Beef Wellington and Beatle's 45s More or Less


After 5 hours in the kitchen,
 we were treated to Beef Wellington,
Potatoes Anna, a grapefruit-orange-feta salad,
 and brussel sprouts roasted with bacon. 
That man loves to cook.


I fell asleep on the couch 
while they were doing the "En Croute" 
part of the Wellington
and no one took any pictures...damn..
I hear the process was hilarious.

There were five vintage rolling pins
out on the counter when I went to clean up?

Whenever the kids are here and they are 
cooking, playing a game, or just visiting,
the sound of their voices is like a lullaby to me and
zzzzzzzzzz I'm off to dreamland.
They made fun of me snoring I hear, and 
were amazed I slept through it all 
as they were quite loud, and I was a mere
5 feet from all the action.
These few shots were taken by 
DD on her phone.



Ben had already cut into it so you miss the "presentation"
So beef tenderloin encrusted with a shallot mushroom 
mustard paste wrapped in phyllo and roasted.
Oh my, it was incredibly delicious.
The real Wellington calls for a layer
of Foie Gras. 
That was voted out.


 First Christmas dinner in over 40 years
 I have not prepared.



We ate at a simple setting family style,
turning the little used turntable
that came with my dining table, and doing self serve.
No elaborate dishes, crystal, or silver were needed this year,
AND we ate Christmas Eve not Christmas Day...
and ya know what
it was delightfully stress free and easy..
well easy for me anyway.
I think we have a new tradition.

I received the cutest little turn table for Christmas
and we had a blast playing my old 45 Beatles records
and Fogelberg, Moody Blues, Carole King,
Loggins, The Big Chill Soundtrack and more all
Christmas morning. 
Hannah had never placed a needle
on a record before and had to be taught the difference
between a 45 and a 33.
What a Hoot!

Ben and Anam headed back to LA today.
Hannah is still here until Her Beau Blake returns 
from Memphis.
We have some sewing plans and she'll be going
to work with me a few days to help with 
inventory.

I decorated far less
 Shopped far less
Spent far less
Left the house far less
Cooked FAR less
Cleaned far less

Visited far more
Laughed far more
Relaxed far more
Slept far more
Enjoyed far more

Lessons learned

Hope your holiday was merry 
and still going strong...

Happy New Year to all
May Peace finds it's way to 
the hearts of man.
Z