california, here I go ...

wrapping up the California portion of my trip, had a nice finish yesterday with a Christmas dinner at Laura & Mike's. We've kindly been included in the family circle for the past few years, which has been especially nice since we opened Mignonne. We've found ourselves without the energy for Christmas cooking and such ... and these two are wonderful hosts, chefs, friends.

Laura is the daughter of my longtime friend Christie ... so our (Christie and I) kids all know each other and are friends as well. It works out great!

We had a very impressive standing rib roast, cooked to perfection, with yorkshire puddings and potatoes and green beans. Bottles of champagne, and wine, and eau de poire were consumed. For appetizers, Johnelle prepared albondigas from scratch and there was a date pudding with caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream for dessert.

We were all sated. hiccup.

Now we will be driving northward to Eugene for a stopover with family tonight and then on to the coast by Saturday night.

As long as mother nature cooperates!

So, no profundities or witticisms appear to be forthcoming at the moment. I'm really a bit tired and feeling like somewhat of a hobo. About all I can muster is this rather dry travel update.

so there you have it.

happy kwanzaa baby jesus.

so the final countdown of madness and mayhem will bring us soon to the big day ... the day where fevered consumerism peaks in a mad and merry outburst of shredded wrap, burst bubbles, tipsy tippling and gastronomic excess. Interspersed with pigskin battles and familial meltdowns.

or not!

me and mine will be sharing dinner with friends. somehow in all the flying back and forth to France, preparing Mignonne for the holiday season, sleeping on couches and other general distractions ... Santa's shenanigans got lost in the shuffle and kerfuffle.

whatever your big day consists of, may it bring you at least a smattering of what your inner visions longed for!

and if santa baby shimmied down your chimney with something extraordinary, drop me a comment so I can be envious from afar!