Well, the holiday season is flying by and we are hurrying around with so many preparations. This past Monday Holly, Ryan and I assembled the tree. It was pretty funny because there was a big pile of branches and the were bringing them over to me at the tree one-at-a-time. It was so much easier when halfway through we found the directions. Then Wednesday we put on the lights, and then Friday everyone helped with ornaments. Now it looks awesome!
I think I prefer doing a little each day rather then doing it all in one day and everyone getting frazzled and using raised-voices.
Today we were invited over to Michelle's parent's (Sally and Deane) house for a gingerbread house party. It was so fun, and the kids had a great time. And being the super nuclear family of the new millennium everyone had a parent to help them. I helped Holly: I really like the pond complete with diving board (not much use on the frozen pond, but it looks neat) that we put on our sprawling estate. Michelle and Ryan were a team: Their house looks really nice, and she had a better idea to use some crushed blue fruit loops for a lake on their property. And Rick (Emma's Dad) helped her: Their specialties were their wreaths they made three or four that looked awesome, and then Emma added the doorknob to the door that looked so cool.
We brought our camera, but found out once we got there that the batteries were dead. So we are going to get some from Sally about the construction. And after the batteries charge up I'll snap a few of the finished houses to post.
Because I keep forgetting to tell Kyle, I wanted to put it here so he could see it: Anthony Bourdain has another book out. It isn't really new, but I don't know if you were aware of it. It isn't as much a travel/food diary like Cook's Tour and Kitchen Confidential are.
Les Halles Cookbook seems to be more of a "traditional" cookbook seasoned with Bourdain's anger, and temperament. The review from Publisher's Weekly which quotes Bourdain as saying that if anyone was nervous about the recipes they were a "dipshit", and something about pearl onions being called "little fuckers", well that is certain pure Bourdain, and worth a look at.
On the subject of books, I have seen the name but it wasn't until last night at work that I actually researched and made sure of the connection about Nick Sagan. He is indeed the son of Carl Sagan, famous astronomer, lecturer and author. Nick Sagan is about to release his third Science Fiction book. Anyone that is called "hyperimaginative" by Publisher's Weekly could range from just plain good, all the way to Tolkien-esque detail insane! I might have to try them out.
We are almost all done Christmas Shopping (preparing early is borderline compulsion to Michelle) and it feels pretty good to only have the need to pick-up a few stocking stuffers here and there. We always feel that we wish we could get more for everyone locally and down the Thruway, but it is a matter of money. So we try to really put some thought and effort into what we do purchase or make for people. It wouldn't be very smart to spend three times what we can afford, and still be paying off the credit card bill next November.
