New Year's Eve Excitement

I'm not alone this New Year's Eve, many others are at their homes too. Hubby is at work (I made rolls and soup for him and coworkers), the boys have plans but I am not the only one home with a movie and a thin crust Papa Murphy's pizza. Many, many people were in line getting movies at Blockbuster, stacks of movies, actually. At first the only way the line moved was when someone ahead of me gave up and put their movie back on the shelf. I am not dining and dancing the old year out, rather I am in and happy to be here. So ready to be home and relax. I picked up Mama Mia, The Bucket List and Blast from the Past.
Tomorrow it's time to get going, take down the decorations, get out a new calendar and do some serious goal setting. I'll let you know how I did with 2008 goals. Accountability and all.
I miss him already! Danny flew back to Michigan early this morning. I just checked his flight and he has landed but is not at the gate. Love technology-I've been able to track his progress today. Much better weather, flights and scheduling today than when he arrived. Every connection was on time today. We had such a great visit with Danny, he'll be back soon.

The guy behind Danny is his immature little bro...

I'm Alive- Just Wasn't Blogging

Over the river-I mean over the Pass and through the woods to Grandmother's house we go...

We went to George, Washington to celebrate Christmas. Had a very icy and snowy trip there with Hubby, Max and Auntie Laura. As a family we went out to dinner and celebrated the season with big steaks and yummy desserts. Rosie, at the Idle Hour did the cooking and clean up. There is something good about that.

Home again! Back to work today where I had a busy day at the museum. Lots of troubleshooting. Hubby went back tonight. Danny flies out tomorrow morning. It went so quickly and was all so fun. I'll recap more later this week.

White Christmas

I do love a white Christmas. There is just something so magical and beautiful about all the snow. It is messing with our plans a bit but it sure is pretty. There is just so much of it.

My nephew, Wyatt got this little sweetie for Christmas. So soft and sweet and I was begging for a new baby myself. Hubby reined me in, no more babies. I was reminded about the training and the crying at night. One cuddle with her and I'd forgotten about all of the those puppy issues.

Luckeee. Yep, Hubby got a leg lamp from the guys, it must be from Italy because it said, "fragileee" on the box. Love the movie, "The Christmas Story" and now we have the lamp in our front window. Like I said, luckeee!

Merry, Merry, Merry 2008

Wishing you all the best as you celebrate our dear Savior's birth. Love from everyone at the Stone House...
Enjoy every moment with your families, and enjoy the white Christmas! Cheers!

Dinner Party 2008

By the time you look at all these photos you are going to feel like you were there. We started with Champagne Cocktails and Sparkling Cider.

Our table had an ice skating theme with four cloches with miniature ice skaters, ice skates and greens on the napkins and fur topped ice skates on the menu/name cards.

Festive guests!

More festive guests!

Max and Auntie Shelly trying to "eye" a photo shot.

Ice skaters' wintery scene.

We made our dinner rolls as individual loaves in ramekins and then tied ribbons to match the menu cards. Idea from Matthew Mead's new book.

Glittery skaters.

Main course, not a good photo but you get the idea. Garnish is cranberries and rosemary trees.

Lots of laughs.

Dessert was sooooo good! Pretty too.

Handsome guys!

Wintery scene.

Our menu, if you click on it you may actually be able to read it.

I hope you enjoyed the dinner party!

Hmmmm That was Fun

Yesterday I showed you photos of our dinner from 2007. Sorry, but it has to be a surprise for my guests. Today I will give you the 2008 Christmas Dinner photos. On Sunday evening Max made the Creamy Artichoke Soup and I printed and assembled the menu cards. This is how Monday morning began...a BiG list!

We made parmesan bowls for our salad, which was mixed greens, with Raspberry Hazelnut Vinaigrette and sugared hazelnuts. The hazelnuts were from my folk's orchard.

For main course we did a turkey roulade. Here they are all stuffed and trussed. Danny made a rosemary butter and did the trussing for us.

Later I'll share the table, the guests and the food.