The End and Beginning of Something

7:45

A Light Snow, Early Morning, Solitary Light

Back to my early morning routine, as I was up before 6:00, a cold morning, 16º outside, only 57º inside so I had to turn up the heat.  Utter darkness out, even now at 6:50, not a touch of light.  No snow over night although we may have lake effect snow later in the day.  We are going to have a quiet New Year's, as Evie has a fever and a bad cough, alas.

Yesterday was cold and icy, roads in various parts of Chautauqua were dangerous.  When we went out around 11:00, to the doctor's office, the window's of my car were completely frozen, so I had to turn on the car, get the heater going. While Evie was at the doctor's office,  I went to Tops to stock up on groceries since we have not been home for a couple of weeks.  Tops, as usual, was not busy, one cashier at noon, which gives you some idea of how slow business is during off season.  After shopping, I picked up some prescribed antibiotics for Evie, stopped at the Lighthouse for some pork chops for tonight's dinner and a sub, which ended up being both yesterday's lunch and dinner.

Evie stayed in bed much of the afternoon and I read quite a bit of The Goldfinch, a book I am really enjoying, quite a ride with thirteen year old New Yorker, Theo Decker.  I did get outside around 4:30 and took a walk through the Woodlawn/Victoria woods, something I like to do at this hour for some reason.  Usually, the wind has died, the woods are getting dark, and I am alone in my thoughts, enjoying the crunch of the snow, the shadows from the trees, the cold and darkening sky.

A Darkening Kinney's Run, Woodlawn

Dinner was a half of sub sandwich and Kraft's macaroni and cheese.  You can tell that Evie's not feeling well when I have a sub and mac and cheese for dinner.  We stayed up till around 10:30, reading and watching TV, Evie finally enjoying some fruit, feeling a bit better as the antibiotics kick in. Hopefully she will be better this morning.

It's 7:10 and finally a glow outside, as the outlines of trees in our front yard are distinct but not much else.

Winter's Back, Cold and Snowy

8:10

Winter's Artistry

An Eight Inch Winter Salamander

Up at 7:45, to a snow covered yard and lake, a frigid 16º outside, quite a change from yesterday when we arrived home from Euclid, to a green yard and a melting lake. Weather around her changes rapidly and it seems as though winter has returned.

We spent much of yesterday in Euclid at my sister's home.  It was great to be together again as a family, if only for twenty four hours.  We sat around the living room, after a great breakfast, relaxing and just catching up on our families, since we have not seen each other in a couple of months.  It's fun to hear about the changes in the lives of my two sisters' kids and grandchildren.  All of our children are out of college, gainfully employed, even one of my sister's grandchildren has graduated and is working full time.  Lives change quickly, it seems, and kids and grandchildren grow up too quickly, a cliche I know but true.

We left for the lake, mid afternoon, roads were fine fortunately though the weather was starting to change.  We got home around 5:00, to a spring like yard, melting snow, muddy, dirty roads and parking areas with piles of snow made by the plow.  Not very inviting, which is why last night's snow is so welcome, covering up the mud, ruts, and yard with a layer of whiteness.

We were both tired after a wild Saturday night of partying, so we had an easy dinner of eggs, bacon, and toast and relaxed in our TV room, watching some football, then Sunday Morning, and later, 60 Minutes before going up to bed around 10:00.  I am reading The Goldfinch, one of this year's top books and have to finish by Thursday when my digital loan expires.  I have 60% yet to read so I better get going.

Good Morning, Lake Erie

Linda and Rich, Fifty Years Together

Forty Eight + Years 

My Sister Ellen, Husband Walt, 36 Years 

Uncle Tom and Peggy, Sixty Four Years (photobombed by Walt)

Up at 8:30, believe it--- must have been a good party last night or just good to be back in Euclid, Ohio, the home of my childhood.  I am sitting in my sister and brother in law's living room, looking out at Lake Erie, as breakfast is in the oven, a special cranberry cake as well as egg casserole, all for breakfast.  My younger sister, Ellen, and her husband Walt are also here as we celebrated Rich and Linda's fiftieth wedding anniversary last night.

With Grandchildren

Rich with Kathryn and Granddaughters Grace and Emily

Nephew Pat, Daughter Claire and Beau, Sean 

Grandchildren Enjoying The Party

Yesterday was a pretty nice day at the lake, sunny and warming though we did little other than get ready for the big party last night in Euclid.  I did get in a hike in the Woodlawn woods, and it felt good to walk it again after a couple of weeks.

Around 4:00, we drove into Euclid, getting to Pine Ridge about 6:00, just as the party was beginning. It was a great night, just like a wedding reception, with over a hundred close friends of my sister and brother in law. It was surprising how many people Evie and I knew, people from our past, that we had not seen in years, some good friends of my Mom and Dad's, which was fun. The night started with drinks and appetizers, then an amazing prime rib and chicken picatta buffet, followed by a night of dancing to a disc jockey, great fun.

The Boys Rockin

Boys Jumping

At first, only the grandchildren were on the dance floor, whooping it up but soon, even the old smoothies were out there, boogieing to the beats from the past like the twist and stroll.  Everyone stayed till the end, about 11:00, a great night for both the family and their friends.

We got back to Linda and Rich's house in Euclid around 11:30 and Evie and I sat up talking with both of my sisters and brothers in laws until 1:15 when we finally decided to go to bed, tired, a bit tipsy still, but happy from a great night of celebration.  Wow, fifty years, who would have thought it fifty years ago.

Just finished a great breakfast, the egg casserole,  cranberry cake, and coffee, as we replayed the fun from last evening.  We all agreed that everyone had a good time, perhaps the grand kids most of all.

Lake Erie at 9:00 a.m.

A Happy Fiftieth Anniversary To My Sister, Linda and My Bro, Rich Holzheimer

Rich and Linda

7:00

It's back to normal, up at 5:50, listening to Click and Clack, waiting for Only A Game to come on NPR at 7:00.  Not much to see this early, a few hardly visible lights over at Bemus, mostly darkness, waiting for a slice of dawn.  It's strange to be sitting back in my living room after a week with the Albarrans.  It reminds me of Gustave Flaubert's dictum which I have bowdlerized: "Leave home often but not for long."

7:48

Yesterday, we left a crisp, clear, cold but sunny Connecticut by 7:20, finding little traffic on the Merritt and Rt. 7 up to Danbury, where we picked up the beginning of the Interstates, which would take us home to the lake.  It was clear and sunny for the first hour, lovely as we drove through the Catskills but clouded up before Bingingham, as we started to see some occasional snow flurries but nothing heavy. A few stops for breakfast and lunch and we were home by 3:20, after stopping in Lakewood to pick up our mail, our usual seven hour drive.

Chautauqua was snow covered, about eight inches of wet compressed snow, and our parking area needed to be cleared.  So we parked our car next to our garage, got out the snow shovels and for about fifteen minutes, we shoveled heavy snow, clearing our parking space.  It felt good to be outside and do something physical in the cold air.

It took about a half hour to get our things in the house, put away, and feel settled once again at the lake. I always feel a little lost after we have unpacked, not knowing what to do after a week with grandchildren and coming off a seven hour drive.   I am still pumped up from the drive, from wondering if the good weather will hold, so that sitting down, relaxing, with seemingly nothing to worry about is unsettling. It's always a relief to find something to do, for Evie getting dinner ready, for me, to help some, read, or organize my clothes, and start thinking about tomorrow.

For dinner, we brought some frozen left over pork roast from Beth's so we had an easy dinner of home fries, pork and broccoli.  There's rarely much to watch on TV on Friday's, so we watched a few more episodes of Alpha House, a political satire, from Amazon via Apple TV.  Evie brings it up on her iPad, then via Apple TV, it shows up on our TV screen.  We are 'so technologically hip.'

Chautauqua, Late Afternoon

Today, we relax in the morning and then we will drive into Euclid, Ohio, where my sister, Linda and her husband, Rich are having a gathering at Pine Ridge Country Club to celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary.  I remember the wedding well because I was a junior in college, and we played a basketball game against the Louisville Cardinals, in Louisville, the night before, and I took a plane from Louisville to Cleveland the day of the wedding, making it just in time.  The party will include cocktails and appetizers, a sit down dinner and a DJ, just like a wedding reception.  Sounds like great fun for all, especially the grandchildren who missed the wedding fifty years ago.

Au Revoir Les Petits Enfants (Prententious I Admit But I Like Sounding Smart)

Tyler, Beth, Marisa, Ramiro and Mitchell Albarran, Christmas, 2013

Up early, at 6:10, why not, despite the absence of excitement about a trip, after all, we are leaving our grandchildren, , driving to the lake and. yes, to my sister's fiftieth wedding anniversary party on Saturday, which will be fun, but we likely won't' see the Albarrans for another four or five months.

We had a fun day yesterday despite the draining of Christmas excitement.  Everyone relaxed, tried on clothes, played with their toys, mostly technological, worked on pictures, syncing our iPads or iMacs, with Ramiro's help of course.  I ran out early to the store to pick up sour cream because Tyler wanted sour cream pancakes for breakfast and if he wants it, Evie will get it for him.  So, after frying numerous rashers of bacon, Evie made not only sour cream pancakes for all but also some crepes, just in case the pancakes were not filling enough.  We ate around the breakfast bar in shifts, waiting for the cakes, the crepes until about 11:30, a delightful way to spend a morning.

After breakfast, we just hung out, Marisa in her room with Evie, enjoying her new bean bag chair, Tyler  ripping on his guitar, Mitchell playing video games, the rest of us talking or surfing the net.  We were hungry again, surprise, by 2:00, so Evie pulled out the leftover prime rib, thinly sliced it, and made Philly steak sandwiches.  Only a few wanted one at first but by the time she was through, she made them for everyone because they smelled and looked so good. So much for the rest of the prime rib, twelve pounds worth gone in less than twenty four hours.

Mid afternoon, most of the gang played a rousing game of Telefunky in the sun room, a great way to while away the afternoon.  Our only trips out, a brief one to Trader Joe's for me, a hair cut for Rami, and a workout for Tyler, and a couple of walks with the dogs.

Around 5:00, Beth put together a Mexican noodle soup, with chard, healthy and warm, to go along with the Slovenian sausages we brought along from Azman's Meats in Euclid, Ohio.  Nothing like them, nothing compares!  So, we had a easy, simple dinner of sausages on buns, with soup, and a salad of course, just the kind of meal we wanted after the tables groaning with food the last two nights, not that I am complaining. We finished the night with all of us watching EdTV, a movie we all seemed to like, finally a good choice.  We were in bed by 11:00, even Marisa was awake until then.

Post Christmas Blues Settle In

Christmas Cheer

A Grateful Granddaughter

It's 8:00 and I have only been up for a half hour, Rami as well, both of us engrossed in our computers. It's cloudy outside, our last day here in Darien, a high of 37º but no snow or rain forecast.  Let's hope it stays that way tomorrow when we head back to the lake.

Yesterday was a typical Christmas morning, of waiting and waiting, for Marisa, the fifth grader, who could not get to her presents until the older brothers got up which they did, finally, at 9:00.  Marisa had been up since 7:00 so it was quite a wait.  We adjourned to the Sun Room to open presents, with Ramiro's mother, Chelo, who lives in Florida, watching the opening on Face Time, a new way to enjoy Christmas from afar.  The kids as usual were inundated with  presents, the youngest always gets the most, the oldest, this time, received lots of clothes, as if they both now pay attention to what they are wearing.  Mitchell, for example, must of gotten at least ten tee shirts, with either skateboard or snow boarding themes.  Tyler, too, though his tee shirt themes usually had to do with music.  Marisa had three favorites, a soft, cosy bean bag chair, a soda maker, and a blanket given to her by Aunt Lettie. Even the dogs got presents!  Beth and Rami gave us a cool vase from Simon Pierce which we will put to good use in the summer.  It was a good day for everyone an we were through with the present opening by 11:00, giving us all time to enjoy the croissants from Trader Joe's, surprisingly good even thought frozen, light and flaky.

Marisa's Ready For Christmas

Tyler

Aunt Lettie

Beth Being Photo Bombed By Tyler

Mitch and Greta

Rami Loves Bella

Chelo On Face Time

We did not do much the rest of the day, relaxing, going for a walk, Marisa making sodas, the boys trying on their clothes to see if they fit or were cool.  About 3:00, Beth brought out heavy appetizers, a couple of our favorite cheeses, pate, crackers, and fried dough stuffed in chorizo, wrapped in kale leaves.  Yum.  After that, we were to lazy to move so we decided to watch a film.  Although we hesitate to recommend a film to anyone, we thought everyone would like a quirky film called Lars and the Real Girl, one of our favorites. It was fairly successful as everyone stayed for most of the film and Tyler even said he liked it.

Chelo's Traditional Grapefruit, Avocado and Pomegranate Seed Salad

Testing the Prime Rib

After the movie, we had dinner, prime rib, popovers, Brussels sprouts, the favorite family dinner. Unfortunately, we had a hassle with the prime rib.  We grilled outside, in a 340º covered grill for over three hours.  The internal temperature registered 120º, rare, so we took it off, let it sit for a half hour and began to cut it and it was raw in the middle.  So, we quickly threw it in the oven, turned on the broiler for about 15 minutes and voila, we had a tasty beef  rescue dinner.  What would a dinner be without something going wrong, right.  We literally did not get up from the table until 9:00 I think, did the dishes, and by then, it was close to 10:30, time to put Marisa to bed and most of us followed soon after, ending a good day for all.

Marisa in Her Heavenly Bean Bag

Cody Loves His New Christmas Collar

Hardly A White Christmas in Connecticut

A White Christmas?

Enjoying Breakfast After Shopping 

It's now 7:00 and I have been up for forty five minutes and nary a peep from children or adults.  Just a dusting of snow last night, enough to barely cover the cars and drive way and much colder than the 60º on Sunday.  It's a clear, dark blue sky at the moment, 18º outside, a good way to start Christmas day. Now it's 7:45 and Marisa is up, getting antsy, as Rami and I sip coffee, talking about the directions technology might take in the next decade.

Ready for Christmas Eve

Despite the fact that we shopped both Saturday, Sunday and Monday, we kicked it up a notch yesterday, determined to make it to the end, that is, Christmas Day (when we can't shop because the stores are closed).  Beth was off to Trader Joe's by 8:00, followed closely by Rami, Evie, and Lettie, who wanted to beat the crowd at King Costco.  And surprisingly, it was fairly empty, perfect for a quick walk/run through.  Everyone was back home by 10:30 except Mitch, who went to breakfast with a couple of buddies up town.  The gang was ravenous so Evie browned a couple of pounds of pea meal bacon, made toast and eggs, and we were all happy once again.  Nothing like a good breakfast to satisfy the morning munchies.

Santa Came

About 11:30, Rami and I went off for another stab at 'finishing the shopping', hitting REI, Bob's, Wilton Sports and most importantly, Top Value wines.  It was an amazing experience to be in this huge wine/liquor store the day before Christmas.  As many people were leaving, carts filled with boxes of wine, as were going in.  The aisles were crowded, so that you had to maneuver carefully lest you aggravate an anxious imbiber.  We brought home three cases of wines, as there were lots of 'deals' though many were sold out.  I am taking home eighty bucks worth, one and a half cases; it should hold us over for the winter or to the next time we visit a Trader Joes.

For lunch, Rami's sister Lettie put together baked tortillas with Mexican sour cream and cheese, along with some dips and chips, just right for a mid afternoon snack.  Rami had to run out and get some aluminum pans for today's dinner and pick up Mitch.  Unfortunately, he forgot his wallet so he had to go back, the last shopping trip before Christmas.

Home Made Fettuccine With Evie

Tyler's Into It

Mitch at Work

We were having vodka sauce with shrimp over home made noodles for dinner.  So, while Beth and Rami wrapped presents, the grandchildren and Lettie helped Evie make the fettuccine noodles, two batches so it took quite awhile.  Everyone helped out, got the knack of making them and once done, we dropped them into two pots of boiling water, and within three minutes they were in the shrimp/vodka sauce, ready to be plated.  It was a good choice, simple but tasty, with French bread, salad and asparagus.  After dinner, we all sat in the sun room, and Rami got out more decorations, so we spent about twenty minutes finishing decorating the tree.  Tyler, as usual overdid his father's passion for decorating a tree until Rami had to come in and take away the bulbs.  We then sat around the living room and talked until about 10:30, when the kids went upstairs, as did Evie and I, and then the fun began for Beth and Rami I assume, as the living room is filled with presents this morning.

Post Dinner Relaxing, Anticipating the Morrow

CHRISTMAS EVE IN DARIEN WITH THE ALBARRANS

Marisa with Bella and Greta

7:15 In The Morning In Darien

Up at 7:15, to a colder morning, some blue sky, as we are all up now, at 8:00, getting ready to be the first shoppers in Costco, before the rush.   Why do we always need something else from the store, why can't we be done with it.  Are we ever done, just do without?

Yesterday was a bore, gray and dark, drizzle most of the day, making you just want to stay inside and sulk.  Not really but we did not do much of anything, at least that I can remember.  Evie and Marisa made thumb print cookies, with jam, Beth went out shopping early with Lettie to pick up the 12 pound standing rib for dinner.  I wonder if that will be enough?  Later, Beth went out again to pick up a few Christmas presents at the local stores.  I decided to do something, so Marisa and I went to Barrett's Bookstore, picked her out a book to read, and then went next door to one of our favorite donut shops for a coffee, hot chocolate, two donuts, a glazed for Marisa, a Boston creme for me, reminiscent of the morning break at Reserve when donuts were sold, the students happy to have a sugar break from class.

We got home around 12:30, and Beth had cut up the leftover pork and grilled some onions and peppers.  Evie made cheese pork sandwiches out of them, wrapped them in foil, and put them in the oven for twenty minutes.  Tyler had a buddy over, so they were all devoured, so that Evie had to make another couple of them.  Late afternoon, I took Cody for a walk in the rain, both of us getting soaked but it still felt good to be outside.

Mitch at Rest

Marisa Messing With Her Granny's Coif

Around 5:00, Beth's friend Nancy stopped over, so we pulled out a bottle of wine, some appetizers, and sat around talking with her before dinner.  After she left, Evie and Beth put together dinner, my request, a couple of meat loafs, with mashed potatoes, gravy and salad.  We held dinner for Rami  since he was getting home earlier than usual, at 7:30.  He had been in Philadelphia to close the Harrisburg Parking Deal and spent part of the afternoon celebrating in a tavern, smoking cigars and drinking, so he was in a good mood when he came home, the two year long deal finished.  Everyone loved the meal loaf, the ultimate comfort food, especially the mashed potatoes with gravy (I remember getting them for lunch in junior high) and everyone had seconds.  We hardly have any left for sandwiches for lunches.

My Grandson, High School Graduation

After Three Months of College

Nobody felt like doing much after dinner because it was so late.  Tyler as is his wont, disappeared upstairs, Mitch went to a buddies, Evie put Marisa to bed (it took an hour of giggling), Beth went up to read, Lettie surfed the Internet, and Rami and I fell asleep in the living room watching the Monday Night Football game.

Right now, menus are being finalized for the next two days, lists are being made for Costco and Trader Joe's, and in another half hour, Rami, Evie and Lettie will all be off, racing to Costco to be the first in line.  Beth and I stayed home, the only two sane ones in the house.

Gray and Rainy, Not Very Christmas Like In Darien

At Least Bella and Greta Love Me

Dog Walking With Marisa

Up later than usual, at 7:30, to a gray, wet morning, getting cooler too.  Before I had the coffee made, all three gals came down, so it was me, Beth, Lettie,  Evie, and three dogs, no boys for a good while I suppose.  Today looks like another day of madness on the road, as everyone tries to buy one more thing, makes sure they have everything they need for that Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinner. We are no exception, as the lists are already being made, the stops arranged.

Biking In His Den

Yesterday was a good day and like many family Sundays, it was made up of good food, some shopping and football, at least for Rami and me.  No one else gives a hoot about the NFL, which is refreshing actually.  People got up slowly, so no big breakfast, just everyone making their own as they arose.  I took Cody for a walk, Rami worked out on his bike, and everyone else hung out with their iPads until late morning, when the big shopping event took place, our trip to America's greatest invention, COSTCO, home of the deal you cannot resist.  Surprisingly, we found a parking spot and inside it was not total madness, just plain old madness.  We resisted the urge to buy, buy, buy and just concentrated on food items for the week, and of course, filling up on the samples, the best part of our visit. Rami and I finished the shopping task off with a buck fifty special, a Hebrew National dog and a coke, the best food deal in America, sugar and fat, yum.

Telefunky After Dinner

Nothing special the rest of the afternoon, Tyler was off with friends, working out, the highlight being the arrival from NYC of Rami's sister Lettie and two dogs, Greta and Bella.  They created diversion for the rest of the afternoon, until it was time for dinner.  We cooked a pork roast outside on the grill, browning it first on all sides over a hot fire, then turning the heat down to around 300º and roasting it until about 135º.  I was surprised how moist and tender it was.  We had roasted potatoes, a salad, a couple of bottles of wine, so it was a fine dinner.  Afterwards, some of us played cards, Telefunky, until 9:30, when it was time for Marisa to go to bed.  We watched some more football till we were tired, about 10:30 and went to bed.

It's 8:30 and Beth and Lettie are getting geared up for the first shopping run of the day, hoping to beat the crowd. Good luck.