December

What happened to December? We had Thanksgiving dinner and suddenly I’m sitting here post Christmas. A big thunderstorm is blowing through so I thought I would sit down and reflect a bit on the holiday. The turkey carcass just yielded 3 quarts of broth and 2 cups of meat that I have stowed away for future soup. Don’t think we could face any more of it again today. 

So few pictures! Book Club Christmas was fun at Estelle restaurant. Here are our fun gifts. 

We baked a ham. Ed carved. Puppies begged. Everyone to their strengths. 

Next up was Solstice party. At the Patrick’s new lake house. 

She liked things simple so I just used her bottle collection. 

Candy provided these great fans. 

Mary Grace has to work that day so the troops formed to cook. 

Two of the best cooks I know! 

Where’s the beef?

Brandon the sous chef obviously thought Dupree needed him more. 

Our cute place cards. Can you find my name? 

Prime rib required it’s own plate. Some people have salad plates or bread plates. We have meat plates. 

Is it just me or does Lucy get more beautiful each day? 

Good picture of MG. Not sure about Ryan. 

Queen of crackers 

Retrieving our cracker prizes. 

A tiny water gun. Poor dogs got shot. 

I think they are fine. 

Marbles for me. 

View from the porch. 

Whitney and family came for a short visit before Christmas. We had a soup and sandwich bar. 

The only picture I took. 

Except one of the cookies. After this I slipped into a photo coma and didn’t take another one the whole holiday! Trust me though we had tons of food and lots of family hug balls. On to the new year. 

Mom’s little Christmas tree. 

Corduroy Bear. Ready for the games to begin. 

Thought I would show Mom’s yearly Christmas gifts. Little angels made from big paper clips. They were harder than expected. 

Sailing off to make St C’s friends happy! 

Annual struggle with tree skirt being a cat glider. 

But my candidate did not win 😞

Check out clue number 14. Mom always told me this song was one of the reasons she named me Amy. 

Thanksgiving

It started like this. Sausage balls for Ed and I. 

Happy cat and happy dog video before the parade started. 

Lucy asked for my recipe.  Her only question....what is oleo? 

Then I made this. 

Pounds of ads.  I didn’t look at any of them. Don’t forget the Dog Show. 

Read this book cover to cover. Laughed out loud. 

Gathered on Friday at the Patrick’s new lake house. 

The guys enjoying the porch. Had to bring them in though...

... to carve the perfect bird. 

Beggars.  Phone about to die. More later

We may have overdone it 

What can I even say? 

Sophie captures it better. 

Sweet finish. 

We didn’t get a group photo. 

Posing 

Mom admiring the smart fridge. 

Yes. It’s a thing. They can see inside the fridge on their phone. 

So... Jan and I went to help Mom with her Christmas ornaments that she makes for 50 of her closest friends. We established base in the bubble (the glass atrium at the end of each lake facing hallway). 

And I kid you not ( Truman phrase just came out) 3 large white birds swam into view. 

They were SWANS. 

We were laughing at this old pic if Bryan which I entitled The Architect and his work. 

So we took a laughing selfie and sent it to him. 

And then Mary Grace and Ryan moved. It felt sad. I love that house. Now I’m helping them renovate bathrooms for rental. More on that later. 

Will miss this screen porch. 

Church altarscape. Thanksgiving pics coming up!