The Day After Christmas

Merry-the-day-after-Christmas!  Our holiday ended up not being as bad as we feared.  We never got into the Christmas spirit, so we really just wanted it over already.  However, regardless of what is going on, we always look forward to our traditional Christmas dinner--prime rib!  But I'm getting ahead of myself, now aren't I?  Here's a pic of the kids, all tuckered out from opening gifts:

Keystone & Abbytail (top to bottom)

They had a great day and got presents and treats of all kinds.  So did Todd and I.  I have to say the best present I got was the news that our Aunt Judy (aka Angel Judy) had great test results and is winning the battle for good health.

Here is Todd after he opened up his new GPS, the higher model than what he expected (THANKS mom & dad!!!):

Todd (happier than I've seen him in a long time)

I just can't help but add a few more pics of the kids:

Abbytail with her new squeaky hamburger

Keystone with his new snowman from Grandma & Grandpa

Now, what I really wanted to blog about.  THE Prime Rib.  Oh. My. God.  SERIOUSLY, this is the BEST piece of meat I think I've ever eaten.  Todd outdid himself with this one.  The process started by dry aging the meat in the fridge for over a week (trust me, you wont even think about it if you ever have the privilege of eating this meal).  Then he ground up all the spices for the "bark" by hand.  He made a helluva mix of amazing spices.  We slathered all the tasty spices with olive oil all over the meat.  The bacon on top?  Farmland Cider House Bacon (Applewood Smoked Apple Cider Cured)--the best bacon you can buy in my opinion, and we haul coolers of this stuff back with us whenever we visit the Midwest.  It's seriously that good.

Have I mentioned Todd's buns?  Amazingly soft and fluffy.  He has mastered the dough recipe, which is no small challenge given that we are at high altitude.  He makes the dough in the machine, and then I make/bake the buns from his dough.  Again, OMG.

I made the mashed potatoes with the closest thing I could find to Boursin cheese, so they were rich and creamy.  Very good with which to cleanse the palette between bites of amazing beef.  Here is a picture of the amazing meal:

I dare you not to drool all over your keyboard.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!  I can't wait for next year, when I get to have this meal all over again.

Home Sweet Home

Boundaries are very important when training a puppy. When our kids were little, they were not allowed to go downstairs to the basement (door was left open, so it was always a temptation). And they were NEVER allowed on the couch by themselves (they had to be sitting on our lap). They were only allowed on the bed for up to 15 minutes to say goodnight each evening. That was when they were young and they needed to understand the rules of the house. Discipline really made them into the best friends we've ever had. They are like small furry adult family members now. They behave better than most humans.... Anyway, I'm giving you this history in order to explain how things have changed.

After their mom, Amber, died, we decided the kids were grown ups. Or maybe I made that decision. I remember telling Keystone to get on the couch, cause dammit, he deserves something special. It's his couch now. We also tried, even when we had Amber, to get them all to stay on the bed all night when we bought a king size bed. Amber stayed on the bed all night long a couple of times. I had to be extra still, otherwise she'd get annoyed and get down. Guess who's been sleeping on the bed all night since it turned cold this year and I don't have to be still? That's right, it's Abbytail! It's very comforting having her there. That is what home means to me.

Keystone on his couch.

Amber (front left), Keystone (curled up in the back), and Abbytail (front right)

January 2008

Stop to Smell the Flowers

So I finally committed to the pictures going on our Xmas card this year.  They are all canine.  Not ONE decent picture of me or my hubby, either in the same picture or separately.  Sigh.

This picture is on our card this year.  It's Keystone, and he is reminding me "Hey mom, don't forget to stop and sniff the flowers, you move to fast".  I remember taking that picture.  It is quintessential Keystone.  How can you not love him?!?