Christmas Day Mushroom Muffin Blues: Tuesday, December 25th

Quite frankly I talk about the fact that I'm a feminist as often as I can, and every time I do it gets huge reaction and media reacts and the Twitterverse explodes and things like that, because here I am saying I'm a feminist. I will keep saying that until there is no more reaction to that when I say it, because that's where we want to get to. -Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada (b. 25 Dec 1971)

Greetings! Love from the Coffaro Family
Thank you - and the same to both of you! Hoping all's well and you have a safe and happy holiday! Pat (and Dave)  

[Merry Christmas! Ariane, Doug, Damian & Corben]

Hello Famiglia Coffaro, [and Catalina!]: Thank you, Pat and Dave, for the holiday wishes. Trust all goes well. [How was the wedding?] I'm sure you have been very busy, over hols, with family and friends.  We had arranged, before Chloë left, last night, for her to come over to open presents and have breakfast, Christmas morning, whenever she was ready. I was up by 7:30 am to feed hungry cats and put on a fire so Lady Dar could venture out of her cosy bed! In fact she was still abed when Chloë walked through the front door! Anyway, once up, she and Chloë set about preparing two dishes. Chloë's one, sliced, fried mushrooms with Parmesano on top and Lady Dar's a concoction of egg, diced onion and bacon, tomatoe and grated cheese, baked in a muffin tray. 
 

Once everything was ready and baking in oven we started opening presents. Duke and Etta were most impressed with the dried shrimp cat treats I'd found and further entertained us playing with a knitted fish skeleton, stuffed with catnip, that Chloë had given to them last year! [We keep it in a sealed Ziploc bag and only bring it out every so often.] Highlights were a pair of snow-shoes for Chloë, [We plan to snow-shoe together as I'm starting to become familiar with some of the easier routes the hiking group uses.], and new printer/scanner for Lady Dar who needs such for both her marriage officiant enterprise as well as in her role as church treasurer. 

I received a pair of fleece-lined Crocs so that I can sweep the snow-covered sidewalks while Lady Dar is basking in the Mexican sun! I believe you might know I will be driving her to Kelowna on New Year's Eve as she is flying to Puerto Vallarta, staying north of there for two months and then a week or so in LA to see our new great-granddaughter, all going well to be born in late February! I'm hoping I'll have a chance to see close friends from Adelaide at Sun Peaks, just north of Kamloops, mid-January or later, as they come to ski every year. [Missed them last year as we were in Costa Rica.] If Chloë can get away perhaps we can snowshoe while the Ozzies zip down the slopes!

Breakfast was simply delicious and we toasted each other with a bottle of Fitzpatrick bubbly, a winery, just north of Summerland, specializing in same, together with OJ. Chloë left around noon and after we'd tidied up living room and kitchen I had a nap! We were off to have dinner at Sendero that evening so Chloë took armfuls of food we'd already prepared, (squash, turkey stuffing and a large bag of spuds to prepare at her place.), and went home to tidy up her place. Beckster, Kid Chelene, Avery and Ashlynn were coming over for dinner but meal had to be started by about 5:45 pm as Corey was on shift at 7:00 pm. Lady Dar left at 2:00 pm with turkey to get it started so it would be ready in time and I was charged with bringing more hootch and eggnog once I'd showered and changed.
 

Bird was nicely bubbling away in turkey roaster when I arrived and spuds peeled and boiled, waiting to be mashed when time came. Since most everything was done we sat down to watch Love Actually, one of our favourite Christmas movies. Once film was over and just before the other Sendero folk arrived, The Sisterhood hung a small mirror in Chloë's bedroom and were planning to hang two pictures but hadn't realized hooks were still at our place. Not a big deal and we'll probably do it over next few days.

Place livened up considerably once the Terrible Twosome arrived and we started to imbibe, poor Kid Chelene with rum-less eggnog! The guests came laden with lovely gifts for us, [In the main a thank-you to Lady Dar who has often taken care of the girls when their parent's schedules necessitated outside care.], so we were spoiled again. Dinner was truly, truly scrumptious, the turkey, in particular, moist but perfectly cooked. The only thing that marred the occasion were the hit-and-miss crackers, most of which wouldn't crack! [However, listening to Dylan Thomas' A Child's Christmas in Wales earlier that morning more than made up for this!]  
 

Avery and Ashlynn didn't mind as they were more than happy with the silly crowns. Chloë had baked a stunning egg-nog cheesecake for dessert, topped with freshly whipped cream and everyone had another slice, so delicious it was. After that it was time for Sutherlands to go so we bade goodnight to them and then returned to living room to watch Die Hard, another unlikely Christmas movie! Chloë put away the overlefts and did the dishes while Lady Dar and I watched Bruce Willis outwit Alan Rickman and when the last villain had been defeated we toddled off home. An absolutely lovely Christmas Day and made even more wonderful by celebrating a goodly part of it in Chloë's new home.

Fondestos from Lady Dar to you, Patrizzia and The Grinch Grumpster and we wish you and family, and staff at winery, [Loved the snap of Catalina that our friends Ruthless and Ricardo sent along when they were tasting, this September or so, with their son, Alex, studying at Stanford!], a Healthy New Year! Cheers, Patrizzio! Pic: Christmas dinner with two bottles of Orofino! [Had two bottles of Coffaro a week or so before as Kid Chelene had a Zin and Sarge a Cabbage! Mine have long gone!]
 

Merry Xmas Patrick. Will see you in 2019. Matt Hello Glasgow and Catherine!

Trust you are both well. I'm sure you have been very busy, over hols, with family and friends. I do apologize, Matt, for not replying sooner after you sent me The Eggman's obituary. I was certainly deeply saddened to learn of John's death, although I wasn't altogether surprised as the last time we visited he was quite frail, as you might remember. At any rate, I need to send along a sympathy card to Leslie and feel badly that I haven't done so before this. [Coincidentally, I have recently had a number of messages from Bill Dempster, in Thailand for two months. He had a hip replaced earlier this Fall and is having other, perhaps more serious, medical issues but keeps plugging along.] For our part we did celebrate a wonderful Christmas. Fondestos from Lady Dar and Chloë to you both and we wish you and family a boisterous Hogmanay and a Healthy New Year! Cheers, Patrizzio! 

Buon Natale ! Joyeux Noël ! Frohe Weihnachten ! Corinne and Patrizio !
Etta and Duke ! Wishing you much great health in 2019. ❤️Erika, Amy and our 6 Kit Kats❤️ Hello Tri-lingual Kit Kat People! Trust everyone is well. Thank you for the Italian, French and German seasons greetings and New Year's wishes.

Fondestos from Lady Dar and Chloë to you, Erika, and Amy, and the six felines all and we wish you and family a Healthy New Year! Cheers, Patrizzio! Merry Christmas, Corinne & Patrick. Thank you for the festive email card (we enjoyed the sea theme decorated tree). “If we could give you any gift, we’d give you love & laughter, a peaceful heart, a special dream & joy forever after.” (unknown) Hugs, Carol & Tom Hi Naramatians! Glad you enjoyed the card. Thank you for the lovely, heartfelt wishes. Fondestos from Lady Dar to you, Carol and Tom, and we wish you and family a Healthy New Year! Cheers, Patrizzio!

 

Patricio, Merry Christmas to you and Corinne as well. Laury and Nora Same to you two. We are at Laury's in NC. It is cool compared to FL. but we are better reminded what Xmas should be. Gail & Jack Hi North Carolina! Lovely that you four, (probably more, of course!), are together for the holidays. Enjoyed N's/L's newsy Christmas letter. Congratulations on Rylen's birth! Fondestos from Lady Dar and Chloë to one and all and we wish everyone a Healthy New Year! Cheers, Patrizzio! 

Merry Christmas Patrick and Corinne! Cheers, Tim and Marian Hello Dearest Summerland Cousins, wherever you are! Trust you are both well and that you enjoyed the hols with friends and family. For us, Christmas was truly a lovely time. Fondestos from Lady Dar to you both, Marian and Tim, and we wish you and family a Healthy New Year! Cheers, Patrizzio!