David and Ingrid are enjoying some time with David's Dad - Lee. A great way to start the festivities. 
Gretchen caned this rocker for Janice. A rejuvinated old skill. Very rewarding to give new life to this beautiful old chair.
Christmas Eve we had a fancy 7-course dinner with friends. The kids all had fun - especially since we let them skip the grown-up courses to open presents. HEY - this is supposed to be fun after all. Prime-rib was the main course, with yummy appetizers, tomato soup from the celler stores (aka: the garden haul), a festive salad, cranberry-raspberry sorbet, and cookies for dessert at the Johnsons after Christmas Eve Services. The goal was to soil ALL the fine china and my Mother's silver flatware. We succeeded! 
The girls got pretty new outfits from Grandma & Grandpa Morton. They wore them to church Christmas Eve. Oh - and let me introduce you to "Norky". He is the new boxer that Grace got from Aunt Sugar. The name is Gretchen's cousins ACTUAL Boxer's name from the 70's! Enjoy that one Cukars! 
We are TOO cool in our new hats from Rochester!
Grace LOVES Norky!
Gretchen's sister INSISTED that the girls are NOT too big for TROUBLE! She was right. It was assembled and put together BEFORE breakfast! The fire is roaring - and we are warm and cozy.
After breakfast - the girls headed outside with Norky to enjoy what little snow that lay upon the ground. Norky is wearing his REAL dog collar and leash that the Johnsons gave him. Grace also got a neat dog bowl. Wonder if I'll need to start buying puppy chow any time soon!
While the girls played outside, David and I enjoyed our 17th Annual Christmas Breakfast of Eggs Benedict. Somehow it went together very easily this year. Maybe it was the new Panini Grill that everyone gave me. I did the muffins on it and made Ingrid a scrambled egg & cheese muffin. She most heartily approved!
One more show off! A good friend of mine, Lore, has inspired me to knit lace. This is a shawl I made for another good friend! It is wool - soft - and cozy. I think I'll be doing a few more of these - perhaps one with MY name on it! HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! 
