Christmastide 2021/2022 - 1st Day of Christmas: Dinner with Mom & A Visit with Sam and Fam

 Saturday, December 25, 2021

Mom came over just before the 2 pm Google Meet I'd set up with Sam. We had a nice conversation with Sam, Becky, and the boys. At one point the boys told us about the presents they got this year. Sam mentioned that Cairic got a helmet because he had been hitting his head a lot recently. Cairic looked quite excited and jumped up to fetch said helmet. We were a little concerned and Mom asked why he was hitting his head lately. Before anyone could answer Cairic came back with a medieval type helmet that looked something like a knight might wear. We were relieved Sam had been joking about Cairic hitting his head and had a good laugh about how funny it looked as he tried it on. 

The meet lasted just about an hour. By the time it ended it was 10 pm in Sam's part of the world.

Mom brought us a funny gnome as a Christmas present. I love it!

We had beef stroganoff for dinner which Dale and I made together. It was quite delicious. Dale also made his famous Brussels sprouts with bacon and maple syrup. So yummy. 

Shortly before Mom arrived I tried on my kilt for the first time since last year. On Christmas of 2020 I realized how much lockdown weight I had put on when I couldn't get the main snap of the garment any closer than about two inches apart. This year I was able to snap it. It was tight but I was able to snap it. I like to call it a Christmas miracle but much more sensible eating in 2021 than in 2020 was the actual reason. 

Sylvester did great with Mom. He was outgoing and very comfortable being next to her on the couch. 

After we all had some pumpkin pie Mom decided to call it a night at about 7 pm as she was starting to wilt a bit. Overall she did really well considering she sang at the 9 pm Christmas Eve mass at her church last night. So good to spend Christmas with her. She's the only one on the planet I've celebrated every Christmas with in one way or another. As I look back I can only come up with two or three times I haven't been with her on the actual day. Each of those times we made up for it by celebrating on one of the other 12 days of Christmas. Merry Christmas, Mom!

Christmastide 2021/2022 - Christmas Eve Service

 Friday, December 24, 2021

Can't believe it was two years ago we went to a Christmas Eve service. Covid got in the way. It's the first time I've been to any church service since then. 

We went to the 4 pm service at St. Luke's and St. James over on Colfax Avenue. Dale said this particular church has only been back in-person since this past October.

It was a sweet service with a Christmas pageant which made me remember all the Christmas Eve pageants at Gethsemane. I really miss the place. Dale and I both mentioned afterward that it was nice to be back in church. 

Holiday Season 2021 - Sylvester Explores His New Environment

Monday, December 13, 2021

This morning I checked between the wall and the armoire for Sylvester but he wasn’t there. When I got home from work he was no where to be found. I was starting to worry I wouldn’t see him today. Dale found him in the basement after dinner and brought him upstairs. He was very outgoing tonight and seems to be getting comfortable. What a sweet guy.

Christmastide 2020: Christmas Day - The First Day of Christmas: Dinner with Mom

Friday, December 25, 2020

It's been ages since we've had Mom over for dinner. I think it's been since summer and we probably ate outside. 

We all chatted for a couple of hours, then ate dinner and chatted some more. 

We had planned on watching a movie but then Mom started getting tired. She had brought a gift over for us. 

It turned out to be a beautiful edition of the four Gospels of the Bible. Lots of beautiful artwork throughout. 

Dale made Julia Child's beef bourginoine for dinner. I was sous chef. 

Mom wasn't up for dessert. Dale and I indulged after she left. Pumpkin. Pie.

Christmas Day 2019 - What a Wonderful Christmas

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Quiet Christmas morning. 

Drank Bloody Mary's as I continued to clean the house and get it decorated for company this afternoon. 

More tchotchkes to set out...

Finally finished decorating the tree. 

As I got the house ready, Dale worked on the turkey. 

I don't think we've made one for about 5 years. Dale has really become quite the turkey-meister. 

As I finished up my tasks I was overtaken by a rather touching sentimentality while listening to the above song. It's not a real common Christmas Carol but I've come to love it quite a bit.

Athena's sweetness is alway appreciated around here. 

She ga lot of walks, attention, and rest today. She blends in with the chair in the above picture so I put a label next to her. 

After getting cleaned up I tended to getting the sweet potato casserole, my one contribution to Christmas dinner, ready to go. 

This was my first ever effort at the task and Mom, who's been making it for years, was horrified to find out I'd be using canned sweet potatoes. She was pleasantly surprised to discover it turned out GREAT (if I do say so myself) and she said as much. 

Our dinner guests, Mom, John, and Noel, started showing up around 3 p.m. which is about the time the turkey came out of the oven to rest. 

It turned out to be a lovely Christmas. The house looked great, the food was fantastic, and, I believe,  a great time was had by all.

I finished out the day with a little Irish cream. 

Christmas Eve 2019 - Mom's

Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Mom moved this past spring from her condo to senior living apartments which was another change in our Christmas routine. We'd spent to last 11 Christmas Eves doing cheese fondue and steaks at her condo in Edina. Her new place is as equally charming and comfortable. 

Since her move I'd forgotten we were storing her artificial tree in our basement and she never asked for it. I offered to bring it over a few days ago but she said she'd just pass on the tree for this year and would decide if she wants to do one next year. I brought over a little tabletop tree that I'd left decorated from last year. Dale was unaware of I even had it and was a little taken aback that I could produce a decorated tree like Mary Poppins magically pulling something out of her nanny bag. 

Anyway, dinner was lovely. We finished out the evening with Baba dessert. My favorite dessert from childhood which was introduced years and years ago by Grandma Jean. 

Holiday Season 2019 - Dale

Monday, December 23, 2019

Dale

Christmas 2018

Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Upon returning from the hospital Dale and I got the house picked up and started some dinner prep. I had a chance to set up the manger scene. The one I used this year is a copy of the one Mom had growing up. 

Mom came for dinner around 3 p.m. and we ate at 4:00. We made a chicken pot pie with broccoli on the side. Mom showed me a photo of Uncle Denny's great-granddaughter (!) and we then talked with him on the phone. 

We took some photos and then watched the IT Crowd on Netflix at Mom's request. She has a couple episodes she absolutely adores watching. I think this is the third year in a row we've done so. 

Roulade and coffee for dessert. It was a lovely laid back get-together. 

Christmas Day 2017 - Merry Kiltmas

Monday, December 25, 2017

I wore my kilt for Christmas Day dinner.

So nice to spend the day with Mom and Day.

Mom brought over chocolate covered cherries which were always Dad's favorites.