Sunday, December 29, 2013

Post Christmas: Feast and Family

We hope that all of you had a relaxing Season with friends and family


Yes, Friends and Family because in the end,  that's what's important.   I was looking forward to having my Turkey.  When we host our family dinner we have turkey but we haven't hosted for a couple of years.  In our home stuffing is as valuable as the actual turkey itself.   I can still taste it


stuffing and gravy with a bit of Turkey.  We also had brussel  sprouts, hash and potatoes and of course several varieties of dessert to pack your stomach

It was also baby's first Christmas


don't be mislead by the peaceful look, it doesn't last long.  We took turns trying to calm her down but her screaming is hard to take


unless you just happen to have a pair of ear protectors


During this time of year it is easy to eat too much.  Christmas dinner, then turkey left overs, visiting friends and going out for a family brunch


 This was my 2nd plate at the Buffet.   My first plate was filled with a Salmon/crab/cheese/tomato omelette from the custom omelette station.   I was so hungry I forgot to snap a photo.  Funny how that is.  The more you eat the more hungry you are.


 By the time I got to my 3rd plate I thought I better have something healthy, so it was salad and raspberries.   I love raspberries.   In passed on the dessert table but continued to drink many glasses of grapefruit juice.   I prefer grapefruit juice over apple, orange or pineapple

After about 2 hours of eating and talking, we were done . . .


and even though I love omelettes, I don't think I could take another bite


I sometimes can't believe how lucky I am as I look at 3 generations in one place


Our three grand children,  together enjoying each others company


and our older grand daughter taking care of our newest grand daughter

and I was also given a small pocketful of Marzipan


another of my favouries.   I'm not sure how long I can keep these delicacies inside their packages.

Life goes on.   Elder generations being replaced by Younger generations.   As we age we have to cherish these moments while we can.   Family and Friends, I am lucky to have both


23 comments:

  1. Very nice to be surrounded by people who love us.:-). Glad you had a good Christmas!

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    1. Pat:

      anytime we have a few days away from work is good. For us, Christmas is not about buying things. We don't exchange gifts. We mainly just eat and relax and have a family get-to-gether

      Delete
  2. Looks like a good time, in spite of the screaming, I sure don't miss those days with my own sons. Now they just whine and go dramatic on me. Still, all the food looked great.....

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    1. Dom:

      the crying isn't so bad as we can give her back to her parents. She seems to be cry if you stop walking. Too much food this time of year, and I don't know when to stop. I generally eat until it hurts

      Delete
  3. Dinner looks fabulous! I am with you, stuffing is the best part on the plate. A little bit of turkeyis good for me. I usually try to buy the smallest turkey there is or skip it and buy a turkey breast roast which is perfect for the 3 of us.

    Your family looks lovely! Happy holidays Bob!

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    1. Dar:

      Stuffing is better than the turkey itself. Everyone fights over it. I didn't have that much turkey and we only bought a 7kg one, which is small for us because the ones over 7kg were 3x the price.

      We basically only have our immediate family, not many elders left.

      Happy Holidays to you too

      Delete
  4. Bob, may you and your beautiful family be blessed all through 2014.

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    1. David:

      thank you. You have a close family too and they all make the effort to return home for the important times. You are also blessed . . .

      Delete
  5. It looks like you had a wonderful time with your family. And too much food but that makes all of those New Year resolutions easy to come up with.

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    1. Richard:

      Family time is good but as we both continue to work, they seem closer to the "outlaws" who retired years ago. When it comes to food, I have no will power. We don't really make New Year Resolutions, we try to keep our resolve all year around

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  6. There's nothing more to say. What a wonderful time you've had. Good thought on the ear protectors.

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    1. Sonja:

      We don't really have many extended family. Just an Uncle in Campbell River and many in Ontario whom we don't keep contact with from my previous life. It is hard to keep in touch when you live so far apart. When I was riding back home from the Atlantic this summer, I only stopped to see my cousin in London ON, I don't think my Uncles would have known who I was

      Those ear protectors are brand new and over 25 years old in their original package. I used to go to the gun range and shoot skeet, or took my rifles to the range for target practice. I still have several guns and you need to wear ear protection

      Delete
  7. Do tell us what the turkey is actually stuffed with Bob?

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    1. Nikos:

      I rip apart bread, 2 or 3 loaves and it is mixed with fried bacon pieces, celery, sage and perhaps some other seasoning. This is mixed and then inserted into the turkey cavity and baked within the turkey. This year we also draped bacon strips over the turkey to keep it more moist and then wrapped in foil for the baking process.

      I love turkey and you are making me hungry again

      Delete
    2. Sounds nice. I used to love the English pork sausage meat stuffing but Mrs N prefers chestnuts.

      Delete
  8. I am glad you had such a good time with family.

    I had to chuckle at the crying baby pictures. I think I'd run screaming from the house myself, but the ear protection was a cute idea.

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    1. Trobairitz:

      As I sit quietly and look around me I can't help but think how lucky I am. I am introverted at home but extroverted when I am out and about. I know, hard to believe. I am feeling more comfortable carrying our new grand daughter, crying or not . . .

      Delete
  9. Looks to me like you had a wonderful day and from what I know, a pretty darned good year. Thanks for sharing it Bob.

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    1. Coop:,

      This was probably my best year and my longest vacation. My longest ride up until now has only been about 2 weeks. It was also the first time that I took unpaid vacation leave. All these years I have only taken my normal allotment. I decided that I needed to enjoy life while I can and let work take a back seat. Sorry I missed you this year but you should be able to catch me sometime during 2015

      Delete
  10. Looks like a wonderful holiday (and what holiday would be complete without a crying baby?) Happy New Year to you and yours Bob.

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    1. Karen:

      Of course my short holiday is not as long as yours and it wasn't long ago that your young lady was a crying baby. They grow up so fast so we have to enjoy them now.

      I am hoping you have a Happy New Year too. Enjoy your family time, your neighbours across the way, and think of warmer times, and of future destinations. . .

      Delete
    2. Did you forget Bob, the little lady has a screaming little sister - one that never sleeps, one that thinks life is just party, party, party! I like Yvonne's ear protection idea, think I will try it.

      Delete
  11. Your grandchildren are beautiful! That looks like my kind of buffet. And at our house, the emphasis is ALWAYS on the stuffing at Thanksgiving. In fact, we don't even eat turkey. We both prefer chicken, which Hubby smoked this year.

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