Since my last blog, I turned 69 years old. Steve and I went to breakfast at IHOP where I enjoyed a stack of gluten-free pancakes that were to die for. I drove (for the first time since surgery) to the Monday morning Afghanistan women's group gathering and mostly just sat and worked on a nifty knitter hat since I wasn't up to doing much else. That afternoon, Steve and I did a bunch of errands and he grilled pork steaks for my birthday dinner and he made a delicious chocolate cake for dessert. It was in homage to one just like it that he made for my first birthday with him fifty years ago. I know I have a photo of him holding that cake but we have both looked in our files and can't seem to find it. Sniff. We ended the night by watching Hook.
Fast forward to Thanksgiving on Thursday. Elise arrived Wednesday night and we three watched Pan. It is a Peter Pan origin story that was really quite weird. I don't need to see that one again. Dinner on Thursday was at Emily's. I cooked a twelve pound turkey, made a bunch of gluten-free stuffing and a batch of my mother's cranberry sauce. I also brought a pumpkin cheesecake, a gluten-free pecan pie and a gluten-full blackberry pie. It was nice to not be the host and Emily did a beautiful job of setting two tables. Dinner was so yummy and we had fun afterwards playing games.
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Friday morning, after Thanksgiving, Elise, Steve and I loaded up the car (and Sally) and headed to Indiana to spend the weekend with Julina and Alex. A reunion of friends from Elise's time in Indianapolis was planned for Saturday since her former roommate, Rachel and her husband and two kids were in town from San Diego to visit. She reported that it was a great visit. Our time in Greenwood was brief but we were able to attend the temple Friday night - Julina, Elise, Steve and me - and Steve and I were able to take Shiloh to breakfast Saturday morning.
We headed back to St. Louis Sunday morning after Julina's church meetings and got back home by about 2:30. After a little nap, Elise loaded up her car and Smokey Bear, the cat, and drove to Columbia amid heavy Thanksgiving returning home traffic. Elizabeth, Smokey Bear's "mom" was released from the rehab hospital on Saturday. Missouri got snow on Saturday so we returned to a nice dusting of white (and pretty bitter temperatures!)
This first week of December was full of so many non-holiday activities that our house still needs to be decorated. We did manage to get a nice little live tree on Wednesday and we brought it into the house on Friday but it has yet to be strung with lights and ornaments. Maybe tomorrow night? Beckie took Steve and me to visit the Global Market in Kirkwood on Thursday morning and we had such a fun time going up and down the aisles filled with foods from all over the world! Notice the matching shirts Steve and I are wearing...aren't they fun?
Last night, Saturday, was the St. Louis Civic Orchestra holiday concert. It was full of fun music to play and you can see that the entire cello section was full of the festive spirit.
Today in church, Steve played a lovely Christmas carol, Stars Were Gleaming, in a low brass quartet. Christmas means lots of music at our house for which I am grateful.
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