Christmas Season 2022/2023 - 3rd Day of Christmas: More Holiday Entertaining

Tuesday, December 27, 2022

Spent much of the day in a fatigued state. I took two substantial naps and felt better by the afternoon. We had our neighbors Breanna and Josh along with their kids Bran and Ada over for dinner tonight. We had a very nice time. 

Christmas Season 2022/2023 - The 1st Day of Christmas: Merry Christmas!

Sunday, December 25, 2022

Woke up this morning at 7:00 which is the latest I've slept in a long time. It was a lovely quiet Christmas morning. We transferred the stroganoff to the crock pot at 7:30 so it would be ready this afternoon around 4:00/4:30. 

Noel was going to join us for dinner today but she messaged me to let me know that she's having a hard time dealing with the death of her brother Patrick a couple months ago and that she felt it was best to stay home. Of course I understood.

Mom and Warren came over around 3:30. Warren brought a nice cheese tray which we had with cocktails. He also brought over a delicious cheese and broccoli soup which we had as a first course before the beef stroganoff. Pumpkin pie for dessert. Mom gave me the sweet holy family figurine which is pictured above. I love it however I've had to hide it since Sylvester keeps trying to bite Joseph's head off!

The Tenth Day of Christmas - Mike and Charisse

Friday, January 3, 2020

Had Mike and Charisse over tonight on this the tenth day of Christmas. Dale hasn't seen them as recently as I have so it was nice to catch up. Dale made an amazing chili with Italian sausage that went over very well. We had cherry pie for dessert and I found out that Mike grew up preferring birthday pies as opposed to cakes just like I did. We're all doing dry January and it's going well for everyone. We're all finding that we're missing the rituals of drinking more so than the drinking itself. 

2,5,6,7,9,10

Christmas Season 2017/2018 - Noel's Annual Holiday Fete

Saturday, December 30, 2017

The tradition continues. We figured that we've been doing this get together since 1998. 

Rosie likes to model but cannot sit still long enough to look at the camera.

Noel had to hold her so I could get this shot. 

Ella Bella is becoming more and more outgoing. She let me snap this lovely photo of her.

Noel's tree looked awesome. The teal lights are especially stunning. 

The conversation was lively as always. 

The menu included chicken wings and dummies   meatballs, cheese and crackers, fruit, and salad.

For dessert there were chocolate covered strawberries, chocolate covered cherries, and  chocolate torte (with no need of reform as it was perfect). 

Joe read and enchanted everyone with a ghost story titled Christmas in the Blue Chamber by Jerome K. Jerome.

And we all know Stephen is a tree hugger.  Chrissy the Christmas mouse made a brief appearance. She seemed a little miffed most likely due to her being more and more excluded from the event in recent years.

Holiday Entertaining

Two couples that we know from the gym came over for dinner last night. Michelle, who teaches a spin class that Dale takes, and her husband Steve, along with Fred, who also takes the spin class, and his wife Linda arrived around 6:30. Appetizers included cheese, tapanade and crackers. Everyone drank wine except Steve and me who had Tanqueray gin martinis [Note to self: Steve loves Hendricks].

Dale made rigatoni and green beans amandine. Fred and Linda brought the most divine chocolate cake from Cafe Latte in St. Paul.

It was a lovely group of people and a good time was had by all.