Monday, November 26, 2007

Mannabel

It is 9:30pm, I am listening to Bea read and Annabel bursts into the room to show us her lastest incarnation.

Lots of posing.

The beard has grown.

Isn't she a beauty?
I hope she can/will get it all off before school in the morning.

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Gourd

Look what my talented mother made for me. We saw these last year at Colonial Williamsburg. My mother knew she could make these herself. Well, I finally received one of these beautiful gourds. Thanks for sending me one.



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Thursday, November 22, 2007

Thanksgiving

Darren and Noah made our traditional apple pie. Darren was teaching Noah this year the how tos of pie baking. In our house the apple pie is a job for the men.

Bea likes to help, mostly to get samples before it goes in the oven.













The final product is as good as it looks.

Noah helped peel and mash the potatoes, but he refuse to even taste them.




The Gregorys hosted Thanksgiving this year. It was Joanna's first turkey and first success. She and I used Pioneer Woman recipes and we had a wonderful spread of yummy food.

I asked her to make lots of rolls, because I knew that would be all that Noah would eat. She also made a great cornbread dressing and a chocolate chip cheese cake and peanut butter brownie cookies.
I made the mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry relish and Darren made 2 apple pies.

Annabel said it was one of her best Thanksgivings. The kids enjoyed themselves and the adults enjoyed the peace.

Rosemary is part of our extended Rochester/Gregory family.

Annabel and her mini-me, Amanda.

Darren tried to get in a nap after dinner, but wasn't very successful.

We have many blessings and great friends are at the top of our list. It is good to sit and think over our day and digest and be thankful.

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Thanksgiving morning

This morning we went to IHOP for breakfast. Annabel brought her American Girl doll, named Ashley, with her. She sat Ashley down between us and whispered in my ear that Ashley was a primordial dwarf. If you didn't know, Annabel wants to be a surgeon someday, and she is hooked on the Discovery Health channel.

Posted by PicasaWhen we came home from breakfast, it started to snow. This is our first snow of the year. It had barely started when the girls ran out to play and make snow angels.

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Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Link to picasa web album

spain1


double click on picture to see all my pics from Spain

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Saturday, November 17, 2007

Bea practices

Bea is becoming quite the little pianist. Darren has all his hopes and dreams for a great musician in the family riding on our youngest. She enjoys playing and doesn't complain about practicing, but great? We'll just have to wait and see.

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Spain revisited


I finally downloaded my pictures off my other camera.
This is everyone on the road to Ronda.

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Friday, November 16, 2007

Annabel's Field Trip

I accompanied Annabel and her class to the planetarium, today, for a field trip. They are finishing their study of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois). We saw a presentation of Native American skies and legends. These are her two good friends Julie and Maddie.

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Zion continues to awe

Zion continues to amaze all and sundry with her culinary arts. Last night, she hosted dessert night and this was one of her contributions. It is a 6 layer chocolate cake with chocolate truffle filling and apricot glaze. How sweet it is.

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Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Gourmet Chocolates

Our amazingly talented friend, Zion, made an early Christmas delivery today. This is what I found when I arrived home from running errands.


The box in and of itself is beautiful, but the real piece de resistance is what is actually inside the box.

No, these did not come from Godiva or a fancy French patisserie. Zion made these herself. Why she has not gone into business for herself, I do not know. I, also, don't know why she thinks we are worthy of these fabulous little works of art, but I am grateful that she thinks we are!

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the Kreys

Laura and Lily and Spencer came to stay with Noah, Annabel and Beatrice while Darren and I were in Spain. My kids had a great time with the Kreys. They did more in the week that Laura was here than I have done with them in the last two months! These are pictures from their last day here with us. Somehow, I missed getting Lily in the pictures.

My kids loved having their cousins here. Paul, just imagine how much fun we would have if you guys lived here!

It is a little freakish to me how much even I can see that Spencer looks like me. He's a beautiful boy.

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Sunday, November 11, 2007

Last day

This was the coolest plant I discovered at the resort. It has thorns and amazing red flowers. I have never seen anything like it.

We decided to spend our last day in Spain taking it easy and enjoying the beach. Actually, we made a quick trip into Mijas (Cary, Scott, and Dave stayed behind), and then spent the rest of the day on the beach.

















Mary is wearing her coat and is wrapped up in a blanket on the beach. It wasn't really cold, but there was a breeze. I've decided that I actually like the beach when the weather is a little cooler. Mary sat next to a girl who took off her top and ran into the beach. It was just one of several topless moments for us on the beach.



Scott and Cary finished up a run on the beach and then went for a swim in the Mediterranean. How cool is that?







This view of the sailboat motoring down the coast looked like a postcard.







One last picture before the night is over.

The sun sets on our magical week in Marbella, Spain.











Until next year, Adios, amigos.

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Flamenco

On Thursday night, we saw a flamenco troup perform at one of the restaurants at our resort. The lighting was poor and all of my pictures were dark, but the slide somewhat represents what we saw.

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Friday, November 9, 2007

Spanish Food





Pizza with anchovies, mushrooms, capers and black olives w/the pits.





Chicken paella.






Cary poured oil and vinegar, voila yin and yang.






This is pork loin with marsala sauce and raisins.










This area of Spain is know for its hams.






Darren enjoyed the fried eggs, but the chorizo was too strong.






We now know that Spain is not a place to visit for the food.

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Mijas


Mijas is a little village above Marbella, looking down onto the coastline. It is a white village known for its great shopping--souvenirs, of course.




We spent two days in Mijas. We went Thursday afternoon, and again on Friday when we realized there was more shoppping to be done.



This street was a goldmine for most of us.
Donkey carts are a popular tourist attraction.


This is the view from Mijas.

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