Comfort and Joy

Wow!

What a memorable Holiday season. Much feasting with loved ones and many memorable meals. Five Christmas dinners and just one traditional turkey.

Tonight for New Year's we are off to Liz' and Darcy's for a dinner to ring in the New Year and tomorrow there will be the New Year Levee at the club. All these festivities made possible through good fortune, and through planning, effort, and people coming together consciously to celebrate.

Yes, I am thankful for a full belly and aware of the bounty. Many of us are able to feast in splendour grander than the kings and queens of the past. And this is a time of peace for us, here at least. We are blessed and I am truly grateful, not just for the physical comforts and warmth, but for the deeper connections with friends and family.

Coming together on dark winter days for comfort and joy!

....

The BPYC Book Club annual celebration, complete with glogg and shortbread cookies. Thirteen of us gathered this year to create and share a special dinner of spiral ham and lots of sides. Very convivial.

In Caledon, Patricia was home from B.C. with her new husband, Duncan. Brenda, Bill, James, Gord, Linda, Christina, Addy, Sarah & her boyfriend, Alex and Penny, Rob and I. A full, long table and a wonderful meal of steak and chicken.

Christmas Eve I set the table for five at home: Rob and I; Alex and Penny; and Twinci. Pink champagne and rabbit pate; prime rib, potato and green beans served with a 2003 brunello; home made pistachio and dark chocolate fridge cake with cognac for dessert.

Christmas Day, Dave and Therese and Leo and Emma and Alex and Penny and Ameeta and Rob and I celebrated with vegetarian fare. Rob and I made this fantastic squash tart in the afternoon and couldn't believe how prettily it turned out. And so tasty - will definitely make this one again. Served with salads and rice. Therese brought a fabulous cheesecake for dessert and Ameeta prepared her famous chai to finish.

I swore no more tree ornaments but
couldn'r resist this little beauty

A few days later, I picked up a fresh turkey to cook in Kitchener for a traditional meal. There were too many of us to seat at one table, so it was buffet style for Diane and Rob and Alex; Kathy and Dan and Melanie (Chris came later with Ashley); Dave and Therese and Leo and Emma; Mike and Karen and Olivia; Alex and Sue and Jessie and Jared; Patrick (Robin and Luke came later). I forgot to take a photo of the turkey and trimmings, but it really did turn out beautifully.

Before serving, I made a toast to mom but wasn't quite able to finish due to getting so choked up. Our first Christmas without her, we all really miss her.

Instead of pass-around this year we unpacked boxes of ornaments to share with kids and grandkids, future mementoes for Christmases to come.

At the very end of the evening, just as people were departing, Pat spotted a box of envelopes with people's names on them - cards of thanks my mother had written the Christmas before. I'm sure she must have tapped Pat on the shoulder to make sure we all got our notes. Or maybe Pat just pretended and prepared for the moment? Who knows? It was perfect timing. And a precious gift of the season.