The Day After, The Day after Thanksgiving 2008

Greetings From Matilija---

My apologies for not posting sooner, but I went heavy into the turkey and was in the inevitable "Turkey Lethargic Haze" that one can not avoid from such acts of gluttony. (I plead guilty, as I don't get such great food at home!!) The gathering was terrific, and aside from eating way more than I should have, spent several most pleasant hours mingling with ALL my nieces and nephews, their wives and husbands, their children and the children's children, and a number of family friends. If this family gets much bigger, we will have to start renting out restaurants or social halls for these todo's. (lol)

I took over a dozen pics , which I had planned to bore you all to death with posting them, but a few moments ago, I loaded them into the old "puter" and alas and alack, most of them came out blurry and are not fit to be printed. The lesson the old dude here now has learned is to review each pic as taken, delete the ones not fit to be printed, and take new ones at the time (sigh).

The gathering was held at my Niece Melanie's home in Redlands. When feeding a mob of 35 or so, it was not a formal sit down, but served Buffet style, and as at all our family gatherings, it was not possible to get a portion of everything offered on one's plate, one was forced to go back for seconds to complete one's sampling of all the offerings----and this was before the desserts came forth!! (lol)----unfortunately it was all superb, and my compliments to the cook(s), and a "Hats off" to you Mel for all the effort you put forth in making it such a great day.

Here are a few of the pics that I did manage to salvage, this first one is a pic of the entrance hall to Melanie's, and gives you a modest idea of how wonderfully decorated it was for the occasion.  I just hope the click make bigger thingy works.

The rest of the pics that follow are of my family the nieces, nephews, wives and husbands etc etc etc.

Bill (Our Host) with friends

Here's my Niece Gabriel (who lives in Phoenix) and yeah thats me, hamming it up for the camera

My Niece Tish

Jennifer, my Nephew Eric's wife, and Patrick, my Niece Gabriel's husband Patrick

I'm afraid all the other pics came out badly, due to the lack of camera savvy on my part, and hope at the Christmas gathering at Edward's (my oldest Nephew) in Corona that I achieve much better results.

Judi Made Me Do It

     I received this cute little word association test/challenge from Judi----in that she allows me to toss memes at her, I figure the least I could do is respond to her word association challenge.  Those that read this might , if your so inclined share the answers YOU would have come up with by posting them on your blog pages.

WORD ASSOCIATION TEST

I SAY---                                     YOU ANSWER--?

1.  Memory                    Recollection 

2.  Original                     One of a kind

3.  Exclusively                 Limited to

4.  Listings                      Television programs

5.  Bucket                       Pail

6.  Knight                        Day

7.  Dusty                         Barns

8.  Choice                       Best of the picks

9.  Sunlight                      Warmth

10.  Change of plans       Plan B

     I think now maybe I should take my meds and lay down now right? (LOL)

A couple "Hot House" items At Matilija

I so enjoyed Judi's pics of HER orchid I felt I should show off mine as well. I live about 115 miles north of Judi's Palace on Shogun Mountain---(north side of Greater Los Angeles), but we have a modicum of success with Orchids here too. Both mine and Judi's orchids are commonly called "Moth or Butterfly" orchids---the blossoms last a long time. Here below is a pic of My Orchid plant, and the nice looking woman in the Pic is my lovely niece Tish, who came up from Irvine to have lunch with  me and my friend Midge Lebell.

"ITS ALIVE---ITS ALIVE!!!"

Sometimes a guy just wants to jump in the air, click his heels together and yell "eureka"---I just had one of those moments.  I have been attempting to instruct my niece Tish on how to create a "Blog List" and add it to her blog page.  One needs to understand my niece is not a technophobe, so much as she has little experience in computer programs and easily overwhelmed with click here, copy, click there paste and etc etc and such.
     It also is important that you understand MY verbal instructions leave alot to be desired as well.  In anycase it was a 35 minute phonecall, a lot of no, no, ---I don't understand, wait, OOOH, hmmm, oops I meant to tell ya to ----but finally, success ----Tish is now building her blog list---there will be no stopping her now-----just hope I havn't created a monster (lol)-----ITS ALIVE, ITS ALIVE!!!

Saturday At Carl's Place

Hi dear readers miss me yesterday---was off to the Shindig at Carl's place in Lake Forrest. (Yes the very same Social Event that Alexis mentiones in her Blog, "Bits N Pieces". For me it was a matter of driving over to Pasadena (Home of THE Rose Parade), collecting Uncle Bob---and motoring the 62 miles South to the small elegant community of Lake Forrest. The directions given me by my niece Tish were accurate, ---although I should know by now her perception of distances is suspect----one part of the directions given was turn right onto this street, go about 4 miles (turned out to be closer to six) but we did get there, in fact we were the first to arrive.  After spending a goodly number of minutes---5-6 at least, Carl (Our Host for this soiree, which is a french word for a party held by adults for adults in broad daylight) got me a cold beer (and of course I looked at the label---My boy Carl doesn't serve cheap stuff---waaaay to go Carl!!).

     Carl is in the midst of selling his Lake Forrest home, and I must say its located in one nice upscale neighborhood, and comes with a very nice pool, jacuzzi, and is laid out quite nicely inside and out for entertaining.  I wish I had taken more pics but----(sigh) I fell victim to my standard Party hearty, smile, laugh, guzzle and mingle mode and took pics of people instead---( the Pic above is of yours truly, comfortable ensconced in an upholstered patio chair.)  The Pic you see here to the right is of My Niece Melanie, and her Husband Bill  (the background of the pic gives you some concept of the elegance of Carl's beautiful home).  The occasion for this gathering was to kinda give pause and thought , reflection of a good friend of the family. Winnifred Marsh----who we lost a few weeks back--someone that has been in all of our lives for so many years----well I like to think I can still hear her musical laugh, her warm smile which she always graced our many family gatherings with----Winnie was truly one of those solid personalites that you subconscously KNOW are good people---and you always enjoyed having around.  She will be fondly remembered.

     Tish, another of my brothers offspring (He sired a neat half dozen to be exact), created the many delectable food offerings of the day, a whole passel of different sandwhiches, tuna, cheese, egg salad put up on rolls, white bread, and whole wheat (she even sliced the crusts off and sissified them  up real nice---eating so many as I did, I got a cramp in my little pinkie holding it up as I ate---almost poke myself in the eye acouple times as well.  Along with the great sandwhiches, there were offering of pasta salads, fresh fruits, and of course there were about five different kinds of dips to go with the bowls of chips scattered around the place----I found a dish of dark salted peanuts which I found myself unable to stop sampling----never did find out what kind they were----but they were great---while they lasted.  The Party was reasonable well attended by the family, two nephs and one niece were not in attendance, ---The niece,  (Gabrielle) living in Phoenix (or maybe in the summer time its Flagstaff??), being out of state, was unable to make it.  The two absent Nephs, Edward and Eric----I believe were out of the country---languishing down Mexico way, unwilling to cancel a long planned weekend .  The Trio of beautiful women you see above, are from left to right, My neice Tish (the family Caterer of late), My Niece by Marriage Jennifer,(her husband the missing Neph Eric), and My Niece Melanie (you no doubt recognize her from the earlier pic above---I don't believe she left that glass out of her hand the whole time I was there (just joshing ya Mel)  (and No she DID NOT marry Bill for his Wine Cellar). (again you get a glimpse of the cabinetry and tile of the kitchen area of Carls home.).

  (------to be continued on Next post "Carl's Place Act II" )