Christmas Day -- and the Other Regret

Christmas Day 2013; Around the Sound ... still --

The youngest Daughter called me to "invite" me to take her out for a Christmas dinner. How could I refuse?

Finding the usual eating places like Applebee's closed for the day, we ended up at 1400 having turkey and trimmin's at a fine restaurant* in one of the better hotels. The dinner included a very large helping of turkey breast and dressing, garlic mashed potatoes, sweet potato, and mixed green vegetables. This was topped off with a piece of pie.

After this mid-afternoon feast, and after depositing Daughter back at her residence, I arrived back at the Castle where I got a call from Nancy Nurse (remember her? I had Lutefisk dinner there yesterday!). Nancy said she had a ten-pound Prime Rib Roast that would be coming out of the oven in about half an hour; would I be interested? How could I refuse?

35 or 40 minutes later, with the Lemon Meringue pie I had absconded with the day before and my normal needs in case I stayed overnight, I arrived just in time to sit down to a monster feast of Prime Rib, boiled potato and mixed steamed vegetables. Some similarity in the side dishes from the day before was to be expected.

For dessert, we had our choice of Apple pie (the kind that won the Blue Ribbon at the Evergreen Fair), Pumpkin pie, and of course my 2/3 remnant of yesterday's LMP. I checked with The Nurse as to whether she had Tums on board; she assured me that she was sure she did.  I inhaled the 2/3's "remnant" of the Lemon Meringue pie [... didn't want it to go to waste -- I'd rather have it go to my waist!]. I also had (to have!) a small slice of that Blue Ribbon Apple pie.

After watching a very interesting documentary about the Bible versus the Book of Mormon, I asked for a couple Tums so I could go to bed. This was for sure going to be a "Two Tum" night, after all of the food I had had this cay -- including 2/3's of a big Lemon Meringue pie.

Oops! No Tums in the house! Oh my!! Oh dear!! Oh, regrets!!!

Christmas Eve 2013 Festivities -- And Regrets!?

24 December; Around the Sound --

Let me begin by explaining the meaning behind the word "Regrets" in the Title of this Post. I had regrets on each of the two-day celebration which begins on Christmas Eve because I ate too much. With that qualification now out of the way, let us venture forth in this dissertation about a most memorable and happy Christmas for this Old Grump.

A few weeks before Christmas I inquired of my younger Daughter, "Nancy Nurse", as to whether she and Husband were planning on having their traditional Christmas Eve meal of Lutefisk and other Norsk delicacies. Nancy responded that, "No", they weren't planning on the traditional feast this year because, since they both worked, they would not be able to make the journey to "Snoose Junction" to pick up the Lutefisk. "Well", I thought to myself and out loud, "Since I go to Church in that neighborhood -- and, being retired, also am free to go and come almost anywhere and everywhere -- I will be glad to pick up the Lutefisk. Where do you get it and how much do you want?"

There was now no excuse for the festival feast not to happen. I had had a helping or two of Lutefisk many years ago when the Grand Mother and I partook of an opportunity to savor (and understatement if there ever was one when it comes to Lutefisk!) at a Norwegian-populated Lutheran church in our neighboring town. Mother, of course, and despite being of Norwegian ancestry, could not stand the look,smell or even thought of any kind of seafood. The mere thought of Lutefisk brought tears of memories of her growing-up years when she ha to endure the "flavor" of Lutefisk preparation in her home. [However, despite this aversion to seafood, she baked the best Salmon that my taste-buds have ever enjoyed! Oh, and let us not forget her Lemon Meringue Pies!!!] Anyway (back on the subject), I found that, being the poor German boy that I am, I actually kind of liked Lutefisk. The other traditional Scandinavian Yuletide foods, mostly-sweet things, are "icing on the cake".

So it was that I diverted on my way to or from Church on 15 December, to find the "Lutefisk Place" and a special Danish Bakery that made Julekake (a rich coffee-cake type of pastry), Boller (cardamom-flavored dinner rolls), and almond rings (which the Danes called "Kringles"). I placed my order for the bakery items and inquired what time they would be open on Christmas Ever. [I wanted the baked goods to be fresh when I brought them to the table!] 

On the following Sunday, 22 December, I picked up the amount of Lutefisk requested by Daughter Nancy and poured cold water all over it, as she had instructed, then placed it overnight in the refrigerator. Of course I took pains to seal the container in which the Lutefisk reclined/slumped/oozed [let the reader imagine the best adverb]. The sealing was to minimize the possibility of some "flavor" escaping and rendering that refrigerator into condemnation from ever again being used for "more delicately flavored foodstuffs".

Early on Christmas Eve I went forth to the Danish Bakery in "Snoose Junction" to claim my previously ordered baked goods. When I arrived, a half-hour before the time they had told me they would be open, there was already a line around the corner and up the street --with the store being completely packed by other early-morning shoppers. Well, I grabbed my spot at the end of the line next to a Genuine Norwegian and his lovely wife. For the next hour we engaged in pleasant conversation about Norwegian ancestry, BMW's, world travels and All Electronic Propulsion Control Systems. He said that there was no such thing as "100% Norwegian"; he explained that the sea-going Vikings (the only true 100-percenters) took care of that. He told about his travels to Iceland where he had found the beautiful Norwegian sweater that he was wearing. When I inquired about the "native" Icelanders, he described them as half-Norwegian. "Oh", I said, "So they found aborigines already living on Iceland?" 

He replied that the Vikings had brought along "bed warmers" as they sailed westward to Iceland. But their female companions were not from Norway;; they were "opportunities" that they had found enroute.

Finally arriving at Nancy's home in time for her to finish preparing and cooking the Lutefisk, the three of us sat drinking strong, black coffee and nibbling on a chunk of that rich delicacy called Kringle. Half thinly-rolled pastry dough and butter! Yummm!!!

Wobble: Awaiting his Christmas Eve feast of some of
the finest Western Montana grass hay.

But before sitting down to dinner later that afternoon, Husband and I drove out to the farm to feed the largest pet in the U.S.A. -- Wobble, the 1500 pound Buffalo. [He thinks he's a "people", so doesn't mind spending his time alone in one of the several lush pastures on this 70-acre grass-farm.] Wobble is now 21 (born prematurely on 31 May 1992); he has been to school (elementary school in his neighborhood; he has visited the Evergreen State Fair in Monroe and he has also "Done the Puyalllup". So he is both educated and well-traveled.

We sat down for Christmas Eve dinner at about 1600. I loaded my plate with a couple boiled potatoes, mixed steamed vegetables and took about a third of a pound of the hot Lutefisk. After pouring some melted butter over it and the boiled potato, I proceeded to enjoy once again this unique Norwegian dish.

After dinner, Nancy presented Husband and I with our choice of pies: Pumpkin, Apple, and Lemon Meringue. Of course I chose the LMP -- after having a small wedge of Pumpkin. Since no one was there who had an appetite for LMP except me, I was permitted to take a LARGE helping (one third!!) of this fine-looking pie.

I arrived back at Grumpy's Castle at about 2130 that evening and, taking a Tum (to tame down a stomach -- my one regret -- that I knew from previous experience would need taming down after over-indulging on that delicious LMP), I went to bed.

I obviously survived, so on to Christmas Day!!

Strange Characters Appear at Family Christmas Party

Somewhere in "Snoose" Country; Before the Winter Solstice --

As Grumpy reviewed the photographs that were downloaded from his camera after it appeared at the Family Christmas get-together earlier this month, he happened on some views that are seldom seen and should never be left to mold in a mere album. No, these pictures need to be discretely publicized. And so that is what Grumpy will proceed to do!

The first pair of characters to appear from Grumpy's camera were these two, pictured on the right. They appeared to be welcoming the invited guests, but Grumpy thinks they may have been more effective in discouraging any attempt by interlopers who might have tried to crash our party. And they would have too, if they only knew how much fun we had.

Notice the expression on their faces. I believe they are saying "cheese", the usual word used to encourage a smile on the faces of the people whose photo is being taken. Unfortunately, these two Norwegians are saying "cheese" in Norwegian! [pronounced "oost" by we of the English-speaking persuasion.]

The next character is one with whom Grumpy always tries to be pleasing, but seldom succeeds -- (he doesn't understand why??!!). She was commenting that she felt chilly [the majority of the guests had not yet shown up so the party room had not reached the warmth that was acheived later!], so the Blonde Norwegian previously pictured with her husband, graciously offered the headdress you see worn here so well. Actually it is about what you should expect since this gal is the progenitor of the Blonde Norwegian -- the original 1930's version, if you will!

Now, before Grumpy gets into some kind of trouble, he is going to end this post and hope that all enjoy reading it and seeing my goofy photos.

Happy New Year everybody!

2010 Family Christmas Party

Snohomish County WA; A Warm Day in December --

Well, the day wasn't really warm in the minds of lots of folks. But since it was a day when the Grumpy  one (who is sometimes not grumpy) and the Great Grand Mother (who is almost always grand and great), got to see a bunch of the Great Grandchildren (especially many of the youngest ones), we thought it was a pleasantly warm Day. The most "un-warm" thing about the day was the fact that four of our "blondest" Great Grandchildren didn't make it. But we hope to see them again before too long.

The event was highlighted by a roast beef dinner, prepared by our very own "Nancy Nurse". Accouterments to the meal included veggie's, pies, cakes, chips and who-knows-what, brought by the varied guests. I'm sure everyone was stuffed with food before they departed; hopefully none of the wee ones ate too much and got sick.

One of the parents (whose name shall remain Anonymous to prevent subsequent potential harassment!) brought the foundation for a fancy, decorated Gingerbread House. Her idea was that the activity of decorating the Gingerbread House would keep the attention of the entire crew of ambulatory tots busy so we adults could carry on our various conversations. Whether this Grandmother, whose name we won't reveal, was successful in achieving her intent must be left to the readers of this post.

The bare Gingerbread House was gently placed in the middle of a conveniently sized table; a gooey mixture of icing was placed in a dish so the Great Grandchildren could do as they wish in sticking the colorful candies onto the outside walls of the little house. In no time at all the children had "used up" all of the loose candy -- whether all of it wound up on the sides of the Gingerbread House, or if some of it went into some of the tiny tummies is not pertinent to this discussion.

To the assembled crew, the next order of business was to "eat the Gingerbread House"! Here on the left, they are asking the responsible adult (whose name we have promised not to mention) who, being the Grandmother of everyone of the Great Grandchildren pictured, was fully within her rights to make that critical decision.

The go-ahead was given and the DE-struction of the Gingerbread House began. Grumpy could barely click his camera fast enough to capture all of the action! Little hands flew and sticky pieces disappeared into little mouths just as fast as they were freed from their former decorative places on the little Gingerbread House.

And so the 2010 Family Christmas party came to a close with no blood shed, no angry squabbles to be mediated and all the tummy-aches, if any, were relegated to the homes of the respective parents -- just as it has always been!

MERRY CHRISTMAS  to all, and to all a  good night!!

December 23, 2009; South King County --
 

Uncle Bob and Aunt Adelaide arrived on Monday before Christmas! To celebrate the occasion, since their schedule had not allowed them to attend the Annual pre-Christmas party posted earlier, we met with Susan & Steve, Rachel and Ruth & Paul to dine at Olive Garden in Lynnwood.

After a sumptuous dinner and a lingering visit afterwards over coffee and tea, we went our separate ways to prepare for Christmas Eve (Grumpy was "on deck" to serve at the "Midnight" Communion service) and of course there was the "last minute" shopping still to be done.

After a short night of sleep, the Grand Mother and Grumpy awoke and, after rounding up the Brazilians as well as the Resident Grandson and his Dad, 'Santa" performed his traditional task of handing out presents to those assembled.

Later on Christmas Day, Bob and Adelaide boarded the Talgo AMTRAK train for the short trip to Portland from where they would journey by auto to Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood for a week of skiing. The weather, including lots of snow and persistent cold, promises a lot of powder snow for their adventure at this fabulous ski resort.

We expect to see them return after the New Year for some more visiting. Hopefully this time they will be able to visit Amy & John and family, and James & Heidi and boys.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!!

Our Christmas 2008

South County News -- Christmas 2008:

December 2008 was like no other that Grumpy and the First Wife have experienced in the 55 years we have lived here. Oh, we have memories of worse snow storms -- we lived through the Great Dakota Blizzard of '49 "holed up" for two weeks in a 16 x 24 cabin with Grumpy's Dad & Mom and his younger sister, Hazel. The temperature at one time was recorded officially as 56 degrees below zero (minus 49 C). The wind was from the West Northwest, blowing at about 35 to 45 miles per hour. A snowfall of 4 to 5 feet was drifted into drifts at least 20 feet deep in places along the main highway.

But here in the marine climate of Western Washington, we have come to expect snow "once in awhile", but "it never stays"! (?!) This time, when the snow came on the 18th, son Darrell helped me shovel it out on the 18th so we had a nice, bare -- even dry by that afternoon -- driveway;

and came again the night of the 21st (Grumpy shoveled it out on the next day on the 22nd, here showing his fine form at the top of the driveway attacking the last bit of six-inch deep snow there);

and then, when this snowfall greeted Grumpy the early afternoon and evening of the 23rd, Grumpy decided to just let the Spring thaw take care of it!! Grumpy later cleared two tracks up which he could drive the car -- as long as it was wearing chains!

Nevertheless, Grumpy's brother Bob and wife Adelaide came to spend Christmas with us and this post describes how we "made do"!


First of all, Grumpy "let" Bob and Adelaide drive their rental car from the motel to a shopping area nearby where Grumpy, with chains on his car, was able to drive -- plow!! -- through the snowy side roads to give them a ride back to our house where we were able to visit and have a delicious Christmas feast prepared by the First Wife. Grumpy was extremely proud of his Bride in that she was able to innovate to make a roast chicken, originally intended for just two people, stretch to feed seven, with seconds available and cold roast chicken for sandwiches or another meal another day! [NOTE: Due to Grumpy's ancient and sometimes befuddled mind, no photos are available as witness to this festive occasion; the reader just has to take his word for it!]

Bob and Adelaide arrived in Seattle about mid-day on the 24th. The snow -- and threats of more! -- had caused the long-planned Christmas party at Ruth's to be cancelled. Our first get-together was with son Jim and wife Theresa at their house on Christmas Eve. (Then a few days later, an impromptu lunch get-together at the Yankee Grill.) The Blief-able Family were at the Christmas Eve meeting. We were greeted with a feast of baked ham and all of the trimmin's, then all royally entertained by the Mermaids. [NOTE: With apologies, please see preceding note.]

Christmas morning found the youngest Grandson Ramiro opening his gifts and expressing great glee that "Santa" had remembered him despite his 13-year-old doubts. His apparent happiness in opening this wallet which he received, is due not to the presence of big money therein (there was none), but due to its "famous brand and desireable status".

The 28th found daughter Susan & Steven, with Granddaughter Rachel, coming down from Everett to have lunch with us and visit for awhile.

Finally, on the 30th, daughter Ruth came after her night shift at the hospital to have breakfast with us and visit until we also had lunch together. She and Uncle Bob discussed cardiovascular-health (wait until he gets his consulting bill!! Heh! heh!!) among other things.

So, despite the less-than-desirable weather, the Zimmerclan were able to survive and enjoy each other's company for another great Christmas celebration. All are safe and healthy with eager anticipation of another get-together "next Christmas"!