Well Christmas Day was some what laid back in the early morning hours until neighbors and dear friends the Botbyl's came down for breakfast at 10 and then again around 5' ish Bobby and family arrived and shortly there after Betsy and Gus arrived. We planned for supper at 6. In between breakfast and supper we had several hours of down time so I mainly read except for some garden work. We had the windows and doors open after a chilly start where temps reached the middle 70's. Just a beautiful day and so typical of a Florida winter day.
I started the day much the usual with a 6'ish roll out to my morning routines that start with a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric and fresh ginger root while I posted this ramble then some quiet time with my Creator in thanksgiving and lifting up several by name. All seem well as I spoke with the Dillon family where Paw Paw was attending Christmas dinner with the three girls , Josie, Pat and Dee and their families. They all seemed well as they were just setting down to eat around 1'ish.. Amy called from Kansas and they're doing well with the visit to Tyler's sister and then to his parents and grand parents. It was rather chilly out there but no snow as of yet. Lee Lee was hoping for some snow. The 6 grands including Amy's three all seem to be getting along great and Cindy put up nice pictures of them for us to see.
Nancy had made an egg casserole and Carol brought some type of french toast and a bowl of fruit all of which were delicious. Thankfully we had no left overs for a change from the breakfast. We did since it was just the four of us cut out the taters and the bread. They stayed and chatted until noon then took off. I headed out to hand water the gardens and sow again some romaine lettuce seeds as the bib seeds did sprout and the new seedlings will need transplanted in a day or so. Everything else is doing great as the garden loves these cool nights and warm sunny days. The forecast is for a little warmer temps the next couple of days. No heat or a/c for a change.
I'm about 3/4 thru the final book in the Red Sparrow trilogy; the kremlin's Candidate which is a page turner. It's so interesting and yet I'm sure very realistic with what goes on in the field of espionage with the CIA and moles. I will be sad to learn of the final decisions made with regard to the main character who has been recruited to spy for the CIA and who is a Russian mole. It just one of the best stories ever and yet at times it's brutal from within each agency and how their moles are handled when thought of as spies.
Nancy had an 11 pound rib roast in the oven around 3'ish and we wanted it medium rare so we took it out at 125 degrees internal heat and let it rest for 30 minutes and the meat was perfect and oh so delicious. Betsy brought a shrimp ring as well as her signature potato casserole. Bobby brought fresh spinach and a bottle of good wine and Nancy had fresh carrots cooking as well with rolls and for later a chocolate cheesecake for dessert. Everything was so good. We sent plates home for Braden who had to work a double shift and Garrett who seldom comes or leaves their house. They all left around 8 ish as both Bobby and Betsy had to work the next day.
Bobby is cooking a beef Wellington for Katie's family in the afternoon and since he bought such a large tenderloin he invited us back for supper with them once again and the fact we have nothing on our schedule so we will head back over to Brandon in the early afternoon for an early supper. That was about it for the day and it wasn't long until I was ready for the showers and then some horizontal lab around 10'ish, LATER Here's wishing a Happy New Year to all which is just a week away..2018 sure went fast
