Want to Look Better?

Noah: Grammie, what's that black around your eyes?

Me: It's eyeliner. Do you like it or do you think it looks weird?

Noah: It's fine. But if you put more of it on, you would look like a skeleton. That would be really cool!

Herbs and the Queen

The appropriate number of days have passed for my basil and rosemary to dry.

Today I crushed the leaves and am a proud owner of some freshly dried herbs! The basil:

The rosemary:

What should I cook first? When I decide, I'll cook it in this pot. It's my go-to pot right now.

Mitch's mom gave it to me several years ago. Before that, it belonged to his grandmother. There's a lot of history in that pot.

Can you see that it's called Range Queen! Don't you just love that name? I've been wanting to buy a Le Creuset Dutch Oven but the $$$ scares me away. I ask myself why cook with Le Creuset when you can be a Range Queen?!!

Plus I can't pick a color.

Family, by the numbers

A friend commented the other day that I came from a small family. Well, I didn't argue but I certainly don't consider that to be true. Here's the count:

1 husband

2 parents

2 parents-in-law

2 daughters

1 son-in-law

3 grandchildren

1 sister

5 brothers-in-law

4 sisters-in-law

8 nephews

3 nieces

3 aunts

3 uncles

13 cousins

That's 49 family members that I see and/or correspond with, most quite often.

Then there are spouses, children, and grandchildren of my cousins. And many of them have spouses and children. And on it goes.

So, I have a small family?

I don't think so.

Childhood Memory

I was recently asked two questions about Christmas past. The first was about a favorite memory and the second about a favorite carol. The answers are wrapped up in one memory.

On Christmas Eve, the family would load in the car and drive to Eola to celebrate the holiday with grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. We all had eyes to the sky, on the lookout for Santa and his sleigh. We would sing most of the way there, and we always sang Up on the Housetop. When we came to the chorus, Dad sang Santa's Ho Ho Ho in his beautiful bass voice. We LOVED it. And him.

Still do.

Christmas Entertaining

It was my year to host the neighbors for our annual Christmas Party. Christmas Cheer at our house, then Christmas Dinner at a local Italian restaurant. Here's what the cheer part looked like -- without people. I didn't take any people pictures. Sorry, because everyone knows that the people are the most interesting part.

Anyway, here goes.

Welcome! Come in!

Entry. Notice the Winter Rose Poinsettia.

Dining room. (Unused for the evening.)

Bar. (Also unused. What? A party with no bar? Can it really be called a party?) Yes.

Living area with rearranged furniture.

More poinsettias. Isn't the green one pretty?

Chairs. The only seating used.

And now for the food!

Appetizer: Honey, Walnut and Brie Tartlets. Easy. And delicious. This was my favorite. You can make it, too: http://joelens.blogspot.com/2010/11/10-holiday-appetizers-to-whet-your.html

Appetizer: Pepperoni Pizza Puffs. Also easy. And delicious. They were the group favorite. Could have been served with pizza sauce on the side, but they were good without it. And I didn't want spilled pizza sauce anywhere. :) Go here for the recipe: http://lickthebowlgood.blogspot.com/2010/07/annoying-habits.html

Drinks: Reindeer Bubbles. This was my favorite part for two reasons: 1) lots of compliments and 2) they were delicious! It's green sugar on the rim with pomegranate seeds and pomegranate syrup in the bottom. When the champagne was poured in, the pomegranate seeds would bounce up and down with the bubbles. Recipe here: http://www.hgtv.com/holidays-and-entertaining/celebrity-holiday-homes-recipes-reindeer-bubbles-festive-cocktail/index.html

I have no more entertaining planned until Christmas Eve. Warning: if you are here (and you are always welcome) you may see some of this again!

And it will be delicious!