Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Thanksgiving pics, finally!

Here's the kitchen during the day-- cooking in progress...


The dining room that morning... the other guests will sit at another table in the entry hall..


The turkey was a natural, free-range locally-raised bird from Alexander Family Farm in Del Valle, TX. Honestly I couldn't tell the difference between it and any other bird (I brine all my birds of course.) However, I need to think about the pros and cons: a local bird has fewer petroleum miles, but it was more than triple the price. $3.25 a pound!


Here's the "kids' table" in the entry hall, after the majority of dinner is done.


Fred and Nathalie enjoy a good laugh.


After dinner everyone gathered in the kitchen for a dessert buffet.





Bill.


Jana and Aven.


Jack, Vinnie and Mitch.


After all the eating, a nap is a good thing...


Then, before Fred left, a little fashion show. (It's really Nathalie's coat)


Mitch was a champion at cleanup. The lovely crystal pitcher was a gift from my dear friend Kevin Williamson.

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

New baby in the family!

Art and Linda Matthews are like second parents to me, so their boys Craig and Brett are like brothers. Brett and his wife Heather had a beautiful baby boy the Monday before Thanksgiving... welcome Owen Patrick Matthews!!

Here's Brett getting the crib put together:


Here's the first baby of the house-- "Papu" (the ridiculously-expensive French Bulldog.)



And here's Heather with #2:


Proud papa with his big boy (over nine pounds!)


Aunt Linda, with Craig in the background. (see how BIG that baby is!!)



Uncle Art and the first grandchild-- somebody's gonna be spoiled...



Owen is the spit of his Uncle Craig--


Craig looks pretty comfortable holding a baby!



So that's my big news :) I'll have to get my Thanksgiving pics up soon. Promise!