I have a large family, which includes a single mother sister that lives in the same town as me.  My parents, much older, made the drive down here to help her out during this season, leaving behind a brother and a couple of more sisters in our hometown.

The modern day family, being what it is, affected by divorce orders, visitations, and all manner of legal this and that, means that today is when this branch of family gets to celebrate.

Beef tenderloin will be the star of the show, though I am not entirely sure what is going to go along with it.  One item I can confirm, since we live in the south, my sister is bringing a grits, cheese and mustard greens concoction that promises to be a perfect accompaniment.

We will drink.  As a family, we rather enjoy that.  Every year I put together a batch of eggnog that includes rye whiskey, rum, sherry, and brandy, along with heavy cream, eggs, milk, and sugar.  As pointed out in an earlier post, my eggnog has a definite effect on my photography.

Our youngest son, with help from the mistress of the home, put together our table arrangement.  Soon the fire will be crackling.  Cold weather really is coming.  Laughter will fill the air and life will be good.

our table awaits…

Before anyone makes any type of snarky comment, we are not having a salad, so there is not a salad fork in the place setting.  Yes, I checked my etiquette.

might be the closest we ever get to seeing a snowman…

just a sweet little santa claus…

pickup trucks and christmas trees…

frasier fir – less askew…