Holiday on Wentworth

I guess you would have to say that we did spend the holiday season here in our house in Cincinnati, but if you were looking from the outside in (like through our front bay window) you would never have known it. Our furniture didn't arrive until Dec. 18 and the thought of getting Christmas decorations out of the attic before we had even had a chance to get organized just wasn't going to happen this year. Now the true state of our attic is for another day and another blog, but trust me, unpacking decorations from the attic just was not going to happen this year. Our one holiday decoration was a nativity that I bought in San Francisco, and it was easier to unpack it and put it on the mantel than to take it up to the attic and put it away with the other Christmas stuff. So it is still on the mantel and will be there until either Max or I gets the energy to put it away. That might be next year with the rest of the decorations- we'll have to see- I'm not committing yet.

But we did have holiday visitors and ate holiday food with lots of family and friends. I guess that's more what the season is about anyway. I'm a minimalist when it comes to decorations- a tree with the ornaments that you've collected over the years- and the nativities- also a collection over several years. But for me it's never about the decorations- though I love to go to someones home that actually gets the decorations right- with lights and greenery and Santa's- maybe I like it at others because I just never do much here at home.

Amber was the first to arrive. She came down from Chicago and stayed for 10 days. It's always so nice to have Amber here. She's quiet, likes to read, watches movies in her room, gets us interested in the CSI Las Vegas marathon that was showing (how many of those did they make?), and loves ethnic food just like we do. So Amber doesn't increase our efforts, but does increase our enjoyment. I guess it's time for a disclaimer here. We also love everyone else who comes and even enjoy the efforts needed to see them, so let's not have anybody think we like Amber better than others - OK? Now I hope Don isn't going to get us in trouble- but we did have a great time with Amber- and he did neglect to mention that she loves to shop as much as her Mom- so I had company when I shopped for the Cincy Babes- and we even snuck off together after Christmas and found some really good deals. Don couldn't believe how much money we saved him! If by chance I ever really had all that money they save me, we could retire right now.

The following is a bit of a blow by blow account of the next week. As I write it, it seems awfully dry, so I'll depend on color commentary and pictures from Max to try to help keep those of you who read this awake.

I think probably the time we spent together is certainly the best part of the holiday- though I do love to celebrate the winter Solstice- that most ancient of holidays- praying that the sun will begin it's slow return to our earth. Mary, Kevin and the babes came for dinner in a pre-holiday gathering- with chili. But it the pictures better tell the story of our holiday than the words.

Notice the pre-dinner celebration! I'm in the mood for a PARTY!

This is my prettiest apple pie yet!

We ventured into Christmas gently by attending the 9 Lessons and Carols at church on Sunday evening with Am. But this year we decided that Christmas Eve midnight service was just not in our cards. Getting home at 1:00 a.m. and to bed even later is just not what we do very well. Some might think that we are getting old, but I like to think we are just getting smarter. Actually I think we need to be a little more honest than that about why we've decided to skip the mass- It's just that after the service we come home and have a really good Courvoisier.


It is so romantic- a nice fire- a cognac in the Waterford Crystal glasses that Clare and Oliver gave us for our wedding. Well, in all our Christmases together we've spent that last bit of Christmas Eve with the crystal glasses and the sparkling fire. My favorite moment- but oh my goodness- you don't want to rush this moment- and it doesn't begin until 1 am. And then Mary, Kevin and the babes arrive for brunch the next morning- I think you see where this is going. I do have my priorities. OK, she's right - cognac, a fire in the fireplace, music and SLEEP win over a midnight Christmas Eve service.

Anyway, Christmas Eve consisted of a large pot of seafood chowder (vegetarian for Am), seasonal music, a roaring fire in the fireplace, a glass of very nice brandy, and asleep by 11:00. And of course there were the annual "Hello Kitty" presents for Amber. I'm just not letting my baby grown up all the way. Or maybe I just want to remind her- one more time- of the hours I spent in the Hello Kitty Store in the Norman, Oklahoma Mall spending her $2- or was it $5?

Christmas morning we slept in and then made a breakfast of fresh squeezed orange juice (with some help from Taylor) French toast and sausage for us and Mary, Kevin, Taylor and Samantha.

Taylor loved squeezing the oranges for the juice. And he did a great job!

I even tried cinnamon rolls- but I still need to work on these- so I'll let you know when I have an approach that's not- well- rather- "yawn, oh rolls"...


Taylor was primed for opening his gifts and attacked it as only an almost 3 year old can. Sam even got into the act and pulled on pieces of wrapping paper, or at least held onto them while her Dad moved the box so the paper was torn off. Taylor got activity types of stuff and Sam got clothes. I think she may have inherited her desire for clothes from her Aunt Am, but time will have to determine that.

Our big event with the rest of the family was put off until Saturday when we fixed dinner for Michael, Liz, Shawn, Sarah, Deseree, Anthony, Mary, Kevin, Taylor, Samantha and Amber. Our family is sooooooo big I do believe we're going to eventually need name tags for family parties! It was a family event with 4/7ths of our children/spouses here. Dinner of brisket, roasted fall vegetables, smashed potatoes, Mom's corn pudding-this pudding has now played to rave reviews from Brandy and Will- and this crowd as well- so I think everyone is going to regularly see Grandma Lucas' corn pudding at holiday dinners! And a mixed berry pie with ice cream for dessert. The only down side is that the dishwasher decided that Saturday was the day to finally quit. Consequently, my Christmas present consisted of a new pair of Playtex Living Gloves! And we now have a brand new dishwasher- and our dishes are REALLY CLEAN- something haven't been for some time now!




And of course Sam got plenty of loving!

Can't get enough of this baby!

Four cousins!

Sarah, Shawn, Deseree and Anthony!

And sisters!

Road Trip Home: Family Take Three

Our last stop on the journey was in Tulsa. The last time we were there was in October for our last visit with Mom and her subsequent funeral. Consequently, this was a different experience of Tulsa for us. We had always before stayed at Mom's house, my home that I grew up in. Dad bought that house in 1954 for about $13,000 when I was 4 years old, and Mom lived there the next 54 years of her life. My brother Bill and I met at the house to look it over and talk about plans for selling it. After 54 years it will be owned by someone else. To whom ever buys it I wish them all the joys that we had while it was Mom's house. My next time there it will belong to someone else and we will drive by, but not go in. I asked Don if he wanted me to go along with him to this home. Other than our home in Ohio Don lived here longer than anyplace in his life. Often when we'd visit he'd tell me some story or another about growing up with Mom and Dad- and all of those "boys". We buried more than just Mom this October. But I rather sensed that Don wanted to make this last trip home with Bill- that his last walk around the home that watched him grow from child to man was best made with the oldest of his brothers. Now all those memories will be guarded safely in the stories we tell to each- and our children- and our children's children.

Because the house is now empty we stayed at Max's Dad's house. Frank and Fay always welcome us and we enjoy seeing them. Frank will be 85 next year, but acts and feels much younger. (By the way- we're planning an 85th birthday celebration- and for Fay's 75th- next October 2- so save the date!) Our first morning there we took them to Tally's Diner that brother Bill told us about. If you want to know where to eat in Tulsa- just ask Bill. He always knows where the best food- and the best service is. It's only about one mile from Mom's house and sits on the old Route 66-

- that runs from coast to coast. Max had eaten there before and ordered the table a cinnamon roll.


As you can see from the picture this was no normal cinnamon roll. The picture has not been adjusted. This cinnamon roll is really the size of a dinner plate, hot and soft all the way through. My goodness that was a treat. This is Don's favorite treat - a giant gooey cinnamon roll- this one more than matched his fantasies!

While Don spent the day with Bill, I spent the day at yet another meal with family- sometimes I can't believe all the food that can be eaten on a trip home. At lunch we met my sister-in-law, Karen and her husband, Bob. (By the way- you might divorce the husband- for whatever reason- but always hang on to the sister-in-law- a sister-in-law is a joy for your whole life- and like fine wine, they get even better with age!) We had a grand time catching up!

That night we had dinner with brother Bill and his wife Ellen, our niece Tracy, and our great nephew Kyle, and Kyle's girl friend. It was a fun evening of great food, stories, laughs, and the wonderful experience of family. We had so much fun! I'm not sure I'd laughed so hard in weeks. And of course since Bill and Ellen picked the restaurant, the food was great as well.





Don and Tracy sharing secrets...

Kyle with his first grown-up Grappa...


You might notice in the picture below that above Ellen's fireplace are numerous stockings. No Ellen and Bill didn't have that many kids, in fact, Bill and Ellen only had dogs, lots of dogs - Norwich Terriers to be specific. You can count 13 stockings in this picture, but Ellen is a real sentimentalist and even though some of her dogs have gone to doggy heaven, they still have stocking above Ellen's fireplace.
We will be going back to Tulsa because we have roots there, roots of family, friends, experiences, and places that are part of us. Tulsa is where Max and I met and dated in high school. We both went to OU in Norman and together have 5 degrees from OU. There are wonderful friends there that we see too seldom and often miss. Ohio is our home, but Oklahoma is a special place for us.

New Year in an Old Place

It's New Year's Eve and Max and I are at home. We've been here all day and plan to be here when the New Year rolls around. We are so glad to be back at our real home with family and friends. Today we took care of Taylor and Samantha while both Mary and Kevin had to work. Boy have we ever forgotten how hard it is to take care of young children. Mary brought them over at about 8:00 all bundled up on this cold winter morning.

Max and I had great plans of taking them to our favorite local eatery, Half Day Cafe, for breakfast. We bundled them up and walked the 3 blocks on this winter day. Half Day does great breakfasts and we quickly got a table and ordered. I love outings- always have- and outings with children are the very best kind. A walk in the cold- with snow flurries all about- bundled up with the babes- is the best life has to give.

Sam got bites of pancakes...

and fruit, while Taylor had his own sweet potato pancakes with plenty of maple syrup.

Max and I were surprised how much work it is to have two small children. I'm not sure how young mothers are able to take care and keep control all by themselves. Max and I were outnumbered about three to one by these two, actually mostly by Taylor who is almost 3. Sam is only 6 months and just a sweet little joy to take care of. But Taylor is active, inquisitive, and constantly wanting to know about everything. We made it through breakfast and walked back home so Max and Taylor could make cookies. Max had put the recipes together the night before and Taylor helped put them on the cookie sheets for baking. I was using the "Best Chocolate Chip Recipe Ever" from the NYT- haven't eaten enough to know if they are really the best- but I'll let you know.

As you can see Taylor helped with the cookies and Semper got to help in making sure they were tasty.


I wasn't quite sure at the end which cookies had an extra licking- and which didn't- but just figured that after 10 minutes in a hot oven all sins are erased. I do love absolution!

After cookies it started snowing and the birds at our bird feeders decided it was time for a snack.
Seeing birds and squirrels at our feeders is another thing I missed so much in California. I'm back and the birds are back. Grandparents just love different things- baking cookies, birds at the feeders, breakfast at the local diner. Our life is such a different pace from the life of young families. I hope that in some way our rather slow life here in this old house can reach across the years and connect with these oh so special babies of ours. Taylor, Max and I also did puzzles, read books, listened to CD's, and ventured all around the house exploring and asking about everything.

Mary got off early and saved us from total fatique. We're not sure how she and Kevin handle these kids every day, but think we must have been able to do it when we were younger since our kids seemed to have grown up without major problems. I do think that being so proud of our children- enjoying them so very much- and yet being still close enough to remember those "difficult" years- gives us a calm confidence that you really shouldn't sweat the small stuff- that things really do work themselves out. That life truly is what you believe it to be.

This evening we are enjoying a quiet New Year's Eve with the dogs. We built a fire in our wood stove (the first since we got back), and are listening to Winter Soltice CD's by Windham Hill. Now Don would have you believe that we went straight from playing with the babes to a fire and quiet with the dogs- but no that is not how this day played out. In between we cleaned out the downstairs closet (did I mention how much cleaning, clearing, discarding, moving, storing... we are doing... day after day after day), changed the shower curtains on both bathrooms, adventured to the feed mill for more bird seed. And then of course there was dinner to fix. One of my very favorite meals in San Fran was a rice bowl with Unagi Eel. Well I found the eel at Jungle Jim's in the Japanese freezer case- and then went on to recreate the dish. Did any of you really believe that you would get through this blog without something from Max about food???

I will in a later post write out the recipe for you. It was quite good I might say (by the way we fixed chicken for Don- he hates eel- and the dish I had is called the Unadon- or sometimes UnaDon). But anyway- since I wasn't measuring clearly for the Unagi sauce- or the sushi rice- I think I'll recreate at a later date- and give you the real details- because I think some of you might like to try this dish. And you'll feel just like you're sitting in my favorite restaurant in San Fran...

Semper has taken his place in front of the stove where it is warm.

He is 13 years old this year and has survived beyond the average for Dalmatians. When we left for California I was afraid he would not survive our return, but with great care from Amber and Michael and Liz he is still here and still probably the best dog any one could ever have. He is mostly deaf, mostly blind, slower and less mobile than before, but nonetheless he is Always Faithful - a reflection of his name. I'm not sure how much longer he can last, but he was here when I got back and I am forever grateful for that. So we are home. In the quiet. And it is good. Happy New Year to all.