CHINESE LANTERN WISHES…..

……were the surprise Tomiko brought over for our Christmas celebration…more on that in just a bit.

‘Honey Baked Ham’ was yum, yum and the amazing thing is they suggest not re-heating  but just leaving it out at room temperature for two hours.  I made Orzo that came out pretty good and sweet potatoes with lots of stuff were on the stove top.  Also home made cranberries and a jello mold made using stewed tomatoes (love it ‘cause it’s red!)

Calling all cooks……

Here comes Tomiko with her salad….Vicki’s carving the ham…Charles patiently awaits….

Mom too….

Time to open presents if we can stop laughing…

Kita’s in the process of destroying her present…a level nine supposedly indestructible one from Vicki, Nikka & Emma…oh well….

Tomiko & I share a giggle….

This is soooo precious….a lucky shot!

Who’s that peeking around the corner trying to see what’s going on????

Mom got the cutest cards!!!

This one not only plays music but lights up!

O.K., here it is….the magical, mystical wondrous moment.  You light an area under the lantern and hold on until enough hot air fills the space and you make a wish as it lifts off. 

Next day Mary Beth came by to take Kita to the park…they just returned and what a tale she had to tell…..

Now Kita is behaving…..but…..wait for it….

You won’t believe….wait for it….

Kita’s listening too.  See the blue ‘thingie’ in Mary Beth’s hand?  That’s the lead line that was around her muzzle and attached to a heavy hook on the floor of the van.

Yes, you’re good now but what about when you were hanging half way out of Mary Beth’s van as she drove down the hill.  What about when she stopped to push you back inside.  What about when you decided to jump out of the one third open window and broke loose from your moorings and ran to the two black labs?  Yeah….what about that!

To be continued………

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Our little 2011 Christmas puppy is now approaching 100 lbs. of happiness!

Eager to participate in all the festivities…..

“Take the picture before I change my mind”

Does this hat make me look thinner????

“Are you sure Rudolph started like this?”

Yippee….ICE CREAM……so cute!

I am so proud of myself…passed the Zebra Corn up at Cosco…it’s the yummiest!

Yes Vicki….we got everything!!!!

“Oh boy…a card for me”.

Thank you Tomiko…I wuf You!!!

I can’t believe I ate the whole thing!!!!

SANTA’S left for his rounds……

Ready…set…celebrate!!!

Until next year……

Wishing you a beautiful year filled with many joys and satisfactions!

BRUNCH at the LANGHAM, Pasadena, CA…….

…..Sunday before Christmas and everyone’s in a festive mood.

Clara and I had so much fun at the Getty we decided to take it to the Langham (used to be the Ritz Carlton and before that it was the Huntington or something like that).  Confused?

Are these packages for me? You shouldn’t have.  No?????  Well then, lets just go chow down.

What would you like in your omelet?

Clara, how can he possibly remember all that???

Do I have food all over me???? Am I smiling??

Happy, happy me!

The omelet is under there somewhere…hiding beneath the bacon.

Chocolate croissant anyone?

I’m embarrassed to admit it but this was my SECOND plate.  Kinda out of control I’d say.

Charles and I were married here in the courtyard and the reception was also in the hotel. (When it was the Ritz Carlton.)

Mom & I walked over that little bridge in the background…..

Thank you Clara for another wonderful day!!!

For more information:

www.pasadena.langhamhotels.com

WINTER CELEBRATION AT THE GETTY …..

…..A holiday bash given for staff and docents. I’ve mentioned before that Clara is a docent at the Getty ‘Villa’ which I always call ‘her villa’ and she was able to bring one guest….  Happy Moi !!!

Get the idea I’m sort of excited????  Yippee!!!

Forget ‘Florence and the Renaissance’, we’re here to PARTY!!!

Clara, lead the way…..

A group shot as we wait in line at one of the food stations….Surprised?  Not hardly.

Don’t ask.  O.K. ask……He’s on staff, I think in the Public Relations area somewhere and wanted to add some frivolity to the evening.  Later on you’ll see how everyone wanted to take a picture with him.

 

You can’t see the disc jockey for all the people but he’s there….there was a lot of dancing going on…..

See………

Told you……..

There he is……

So pretty………

There were so many food stations….this was the ‘everything fish’ one.  Think there’s enough shrimp left for me????

Clara I agree…….

O.K., here he is………..

My turn…….

Oh gosh, I NEED this bread pudding….with the chocolate sauce….and the whipped cream.  After all, I stood in line for 15 minutes to get it!

Clara’s going straight for the chocolate cake…..

Another food station…forgot what this was but had to have some (I remember that) just to keep the server happy.  He suggested I dip the yummy bread sticks (they really were) in some mushroom soup that he had….oh my, this is getting out of control….

The Three Graces….’Joy, Charm & Beauty’…docents all at the Getty Villa.  Clara and ‘Botticelli Girl’ Dominique in the middle with Tara on the right.

We all went to the auditorium for some Karaoke…how could we miss that? Pllleeeese…..(Just say that with expression)

Last stop was ‘The Restaurant’ where they had more food stations, this time with short- ribs.  Now who could pass that up?  Even if it is the third dinner of the evening.

Groan……..

They had a wonderful jazz band at ‘The Restaurant’…..

….dancing to ‘Fly Me to the Moon”.

Time to go………….

So cute!!!!!!  Thank you Clara for the most delightful, fun evening!

For more information:

www.getty.edu