Sugar wars

 

It is with a heavy heart that I bid a "bittersweet" goodbye to some old friends.

 

 

My end of the year blood work indicated I must lighten up. Look at all those luscious goodies. Yes that is fried chicken on the left. Sister Schubert you were like a sister to me. Haagen-Das say it isn't so. Chocolate chess pie, potato chips, eggnog even Mr. Hershey my dearest friend I'll miss you. But to my soul mate Irish potato, this isn't good bye. I can see you on the weekends but, only baked not fried. It will all be worth it to live long and get to see my babies live their lives and be a part of it. Wish me luck.

 

 

 

 

holidays

 

Whew! The day after Christmas. I always loved that day when the girls were little. The toys were all still new and exciting. I hardly even saw them. They were either writing in a new journal, making a Harry Potter potion or taking care of a new baby doll. Total bliss. I could rest up . Well I still enjoyed this day. Relaxed and then went to see a movie. We saw Saving Mr. Banks. It is about the making of one of my childhood favorites, Mary Poppins. Mom you have to see it! So I have some catching up to do and Ed has the fire going so here goes.

 

 

Let's talk Solstice Party . A long standing tradition with Woolverton and McNeil families. We were sad without Bill. Sophie and Paul hosted and made the night special and not too maudlin. Poppers popped . Crowns emerged . The food was fabulous. Wolfs, Mcneil/Patricks collaborated.

 

 

We exchanged gifts. All were great, but here are highlights

 

 

A play pizza set which was a joke but he couldn't put it down.

 

 

Chris' huge rice crispie treat. He of course at some of it forthwith

 

 

Lord of the manse with his gift

 

Ivy and Shelby, too cute

 

The house was so great

 

what can I say?  On Sunday we had lunch at Majestic Burger.

 

 Amy came too. So happy to have her at Broadmeadow

 

 

Now Christmas day. I know I've left out a lot .

 

Bryan and Ashley

 

waiting to eat

 

 

Beautiful girls

 

Happy to have Ivy and Shelby

 

 

Winners of the best hair contest. Even though Ryan looks a little special in this pic

 

 

Brody's first Christmas and first present in the name draw! I was lucky enough to draw his name.

 

 

Here we all are. You can see Sophie in the mirror if you look closely. Just lack the Voda, Rhodes, Middleton component. See you at the beach.



 



 





 

 

 







 

 

 

 

kiss kiss

 

One of the most anticipated events during the holidays just happened! A phone call from Kissing Santa himself. He usually says something clever like "Ho, ho, ho, hello Amy"

 

Before you laugh, let me take a moment to shed some light on his history. In my early artistic years, I went through a prolific paper mache period. This rare remaining piece may be all that is left of my paper legacy. There used to be a cat, pig and three wise men. Jan fell in love with this guy, who is based on a huge Chianti bottle. His very well endowed lips inspired his nick name. Stop by Jan's and give him a kiss. Then you can have a Hershey's kiss out of the coffee can covered in a laced up  Santa boot. Did I mentions my felt artistic period? It was right up there with the folded page Sears catalog Christmas tree.



if you have bean good to me...

                               

...you may get some of my soup mix! I mixed them in a huge bowl. I will measure it out in little bags.

 

 

These are some of the varieties. I only lack red lentils which means a trip to Rainbow.

 

 

I admit I had a bit of help. Not

 

 

Ed's SFB managers party was this week and it was so cold that night. I got to wear my MOB dress again. The perfect answer for the cold was my Mamaw Brown's mink stole! I have never worn it, and it is amazing how warm it was.

 

 

Candy insisted on a picture of my face. I am not good at selfies. What do you do with all those chins?

 

 

Millsaps Lessons and Carols was so moving. Great way to get in the spirit. I sat by the professional photographer (Sophie), but mine did not show how beautiful it all was.

 

 

So as I sit typing, I look over at Ed. He has 3 screens in view! Oh for heaven's sake, how much technology does one guy need?

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's what's for breakfast

           ok, don't judge me, but this was breakfast

 

I mean its not that bad. As my Mamaw used to say to my mom when giving me chocolate "it's made with milk!". And who can argue with cheerios, chex cereal and nuts? I may as well have had a bowl of cereal and milk. Right, Mom?

 

This next pic is for all of you with cats. Check out my rustic tree skirt.

 

Wait I don't see a tree skirt, you say...

 

Oh, there it is.  I guess it is more of an "in the same room as a tree skirt". Sliding into this has been such a joy for the two pretend jungle cats. What losers.

I'm pretty excited. I'm going to Millsaps to hear their Lessons and Carols program today. The fun part is riding on the church bus with all the UMW ladies. They are such a fun bunch. I'm always the youngest one there! 

 

 

Check out the Chex mix

    You know it is the holidays when you smell this baking...

 

Yes , that is 5 huge pans. It is very messy to make. I mix it in a garbage bag (clean of course). I don't have to worry about the bits that fall on the floor however, thanks to my automatic kitchen vacuum.

 

and the back up vacuum...

 

 

Also there has been a wild cat on the loose in the jungle created by the ferns brought in from the cold.

 

As you can see he is clearly deranged. Beware.

 



 

birthdays are special

Don't you just love birthdays? My group of friends decided years ago we would make a big deal out of everybody's birthday every time. It has worked well . For Bev's birthday, we went to Parlor Market in downtown Jackson. If you have not been there, get in your car now and go! It is so good. Everything is fresh and made in house . Even the condiments. Once again I was having too much fun to take pics. They make great cocktails with house made mixers, like tonic water. I had a Prescription Tonic. Yum . No picture , but trust me.

Sue, Bev and Pam

 

 

Priscilla and Joan

 

 

 

This was a ginger cookie with banana mousse on top with salted caramel on the plate. It was good . The mousse was mostly creamed banana and not too sweet . Great combo. Happy Birthday, Bev. We toasted to a better year in 2014.

 



 

greenery

   ahhh look at that fresh greenery on the door. Can't you just imagine us gathering it in local forests? Rushing in with flushed cheeks and frozen fingers? We rush in to drink hot cocoa by the roaring fire, happy we have brought light and evergreens to our humble door, to symbolize everlasting light and life.

 

You would be very wrong I'm sorry to say. Candy and I were burning up when we cut the eucalyptus quite illegally on the green belt behind our house. I bet the neighbor was glad we trimmed those overhanging limbs. And it was so hot and humid as I hung this that I was sweating like a Christmas pig. I was wearing shorts and flip flops and I still had to come in and change my shirt. The air conditioner was running.

 

 

It smells really nice.

 

 

It's a tepid Mississippi holiday.

 

 

So let me go and put my feet up now and have a nice steamy spiced cider...scratch that. An icy gin and tonic will do just fine. Ryan always calls my G&T's Christmas trees...I'll drink to that.

 

 

 

Thanksgiving

   So much to blog and so little time. Festivities swung in with a bit of destruction and mayhem. Sophie suggested that our yearly tradition happen on Thanksgiving night since our family dinner happened on Friday instead of Thursday. Lucy had been saying I owed her a Witches Stew, which usually happens on Halloween. This has been a strange season. So I made a vat of White Chili and they came. Here they are pre-chunk. They look so innocent here.

 

I must apologize here for the pitiful few pictures I took. I was just having fun and didn't take many. There is a cute video of this day that I will try to get soon. Right after this the pumpkins went off the deck and Truffles loved it.

 

Thanksgiving dinner was at Ryan and Mary Grace's house. Once again I hate that I did not get pics of everyone  and everything. Here are a few I did get.

 

 

A long table was set for 24 down the middle of the living room and dining room.

 

Appetizers almost filled us up.

 

Here is the groaning board

 

Opa shows the kids Big Mouth Billy Bass. Unfortunately not everyone enjoyed him . Mary Grace sent him to the car.

 

Karis

 

 

Chris and Lucy came. I guess he spotted the turkey

 

 

 

And Ivy wonders why she doesn't get on the blog.

 

 

After dinner...small punkin chunkin . The boys loved it.

 

maybe we should have one of our own...

 

 

Lindsay and Patrick

 

Lorelei and Opa

 

And finally...

 

This is what happens to turkey at my house...enchiladas