Happy Solstice!

Hooray! Starting today the days get longer. I can't wait.

I left my little cocoon today and went for a walk this morning. Here is what the first day of winter looked like around my little corner of the city.

Christmas Cocktails

One of the beautiful things about Christmas is that it is so heavy on tradition. There is something comforting about listening to the same songs, eating the same foods, and watching the same movies each holiday. It is nice to have new things thrown in as well but it is the traditions that really make it feel like Christmas.

Growing up one of our traditions was the Christmas Eve "Christmas Cocktail". We would all get our "cocktail", a.k.a. a Shirley Temple, and have our pictures taken while we felt very grown-up. It was just one more way of adding something to look forward to to the evening. These are a couple of pictures from all of our cute years.

I just might make a Christmas Cocktail for myself tonight. Of course, mine will be a Roy Rogers made with diet, caffeine-free Coke and I have no footy pajamas but the spirit will be the same.

Ice

Dear church I pass on my walk to work,

Next time you feel the need to ask yourself "What Would Jesus Do?" why don't you include de-icing your fucking sidewalk in that answer?

Love,

Ann-Marie

Nursing Home Entertainment Gets Edgy

Oy! Christmas Trees!

There are few things I love more in life than a Christmas tree. I light up like a little kid whenever I see one and I look forward a ridiculous amount to decorating mine every year. Last weekend I got the pleasure of setting up and decorating four different Christmas trees. Sadly, they aren't all mine but I do get to spend lots of quality time with them.
First, on Thanksgiving night, Kevin and I set up my little tree. Then my boss and I set up our tree and village at work the next day. It is much prettier now that we have covered the pictures with wrapping paper and big bows.

Friday night Kevin bought his first big Christmas tree. It is still pretty minimalist because he doesn't have many ornaments. I fully intend on fixing this.

Since the parent's health isn't so great these days I spent Saturday decorating their tree while Matt and Kevin put up their outside lights. Six of the 18 gallon tubs of ornaments later the tree was mostly done. There was at least another tub that we were missing but we ran out of time and energy. I come by my love of the anti-minimalist tree naturally. I hope you all enjoy decorating your trees. I, for one, am quite done for the year.

Stop Dashing My Hopes

For the second time in a week someone has taken the last of the See's Chocolates from the box, closed the lid and left the box sitting on the table for poor, hungry, unsuspecting co-workers to find. What kind of sadist does this? I'm this close to setting up some sort of "Snack Cam" to catch the culprit. Maybe I can school them in the use of the new fangled invention called the garbage can.

Takin' My Baby to the Poor House

The former Multnomah County Poor Farm (House) to be exact. Constructed to house the poor in 1911 and used for that purpose until the 60's when it was turned into a nursing home. Now it is McMenamin's Edgefield Hotel and it is the Greatest. Place. Ever. This was my birthday present to Kevin.

The Edgefield is this big beautiful building that is surrounded by about 30 acres of vineyards and gardens and open space. They have kept the character of the building and fully embraced its past. This was hands down the most charming hotel I have ever been in. So much character and warmth in this old building. All the old buildings have been turned into restaurants, a spa, a distillery, winery, brewery and lots of little pubs all around the property. Former incinerator? Great place to shove a tiny little bar where you can throw peanut shells on the floor. Former morgue? Home for the pottery studio. Former power station? Pub with movie theater and meeting rooms. As with all McMenamin's properties this one had their distinctive artistic touches everywhere. Most notably was on the exposed pipes throughout the building.

There are creative touches like this everywhere. It would take years to spot them all.

We had the most relaxing weekend I have probably ever had. Lounging around doing nothing, getting a couples massage, soaking in the heated outdoor salt-water soaking pool, eating tasty food, getting ridiculous amounts of sleep, more soaking in pool, wine tasting, beer drinking, more food, more sleep, etc. etc. If you ever get the chance. . . go here! I have heard good things about the other McMenamin's hotels too and we can't wait to try them all.