GOOD MORNING DARIEN AND THE ALBARRANS

Playing Telefunky With The Albarrans

Good Morning Darien

I am up at 7:00, some light filtering in through the trees.  Ramiro is also awake, at his computer of course.  He offered  to make me a cup of special coffee on a  Bialetti Six Cup Moka Express brewer, a small  coffee pot you put on a burner that makes a espresso kind of coffee, not too strong but no bitterness.  According to the Huffington Post, they tested fourteen different kinds of coffee pots and this made the best cup of coffee.  And by the way, Beth and Ramiro gave us a Bialetti for Christmas.

Bialetti Coffee Pot

We left Bristow, VA, yesterday to an awakening morning, some traffic as we drove towards Leesburg but not bad.  The rest of the way, unbelievably, was sunny, though Pennsylvania, New Jersey, across the Tappan Zee to Connecticut.  The drive took about six and a half hours, about 360 miles.  We arrived in Darien to a beautiful sunny afternoon, with blue skies.  Everyone was home, even Tyler from Dartmouth.  The boys helped us with bags and we were ensconced in the kitchen on stools in ten minutes.  Everyone was in a good mood and filled us in on the holidays, what they got, what they gave.

Relaxing In Costco Before Shopping

Sad To Be Leaving Costco

We did not waste too much time gabbing, however, as Costco was waiting for Evie. Beth had called us before we arrived to ask if they should wait to shop at Costco for us and Evie of course was an affirmative.  So, Marisa, Rami, Evie and I went off to a crowded Costco (doesn't anyone work anymore, just buy), and we of course did our part, picking up a seven rib prime rib for New Year's Eve and other assorted goodies for the next three days.

Granny Watches As Marisa Works On Loop De Loom

When we got home, it was wine time, so we sat around the table in their sun room and exchanged gifts.  The kids seemed pleased with theirs (money), and Evie and I  received all sorts of goodies from Trader Joe's, the coffee pot and best of all,  Beth knit both of us stocking caps (I got two) which is just what I had hoped for but did not think I would get.  One is a tightly knit black, the other my colors, a teal blend.  So everyone was happy.  We then got things ready for dinner, Rami grilled great burgers and Beth made a capresi salad, baked fries, and got the  fixings ready for the burgers.  Dinner was great and we cleared the table and all of us played Telefunky, a card game my Mom taught all of us.  We did not finish until 10:30, and then Evie went to bed because she was not feeling well.  While the boys and Rami played video games, I put Marisa to bed, then went to bed myself, tired from the long day.