WLB

Here's another addition to the Amy's weird leftover breakfast (WLB) file. Christmas turkey chili. Don't tell Ed that I spilled a bean on the keyboard just now.

 

 

Got to church Sunday to find the sanctuary in darkness. We had a bad storm the night before that must have damaged something. We rallied and moved to the small chapel. Since the Sunday after Christmas is historically one of the 2 poorest attended (post Easter being the other), we fit in there nicely. It was very cozy. 

 

Ed came in the other day proudly displaying a can of sardines. He kept saying how much he loved them. When we opened the can there were only 2 fish in it! He decided to sauté them with onion to make a little appetizer.

 

We both ate a cracker or two with this on it. Both agreed it was ok. Didn't want to hurt his feelings. I left to run an errand, hoping it would be gone when I got back. When I came back I didn't see it anywhere. Asked Ed where it was and he said "in the trash...at least we ate the little fish". Y'all may remember the disastrous sardine salad I tried months ago. So we can officially cross these super healthy delicacies off the list. Yuck.

 

Love this view? I got to enjoy it for 2 and 1/2 hours while waiting for Mom during her annual check up. She said it was a comedy of errors back there. But she got all good reports so far.

 

Fortunately I had a good book to read.

 

Spaghetti is a good antidote to Christmas fare. I have learned to make a small batch. Ed likes his baked with cheese like his Mama used to make it.

Christmas Day

This year to have something different, Mary Grace made Leg of lamb for dinner. That left the turkey to Ed and I. It turned out pretty well.

 

 

While Ed was carving we had to incarcerate Pepper. He was being such a pest. Here his is pleading to get out of the laundry room.

 

Without Mary Grace as a calming force in the kitchen, sometimes things get chaotic.

 

I planned too many labor intensive things. The perfect example is that tray of Olive bacon roll ups. They took forever to make and were gone in minutes. They are so good though. You wrap olives in crescent roll strips and then in bacon and bake.

 

It was all worth the effort.

 

Here we are ready to pounce on the food.

 

Nice smile, David 

 

My choices. That is the perfect lamb at seven o'clock.

 

The "kid" table. I adore these people. They are so interesting and full of the future.

 

Click back and forth between these two pictures and you will see what we saw a hundred times. It was so cute. Where's Brody...there he is. Precious.

 

So didn't mention or document Christmas Eve morning. All McNeil siblings got together for brunch and gift exchange. It was fun and more good food. All I can show you is the leftovers I had for breakfast today. Wonder if anyone else has crazy leftover breakfasts this time of year. I made Blueberry crunch, Cheese grits, Sausage balls and little Pigs in blankets.

 

Loved this sweet Christmas gift that Ryan gave Mary Grace. It is a basket to carry her eggs.

Christmas Eve

 

The old poem says, "Only God can make a tree". But I gave it a shot. Using leftover tree clippings and some trimmings from our boxwood out front, I made mini trees for the table. Ed later wondered what was wrong with that shrub I used.

 

 

The process was much more arduous than I expected. So enjoy the first and last mini trees for Christmas.

 

They turned out pretty cute. The bases were old aluminum jello molds. Loved this burlap ribbon I found.
 



I used smaller molds to hold tealights. The shape of the mold reflected light.

 

The "kid" table.

 

Mom and her two nieces, Karen and Kathy. They are her late brother Jack's daughters. Sure do miss Jack and Charlotte at these gatherings. Always loved to hear him pick on Mom. Who else would do that? And two of Charlotte's great dishes were there. Her fabulous brownies and baked beans. We always have fried chicken as a tradition that goes back to when Mom and Jack's mom, hosted the celebration.

 

Of course Brody was the star of the show. We all just sit and ooh and aah over everything he does. I'm pretty sure he is a genius. It reminds me of when Whitney was the only baby.

 

Jan's house looked great.

 

 

The great nephews and one niece. Josh, Natalie and Eli. Ashley was not there.

 

It was so much fun catching up.

Solstice

The McNeil / Woolverton clans join together every year on the shortest day of the year, Winter Solstice. Paul and Sophie hosted in their new house.

 

 

Everywhere I looked there were fabulous touches.

 

Great tree.

 

All looked so simple and beautiful.

 

Ryan and Mary Grace made mushroom ravioli, completely from scratch, with walnut cream sauce. They learned the technique on their honeymoon in Italy.

 

It was so good.

 

Ivy and Trip

 

Candy and Sophie

 

Ryan firing up the patio fire pit.

 

Paul and Lucy watching. This was Lucy's good side. She had just gotten her wisdom teeth out and did not feel well.

 

Awww

 

Candy's famous Yuletide stuffed pork loin.

 

The hosts.

 

The cooks.

 

The old folks.

 

Brother in laws squishing Miss Baby.

 

Arrogant and sick.

 

Trip unwraps a Led Zeppelin T.

 

My perfect gift from Candy.

 

Paul rocking a leopard scarf that Sophie got.

 

Not even sure what this is. 4'11" holds 6'4"?

 

The fire lovers prepare crème brulee for dessert. It was sooo good.

 

The battle for the new bed goes on.

Only God can create a tree...but I can give it a shot.

 



 

They turned out pretty cute, but I can assure they will not be an annual tradition.