Christmas Season 2023/2024 - 6th Day of Christmas: Dinner with Mike and Charisse

Saturday, December 30, 2023

The 6th Day of Christmas

Mike and Charisse invited us over for dinner tonight. 

For the drive over we were getting a little rain that was trying to turn to snow.  Very slippery conditions. 

We brought over a bottle of white wine to share and a nice red velvet roulade from Lunds for dessert. 

We started with cocktails. Mike had martini makings set out for me.

They had quite a lovely smorgasbord set out for dinner with lots of tasty options. We had a good three hours to talk about all our surgeries, troubles at work, looking ahead and preparing for retirement, and of course our funny cats. I think we came to the conclusion that despite the trials that occur at this stage of life we're at least gaining a level of wisdom we didn't have before to help counter it all. 

While getting ready to leave we discovered the rain had indeed turned to snow and that there was a light dusting covering the ground. We said our goodbyes and were careful walking to the car and driving home because the rain had left a thin layer of ice under the snow. I can't remember the last time I had to brush snow off the car. Too bad this all didn't happen a week ago allowing us a bit of a white Christmas. Oh well, no matter. This holiday season has been quite wonderful even without the typical winter optics. 

Holiday Season 2023 - 7 Days to Go

Monday, December 18, 2023

Countdown to Christmas - 7 Days

I love waking up on Monday mornings during break and being fully aware that I don't have to go to work. 

Dale and I lounged about for quite a while this morning. I had the cat on my lap a good chunk of the time. 

I found the Cozy Christmas Coffee Cafe on YouTube and it played some Christmas piano jazz. Very relaxing.

Got the rest of the Belsnickles set up.

AND I got the lights on the tree. The LED lights give off a much cooler light than the old fashioned white lights I just got rid off. I'd still be using those if they hadn't conked out. These'll have to do. 

After getting a little lunch we went to Southdale, which, by the way, is a shadow of its former self. 

I picked up a turtleneck which looks fabulous. It should. It was very expensive. 

Dinner at Warren's tonight. We made Old Fashionds to sip on before dinner. Warren made a delicious pot pie and we brought a red velvet roulade from Lunds Byerly's for dessert. 

Christmas Season 2022/2023 - 11th Day of Christmas: Snow Day!

Wednesday, January 4, 2022

Well, not quite a traditional snow day. The new normal with remote learning is that there are no more days off from school when the snowfall makes travel impossible. It's now distance learning. Anyway, it was a break from the routine. 

Anyway, it's been snowing since yesterday so it was nice to be able to gradually keep up with the shoveling. 

Also had time to keep up with the news of Republicans embarrassing themselves trying to elect a House Speaker. 

Along with shoveling I got the roof raked. 

Dale and I had a nice roulade for dessert tonight. 

Imbolc/St. Brigid's Day

Saturday, February 1, 2020

The sun visited us briefly this morning and it was completely energizing to see it. The wonderful yellow orb has been absent for 10 days. 

Noel and I went shopping today and I bought an etagere at an antique shop. The proprietor said she thinks it dates to the 1920s. I asked if it was in the art nouveau style and although she said she could not say for sure, she acknowledged that it is definitely evocative of that style. The piece wouldn't fit in Noel's car so I'll have to pick it up at a later time. 

We also stopped at Bachman's for look for some signs of spring since they are not apparent outside yet. I looked at the seed packets. Noel bought some bamboo and an orchid for some greenery for her apartment. 

Dale and I completed our dry January. The one cocktail I love having over the Christmas holiday is the Brandy Alexander. I didn't get to it this season so I had a couple on this, the first day of February. It consists of one part brandy, one part creme de cacao, and one part cream or ice cream. I used half and half and it was wonderful. 

We made a chicken pot pie for dinner and had a roulade from Kowalski's for dessert. 

Today is also known as Imbolc, a Gaelic traditional festival that marks the beginning of spring. It occurs on February 1st which is just about halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. St. Brigid's Day is also celebrated today by many, especially in Ireland. It is my understanding that St. Brigid's Day is Christian continuation of Imbolc.  

Candlemas 2019

Saturday, February 2, 2019

Was really hoping for some gingerbread to close out the season. Couldn't find cookies in the bakery at the grocery store. Dale and I settled for some oh oh cake from Kowalski's.

Holiday Season 2018 - Home with Dale

Sunday, November 25, 2018

So good to be home with Dale. This afternoon we listened to holiday music and read. 

We also listened to some kitschy bell music that I found on iTunes. What a bunch of retro fun.

For dinner we had leftover pot pie that Dale had made for himself on Thanksgiving Day. It was delicious. 

For dessert we had a nice roulade that we picked up at Kowalski's. It was a HUGE piece so we divided it in half. I reminded Dale that "that ain't no buche!"

I decided to partake in a little egg nog that Dale had picked up for himself for Thanksgiving. He didn't care for any tonight. I added some dark rum to mine. 

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.