Christmas report

[JPSmit]

Well, the guests are gone, the dishwasher quietly humming and it has been a wonderful blessed day. Yesterday my church got power early in the morning so, we had a lovely quiet service. Many of the readers had to leave town for weather reasons (70,000 still without power in Toronto) so we had a quick re-shuffle of readers and roles. Still a lovely eve. My mother was (is) in town and we picked up my son on the way home. Had a lovely quiet day - Santa was generous as always and then this afternoon had two dear friends come for supper. We had prime rib, roasted potatoes and yorkshire pudding with trifle and ice wine for dessert. All in all a lovely day. Also talked to family and friends from Holland to Scotland to Canada. Life is good and full of blessings!

In a separate but related story, my aunt (my mother's sister) still lives in Holland. She is extremely active in her church and is there constantly. She has been fighting a chest cold and refused to see a doctor. Christmas Eve for the first time in years (maybe ever) she decides not to go to church. (Interestingly one of her best friends who rarely attends did decide to go) Anyways, who should walk into church but the King and Queen of Holland, their kids and courtiers. Did I mention she is a massive monarchist? Needless to say she has been kicking herself all day long. Not so funny for her but I have to admit we have been chuckling here.

 

[Basil]

We had a grand day with the two sons and one Daughter-in-Law. Santa was also berry berry good to everyone. Christmas Eve we had a nice ham dinner with all the trimmings and stayed up rather late chatting. By around 9AM this morning we were all up and started opening the presents. My best present: A pair of Klipsch noise canceling headphones. Boy do they sound great!

Tomorrow is Mary's birthday so she still has a couple of presents to open.

 

[apbos]

JP
We had grand Christmas here today as well (67 F)! I celebrated Christmas eve in Gouda, twenty years ago all the windows were lit with candles, it was very moving. The queen however did not attend .
Merry Christmas and en een Gezond en Voorspoedig 2014 to everone at the BCF!
Paul

 

[aeronca65t]

Merry Christmas and best wishes for a safe and happy and safe new years.

And I like the BCF Christmas decorations too! Happy birthday to Mrs. Basil! My younger daughter has a birthday on 29 December.

We finished the second of three Christmas family parties last night (one to go).

Then we'll have younger daughter's birthday party with most of the same family members.:friendly_wink:

We may also have some friends over for New Years.....not sure.

We are very lucky to have all our friends and family (including our online family) and we know it.

Our grandkids on 24 December (sitting still in our house *just* for a few seconds for this photo):

 

[BustedKnuckles]

Being someone who doesn't celebrate Christmas, I spent a few days on the water while most everything within scooter distance of my home was closed for the holiday. I spent some time fishing the Belize reef to restock my freezer. Came away with 4 very nice Cobia (15# to 21#) and a brace of mutton snapper from inside the reef and 2 nice jacks and small herd of grouper on the outside. Had a fine meal of snapper sashimi, fresh Honduran ceviche, sweet potato pone and black fruit cake yesterday evening and washed it down with a couple cold Belikins. Life is good!

 

[sail]

Being someone who doesn't celebrate Christmas, I spent a few days on the water while most everything within scooter distance of my home was closed for the holiday. I spent some time fishing the Belize reef to restock my freezer. Came away with 4 very nice Cobia (15# to 21#) and a brace of mutton snapper from inside the reef and 2 nice jacks and small herd of grouper on the outside. Had a fine meal of snapper sashimi, fresh Honduran ceviche, sweet potato pone and black fruit cake yesterday evening and washed it down with a couple cold Belikins. Life is good!

I'd gladly have traded places. You'd have liked all the family -1.

 

[DNK]

Guess the XK8 didn't fit down my chimney

 

[Deleted member 8987]

14 hours of driving and visiting. 3+ hours was driving.
3-1/2 hours was spent delivering packages to 9 people by train. Seems to have become a tradition over the last 15 years or so.
Granddaughter turned two a couple of weeks ago, we did this last year but she didn't remember. She was pretty amazed as the woo-woo's kept bringing her "stuff"!
Dave

 

[DrEntropy]

Did the Semi-Annual Obligatory In-Law Run. Four hours down to Miami on th' Eve, face time with all the fambly and wonderful food. Back to th' hovel on Boxing Day.

 

[weewillie]

We only had 52 this year as 8 made other arrangements because of the ice storm. Don't normally have this many but this was the year all the outlaws didn't have to go to their respective families. We always rent a hall (old temperance hall ) cough! cough! This year I did a 27lb turkey and a 10lb bone in ham and one of my sil's did 2 12 lb birds. of course with the stuffing and gravy et all. We have always done the bird as we are closest but am really wishing some of the younger ones would step up to the plate(and not the dinner plate). 15lb mashed spuds,4 large turnips(rutabagas)4lb peas,5 lb carrots +cabbage salad, jellied salads pickles, cranberry sauce ,rolls, plumb pudding, shortbread and numerous squares. and carol singing and lots of craic. And we did a canning exchange. The township had no power at the hall until Christmas eve morning and lots of branches down in the parking lot, so it was almost cancelled, Ah well roll on next year.

 

[Basil]

4 large turnips(rutabagas)

You're making Doc hungry!

 

[DrEntropy]

Had to "substitute" for the rutabaga this year, had borscht (beet soup) instead. Yummy none-the-less. And over a dozen pierogi, as well.

 

[JPSmit]

Was at the grocery store getting Christmas grub. Saw this and had to take a pic.

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[Basil]