Aftermath of the Party

First before I continue, will all the participants look through their jetsome and floatsome and see if you can find Kelly's cell phone. She lost it during the excitement and it contains her life.. as we know it. She checked throughly at Grandmas house and it has taken wings and flown away. She claims it was last in a pink case so please be on the lookout.

The Christmas party was a great success from all accounts and descriptions. There was great variation in the gifts and not a grumble could be heard.. Some gifts, including mine traveled among the group. Others found their home right away and success was achieved. Among the many were some real innovations. A booksafe was created. Two wonderfully framed photos of Colorado were up for selection from Ken and Wanda Brown. I refinished an Asian influenced coffee table of solid oak. It had a decidedly 70's dark finish on it just waiting to be liberated. The top now has a wonderful sparkle depth that only honey oak can provide. Some Fornby's and some steel wool revealed this beauty. The tung oil semi gloss finish completed its look. Some one remarked when it was revealed that I had raised the bar on gifts. That pleased me. It was first selected by Linzi.. who had seen the thing before it was refinished and was very curious as to how it finally turned out. It was reselected by Reza who has a secret plan for it. I am pleased since he comes from a family that trades in furniture in Germany.

The menu was appetizers and desserts. In my opinion the turkey and or the ham was not missed. Bobs meatballs were wonderful. We brought all sorts of lovely fruit and tasty treats. I made some roll ups using hot peppers, black olives, pimentos and cream cheese rolled up in a tortillas and sliced cross sectioned. I think next time I will use just a little of the canned pepper and not the juice or maybe use just a quarter of the can. The traditional shrimp and cocktail sauce and cream cheese was also a hit. We celebrated Reza's birthday with a big rum cake.

We spent the night at the Ramada Inn and it worked out just right. This morning we headed up the 101 to Ikea and bought some new furnishings for the house. The traffice was rough in the Livermore valley and again in Tracy. Sue wanted to stop at the Mall in Modesto to see if that par of sweatpants was still there. It was and she bought them at a ridiculously cheap price.

The valley has turned vicously cold and windy tonight.. Hope you all stay warm.
Love
pat