Family time in the Big Easy. We are spending a week in a Hosteeva rental condo just off St Charles Ave. in New Orleans. Brian, Johnna, Kent and I make it a road trip as we drive in from Houston (thanks Johnna for taking on the chore of chauffeur for the week) while Mike, Tracy and Willa take to the air from New York. By evening the 21st we are all settling in at our home for the week. Laid back time includes decorating the traveling Christmas tree (mostly cheering on Willa as she decorates the tree – fantastic), icing cookies and a gingerbread sleigh and reindeer (a cute but short-lived result), assembling an elephant puzzle, silly fun team games, and strolls up and down St. Charles. Nana and Grandpa make the most of Willa time taking walks, blowing bubbles and just finding fun anywhere we can. Our family exchange this year involved each of us anonymously donating an item that best represented our 2019 to a grab bag. We drew those items and attempted to determine who contributed it and what it represented for their year. It provided a fun way to get a little insight into each other’s lives. It was unanimous, we should do it again some time. We do a bit of cooking: burritos, corn chowder (nice job Mike), pizza, and stuffed roasted squash (thanks Tracy) for dinners. Mike’s cinnamon rolls make a perfect breakfast for Kent’s bday and his Vegan Derby pie the bday “cake”. Vegan baked French toast was a hit as well. We do some eating out; Café De Mond coffee and beignets of course, some fantastic etouffee, beans and rice, jambalaya and gumbo at a hole in the wall joint, the Bayou Bistro, gourmet hotdogs (the kids found this place while they wandered the Quarter), awesome drinks and Vegan dishes at the Green Goddess and a meat eaters fix of burgers at the Trolley Café. We take in some quintessential NOLA French Quarter entertainment: a very talented violin player showing his skills in Jackson Square, a wonderful high energy live band out on the street, and Music Box Village a unique artistic stop where we can “play” the actual structures and make music. Very cool. Kids night out involved a sampling of clubs. It IS the coastal south and huge live oaks line the lanes and canopy the walks in City park. It is a beautiful place to stroll anytime but even more magical at Christmastime when the trees are lighted with displays ranging from graceful and romantic to odd and whimsical. The NO Aquarium is pretty spectacular. At first Willa is a bit overwhelmed by the huge tanks and oddly lit spaces but before long warms to it making for a great visit. I get my Sazerac fix and a wonderful special treat when Brian and Mike take me out to the nearby Avenue Bar for a little Mom and son time. Perfect. It has been a great week. Kent and I are enormously blessed to have time with our entire family together. There is no greater gift.
One more gathering, Christmas in Pennsylvania. Merry First Christmas Harlow. We gather with Bob, Lou Ann, Molly, Clark, newest addition Harlow, and Carol. More cookies, great food, a fair amount of football, and a chance to catch up on what’s happening with everyone. It is a great closing to our holiday Season. Love and hugs to everyone.
