The Sandwich Life

Christmas Laziness Continues

We got to see some dear friends yesterday for lunch (hey Kurt and Sheena!).  I couldn't believe when they said they figured it out and it's been five years since we saw them.  Man.

They gave the boys a wonderful present----I wish I could capture the scene of little tracks running from the living room mantel into the media room----crossed by another set running from the coffee table to the stairs....Owen jumping up and down in delight....Ernie trying to sneek under them to get to the bathroom without destroying the set up....

You are wonderful friends guys---Merry Christmas!  And I can't believe I brought the camera specifically to get a picture of all of us and then forgot....damn.  Travel safely back to California guys....

And somehow on that same note....this is one of my FAVORITE Christmas songs.  It's from a ZE Christmas record that came out in the 80's...the one with Cristina's Things Fall Apart and the Waitresses' Christmas Wrapping....oh, and Auguest Darnell's Christmas on Riverside Drive....  This one is my favorite though, and me being me, it always makes me cry.  Leo just complained bitterly because I played it twice in a row....but I can't really complain....I've been tormenting him with choral versions of traditional Christmas carols off of Spotify for hours now.   It's so much fun to torment him!

 

Speaking of Christmas music....what I REALLY want to find is the Readers' Digest set of Christmas music that we had when I was a kid.  I found it online but it was $30 and seemed a bit pricy for what it is...whaddya think?  One day though.....

AND.....I woke up to snow!

I told myself we wouldn't be lazy today....we'd clean the living room up, no more lolling, reading, watching movies, listening to Christmas music......watching the fire....

And yet again......this feels pretty good. 

Merry Christmas All

We had absolutely nothing planned for Christmas Eve day.  Leo had a fever and felt relatively lousy so we all curled up and watched two, count 'em TWO, Hallmark Christmas movies.  We giggled throughout and tried to explain to the boys that when we were kids it was a big deal when there was a Hallmark special on TV....and they were always good----or at least we thought so.  They frolicked like puppies together happily fighting over the little basketballs that Brian had sent home with them the night before.  Then Owen brought in lots of wood so we had a fire and listened to Christmas music while Owen vibrated with excitment and Leo commented thoughtfully about how LONG a day Christmas Eve was.  I had told them that once it was dark they could exchange their gifts (just as my sisters and I did every Christmas Eve) and they wore me down at late dusk.  They were overjoyed with their gifts.  I suggested to Leo that he hug his brother but he chose to shake his hand.  Owen gave him a hug though after opening his.  They are good brothers.

Santa Yoda from the Lego Advent calendar:

Ernie building me a fire:

Owen couldn't stand it and went to bed a little after 6:00.....I kid you not.  Leo went up not much after 7:00.  I went up with him and kissed a sleepy Owen goodnight.  He was slurring sleepily but just kept saying, "I WISH I could fall asleep."  Leo still didn't feel great so he tumbled into bed and I wrapped him up.

Ernie and I feasted on our Meat Pie (tourtiere) by ourselves and good lord it was good.  Homemade pickled beets were great, napa cabbage slaw with cumin seeds, and the meat pie was heavenly.  I may have underspiced it a bit but lately I've thought sometimes I go too far with the spices so I'm seeking balance (as in everything, huh?).  We did our Christmas stuff and watched Its A Wonderful Life on and off.  It was a lovely day and a lovelier evening.

This morning the boys (with Owen in the noisy lead) burst into our room around 5:30.  Yeah.  And I hadn't slept well----waiting for them to wake up.  It's all well worth it of course.  They loved their presents. 

Here is Owen leaping so quickly toward another present that he appears as a ghost in front of the tree:

Owen commented that there weren't as many presents as usual and of course I was crushed.  He assured me it was fine he was just noticing.  Of course they used to have lots of gifts from sisters and grandparents....it made it different.  Later Owen commented to me that he was really glad they hadn't gotten as many gifts....that last year there were lots and some he just didn't even need....that it was much better this way.  Lord I love that boy.

The best part about Christmas morning though?  That in the midst of all their excitement....when we made our way downstairs a few minutes after they had thundered down the stairs (they had warned us last night to have our clothes close at hand), they had their presents for us waiting....and insisted that we open them first---before they opened any of theirs.  They touch my heart with moments like that. 

After that I did my standard....and went back to bed for a nap.  Ernie woke me later and said he had my friend's Boo's fabulous rolls in the oven.  I got up and ate (man I have friends who can BAKE) and laid down on the couch with my kindle while Owen assassinated people.  I know, I know.  I am weak...but he did turn off the blood---and there ARE all kinds of historical figures in the game.....  Now the ham is in the oven.  Leo just asked, "what is that HORRIBLE smell?"  "our food honey, it's our food," I told him.  I've got my scalloped potatoes started and I think we'll just have a nice crisp salad with it....oh, and some cranberry and dried cherry sauce because I love any excuse for cranberry sauce.

Merry Christmas all. 

Wishing You Were Here

Our favorite Christmas song of the year (Last Train Home's Home For Christmas) is playing, the fire is crackling and we just made a batch of Judi's Refrigerator Shortbread Cookies.  The boys are are on the computer but they sound happy and they're together so that's o.k.  We're thinking we'll go find a Christmas movie to watch pretty soon.  I think this is balancing out the last couple of days in which we were so cross with each other and everybody.  Balance....that's what saves us.

Merry Christmas to my baby.....and to all of you.

Merry and Bright

What's the best present a boss could give you for Christmas?  An extra day off---YES!!!

 

No big plans....a little shopping, a little cookie baking (hopefully in a supervisory role but we'll see), perhaps some Christmas light viewing in the evening.  Candlestick Lane anyone?

Owen is moving his Christmas tree from the media room to the living room so that Santa can easily leave presents under it as well as the other two trees.

 

So far the day is pretty damned merry and bright.

Crankiness, Edmund Gwenn and Cheese Wafers

Just to balance things out with the wonderful weekend---we had a relatively crappy evening last night.  Ernie picked me up from work, we…uh….got off on the wrong foot shall we say, and the evening kind of went down from there.  I attempted to cook dinner and burned the hell out of my finger on steam when I checked my rice.  Owen broke something dear to him and was devastated.  Leo just kept minecrafting but attempted to appear interested in family life when appropriate---I’ll give him credit for that.  It was just one of those evenings. 

Tonight we are resolved to have a MUCH better evening.  Owen and I need to go out for present shopping when I get home from work and  later I’m thinking perhaps pizza or Chinese for dinner along with a viewing of The Christmas Story.  We watched Miracle on 34^th Street the other night.  In fact, last night Owen was laying in bed next to me.  I was attempting to read a particularly good Regency romance on my kindle and listen to Kevin Welch.  Owen was attempting to calm down which substantially lowered the odds on me accomplishing what I was trying to do.  Finally he quieted a bit however and then out of the blue came, “I’m just thinking about Miracle on 34^th Street.”  I raised my eyebrows at him and he went on, “I just keep thinking that my mom thinks the Santa Claus in that movie is beautiful.  Huh.”  I told him that I did indeed think Edmund Gwenn was beautiful and he nodded and drifted off to sleep to Kevin’s singing.

I love that boy.

I think it was Val that asked for my recipe for cheese wafers.  It's a basic recipe---I got it from the Chicago Tribune about a million years ago when we lived there.  I love these things.  Sometimes I use different cheeses (a mix of white cheddar and parmesan is nice), sometimes I add fennel seeds or cumin seeds for some crunch, once in a GREAT while I roll them in poppy seeds or sesame seeds before I slice them...but no matter how I make them they're good.  Sometimes I slice them thin and bake them a few minutes longer, sometimes I slice them thick and bake them just til they're  shortbready.  It's so simple that it's foolproof.  I always think they're better if you let them sit in the refrigerator overnight at least....and sometimes we up the cayenne a bit too....

Cayenne Cheese Wafers

2 cups grated cheese (I just use a big chunk---sometimes it's more than this but I like the texture best when they're very cheesy)
1 cup butter (doesn't need to be unsalted for these---salted is fine)
1 teaspoon each cayenne and salt
2 1/2 cups flour

The easiest thing is to shred the cheese in the food processor.  Then you can just pull out that blade and put in the regular one.  Cream the cheese and butter until they are COMPLETELY incorporated (I must say the food processor is better for this than a mixer---it's good either way but I like them best done in a food processor).  Add dry ingredients and mix well.  Shape into 2 or 3 logs, wrap in foil and refrigerate.  Slice and bake 15 minutes at 350 degrees. 

 

Afterglow

I feel too full of happiness to write articulately.  Random thoughts about the Christmas party:

1.  I adore Fats and Kristi Rose....for their music and even more for who they are as people and as friends.

2.  Fats played Ernie's favorite, Maloney Road....

3.  Fats and Owen share a birthday.  Owen is very pleased.

4.  I forgot to formally introduce Van to Owen.  Late at night, after everyone had left Van's name came up and Owen stopped, threw his hands in the air and yelled, "Van was HERE?"  Whoops.  He did that after the last party and I promised him that I would introduce him at the next party.  Your legend looms large Van....

5.  The Aquavelvet Christmas album is.....delicious....just delicious.  It's the only word I can think of that seems fitting. 

6.  People brought utterly fabulous food....

7.  Vickie and Greg are the best neighbors in the world.  Not only did they kindly host Fats and Kristi Rose but they also had a big gingerbread decorating afternoon for all the neighborhood kids.  Leo chose not to participate but still hung out there for three hours.  Owen came home triumphantly bearing his castle.  He even put a piece of ribbon candy on it for me.   The best part of this all?  The boys were out of the house for several hours as we got ready.  Woo-hoooo!

8.  A truly rare shot of a supine Ernie...relaxing with the Sunday paper....

9.  Richard Hill always takes great pictures.  I love this one in particular because it kind of captures the whole spirit....I'm smiling like a fool as I do throughout these parties, the faces of so many friends and even Baby Eva being hoisted high.  I love this.

My beloved friend Dick, aka Piecrust, sat next to me on the stairs during the first set.  Today he sent this drawing he did of me watching Fats and Kristi Rose, complete with one of my Uncle Misteltoe ornaments on the tree.  For some reason it almost made me cry.

It was a funny week...not horrid or anything, but a bit funny and the concert and the party and the food and the friends and the incredible music.....the spirit of the night---with old friends, new ones and ones met just last night......it all makes me feel....well, not like all is right with the world....but that a hell of a lot of things are indeed right with the world.   Thanks everybody. 

Merry Christmas!

Fats and Kristi Rose Tomorrow Folks!

This morning I sat down in front of the kitchen iMac, closed Minecraft and opened Firefox.  As I did I looked at the gorgeous picture of Ian Hunter that is my wallpaper (Thanks Steve L) and I sighed and said, "isn't he beautiful?"  Ernie finished pouring the milk into my coffeemilk, looked at me and said, "you know, we are creatures of habit.  Every morning you look at that picture and say "isn't he beautiful?" and every morning I say, "we're going through a lot of milk these days."  He's right and we giggled as he handed me my coffeemilk.

BUT....tomorrow is the Christmas house concert.  Tomorrow!  Geesh.  I've got more thinking to do about some of the events of this week but not today....  Today is the day to look forward to the party.  Most of the time these house concerts falls on Fridays and when that happens the weekend before I draw up a spreadsheet listing what to do on Monday, on Tuesday, etc.  I only work until noon on Fridays so we have the afternoon but most things need to be done by then.  This time the party is on a Saturday and there is nary a spreadsheet or list in sight.  Whoops.

Oh, and this is what our downstairs bathroom looks like:

Yup....if you come to the party you will be using the upstairs bathroom....so plan to do that before or after the music....as the stairs are prime seating when they are performing!

Hopefully the rest of the house will be festive and candlelight will obscure the dust....  Hope you can come celebrate the season with us....there's still room.....just email for info if you're interested.  And don't forget----if you can, please pay ahead (PayPal link on the top right of this page).

Here's one of my favorite Christmas songs this year....

Merry Christmas all.

Suzy Snowflake, Suicide and Beans

My friend Peggy reminded me of the glories of WGN kids' tv in the 60s.  I remember being quite fond of Suzy Snowflake.  Thanks Peggy.....

 

A classic picture of Leo during his Egypt presentation at school this morning.  Lord I love that boy.

I wanted to post something more cheerful than my Cancer Center post but I am seriously freaked out because I witnessed somebody acting rather oddly yesterday only to find out that he killed himself shortly after.  It's not anybody I know...there's no personal connection but I am totally unnerved by the 'what if.'  What IF I had called the police and said somebody was acting strangely and they should check it out?  I am really thrown by this. 

Man.

I really need a Christmas party tomorrow.

OH MY GOD!  I FORGOT TO SOAK THE BEANS FOR THE CASSOULET.

...must go call my husband  for emergency bean soaking.....

 

Don't Forget!

If you are coming to the Christmas house concert this Saturday, please pay ahead if possible.  It's $20 ahead but will be $25 at the door.  It makes it a million times easier for us to have it done ahead of time but don't let that stop you from coming if you forget.  There's a PayPal link at the top right of this page or you can just send it to thesandwichlife at gmail.....

Ernie's getting the last of the cassoulet supplies today and I'll start soaking the beans tomorrow night.  I can't believe it's almost here!

I can't wait to have Kristi Rose and Fats Kaplin and everyone else in our house.  It will really feel like Christmas!

 

Random Pictures from the Sandwich Life

1.  Bad mother award for dinner last night.  Gave the boys macaroni, leftover chicken and clementines and then I ate a bowl of curried popcorn around 9 pm.  My fingernails are stained yellow from the turmeric but damn it was good.  Nothing better than Penzey's sweet curry powder.

2.  Gee, you think it's time to harvest my kale?

3.  Too late for my parsley though....

4.  My new Christmas tree for this year looks like ribbon candy.  I know my sister Debbie will like it.  My father always used to buy ribbon candy for my mom at Christmas. 

5.  Friday, Friday, Friday....