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 Eve 2024: Cookies and Lattes

 Tuesday, December 24, 2024

After dinner Dianne made lattes and we had some holiday inspired Milanos. 

I asked Alexa to play a few Christmas songs for us starting with Do You Hear What I Hear by Lincoln Brewster. 

Next a trio of Christmas songs from The Killers. Dale's favorite is Joel the Lump of Coal. He says it always makes him a little teary. Christmas In L.A. really resonates with me this year as it's about not being home for Christmas. It's evocative of the song White Christmas and actually incorporates part of that song into it. I'm doing pretty well not being home for Christmas and am enjoying it here quite a bit but am finding I'm missing Mom quite a bit. 

Countdown to Christmas: 2 Days

 Monday, December 23, 2024

Woke up this morning around 5:00. Last night was Dale’s first night away from staying with his parents this trip. So nice to have him here this morning. Hot tub with John about 7:00 am. Talked family, (my) work, and politics. 

Nice walk with Dale up to the sundial on a nearby trail. 

You stand on the month. . .

...and your shadow points to the hour. This photo was taken at 10:53 am. Pretty accurate. 

The trail ends with the sundial at the top of a hill. 

The views from up top are pretty nice. 

Dale and I took the same hike last time I was here in February. 

After our hike we went to lunch at IHOP.  Dale got breakfast and I got the shrimp platter.  The regular shrimp platter not the 55+ version. 

Dale needed some clothes so we did some shopping at Kohl’s. He got a pair of pants and some shirts. I ended up getting a couple of shirts as well.  Next off to the cigar store where I picked up a couple of cigars. Our final stop for errands was Safeway where I got some cereal   and some premade Old Fashioneds. Those should last me through Christmas. One would hope. 

At Safeway I also picked up an Archie Christmas Comics Digest. It’s a throwback to when Pete was born in late November back in the day. Mom was in the hospital for a few days which was how they did it back then. No get-‘em-in-and-get-‘em-out like they do now. They also didn’t let kids in to visit so Dad bought Sam and I comic books we could read in the waiting room. Archies were my favorite at the time and by that part of the year Christmas issues were out so he bought me a few. 

When we got home we were at the high for the day...

Was feeling a little sniffly so I decided to take a soak in the sun but not the water. 

I read a ghost story for Christmas from the Seth series titled Captain Dalgety Returns. I may  have to reread it as I found it tough to follow. 

Gathering at the home of Candace and Doug, John and Dianne's next door neighbors. They had a nice gathering of folks who live on the blockc and it was nice to meet so many of them. I met a woman named Nancy who is a retired primary teacher who left the profession around the time of Covid. We talked about the many joys of teaching but also about the joys of not doing it anymore. 

John and Dianne's other next door neighbor, Kirk, came to the party as well and is pictured here with us on the left.  The theme of the party was Mele Kelikimaka which is the reason for the leis. 

Dale and I back at John and Dianne's place after the party.