Holiday Season 2021 - Difficult Christmas Eve Morning

Friday, December 24, 2021

Woke up this morning and was saddened to find out from Dale that John C. fell late last night and spent overnight on the floor. Something was not working with his phone. Dale got in touch with him this morning and went over to help get everything sorted out. Also, we found out that the adolescent son of friends of ours tried to commit suicide last night by overdosing on pills. He's alive now but unconscious and it is not certain he'll make it. I'm hoping for the best. 

Holiday Season 2021 - Welcome Sylvester!

Sunday, December 12, 2021

Welcome Sylvester! 

Sylvester is a two year old cat we are adopting from John C. who is no longer able to care for him. This photo shows him crated just before the car ride to our house. He is a gentle and sweet cat and is adjusting well to his new surroundings (that is, if hiding between the wall and an armoire is considered adjusting well). According to Dale it can take about a week for a cat to get used to new surroundings. 

I consider him an early Christmas present!

Thanksgiving 2020 - A Very Pandemic Thanksgiving

Thursday, November 26, 2020

Well, another familiar event has arrived that's  taken a very pandemic twist. We had planned on having Mom over today but Dale found out he had potentially been exposed to Covid through John C.'s personal care attendant. John's initial test came back negative but is waiting on a follow up test. Because of this Dale and I didn't feel comfortable having Mom over. When I called to tell her I felt terrible. It was like having to fire her from Thanksgiving. Although disappointed she handled it well. 

However, the holiday turned out nicely all things considered. We made a boatload of food and I appreciated the sense of familiarity that provided.  We were able to bring food over to Mom and John which felt good. Still, it all felt ever so slightly off due to not spending it with other folks.

Colored the turkey in the Strib.

Watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade...

Only a block long this year and much of it pre-recorded. 

The Fifth Day of Christmas Part 3 - A Bloody Mary Kind of Day

Sunday, December 29, 2019

Dale and I went to the gym this morning and then stopped by the store to pick up a Christmas present for John. Before we went to his place to drop it off we stopped by the Lowbrow for brunch and I had a Bloody Mary. That's not unusual but I mention it because I've decided to do a dry January. I'm allowing myself to drink for these last few days although I don't plan on overdoing it. 

Christmas Day 2019 - What a Wonderful Christmas

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Quiet Christmas morning. 

Drank Bloody Mary's as I continued to clean the house and get it decorated for company this afternoon. 

More tchotchkes to set out...

Finally finished decorating the tree. 

As I got the house ready, Dale worked on the turkey. 

I don't think we've made one for about 5 years. Dale has really become quite the turkey-meister. 

As I finished up my tasks I was overtaken by a rather touching sentimentality while listening to the above song. It's not a real common Christmas Carol but I've come to love it quite a bit.

Athena's sweetness is alway appreciated around here. 

She got a lot of walks, attention, and rest today. She blends in with the chair in the above picture so I put a label next to her. 

After getting cleaned up I tended to getting the sweet potato casserole, my one contribution to Christmas dinner, ready to go. 

This was my first ever effort at the task and Mom, who's been making it for years, was horrified to find out I'd be using canned sweet potatoes. She was pleasantly surprised to discover it turned out GREAT (if I do say so myself) and she said as much. 

Our dinner guests, Mom, John, and Noel, started showing up around 3 p.m. which is about the time the turkey came out of the oven to rest. 

It turned out to be a lovely Christmas. The house looked great, the food was fantastic, and, I believe,  a great time was had by all.

I finished out the day with a little Irish cream. 

Christmas Eve 2019

Tuesday, December 24, 2019

It's been a rather quiet and low-key day so far. Dale went to the gym this morning while I stayed home and did a little more work decorating the tree. I also got some preliminary cleaning done as we're having, Mom, John, and Noel over tomorrow for Christmas Day dinner. 

Got Athena on a nice walk. She's sleeping like a baby now. The weather is unseasonably mild. We're at 38 degrees as I write this. 

Dale and I went grocery shopping at Kowalski's yesterday but went again this afternoon for some last minute items. I'm making a sweet potato casserole for tomorrow. Mom was a little disappointed to find out I'm using canned sweet potatoes but I convinced her to cut me a little slack as it'll be my first effort. 

Christmas Season 2017/2018 - Gathering at Susan's

Friday, December 29, 2017

John's sister Susan invited us along with John to her house for a post-Christmas gathering. Susan's friends Nancy and Liz made it as well and we were also joined by Susan's kids Ally and Nick. I haven't seen most of these folks in about a year so it was a reunion of sorts. We started with a lovely orange salad and Susan also made lamb, mashed sweet potatoes, beans, and bread. Dale an I brought pecan and pumpkin pies for dessert. I had a lovely chat with Ally about her current fellowship with a local arts organizations. She graduated from college this past spring so it was exciting to hear about  her working in her chosen field and her enthusiasm around it.

We were home by 10:30 and I indulged in a nightcap of Bailey's Irish Cream which was a gift from Mom on Christmas Day..