Windy night after best bird…

November 27, 2009

The bird was delicious, and so were all the other dishes, so everyone, including the vegetarians, were sated and happy. Of special note were the pies – pumpkin (one made with wheat flour, non-hydrogenated shortening, the other more “traditional”) and pecan made by my sisters-in-law Lorene and Pam, and the apple pies made by Alan’s mother Alice. Wow, we’ve been eating them for breakfast. The sweet potatoes were the BEST ever – Alan tried a recipe with fresh oranges, too, and topped them with pecans he had harvested right here in Village Homes and shelled.

And then there was the “chrain” made by my Uncle Davie - a potent potion of horseradish, vinegar, sugar and a little grated beet for color. Pam also made the rolls and ambrosia salad. Alan and I made the stuffing, green beans, peas-and-onions and veggie trays, which worked well this year in place of a green salad. Davie rightly suggested the veggie trays instead of a salad because the salads tend to get wilted. “Wilt not” in this house!

My personal delight was the fact that both Mom and Davie made it up from Santa Monica and Beverly Hills. April and Gary were responsible for that – no mean feat to get two post-87-year-olds 400 miles north. The cold weather really surprised them, even though it’s not horrendous (40 degrees at night, and up to 65 mid-day) and they knew it was coming. It’s just different in Northern California compared to Southern California. They both delighted in the crispy weather when they were wearing enough sweaters.

Davie, April, Gary and Jeff stayed in our friend and neighbor Virginia Thigpen’s house. Now that is a special vacation in itself.

Off to bed!

[That's Uncle Davie smiling in our comfortable chair, with my father-in-law Fred behind the plant.]