Saturday, December 07, 2019

MAG 2019 Christmas Tea

The family  (including Dad) is eating ice cream. I will hide in the nook and blog and pray I don't give in - because I really don't want to start metFormin.

I will focus instead on yesterday's  fun Tea. Jennifer did a great job with planning and pulling off this year's tea. Originally,  we had thought it would be at her new Lakeside home....but her home isn't finished. We moved locations to our home.

Carl stopped by while we were setting up and starting. He and Michael have all the words done on the float....the message is on both sides so it can be seen equally from either side of the parade.

Some women I have come to love deeply in the past couple of years.
Yasinta and Bonnie
Nora and Nani

Stacey  - she's stocking tiered tray - not eating a plate
of raspberries by herself.

Britney & Donna 

Sandy & Jennifer
 We had 3 tables in my living room, 2 in the dining room and the big table we normally use - it was impossible to get a photo of everyone all at once. LOL
F - Britney & me
Rose, Nora, Nani
Yasinta, Bonnie, Stacie, Ameilee
We had a wonderful selection of savory and sweet food.  Jennifer and Donna picked the recipes and various ones of us prepared them to share. We have about 4 women doing the Keto diet, and 3 - 4  of us avoiding sugar due to diabetes....there was one or two full sugar treats, several low carb and several keto treats. I had no trouble at all filling up without eating sugar or tyramine (allergy).  I appreciated the care Jennifer gave to making sure there was something for everyone....for the most part the recipe make-overs are easy ones which are part several of our ladies lifestyles. For instance, I made low carb chicken salad....basically switched out cashews for pecans, skipped the grapes and put in Romaine leaves instead of croissants, and I used Best Food vegan as I was making it and I still watch my cholesterol very carefully with my hyper-cholesterol whatever they call it syndrome. Wala - still tasted good and no one busted their eating plan. ::snort::  I was skeptical of skipping the cashews and grapes - but after making this with non fat Greek yogurt and no nuts - this tasted like a treat. LOL 

All the tea cups were from Mom's collection or ones I had purchased. We will have MANY MORE when I actually unpack the part of Mom's collection which she didn't sneak into the trailer when we moved up here. ::snort::  I hope I have a few of her crystal platters. I discovered all mine must have been given away when we downsized to move to Japan. LOL 

Donna made these lovely 3-tiered serving trays. I plan to buy the pieces and make some for myself. Donna graciously suggested I keep a few trays to use for the two tea parties I will be hosting before Christmas. I had vague thoughts of getting one made this week - but I think Donna's plan is much saner. 




Sandy spoke to us about peace - and it was a word for the moment. 

At some point during the day Michael needed to leave. He and Nolan went to pick up Alex, grab lunch, and go watch Midway....this meant he and Nolan grabbed keys and played a giant game of tetras on our icy lot. LOL 

Photo via Krista
I didn't sleep well Friday night. I got home around 10:45 or so....it takes a bit of time to unwind....Alex needed to be up early and I was driving him to work....honestly, I mostly was up thinking about Mom and missing her. 

I was very tired this evening. Stacia and I settled down to watch a Christmas Movie with Dad. Dad spotted Home Alone and it seems he and Mom watched this one alot. He could quote the lines to us. We were a bit shocked at the dysfunction in the family....but enjoyed zoning out....the boys came home and finally accomplished our annual viewing of The Muppets Christmas Carol. Benny snuggled in to watch...

Sharing traditions with a new generation - Priceless.