mural by oscar oiwa

THE WEEK IN RECIPES

CRANBERRY PUMPKIN BREAD

3 cups all purpose flour

• 2 tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 2 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp ground allspice
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 cups canned pumpkin puree
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil 
• 1 2/3 cups buttermilk
• 1 large handful (or whatever amount you like) fresh cranberries

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Grease two 81/2 by 41/2 inch loaf pans, set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and salt.  Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine pumpkin puree and both sugars.  Mix on med. until well combined.  Add eggs and oil, mix until combined, scraping down the bowl.  With the mixer on low, add the flour mixture in two batches, alternating with the buttermilk and beginning and ending with the flour.  Gently stir in cranberries with a rubber spatula.

Divide the batter between the prepared pans.  Place the pans on a baking sheet.  Bake, rotating the sheet halfway through, until a cake tester comes out clean, 55 to 60 minutes.  Remove loaves from pans and cool completely.

RUSTIC CRANBERRY ORANGE TART

• 1 stick butter
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1/4 tsp salt 
• 1 cup good orange marmalade
• 1 generous handful of fresh cranberries, cut in half
• 3/4 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/4 cup rolled oats
• 1 small orange, sliced thin, seeds removed

Preheat oven to 350.  Cream the butter with the sugars until light and fluffy.  Add vanilla and egg, beat until smooth, then add dry ingredients except nuts and cranberries.

Set aside approx. 3/4 cup of the dough and press the rest evenly into a 9 inch pie pan.  Spread the marmalade over the top.  Add the cranberries.  Mix the reserved dough with the nuts and oats and crumble it over the top.  Decorate the tops with the orange slices.  

Bake until lightly browned on top, about 40 minutes.  Let cool, then cut into wedges.

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