Holiday party the third...

Christmas eve and an invitation from Terry and Robin to come for a visit and simple dinner. We had a lot of fun, even if I was pretty out of it. Yes, I'm still fighting the sleep causing illness whatever it is called. They fed us fabulous soup and munchies, played games and we were generally merry. Mary Lou was also in attendance which was also delightful. Personally, I had a great deal of fun asking and answering Harry Potter questions with Terry. Nick said it was fun and relaxing and Shanna only played on her game system a little.

Harry Potter trivia question: What was the name of Harry's Aunt's bulldog? What was the Aunt's name?

Jenny

Holiday party the second...

Or rather, the one that didn't happen. We're postponing it due to snow and sleep. :) We woke up and the world had gone white. Supposedly we were going to Logan to visit Nan and some of my other siblings tonight. Every Christmas Eve, Eve for the past 7 or so years Nan and I have gotten together to celebrate the season and family. The plan was to do it again. The weather had other plans. I think that if I hadn't been so tired because of this stupid virus I might have taken the jeep and risked it...

Still, it means we get another party after later. I think we're going to wait till Melinda gets back from Texas and then try again. So we'll see the official Holiday party the second post after Christmas.

Back to bed
Jenny

Holiday party the first....

Well, the first Semenza holiday party of the season went off quite well last night. We invited a bunch of friends over for a potluck dinner with an Italian theme. There was so much food. Nick made his famous Carbonara (bacon, butter, cream, pasta). I made a Risotto Primavera (rice w/veggies), Torta (rice, egg and parmesan pie) and Minestrone. Friends made homemade ravioli, lasagna, salad, asparagus, cheese fondue, brownies, Panatone (fruited bread), Panforte from Sienna (chocolate, honey, hazel nuts, almonds and mushed) which was AMAZING, Fuccidati from Sicily (like a filled pastry/cookie) also yummy, salad, antipasta (salami, mozzarella, mushrooms, anchovies, olives etc...) AND sourdough French bread from San Francisco that Nick's dad sent me home with. I'm still full this morning. I can't believe how good all of the food was. Next year, we're going to have to hold this party at a larger location!

Everyone who attended was interesting and fun to be with, I just wish I could have spent more time talking to everyone there. The house was packed with 17 of us, (though you know my Christmas tree really counts as another person or two). We had people eating and talking all over, though it did make a problem to go from living room to kitchen.

The pothos plant I had on my mantle, outgrew it this season. So I took him off and spread a lit garland of greens, gold leaves, white lights and red jingle bells. Then Nick and I took a coupon to Lowes and bought a huge pre-lit wreath also decorated with gold and red and he hung it over the mirror. :) I thought everything looked fine. I also finally figured out what to do with all the bears. I removed most of the normal doodadish decorations and replaced them with bears. SO there were bears on the shelves, and behind the plants, in with the pinecones and stuffed in the endtables, under the tree and at the front door, bears, bears everywhere. This year, for the first time ever, I think they finally looked like they were really part of the theme.

After Later
Jenny