We had a lovely, peaceful Christmas. The holiday weekend started off dubiously with a wild rainstorm on Friday. Seventy-mile-an-hour wind gusts rocked around the house, and the skies dumped inches of water. Mid-morning, we lost electrical power, which meant we had to cancel the rest of our work day. Our own dogs dodged bath time, too; we had planned to freshen them that afternoon so they would be pretty for Santa. They did not complain.
As the temperatures plummeted, Chris got out the portable generator we bought last year and fired it up. Running extension cords, we got a few lights burning, and Chris being Chris, powered up the television and internet. And the Christmas tree, which tickled me.
To our delight, the hard-working Central Maine Power folks got us back online before noon on Saturday. So despite the frigid temperatures, no pipes froze, and we could cook the Christmas Eve feast we had planned. I tried a new recipe to go with the traditional roast and popovers, Potatoes Dauphinois. They were a tremendous hit, despite being a bit fussy to fix. Definitely a "once in a while" treat, as they are full of cheese, cream, and deliciousness. Here is the recipe if you want to take a peek or try them. https://www.thespruceeats.com/gratin-dauphinois-recipe-1375736
Christmas morning, our daughter, son in love, and The Owlet came for a special breakfast. Chris baked a delicious egg casserole with sausage, diced red potatoes, onion, spinach, and lots of flavor. Rachel made some golden waffles and brought Vermont-made maple syrup with food-grade mica chips that looked like lots and LOTS of glitter. You know life is good when your syrup is festive. We took our time opening the thoughtful gifts that were tucked under the tree. The Owlet opened her own presents, wearing cozy pink pajamas and her signature look of one sock on, one sock off. She particularly enjoyed a book her Papa picked out, sitting by the tree and examining every page, and a soft mermaid bath toy, which she gave a hug and a kiss.
Shortly before Christmas, Chris received an extra special package. It was sent from his sister Brenda in Mississippi. She is a fantastic quilter and made him a "Quilt of Honor," to recognize his time served in the Navy. She has made similar quilts for all of the veterans in her church, but I am pretty sure she put extra love into this one for her brother. It is the largest of any honor quilt she has made, and Chris and I are both deeply touched by her kindness, artistry, and skill. It is also very warm, a great bonus.
The dogs had stockings stuffed with plush toys, dehydrated chicken strips, cookies, and other goodies. The fluffy one in this picture was a guest for the holiday and quite excited about all the treats.
I took a moment this year to appreciate my greatest gift. This guy.
From our first dating Christmas in '83, I have been blessed to spend 39 Yuletides with him helping to make the holiday and every day magical. There is no more extraordinary gift than that.
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