My sister organized a Minty-style outdoor adventure for our New Year's Eve celebration. (Thanks, Anne!) What's Minty-style? Luxurious, of course. Our "cabin" had three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a full-size kitchen, hot tub, TV and, most importantly, heat.
Now before you suggest that we weren't really "roughing it," you must acknowledge that there was no internet connection, no cell phone access, no DVD player and no video-game system.
What did we do on our three-day wilderness adventure? We went hiking, though technically it might be considered more of a walk. We ate a lot. We listened to music and danced. We caught up on our sleep. We stared at the gas fireplace. We watched some TV, but only classics like "Die Hard" and "True Lies."
Oh, and the peaceful woods provided the perfect setting in which to read. I read two books using my Kindle IPhone application. Ah, nature and technology. I love thee both.
Showing posts with label luke. Show all posts
Showing posts with label luke. Show all posts
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Monday, December 28, 2009
Christmas 2009 was very merry
Jeff, Sassy, Alley and I hosted Christmas at home with my sister Anne, her boyfriend Luke, aunt Anita, cousin Ian and his girlfriend Kim. Oh, and Anne and Luke's dogs Kapono and Maggie. On Christmas Eve, we had a few friends (Sonya, Alan and Kara) over.
The people had a great time eating turkey and ham, drinking wine and cocktails, wearing crowns and chatting. The dogs had a better time chasing each other, destroying stuffed toys, barking at nothing, fighting over crumbs and inhaling milk bones.
Here are a few photos from our Christmas gatherings. The crowns come from Christmas crackers which are an English tradition in our family. Christmas crackers are tube-shaped paper presents which make a popping sound (similar to a crackling fire) when opened. Each cracker contains a paper crown, a toy and a joke.
I hope you all had as lovely (and filling) a Christmas as we did. Happy holidays!
Dawn and Jeff are king and queen of Beaver Court on Christmas Eve.
Alan tried to get out of wearing his Christmas crown by saying his cracker didn't have one, but he couldn't fool Dawn who found a crown (in pink) for him to wear.
Don't be fooled by sweet-seeming Kara. The minute she received her Christmas Eve crown she made a run for the throne.
The centerpiece of our Christmas dinner was this... fried turkey. I was glad Jeff, Luke and Ian still had all their limbs when this bird was done. I have to admit that it was delicious.
Confession: A beautiful wood dining table doesn't exist under these linens. Hiding under tablecloths and chair covers are two card tables and seven folding chairs.
O.K. it's not the reason for the season, but eating is a huge part of the season. Here's our Christmas Day feast.
Alley waits patiently to see what presents Santa brought.
Merry first Christmas to Anne's puppy Maggie, who has quickly become best friends with Alley.
Sassy is tired after spending the day as a sizzlin' elf.
Alley wants to be one of the princesses (Anne, Anita, Kim and Dawn), but she doesn't want to wear the crown.
Oh, the kings (Luke, Jeff and Ian) do jest.
After attempting to play the role of king, Luke declares himself a reindeer.
Kapono refuses to share the chair with Anne. He says she sheds everywhere.
The dogs are sleeping after two days of Christmas celebrations and way too many milk bones.
A good time was had by all except this poor giraffe who lost his tail after one morning of "life."
The people had a great time eating turkey and ham, drinking wine and cocktails, wearing crowns and chatting. The dogs had a better time chasing each other, destroying stuffed toys, barking at nothing, fighting over crumbs and inhaling milk bones.
Here are a few photos from our Christmas gatherings. The crowns come from Christmas crackers which are an English tradition in our family. Christmas crackers are tube-shaped paper presents which make a popping sound (similar to a crackling fire) when opened. Each cracker contains a paper crown, a toy and a joke.
I hope you all had as lovely (and filling) a Christmas as we did. Happy holidays!
Dawn and Jeff are king and queen of Beaver Court on Christmas Eve.
Alan tried to get out of wearing his Christmas crown by saying his cracker didn't have one, but he couldn't fool Dawn who found a crown (in pink) for him to wear.
Don't be fooled by sweet-seeming Kara. The minute she received her Christmas Eve crown she made a run for the throne.
The centerpiece of our Christmas dinner was this... fried turkey. I was glad Jeff, Luke and Ian still had all their limbs when this bird was done. I have to admit that it was delicious.
Confession: A beautiful wood dining table doesn't exist under these linens. Hiding under tablecloths and chair covers are two card tables and seven folding chairs.
O.K. it's not the reason for the season, but eating is a huge part of the season. Here's our Christmas Day feast.
Alley waits patiently to see what presents Santa brought.
Merry first Christmas to Anne's puppy Maggie, who has quickly become best friends with Alley.
Sassy is tired after spending the day as a sizzlin' elf.
Alley wants to be one of the princesses (Anne, Anita, Kim and Dawn), but she doesn't want to wear the crown.
Oh, the kings (Luke, Jeff and Ian) do jest.
After attempting to play the role of king, Luke declares himself a reindeer.
Kapono refuses to share the chair with Anne. He says she sheds everywhere.
The dogs are sleeping after two days of Christmas celebrations and way too many milk bones.
A good time was had by all except this poor giraffe who lost his tail after one morning of "life."
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Birthday weekend: Parts I and II
I got to have two birthday weekends this year. Why? Did you miss that article about how 33 is the new 21?
Last weekend I had my Columbus celebration. A romantic dinner with Jeff and then drinks with friends. This weekend Anne, Luke and Jeff took me to Corks & Forks in Atlanta. It's my favorite food and wine festival. Guests can sample small plates of some of the best dishes from Atlanta restaurants while sipping wine and beer from various Atlanta wine shops and breweries. I tasted watermelon gazpacho, heirloom tomatoes on poppy-seed bread, slow-braised short ribs, pate on raisin toast, chilled cucumber soup, lobster roll and tuna tartar. Yummy!
Here are a few photos:
The adorable little cake that Jeff selected tasted just as good as it looks. It was the perfect size for two.
Tiny cakes don't have room for a lot of candles, thank goodess. I think this is more tasteful — not to mention safer — than cramming 33 candles on a cake
Knowing what an animal lover I am, but not wanting to add a third puppy to the family, Sassy and Alley decided to sponsor an elephant at the Atlanta Zoo in my name. The dogs were sold the moment they realized the elephant would still live at the zoo and not in their yard.
Jeff and I pause between bites of delicious food for a photo.
Feeling completely stuffed after eating 20 small plates of food, Anne and I have a refreshing beer. The full-fat Pacifico really got the metabolism going.
Anne and Luke, who prefer sandwiches and fries to pate and gazpacho, survived the food festival with minimal heartburn. We ordered pizza later that night while watching super-scary "Haunting in Connecticut" on television.
Last weekend I had my Columbus celebration. A romantic dinner with Jeff and then drinks with friends. This weekend Anne, Luke and Jeff took me to Corks & Forks in Atlanta. It's my favorite food and wine festival. Guests can sample small plates of some of the best dishes from Atlanta restaurants while sipping wine and beer from various Atlanta wine shops and breweries. I tasted watermelon gazpacho, heirloom tomatoes on poppy-seed bread, slow-braised short ribs, pate on raisin toast, chilled cucumber soup, lobster roll and tuna tartar. Yummy!
Here are a few photos:
The adorable little cake that Jeff selected tasted just as good as it looks. It was the perfect size for two.
Tiny cakes don't have room for a lot of candles, thank goodess. I think this is more tasteful — not to mention safer — than cramming 33 candles on a cake
Knowing what an animal lover I am, but not wanting to add a third puppy to the family, Sassy and Alley decided to sponsor an elephant at the Atlanta Zoo in my name. The dogs were sold the moment they realized the elephant would still live at the zoo and not in their yard.
Jeff and I pause between bites of delicious food for a photo.
Feeling completely stuffed after eating 20 small plates of food, Anne and I have a refreshing beer. The full-fat Pacifico really got the metabolism going.
Anne and Luke, who prefer sandwiches and fries to pate and gazpacho, survived the food festival with minimal heartburn. We ordered pizza later that night while watching super-scary "Haunting in Connecticut" on television.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Redneck Riviera, we love thee
Jeff and I went to Panama City, Fla. for a few days for our summer vacation. It's a popular spot for Georgians to visit, and is affectionately referred to as The Redneck Riviera. Why? Imagine a college spring break that lasts 365 days a year. Panama City is the home of jello shots, buy-one-get-one-free T-shirts, fried-food baskets, jumbo cocktails, ladies' nights, roadside daiquiri stands, nonexistent dress codes and inexpensive everything.
It also has beautiful beaches with white sand and clear water, restaurants serving delicious fresh seafood, seemingly hundreds of mini golf (and real golf) courses and cute tourist shops.
Here are a few photos from our vacation.
The view from our condo was awesome as long we focused on the beach and not the beach goers many of whom chose to wear too-small-for-their-large-belly bathing suits and none of whom had cover-ups.
We went on a sunset boat ride and saw dolphins which refused to be photographed.
Dawn and Jeff can't stop smiling when they realize that the condo complex has no cell phone access. Bye, bye work.
Jeff devoured some tasty key lime pie. Dawn had one teeny, tiny bite which immediately went to her thighs.
Dawn poses for a photo shoot on the bay and dreams of the beach house she'll one day own.
A quiet little cove where the super rich park their yachts.
Dawn took 123 photos before finally capturing this streak of lightning. Thankfully, it only stormed for about an hour one morning during the trip.
Anne and Luke are the best doggie sitters ever. This is their dream home. It's not on the beach, but it sure is charming.
Sassy and Alley were happy to jump in the car for the ride home.
Our neighborhood geese arranged this parade for our arrival home. It's nice to be missed.
It also has beautiful beaches with white sand and clear water, restaurants serving delicious fresh seafood, seemingly hundreds of mini golf (and real golf) courses and cute tourist shops.
Here are a few photos from our vacation.
The view from our condo was awesome as long we focused on the beach and not the beach goers many of whom chose to wear too-small-for-their-large-belly bathing suits and none of whom had cover-ups.
We went on a sunset boat ride and saw dolphins which refused to be photographed.
Dawn and Jeff can't stop smiling when they realize that the condo complex has no cell phone access. Bye, bye work.
Jeff devoured some tasty key lime pie. Dawn had one teeny, tiny bite which immediately went to her thighs.
Dawn poses for a photo shoot on the bay and dreams of the beach house she'll one day own.
A quiet little cove where the super rich park their yachts.
Dawn took 123 photos before finally capturing this streak of lightning. Thankfully, it only stormed for about an hour one morning during the trip.
Anne and Luke are the best doggie sitters ever. This is their dream home. It's not on the beach, but it sure is charming.
Sassy and Alley were happy to jump in the car for the ride home.
Our neighborhood geese arranged this parade for our arrival home. It's nice to be missed.
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