Christmas Season 2024/2025: Christmas Day - More Photos (1st Day of Christmas)

Wednesday, December 25, 2024

The work of the documentarian is harder than it looks.

Christmas Season 2024/2025: Christmas Day - Cocktails, Appetizers, and Prime Rib (1st Day of Christmas)

 Wednesday, December 25,  2024

After my cigar I hopped in the pool. Dale and I were supposed to have potato peeling duty at 2:00.  Dale saw how much fun I was having outside and offered to take the job over. He's just that sweet. John came out and joined me in the pool where the water was heated to a perfect 90 degrees. 

When finished in the pool I picked a tangelo from John and Dianne's backyard tree. 

                      

I made a cocktail using Bombay Sapphire, tangelo slices and juice, and lime juice ice cubes. The ice cubes were from John's neighbors who used fresh squeezed lime juice from their backyard lime tree. 

After peeling the potatoes Dale boiled and them riced them.

John made a lovely baked brie as an appetizer which  turned out splendidly.

Prime rib was on  the menu for dinner. 

John used an air fryer to cook it. 

Later when ready....

Irv looks on as John fished it out. 

Dayum it turned out nicely. 

Really nicely. 

Dale and John worked on a nice juice to put on the meat.

My God it was beautiful! Mashed potatoes and green beans accompanied it. Old Fashioned as my dinner cocktail.

Christmas Season 2024/2025: Christmas Day - A Very Speedo Christmas (1st Day of Christmas)

Wednesday, December 25,  2024

What a gloriously lazy Christmas Day. 

Had an Arturo Fuente cigar lit up by 1:30. 

Didn't change out of my speedo all day. 

Wasn't sure what to expect for a Christmas with no cold or snow. 

Turns out I did just fine.

Christmas Season 2023/2024 - 1st Day of Christmas: Quiet Christmas Morning

 Monday, December 25, 2023

Yesterday we picked up a pumpkin pie for today and I didn't get it into the fridge as quickly as I should have.  Dale seemed more worried about it than me so I sampled a piece this morning just to make sure it's okay. It was delicious. 

Christmastide 2021/2022 - 1st Day of Christmas: Dinner with Mom & A Visit with Sam and Fam

Saturday, December 25, 2021

Mom came over just before the 2 pm Google Meet I'd set up with Sam. We had a nice conversation with Sam, Becky, and the boys. At one point the boys told us about the presents they got this year. Sam mentioned that Cairic got a helmet because he had been hitting his head a lot recently. Cairic looked quite excited and jumped up to fetch said helmet. We were a little concerned and Mom asked why he was hitting his head lately. Before anyone could answer Cairic came back with a medieval type helmet that looked something like a knight might wear. We were relieved Sam had been joking about Cairic hitting his head and had a good laugh about how funny it looked as he tried it on. 

The meet lasted just about an hour. By the time it ended it was 10 pm in Sam's part of the world.

Mom brought us a funny gnome as a Christmas present. I love it!

We had beef stroganoff for dinner which Dale and I made together. It was quite delicious. Dale also made his famous Brussels sprouts with bacon and maple syrup. So yummy. 

Shortly before Mom arrived I tried on my kilt for the first time since last year. On Christmas of 2020 I realized how much lockdown weight I had put on when I couldn't get the main snap of the garment any closer than about two inches apart. This year I was able to snap it. It was tight but I was able to snap it. I like to call it a Christmas miracle but much more sensible eating in 2021 than in 2020 was the actual reason. 

Sylvester did great with Mom. He was outgoing and very comfortable being next to her on the couch. 

After we all had some pumpkin pie Mom decided to call it a night at about 7 pm as she was starting to wilt a bit. Overall she did really well considering she sang at the 9 pm Christmas Eve mass at her church last night. So good to spend Christmas with her. She's the only one on the planet I've celebrated every Christmas with in one way or another. As I look back I can only come up with two or three times I haven't been with her on the actual day. Each of those times we made up for it by celebrating on one of the other 12 days of Christmas. Merry Christmas, Mom!