Xmas 1

We have created a new Christmas Eve tradition - eat Wensleydale cheese and watch The Wrong Trousers. I adore the train scene at the end. With rosemary crackers from Whole Foods, which are seriously addictive.

Christmas day began with the cat knocking over the vase of white tulips at 7:30 am. It did not break, but spilled water all over the floor, so mr. flea ran for the mop. Casper didn't wake until 8:30.

We had basically only stockings and a couple of other presents that didn't get shipped to Ohio, and it didn't matter. Me: Lindor truffles in mint, Dolfin citron and orange chocolates (the little slivers you have with coffee), a Neideregger schwartzbrot (marzipan with dark chocolate). mr. flea got peanut butter Lindor truffles and Reese's pb cups, and shortbread. We all got clementines and gigantic yummy Fuji apples (Casper carried hers around for some time saying "apple" and now, after I cut a 1/4 slice out of it for her to eat, is carrying the remaining 3/4 and gnawing on it). Casper got her crayons and her bubble bath. She said "bubble" and carried the bottle around so we (she and I) had a joint bubble bath at 9am. A benefit of Xmas alone at home - we couldn't have done that at my SIL's house!

Scones with Devon double cream and special tea for breakfast (and clementines and apple).

They still have no power in Ohio.

We are slowly assembling our boeuf bourguignon. I did the lardons and mr. flea, world's most meticulous meat trimmer, took an hour to cut the meat into pieces and is now browning them. I guess it will be a dinner and not a lunch.

3 things you all need to know (eta 4)

My father and stepmother got my baby brother (age 20, moving out on his own into an apartment with the drummer in his band, except it's a Christian rock band) a 3-pack of condoms for Christmas. Brother reports: "They're going to go to waste..." (see above re: Christian, subset no sex before marriage). I told brother he should re-gift them to his parents next Christmas. Interestingly, re: Christian, above, Brother is off to Church tonight to play poker. I so don't get this whole religion thing (in general, and in my brother in particular - we were raised godless heathens).

I got my period today for the first time in 2 years - since before the conception of Casper. I didn't miss it.

Boeuf bourguignon is gooooood. Casper thinks so too. And we don't have to share the leftovers.

4, on edit: the Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans they sell that supposedly taste of various gross things (dirt, soap, vomit) - they DO! I thought they were joking and the beans would taste of generic candy, but the earthworm flavor onewe ate tasted oddly of meat and dirt and generally EW. We abandoned the box in disgust lest we get something worse next. Yikes!