Christmas Season 2016/2017 - Tree Down

Sunday, January 8, 2017

The decorations were off the tree on January 3. The lights and the tree was down by January 8. 

Christmas Season 2016/2017 - Christmas Angels

Saturday, January 7, 2017

Unexpectedly found a couple of wonderful half priced angels at The Paper Patisserie while out shopping with Noel today. Was thinking most holiday merchandise would be gone by now. Glad to find out I was wrong. The two on the right are the ones I purchased today. The one on the left was obtained last year. 

Christmas Season 2016/2017 - Twelfth Night

Thursday, January 5, 2017

Dale and I attended the Twelfth Night celebration at church tonight. From 6:30 to 7:00 was a soup supper of minestrone and bread and lots and lots of people's leftover holiday sweets. At 7:00 music and entertainment commenced. I got to be in the procession in which the Boar's Head Carol was sung and the (paper mache) boar's head was carried in. The boar's head, made by Steve's daughter, began the day as just a balloon and a paper cup. She did an amazing job. Other highlights included Emma dancing, Steve and Tom singing High Hopes, an historical reflection by Lou Schoen, and the singing of various carols. It was a wonderful way to end the Twelve Days of Christmas.

Christmas Season 2016/2017 - New Year's Day 2017: Moana

Sunday, January 1, 2017

Dale and I usually see a movie on New Year's Day and this year we saw Disney's Moana. Wow. We loved it. What a well told story. The music is by the guy who did Hamilton. It's a quest story that incorporates elements of Polynesian spirituality and history. Julie and Regina joined us. 

Father Christmas

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

I believe I picked this guy up from the Granary years ago. He's one of my favorites and Dale's as well. 

Christmas Season 2016/2017 - Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2016

Saturday, December 31, 2016

Didn't make it to midnight this year and that's okay.

Christmas Season 2016/2017 - New Year's Eve: Brandy Alexander

Saturday, December 31, 2016

I ended the evening with a brandy Alexander. Dale did not. Neither of us made it to midnight.

Christmas Season 2016/2017 - New Year's Eve: A Christmas Story

Saturday, December 31, 2016

Yes, we watched A Christmas Story for the umpteenth time and it was as funny and endearing as it always is. 

Christmas Season 2016/2017 - New Year's Eve: Dinner

Saturday, December 31, 2016

We had a lovely yet simple dinner of salmon quiche and brussels sprouts. For dessert I made gingerbread bread pudding out of the gingerbread house I made the other day. 

Christmas Season 2016/2017 - New Year's Eve: Cigar

Saturday, December 31, 2016

Headed over to Golden Leaf for my final cigar of 2016. Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur.

Christmas Season 2016/2017 - New Year's Eve: Posing with Athena

Saturday, December 31, 2016

We tried to get a family picture with Athena but had a heck of a time trying to get her to sit still and look at the camera. The above photo is the one that turned out the best although Athena doesn't show up very well against our dark clothes.  

Christmas Season 2016/2017 - New Year's Eve: Eggnog

Saturday, December 31, 2016

Had an early afternoon helping of eggnog. I bought the Lactaid version because they were out of the other stuff but it was still quite delicious. I added rum and nutmeg for extra flavor.

Christmas Season 2016/2017 - Noel's Annual Holiday Fete

Friday, December 30, 2016

Tonight I attended Noel's annual holiday fete. Dale had to join us later since he double booked the evening. Noel, Caroline, Stephen, and I started the evening with a champagne toast to close out a tough year but also to acknowledge Debbie Reynold's who died a couple days ago and sang on Chrissy The Christmas Mouse, one of this groups most favorite holiday songs. Dale was able to join us around 9:30 p.m. Despite all of us staying until nearly midnight, there were no ghost stories this year. A colleague of Noel's recently started a home pie baking business and Noel picked a couple up from her. We enjoyed a maple blueberry pie and a cranberry pear pie.

Christmas Season 2016/2017 - Brandy Alexander

Thursday, December 29, 2016

Made my first brandy Alexander for the season tonight. Since we're out, I headed to the liquor store earlier to pick up some creme de cacao but picked up creme do cocoa instead. Very subtle difference although still very delicious.

Christmas Season 2016/2017 - Entertaining

Thursday, December 29, 2016

Dale and I had Mike and Charisse over for dinner. tonight. Haven't seen quite as much of them this year so it was great to be able to spend some time and catch up. 

I spent  time today making a gingerbread cake as I recently acquired a mold for doing just that. A gingerbread recipe came with the mold so I didn't use a pre-made mix. In the end it was delicious but the top of the roof stuck to the bottom of the mold (it baked upside down) when I turned it over. Dale joked that the wind blew off the roof.  I ended up getting the separated roof out of the mold and attempted to reassemble it which is what you see in the top photo.

Christmas Season 2016/2017 - Mike

Thursday, December 29, 2016

Always good to spend time with Mike and Charisse.