Downton Dinner

Sunday shopping and running errands in good weather takes much of the day. All efforts lead up to our dinner honoring the season finale of Downton Abbey. Unfortunately, no cooks, footmen, or maids in sight.

First course is Mrs. Patmore's London Particular, her version of split pea soup. We make it from scratch, of course, a somewhat simpler method than the recipe we found but the same ingredients. Emptied bowls all around! Second course is shepherds pie, a big hit and another great recipe. Third and last course is a trifle layered with fresh raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries. We pepper our table conversation with Downton quotes and use British accents.

After finishing dinner, we have just enough time to get settled in front of the television before the theme music begins. Love, birth, death, a full final episode. Too long until the next season!

Tunneling Saturday

Hawaii has a high surf warning and Minnesota has a snow fort with tunnels. Older granddaughter works on one side while younger breaks through. Dad supervises and shares the snowy fun. Inside the house, girls shed the snow gear and exclaim how hot they are.

Saturday Morning

Look closely to see the thermometer registering a whole three degrees. Sun is out; sky is blue.

Not too cold to have breakfast down the road at T. K.'s! Granddaughters order hot chocolate, mostly for the whipped cream on top. Photo with younger's face looking submerged in the white fluffy stuff probably portrays some wishful desire for that to actually happen.

Half the group had quiche but I opted for the breakfast sandwich: grainy whole wheat toast, fried egg, cheddar cheese, sausage patty. No wonder I ate only half! Great coffee!

Fishy Friday Night

For dinner we go to a pub for a Lenten Friday fish fry. Outstanding beer selections written on their chalkboard make choosing difficult. I drink a Belgian style made in Minnesota. So tasty I must have a second one!

We order onion rings and cheese curds for appetizers; why we think we need appetizers is a mystery. You know what onion rings look like, but I inserted a cheese curd photo in case you are not familiar with them. Think of little lumps of mild cheese beer battered and deep fried. Uh-huh. Fried cheese.

Fish basket soon takes over, and hungry guys order more to take advantage of the all-you-can-eat feature.

Maybe we should come back for stout week. And make ourselves stouter. Haha!

Schoolless Friday

Today the granddaughters have no school because Minnesota teachers have meetings. They are also out of school Monday for Presidents Day. Looooog weekend!

With the colder temps and older granddaughter recovering from illness, we decide to unpack the sewing machine Pawpaw and I gave her for Christmas. She is extremely excited and eager. I do some fast talking to convince her that reading instructions and learning machine parts will increase success. Luckily, Singer provides a helpful DVD with four wonderfully clear lessons, short and simple. We watch it together, quite intently, for about ten minutes. Begin!

Cord ready. Bobbin ready. Spool ready. Fabric ready. Suddenly, she is sewing! She makes a small purse with a flap that folds over. Very nice for the first attempt!

Meanwhile, younger gd stays busy at the computer, and Pawpaw, well, Pawpaw is being Pawpaw.

Valentine Night

Close enough to Mardi Gras, we plan gumbo for dinner tonight and a special dessert. Shopping in the morning, prepping in the afternoon, I get it all into the pot when the color of the roux is just right, bright at first but simmering to a rich togetherness. Bowl, rice, tabasco, spoon, eat.

Everyone wants to help with dessert after Pawpaw preps the strawberries and I melt the bittersweet chocolate. Let the dipping begin! Patiently we wait for our creations to harden a bit, and then they disappear before I can get a photo of the whole platter.

Valentine Thursday

When we arrived yesterday afternoon, older granddaughter was home from school sick with fever, and daughter was working from home to take care of her. They had been to the doctor and were expecting medicine to bring improvement soon; a little hot tea helps.

Dinner tonight was beef stroganoff, hearty for a winter night with more snow expected.

This morning fresh snow covers the landscape, and all looks made of crystal. The photo is down the road from the house. Without wind and with heaviness, the snow clings for most of the day, glistening until wind and warmth causes it to fall.

Granddaughters have Valentines ready for school but older one stays home another day with low fever. Mom and younger one deliver them. Both girls have decorated boxes for collecting Valentines from classmates, handy for staying organized. The boxes come home filled with cards and treats. Even the school entrance celebrates the spirit of the holiday with arrangements.

The poster on the front door of their school announces the silent auction coming soon. We look over the bundled collections and quickly find ones that motivate us to buy chances. Think Paris!

Flying Home

January 6

This is another hard day with another hard goodby. How can anyone leave this beautiful and loving family? Only with great difficulty and promise of future visits soon.

Our plane carries us home to Texas where we depend on love (and some technology) to help us stay connected.

Saturday

January 5

Big breakfast of bacon and eggs this morning is a great start to the weekend.
We took down the Christmas tree a couple of days ago and use time today for putting away more holiday decorations. Main errands are ordering a specially decorated cake and buying supplies for younger granddaughter's birthday party at Vertical Endeavors next Saturday.

At 4:30 girls have rehearsal for the Circus Show next weekend. Their circus gymnastics class has been working on routines, and Pawpaw and I are happy we can see them perform today since we are flying home tomorrow. Younger features the trapeze, older the silks, and some photos show both. Class also jumps rope and forms pyramids.

Tonight we "tailgate" for dinner at home and watch football on TV. (Sadly, Vikings lose.) Girls wisely opt for a movie in the basement. Their bedtime brings lots of hugs and kisses this final night of our trip.

Later I face my luggage and pack for the journey back to Texas.

Friday Farewell

January 4

This morning we take younger daughter to the airport. I focus on the time spent together and the love that keeps us together across any distance. She returns to one island for a week of packing and settling affairs before she leaves for another island.

Pawpaw and I run errands and pick up the granddaughters after school. The four of us go to the public library to return books and check out more. They know the system well and handle the process efficiently.

Tonight we prepare a salmon dinner and celebrate the end of school week and work week, even though only three days long. Chocolate helps. The dad arrives home from his business trip just in time to tuck in his daughters. I think about the years of tucking in my daughters and never imagining they would be so far away.