leder legends

 Such a typical weather pattern lately!  Bah! Humbug!

The tree was up with lights early December.  The rest of the decorations slowly were added! Merry Christmas  I was not aware that I had added so many angels this year!  Homage to our time Puerto Rico! The wise men arrived on horses rather than camels! This is one of the oldest nativity sets we have. It’s about 48 years old! The snow has disappeared once more.  It will be 50° in a few days! The cardinals stay here all year but in winter they add lots of drama to the yard! Nathan and Ava modeling their gifts! Oh SO SO  potent! Stetson! Alaska gift! Wood burning tool…. A new hobby ? Always so excited and so grateful! Good company and good food! Good tradition- Puerto Rican noche buena meal! ( in Alaska!) The girls were gifted with lots of beads and lots of nail polish! A Christmas tradition- chocolate letters and one of Swedish fish lol! Finally a decent picture of these two! Heated vest! Aria’s creation will bring music to the yard!

-8 C last night and will be -11 C tonight. We sleep with the windows open and sleep well under a wonderful down comforter. USUALLY!  Haha!   Last night we woke up cold at 4:00 am.  It was 41⁰ F in the room.  8⁰ C. Too cold!. I got up at 6:00, still cold, and stayed cold all day. I don't think the windows will be opened more than a  slight crack tonight !!!  Haha So, do you think the windows should be open or not?  It is said to be healthy and good for you! My daughter sent me one of these last year! (there are many, many styles etc for sale but this one came the closest)  It's long, unlined, has cuffs and a hood.  It is so, so warm that I rarely use it but the I have found it comforting to wear lately - It's either much colder or I am much older !!

It was a very cold, windy, winter day and both of us were just back from a week in the sun. (St John / Phoenix).  We were cold and unprepared for winter- it was not really cold before we left. We were hoping the Village Inn would provide a warm booth plus warm food.   We each ordered the loaded baked potato soup to warm up our insides but we stayed cold in our booth by the window!  We shared the cheese burger and fries.  It tasted great! Unfortunately, we came in cold and left cold and while the food was good, the prices were high and the service was okay but not great. We probably won't go back again... at least not in the winter.

              It snowed last week and the world looked white and pure but the yard clean up had been postponed! Sadly, I knew what was under the snow!  Then, happily, we got 3 days of 40° weather with a gentle south breeze. There are no piles of ice to deal with and all the snow is gone. The grass is green and really needs to be mown but that will happen in the spring! The hoses are put away, the potted plants have been moved close to the house, the pumpkins have been left to rot in a flowerbed that will benefit, the birdbaths have been tipped, the chairs stacked ,the sun is shining, the birds are happy and so am I!

Alaska sky! Sunday morning!

 We went from this …to this… Blue skies but a 50⁰ difference in temperature!   Both have their pluses!

MeXo a restaurant specializing in Prehispanic Mexican cuisine. It was named Grand Rapids restaurant of the year by Grand Rapids Magazine.  Apparently it's been in business for 7 years and I had never heard of it. Here most everything is made from scratch and not Tex-Mex. Much of the food is gluten and dairy free because wheat and cattle were introduced into Mexico from Europe.  Rose had a mezcal margarita with a Oaxacan twist and a hearty Sopa Azteca. I had a Maya Torta de Pollo. A chicken sandwich on special bread that included beans and guacamole- a lovely combo that for me needed more spices. Aztec flourless chocolate torte that was served with a very unusual but delicious tomatillo gastrique.  Great experience overall! 

(Rose bought the pricy hat and  I did not!) The people have spoken! It's a very red map!  The president!  The Senate!  The House -- maybe! Trump says he has an unprecedented and powerful mandate!  Rose and I are on different points of the same spectrum but we both are celebrating!  (she bought the pricy hat and  I did not!) We are hoping many things will change but time will tell. Here's to the next 4 years!!!

11/20/2024 MeXo Restaurant * Lacks charm! Good food that was different.  A bit pricey 11/13/2024 The Post Tavern** This is the restaurant in the newer Ada Hotel (opened August 2024) in Ada.  The place is elegant and subdued! They use porcelain dishes (RAK from uae), heavy cutlery, cloth napkins!  The menu is one page- starters, mains, sides and desserts - a clever idea for a small kitchen! Rose had a wedge salad from the starters section. I picked fish and chips from the mains section! We were pleased!! Mine was too much so half came home. We shared a dessert- Triple Layer Carrot cake! Delicious but we thought the cream cheese frosting needed some more sugar!  We both agreed it was worth a star meaning that we would return in a flash but it was quite a bit pricier than our normal fare! 11/6/24 Olive Garden (in search of a light soup salad lunch) We had fun but no stars. The salad has a nice dressing but too chunky and basic (a big bowl to share had only two olives an...