Christmastide:MLK Weekend Sunday - Christmistletoe

Sunday, January 19, 2025

Meant to post this earlier but it's been a busy week. Dale announced his retirement a few days ago. I celebrated with a cigar. 

When Dale got home we went to The Lowbrow to celebrate with cocktails and dinner. 

And dessert. I find Christmastide to be a great time to celebrate new beginnings and anticipate good things to come. 

By the way, that cigar I mentioned earlier took about an hour to smoke and it was at least as cold out as it's gonna be for the in-uugh-uration tomorrow (which has now been moved inside due to... "extremely cold temperatures").  Bah!!!

Brunch with Dale at The Lowbrow. While Dale was out parking the car I told our server Dominic about Dale's retirement. He was sweet and brought us some complimentary coffee cake with a candle in it. Dale made a wish, blew out the candle, looked up at me with a smile and said, 'I got it.' When I asked him what he wished for he told me to be here with me. 

After  brunch we stopped by the cemetery to  see Dad. Recently I saw a display of chocolate covered cherries at Lund's and they reminded me of all the times as a kid I'd stop to at Woolworth's or Wagreens to get him a box as a Christmas present to him. I remember as a kid the first time I was old enought to have just enough money saved from my allowances to buy some meager Christmas gift for my immediate family members. Having no idea what to get Dad I asked Mom for ideas. She suggested chocolate covered cherries.  He loved 'em but I  never saw him buy them for himself. 

After we got home I lit up a cigar in the garage. It was fantastic. However, it was so cold out I  had to take a break in the middle of it to come in and warm up. 

I had a bit of the port Mom brought over a while ago. She and Dale weren't fans. I like it.

I listened to some music. I really enjoy the above recording. I remember Sir Neville Marriner as the conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra from 1979 to 1986. This album contains many wonderful carols many of which aren't heard that often including. Jesus Christ the Apple tree, Personent Hodie, Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day (which I remember from my. Annunciation days), and Past Three O'clock. 

We're experiencing some of the coldest weather so far of this winter. Very cold out as we're getting ready for bed. 

Christmas Season 2023/2024 - 12th Day of Christmas: 12th Night

Friday, January 5, 2024

The 12th Day of Christmas - 12 Drummers Drumming

Exhausting day at work. Laid back 12th Night here at home. Got a number of  Christmas decorations and tchotchkes put away. I'd like to have it all packed up by bedtime tomorrow. 

Light dinner of salads but had dessert to celebrate 12th Night.

Read this little book tonight. Very sweet. It reminded me of how much I loved Peanuts as a kid.

MLK Weekend 2023 - Staying In. A Lot

Saturday, January 16, 2023

Dale and I both tested positive for Covid this past week. We've both had fevers and were sick as dogs. However, we'll feeling a bit better now. 

I had a fever of 102.1 on Wednesday. It dropped to normal by the evening. Dale, on the other hand, had a fever of 101 on Wednesday. 

Tonight Dale and I made a quiche and watched Auntie Mame.

We had banana chocolate swirl cake from Lunds. 

Thanksgiving Weekend 2021 - The Return Home

Sunday, November 28, 2021

Sadly, we had to leave. Both Mom and I really enjoyed the time we spent with everyone. 

Pete got us to the airport with plenty of time to spare. We ordered a little lunch while we waited for our flight. I got a Bloody Mary and some quesadillas while Mom got a beer and some French fries. 

I read a bunch of Christmas magazines on the plane including Martha Stewart Living. Dale picked us up at the airport and it was so good to see him.

Cocktails at home and spent time catching up with Dale. 

Listened to Christmas music.

Dinner and dessert. 

The Seventh Day of Christmas Part 2 - New Year's Eve

Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Laid back day. Dale and I got some cleaning done, a trip to Kowalski's,  and some nice walks in. Again, it is so good to see the sun. 

For cocktail hour we listened to some Christmas music from Bing Crosby, Donna Summer, and the Ultra Lounge.

I had a martini and Dale had wine. 

For dinner we had steak, Brussels sprouts, and a pasta salad.

And for dessert we had pumpkin pie. 

During dinner and dessert we watched The Bishop's Wife - one of our favorites.

I find New Year's Eve to be a kilt-worthy holiday. Note: Dry January starts tomorrow. 

Tonight turned out to be a wonderfully quiet night in. We were in bed by 9:30 p.m. Looking forward to 2020. 

Christmas Season 2017/2018 - New Year's Eve

Sunday, December 31, 2017

As I write this I'm sitting on my couch in my cozy living room with Dale sitting next to me reading the paper. Athena is lying peacefully across from me on her doggie bed beneath the television. It's bitterly cold outside. It was -15 degrees this morning and is currently -7 at 5p.m.

Cocktail hour is in full swing so my Beefeater martini is at my side and I'm listening to Ultra Lounge Christmas Cocktails Vol. 4 which  is a very worthy collection of xmas tunes. The red and white lights of the Christmas tree are casting a lovely warm glow over everything. There's no place I'd rather be right now than here. 

I made a chicken pot pie tonight for dinner. The gravy was made by Mrs. Kowalski which is sooo much better than the bottled stuff. 

My martini, sitting near me on our kitchen counter while I put the pot pie together, was accidentally knocked by Dale to the floor where it shattered into a million little pieces. Thank God I didn't have any drinking buddies in the glass. They would have been traumatized.

While Dale worked on stir frying the broccoli I made myself a new martini. We're listening to Abba: The Album which is so 1977.

During dinner we watched When Harry Met Sally which has a very significant New Year's Eve scene. Dale's never seen the movie, only certain parts. Although I've suggested watching it the past few new years, he's never had a real interest in seeing it. This year he agreed and admitted it was much better than he thought it would be.  I think it's a classic that really holds up. 

For dessert I had some of the left-over chocolate torte from Noel's gathering. Dale didn't partake. 

New Year's Eve 2015 - Gingerbread Bread Pudding

Thursday, December 31, 2015

We'll be hosting Mike and Charisse for New Year's Eve. The plan is to have lasagne just like we did on Christmas Day. I made a Betty Crocker gingerbread cake and then hacked it up and dumped a bunch of milk and heavy cream and eggs all over it and then rebaked it to make the pudding. 

Christmas Season 2013/2014 - Holiday Brunch Rum Cake 2

Pistachio Rum Cake Pudding

Top left: Just out of the oven.

Top right: Glaze poured on bottom.

Bottom left: Pre big reveal.

Bottom left: The big reveal.

New Year's Eve 2013 Part 1

We're going to the house of our friends Alyn and Chris tonight. Another friend, Eric, and his new beau will be there as well. Alyn and Chris asked Eric to bring dessert and he posted the above picture on Facebook stating that he'd be bringing tirimisu. We're bringing the champagne (okay, sparkling wine). Hopefully three bottles will be enough.

New Year's Eve 2012

Dale, Athena and I had a quiet and very enjoyable New Year's Eve.  We put together a grazing tray consisting of shrimp, herring, apples, grapes, carrots, broccoli, brie with fig jelly, and crackers.  We drank champagne along with it an managed to get quite full.  For dessert we finished off the pumpkin roulade that we had originally brought to Noel's annual holiday fete.

Christmas Season 2012 - Noel's Annual Holiday Fete

On December 29, Dale and I attended my friend Noel's annual holiday soiree.  For dessert we brought a pumpkin roulade which I mistakenly referred to as a Buche de Noel.  I included her response with the above photo.  Caroline and Stephen were there and her cat Ginger also made an appearance.