New Year's Eve: Good Food, Silly & Fun Movies

Settling in after a somewhat unsettling day for a fun New Year's Eve. I drove Chris into work this morning at 5:30am...the conditions were as bad as I can remember. I then took Jim to the airport, which was not as bad as I thought it might be. Tonight we are having seafood shepard's pie. This is the 2nd time I have made this - and if you have never tried it, you should!! From the bottom the layers go: broccoli, white sauce, cheese, shrimp, haddock, scallops, and a mashed potato combo of regular and sweet spuds. Really quite amazing! Tonight we are watching these two films - both of which I want to see for nothing but the brain candy they will provide. Have a great night!

~MET

Baked Beans & Dog Biscuits

As we prepare for yet another snowstorm, I decided today would be a good one for home style baked beans. I got them in the oven early this morning, and then we went on an icy walk with Burt. While the beans cooked I made Burt and Murph some dog biscuits, which they both seemed to like. The meal was very good, though I made the cole slaw with our new food processor - and it looked kind of like mashed potatoes, but they still tasted ok. My brother heads back to DC tomorrow, and I'll be driving through the storm to bring him to the airport - assuming his flight is a go. No big plans for tomorrow evening, we'll enjoy some champagne and just spend the evening here.

~MET

A New Year's Resolution

One of my resolutions this year is to improve my ability to remember names. It has always been a problem of mine. Does anyone have any ideas? Any simple tricks I can try? I'd appreciate any advice, thanks.
~MET

Home

This was the view that Burt and I enjoyed while on our walk this morning. It was so pretty, and remarkably quiet. I really do live in "picture-postcard" Maine. After the walk I paid my bills and figured my post-Christmas finances...yikes! Note to family: get used to mac and cheese...seriously. It actually will be all back to a normal budget by the end of January, and the holiday season we just experienced was certainly worth it. I'm going with Ma, Jim, Grant, and Suz to have lunch with a couple of my aunts in Gardiner. It should be fun, and I'm really hoping Aunt Ann still makes the delicious peanut butter chocolates that I remember from my youth. After lunch Grant & I will enjoy a stogie on Tut's patio. Another fine day, and one that reminds me of just how lucky I am.
~MET

How Big is This Game?...I WILL BE WATCHING!

Its like this: I'm a baseball fan - and a Washington Nationals fan. I probably watch 150 baseball games a year. But... I also read the sports page daily, I've been a fan of ESPN's SportsCenter since its inception, I watch bits and pieces of college football and basketball, the NBA, and the NFL. And I watch the Super Bowl pretty religiously. I don't know football, and I don't consider myself a fan. I have to say that I can't wait for Saturday's Pats - Giants game, for these reasons: the Patriots are just freakin' GOOD, Tom Brady will throw his 50th TD pass, and they will hopefully finish undefeated. The biggest reason I want them to beat the New York Football Giants is to shut up the 1972 Miami Dolphin retreads once and for all. Tom Griese, Mercury Morris and company have been all over the networks trying to hex the Pats for weeks. Its really kind of embarrassing. I don't think you're going to see Tom Brady taking time out 30 years from now to hope an undefeated team loses. The Dolphins' players remind me of that sad dad roaming the high school sidelines in his 25 year old letter jacket trying to cling to the best days of his youth. Get a life, Mercury - this Patriots team would beat the '72 Dolphins by 3 touchdowns, no matter what happens on Saturday! This MUST be a big weekend for the NFL: the game will be seen on three networks, and I will be tuned in...wow!
~MET

Happy St. Stephen's Day!

I hope everyone had as wonderful a Christmas as I did yesterday, and you enjoy today's holiday as well. St. Stephen's Day is a national holiday in Ireland, with a tradition that goes like this:
On the day after Christmas groups of Irish boys would hunt for a wren, and chase it until they caught it, or it died from exhaustion. Then they would tie it to a holly bush decorated with colored paper, and go door to door dressed in old clothes (often women's dresses), blacken their faces with burnt cork, and collect money for the funeral. As they approached each house they would sing The Wren Song, and hope to collect some money. If the homeowner gave some to them they gave a feather from the bird, which was supposed to bring good luck.
Why does this somewhat brutal ritual mean anything to me? When I was a kid my all too Irish mother had some Clancy Brothers albums, and one of them included several children's songs - including The Wren Song. I can still remember the words, and sing it to myself from time to time.

The wren, the wren, the king of all birds
St. Stephen's Day was caught in the firs
Although he was little, his honor was great
Jump up me lads and give us a treat

We followed the wren three miles or more
Three miles of more, three miles or more
Through hedges and ditches and heaps of snow
At six o'clock in the morning

Rolley, Rolley, where is your nest?
It's in the bush that I love best
It's in the bush, the holly tree
Where all the boys do follow me

As I went out to hunt and all
I met a wren upon the wall
Up with me wattle and gave him a fall
And brought him here to show you all

I have a little box under me arm
A tuppence or penny will do it no harm
For we are the boys who came your way
To bring in the wren on St. Stephen's Day

~MET

"God Bless Us, Everyone..."

A truly wonderful Christmas...the pictures speak for themselves - from M-S's egg bake to the pet's stockings, to the tree, to dinner, to spending time with my amazing family. All the gifts were outstanding. My mother knitted something for EVERYONE, she is unbelievable. As you can see, the goose and ham turned out pretty well. You can also see that my kin showed up in their pj's. It really was too much fun.

~MET

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

We just returned from a long Christmas morning walk along the Sheepscot River, and I look forward to a wonderful day. Last night we went to my parents' for a Christmas Eve feast prepared by my sister. We had ham, potatoes, green beans, stuffing, and tofurkey with all the trimmings. M-S has made an egg bake, which we will enjoy with mimosas in just a bit. Our kids will arrive around noon for our tree - and then the rest of my family will be here for Christmas dinner and gift exchange. I'll post again this evening.I hope you all have a great holiday, and a very happy new year.

~MET

A Season for Celebration

Today some of my mom's friends threw a shower / brunch for Suz and Grant. Since the wedding was in DC, it was a chance for some Mainers to congratulate the couple. The food was excellent, and there was a really cool slide show from the ceremony. I also finished the shopping for Christmas dinner...and decided on a ham to compliment the goose. I got a recipe for wild goose from the Field & Stream web page. I think its going to be awesome, no matter how the frozen goose picture looks. Preparing meals for my family is one of my favorite things, and I can't wait to make merry all day on Tuesday!

~MET

BBQ - Northern New England Style

A double-post day. I remembered that I had a half a bag of charcoal in the shed, so I trudged my way to the grill and cooked up a couple of steaks. I like grilling in cold weather, and with 3 feet of snow on the ground and a temp of about 15 degrees, it was an adventure to say the least. The dinner was good, and I'll be out there to cook more this winter.

~MET

Christmas is Coming, the Goose is Getting Fat...

I'm very excited. This year for Christmas dinner we are having two wonderful things: the seafood shepard's pie, and for the first time - a Christmas goose. The 10 pounder pictured above was bagged by a good friend of my parents: Joe Linscott. Mr. Linscott is an absolute icon in the city of Augusta. As a kid he coached me (and thousands of other capital city boys) in youth teams in both basketball and baseball. More importantly, he was the key player in providing the city with the playing fields of the "piggery" road. Without Joe Linscott there would be no youth sports in Augusta. As a kid he was this Ted Williams like figure. He knew everything about sports... he hunted, fished, and coached. A man's man through and through. He is also a devoted husband and family man. When I was a 12 year old I had three heroes: my dad, Bud Folsom, and Joe Linscott. Cooking a goose that he gave to us makes Christmas even more special this year.
~MET

Tick..Tick..Tick...

I NEED A VACATION! I'm tired of school construction, school consolidation talks, and teenagers. I can't wait to spend time with my family, hear about Sarah and Chris' semester of college, eat exceptional food, and get lost in the excitement of gift-giving. Its 8:51 right now...five hours or so to go.
~MET

The Best Christmas Carol of All Time

There are hundreds and hundreds of versions of hundreds of Christmas carols, but for my money the best is Burl Ives' Have a Holly Jolly Christmas. I know this must make me seem old, but the tune never fails to put me in the holiday mood. I really like listening to Christmas music, and we have a very eclectic collection. I don't even think we own this song, but whenever it comes on the radio I sing along.

~MET

p.s. Check out my Mom's blog for some great pics of Xmas trees from years gone by. There is one from when I was 12 that is a classic.

How About a Nats Update?

This morning on the way to work the temperature was 5 degrees, and I began to wish for warmer weather and the coming of baseball season. The picture is of Nationals Park - the new home of my beloved baseball team. They have made several roster moves this off-season.....and all of them seem to be jinxed. The team signed two young and very athletic outfielders, who also can't seem to stay out of court. Lastings Milledge was signed from the Mets organization, but has a bit of a checkered past legally speaking. They also got Elijah Dukes, who is due in court soon for domestic violence. I think the plan is for Dmitri Young to take them under his wing. The team's big move was getting catcher Paul Lo Duka, and 2 days later he was named in the Mitchell Report as a steroid user - GO NATS! I guess the team is getting better, if not more strange. We still don't have any pitching, Nick Johnson should be coming back, and there is the new park. Less than 2 months to spring training, and I can't wait!
~MET

The Cake Says it All

Have a great day!
Love,
~MET

A Good Day to Stay Indoors and...

...read your favorite Christmas book. The storm has started, but we did get a chilly walk in this morning. When I was a kid the book I most looked forward to seeing during the holidays was Santa Mouse by Michael Brown. It was published in 1966, and I'm sure I begged my parents to read it to me hundreds of times. Mom gave me a new copy a few years ago, and I still bring it out each Christmas. Its a nice story of a lonely mouse befriended by Santa, and who becomes St. Nick's helper. The last page reads:

Then over the rooftops,
On a journey with no end,
Away they went together,
Santa with his tiny friend.

And so, this Christmas, if you please,
Beneath the tree that's in your house,
Why don't you leave a piece of cheese?

You know who'll thank you?
SANTA MOUSE!

~MET

Click on the Link for More Christmas Fun

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1437843350

Still Just a Little Boy at Heart...

On Friday Chris was at home while we went to work, and my 18 year old 6'4 son spent his day sleeping and making this snowman. I think he will always have a bit of little boy in him. Can't you just picture him out there...in his sandals and a t-shirt...rolling snowballs and having a great time? It makes our festive house even more so. I think Chris' first semester in college was a big success, and I've noticed quite a change in his approach to academics. In fact, he has spoken about his schoolwork with more excitement this year than ever before. And now, he's showing this obvious artistic side with this sculpture. Too bad the coming blizzard is going to cover his creation.
~MET

Home for the Holidays

Its really starting to feel like Christmas as loved ones begin coming home. Chris took his last final yesterday, and Suzanne arrived late Wednesday night. We all enjoyed a fine lentil soup last night, which I spruced up with some okra. (I wonder how many pictures of my table are posted on this blog?) The third picture is of M-S opening a gift that Murph brought for Burt - a holiday blanket for one of his beds, which he seemed to like right away. Sarah will be home next Thursday, and we can't wait for Jim, Daryl, and Grant to make their way back for a snow-covered Maine Christmas.

~MET

Two Morning Rituals

A good day for actual random digressions. Our dog's most favorite thing in the world is going for a walk. It just happens to be one of M-S's favorite activities also, and as a result she brings him almost every morning no matter what the weather. Now, I'm not talking about a 10 minute jaunt around the house - these are 30-45 minute hikes by the farmhouses of North Whitefield. Yesterday, M-S took a picture of this snow sculpture on the lawn of one of the homes on her route. She was quite taken by the artist's rendition of Godzilla. This is also the home of a very nice black lab named Emily, who I'm pretty sure Burt is sweet on. Anyway, Burt and my wife love to start their day with the walk, and it has become an important morning ritual for them.

I have a new morning ritual. As most of you know, I have a pretty good commute each day to work, and for years I would make coffee at home, fill my travel mug, and be on my way. My car will only receive a certain shaped mug in the cup-holder, and I found a perfect fit at the Supreme Court gift shop. While in DC for Suz's wedding my brother thought it would be a nice gesture to wash the mug...well, its still in the nation's capital. Anyway, I've started to stop at a small country store in So. China for my coffee, and I look forward to it for many reasons. The coffee is good and inexpensive. They have the tall sugar pourer-things, rather than the packets (this is a must as far as I'm concerned). But the big thing is what the guy says to me each day after I've paid and ready to leave. He sends me on my way with, "Safe journey". The first time he said it I was a little surprised, and I think I said, "you too"...which must have sounded really dumb. Now I just thank him, and finish my trip to work. I really look forward to my, "safe journey" each morning - I feel like it brings me luck.

~MET

Keeping the Christmas Spirit Going...

I can't say that I'm exceptionally happy with my elf name, but I guess I shouldn't expect something manly from an elf-name generator. Give it a try, I'm interested in seeing what other kinds of names this spits out.

Marvel the Mustang...

...he's almost for real, just saddle him up with spurs on your heel...Marvel was one of the earliest toys that I remember that I REALLY wanted. As you can see, I still remember parts of the song from the television commercial from 1967 or so. You would sit on him, and bounce a little and he would take off. At that time I had guns, cannons, Star Trek phasers, you know, all the violent stuff. But I think Marvel was my favorite - and I wanted the toy soooo much. I can't remember if I got it under the tree, or if Jim did - but it didn't matter, he was my favorite toy as a 4 year old. What are some of the toys you can remember wanting as a young child?
~MET

Christmas Tree II

I really like the reflection of the tree in the windows, and the candles. Much more on the tree below.
~MET

O Tannenbaum

Our Christmas tree is up and decorated. I guess one of the pleasures of being middle-aged is that all of your tree decorations are meaningful. As I was putting each one on the tree, I was able to recall a story...it was very fun. We have hundreds of these, and examples of the history: the doll M-S is putting on is a Korean ornament with a traditional costume, the blue bell was made by Alex, the red one with the swirls is from a set Suz made for us, the white one with the green stockings is from my tree as a kid (one of my favorites), and the white one is from the MANY that M-S's Aunt Marty makes and sends us each year. The top pic does not do the tree justice, there are so many made by children, from trips, from relatives...they are all special. We don't like tinsel or garland getting in the way of the memories. I'll take a picture later tonight to get the "lighted feel". The last picture is from brunch yesterday. Its been a great weekend.

~MET