We Decorate Our Tree

 Michael came by and Katherine and Jamie helped, too. 

James and Michael set up the lights

Michael adds  the star

Mike, Clare, Michael, James and Katherine

Cookie Baking, 2021

 Katherine came by and we made spritz cookies together.

I had worried it might be a problem because I couldn't find my cookie gun anywhere. Turns out Katherine had bought me a new one last year when my old one started 'leaking' dough.

Here we are hard at work. Well, Kat did the hard work. It was kind of difficult to pump the gun but she is a very strong girl.

My apron is covered in Peanuts characters. 

Katherine's shirt has a picture of the actor Nicholas Cage and says "Jolly Old St. Nicholas."

Dinner at Milleridge Inn

 We missed our annual dinner out last year due to Covid, so it was especially nice to get together with Patty, Mark and Jimmy for Christmas dinner at the Milleridge Inn. (We went on Saturday, Dec. 5.)

Despite missing teeth I was able to enjoy my dinner. I had a burrata salad with roast chicken. The salad was so big I gave half of it to Mark, who had not ordered a salad. I gave a piece of burrata to Mike. It is a version of mozzarella cheese that is stuffed with ricotta. The dressing was a balsamic reduction, which is so sweet and delicious.

The chicken was very good and I actually got two lunches out of the leftovers. They are very generous with portions, but it is expensive. Sometimes I wish restaurants would offer half portions for half the price.

Afterward we went into the little shops that surround the restaurant. I bought myself a Christmas mug. I had picked up one two years ago, too. I think I'll make buying a mug a tradition when we have these dinners.

Here is a picture of Patty and me:

I am happy my missing teeth were on the bottom, so I can smile without a hillbilly gap!

Getting our tree in 2021

 We started out at home with a nice dinner of roast beef, rice, gravy and brussels sprouts with candied pecans, bacon, and cranberries. Michael and Katherine were with us. We drove over to Home Depot and got there about a half hour before closing, but we never need half an hour to find our perfect try. I think we had it on the first or second try!

Mike

Michael

Katherine