Back from our Holiday Adventure

Heloooo there!  We are back from our little voyage out of town.  It was lovely and delightful, and so good to see my whole family.

The festivities were much like 2008 and 2009 and the years before that as well.  So, I won't bore you with endless photos.

But I will tell you this, we were greeted by a life-size metal angel with a porcelain face, that I wanted to kidnap :)

Alas, it's not like you can do that without being obvious.

"Oh Mom, how odd, your angel is strapped to the roof of my car.  How did that happen?"

See, doesn't work.

;)

My sister made her signature cookies, as did Mammie.  Then we had an amazing Christmas Eve dinner as we do every year, and the whole family got together.  It was simply bliss, to be with everyone, laughing and carrying on...

Oh, we laughed soooo much.  My cheeks are still sore from laughing.

The Christmas eve dinner Mammie prepared was out of this world scrumptious, and we enjoyed several more meals together over the holiday (until we couldn't even imagine fitting in one more morsel).

(Mom makes a spiral ham, scalloped potatoes to die for, an amazing salad with pears and nuts.  Plus a stuffed and rolled flank steak, that is sliced with stuffing in the center (unreal), and more.  I can't even remember right now...)

Then, we had our Christmas Day festivities (after our Santa gifts at home) at my Grandma and Grandpa's, as we have since I was born.  The whole family (extended too), gets together for tamales, menudo, oven toasted buttered Mexican bread and the most killer beans on the planet (and I don't even like beans that much).  Oh, plus oodles of desserts.

One of the bestest parts of the whole trip, were our "kids" - my sister's Douglas, and my Matty (Matisse).  They added so much fun and frolic to the whole adventure.  Matty did really really well, and is proving to be quite the good boy outside of the house (as well as at home).  Albeit, still reserved and suspicious of strangers.  Which I think shows quite good character on his part.

 

Matty and Douglas played and played.  I think Douglas got sick of Matty though, because Matty could play all day and all night, non-stop.  He loves to play and play and play, without rest.

There were so many doggie gifts, and two of the stuffed dogs you see above and below.  But of course, they both only wanted one.

Silly rascals. 

(Matty's fave gift is a pink elephant)

Matty isn't a huge dog, but he is very long, which makes him super tall when he walks on two feet (err paws).  He is rather good at it.  Sort of faun like, me thinks ;)

We came home to a chaotic house, superkalifragilistically fun tales yet to share (eeeeeeee!), and a winter storm headed our way.  Yikes.

We are enjoying citrus from our trees.  The oranges are like candy.  Candy I tell ya.  And, the lemons taste like oranges.  Curious.

So, that's the 411 around here.

Did you eat so much you could explode?

Boy, we sure did.

 We left our country house a mess from wrapping gifts and such.  We sort of just locked up a house of disaster, and went on a Christmas voyage.  Returning home to havoc was well, havoc, haha!

So, I have sorted out things pretty well, and, now our life is topsy turvy in other ways.

Good ways.

I will we back ever so soon, once I get my next tale in order.

So happy to be home, and here.

 

Love, V

 ♥

 

ps:  They say we might get snow.  Yes, snow.  Oh me, oh my!  We had snow year before last, I think?  But it melted by noon. 

Comments

[Angela DiGiovanni]

Okay, I seriously love that angel, too! Knowing you, I'm absolutely positive you could recreate her, or even invent a better version that suited you perfectly!

[Alicia@ eco friendly homemaking]

Sound like you had a wonderful trip. The lemons look great.

[karenjasper@comcast.net]

hello ms. vanessa! lovely to see your holiday adventure and confirm the love within your family. welcome home, welcome to an almost new year. let's have some fun....

ps matty is an obvious doll of a dog.

[Linda Diane]

Oh, welcome back, Vanessa! I've been checking here to see when you might reappear! I was off visiting my family as well--my parents and my brother and their little fur kids. It sounds like you had a wonderful time. I am so glad. I did, too! I love the pics of Matty and Douglas together, especially with Matty playing with his stuffed animal friend. Time for me to think about going beddy-by. I am looking forward to your next fanciful visit.

[Teresa in California]

Hello, Miss Vanessa
You knew I would be here to greet you first thing you got back!
Sounds like you had a very wonderful holiday, and the angel of your mammie's is to die for!
Thank you for posting the enchanting photos of the dining room dinner area. Everything looked so elegant. And the area looks to be up high so you can look out the patio into the never ending hills beyond...how very lovely. I envy you for the Mexican food...especially the tamales...I love tamales as they are so much work to make!
And so very scrumptious! Yum!
Looks like Matisse had a grand time with doggie Douglas.
Will be looking forward to your next post.
OWOH is coming up soon!
Cheers!
Miss Teresa
Oh, and have a Happy New Year! Keep safe!

[Victoria Sayer]

Thanks for sharing your Christmas festivies. Sounds like you are very blessed to have such fine food and family.
I like Matty's impersonation of 'Mr Tumnus'.

[Natasha]

I adore your blog. I always find a hit of sugar pink inspiration waiting! Enjoy the festive season!
Want to follow each other?

X Girl with the Curl X

http://continuouslycuriouslycurious.blogspot.com/

[Sarah]

Glad you had a fun time with your family Vanessa. Matty loks so happy with his toy! Cassie had a new snakey chasey thing for CHristmas which she loves and I made all the other cats(My Mum's and ours) cat nip mice which were popular for a while! We have receieved about 8 jars of chutney from various sources, and lots of cheese, so need a cheese evening I think as I can't contemplate eating any of it at the moment! x

[somepinkflowers]

just Popped in
to pet the furry*ones
and
for
some of this-->
oven toasted buttered Mexican bread !!

my head and heart are still swimming
from
Holiday Happiness, too,
and

i do NOT know where to start
in the Mad*House
clean*up that is needed...

:-\

Just Know This:
your words & photos
are Always so pleasingly satisfying ♥

so
do
keep
on
in 2011!

:-)

yes
yes
yes
missy!

do not change One Thing
in 2011

♥

[Carolee Clark]

Gorgeous angel (and gorgeous pups too!!)

Glad to hear your Christmas was wonderful, but what else could Christmas be, when spent with your family, your guy and your fur-kid??!

We did indeed eat so much we could explode (my husband likes the whole Dickensian feast thing at the holidays)...Time to lighten up in the New Year, methinks, hehe. ;)

Wishing you a 2011 filled with health, happiness, love, light and abundance!

♥ Carolee

[Theresa]

Hi Vanessa! So happy to hear you enjoyed a lovely holiday with your family and furry babies. Our babies get their stocking treats on Christmas eve. Of course, they wanted cookies the most - and both wanted the same toy. LOL Matty looked like he had a ton of fun with his friend and new treasures! We, too, had much to eat. Loved the description of all the yummies you had. I shall keep my fingers crossed that you get a bit of snow (we had over a foot the day after Christmas!). Take care! xoxo Theresa

[A Forest Frolic]

Oh what a lovely adventure! We just got home last night from visiting my family since Sunday...fun times! Always goes by way to fast doesn't it?! Now, time to see friends and clean up from the Christmas dinner we had here with the other half of the family! Too many sweet treats and of course everyone got spoiled, tee hee. Can't wait to hear of your next tale and what you've got going on V.

Happy New Year,
Jamie :)

[Michele]

Love the angel! Hearing about all your dinners made me seriously hungry! They all sound fabulous! Love the pictures of the fur kids! And yes we ate until we couldn't fit another bite in! Happy New Year! Michele

[Olive Appleby]

what fab piccys, so strange looking at photos taken on Christmas day in the sunshine....... how 'bout some recipes the food sounded delicious!! the 'kids' looking great, our baby had so many doggie biscuits we are thinking of opening our own pet shop!!!!! dont stop sharing with us Vanessa, your blog is GORGEOUS, SCRUMPTIOUS, MAGICAL.... have an amazing New Year with kids and Mister...... love & blessings Olive here in damp UK xxxxxxx

[Maggi]

What a lovely holiday you had, how fun! Everything looks darling and those dogs are such cuties!

[Chris]

AH! Look at those kids! I love it that they got to play. Scout loves her little visits. Douglas is a fine looking fellow, as well.

Yes, our lemons taste like oranges now, too! I look fwd to them every Jan.

Happy 2011 to you!

[kristy]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I am so glad you had a wonderful time with your family. My best and happiest, adventurest wishes for the new year! Kristy

[naomi]

Oh! How I always look forward to your posts!! Glad you had a wonderful Christmas with all your loved ones!! Awesome pics of Matty!!! He's so adorable and cuddly!
Love your blog and creativity!!! You always give me inspirations!!

xoxo
♥♥♥Naomi♥♥♥

[linnea-maria]

I love those glass ornaments in your tree, they are beautiful. I understand that you would like to take that angel home with you. She's lovely. Wishing you a Happy New year! /Therese

[Miss Lori]

The lemons and oranges look fab! Sadly, the freezing temps here in South Florida have wreaked havoc with our orange tree and my sunflowers. :( Soumds like you had a ice holiday! Welcome home!

[Misha/DawaiOser]

Hahaha! The picture of Matty & Douglas running and playing together - with the stuffed bear...that's BEYOND ADORABLE. It makes me laugh so hard.

[Goads]

I love your blog, especially the lemons... Happy New Year!

[Renee]

What a lovely time, lovely tree and love the angel.

Glad you all had such a great time.

We had our first White Christmas in many years, what a wonderful gift it was.

[deborah]

OMGoodness, Matty and his babies make me giggle! He does love a good, new baby, doesn't he!?! Oh, and that view from your Mombie's home! One day you must do an interview of your Mom and take us on a tour of her home...where the magic began. **blows kisses** Deb