Thanksgiving 2015 - Thankfulness Trees

Dinner last night with our friend Alyn and her 7-year old son Elis. Elis wanted us to make thankfulness trees. He made them in school and was excited to show us how. He had the project all set up for us. After making the tree out of a brown paper lunch sack we added leaves on which we wrote down the things for which we are thankful. Very sweet. Elis did a great job of walking us throught the project.

Thanksgiving 2015 - Thanksgiving Morning

I had such a good sleep last night which is so appreciated considering the quality of my slumber has been less than optimal lately due to the stressfulness of work.

Quiet morning journaling while drinking coffee. Dale and Athena look so sweet together. Very cozy.

I colored the Strib's turkey again this year with (I think) impressive results, checked out the holiday issue of Martha Stewart living while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and sipped on Fulton's Harvest Pumpkin Pie Liqueur.

Thanksgiving 2015 at Jax Cafe - With Mom

Dale took this picture of Mom and me at Jax Cafe.

Thanksgiving 2015 at Jax Cafe - Pecan Pie

Dessert didn't come with Dale's dinner but it did with Mom's and mine. She ordered the pumpkin pie but I went with the pecan which I haven't had in ages. It was great.

Thanksgiving 2015 at Jax Cafe - Thanksgiving Salmon

Mom and I both ordered the turkey dinner. Dale ordered salmon. He told our waiter, Jim, that he just had to be the iconoclast. When Jim brought our food he set Dale's plate in front of him and said, "Here you go Mr. Fancypants." I found that amusing.

Thanksgiving 2015 at Jax Cafe - Old Fashioned

Mom arrived at our place at 3:30 so we could make our 4:00 reservation. I ordered a brandy old fashioned and Mom and Dale both had wine.

Thanksgiving 2015 at Jax Cafe - Something Different

From Dale's blog:

"We've been struggling with what to make for Thanksgiving. Certainly turkey, maybe cranberries, stuffing and sweet potatoes but it seemed unexciting somehow. So yesterday we decided to make something completely different. Reservations. Best. Decision. Ever. It has freed up today completely, and while I love to cook, this year preparing Thanksgiving dinner just seemed like another chore."

Both of us are exhausted. It was so freeing to take planning and executing Thanksgiving dinner of our plates. I got the idea on Sunday when a friend at church told us he and his husband would be going to the Normandy Kitchen for the big day. I didn't say anything to Dale right away but we toyed with the idea when we were at the Red Stag Tuesday night. Dale brought it up again yesterday morning as we drove to the gym. I made reservations for Jax after we got home. 

Thanksgiving 2015 - Yours, Mine and Ours

Watched Yours, Mine and Ours with Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda from 1968 on T.V. Haven't seen it in years. The scene where Lucy inadvertently gets drunk is a scream.

Thanksgiving 2015 - Holiday Cocktail

Thanksgiving martini sipped while watching Yours, Mine and Ours. Dale got a kick out of the scene where Lucy says her drink is delicious. I got quite a kick out of it too. 

Red Stag

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Red Stag.

Red Stag - Dale

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Dale waits in anticipation for food and drink at the Red stag Supper Club. Thanksgiving break begins tomorrow for both me and Dale. For being just a two day work week it was something we both found to be a fast and painful ride through hell. Despite that, this ended up being such a lovely evening. Dale mentioned it was the right place with the right food. I added it was also with the right people. We had such a fun time together. 

Red Stag - Me

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Me being a goof. After I tied the napkin around my neck Dale asked if I was trying to be some kind of bon vivant. Sure. I guess the brandy old fashioned was starting to work. All part of my master plan for world domination. 

Red Stag

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

I really appreciate the relaxed atmosphere of the Red Stag. By the way, Dale was pretty embarrassed when the flash on my camera went off while taking a picture of my old fashioned (I didn't mean for it to). Oh well.

Red Stag

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

The last picture shows the first place Dale and I sat at our first ever time at the Red Stag in 2007(?).

If you squint, you can see the guy in the bottom right corner of the first picture turning around for the camera. I didn't notice him until making the photo collage. Maybe he's Santa Claus taking a little break before the big season kicks in. I picture him riding in on his big ol' motorcycle.

By the way, I ordered the beef stroganoff. It was awesome. I was excited to see it back on the menu. It must be seasonal because when we were in a couple weeks ago I didn't see it. Dale ordered the fish special. Said it was the best meal he's had at Red Stag yet! That's sayin' something since the food is always fantastic. 

Brussels Sprouts

November 22, 2015

At Lunds today. Dale had never seen Brussels sprouts on the stock before. I've only seen them this way once and it was in a photograph.

Fall Golden Hour Kickoff 2015 - Cocktail Hour

Saturday, November 14, 2015

Rosie and Bachelor's Guide to the Galaxy.

Fall Golden Hour Kickoff 2015 - Dinner

Saturday, November 14, 2015

First chicken pot pie of the season.

Fall Golden Hour Kickoff 2015 - Dinner and a Movie

Saturday, November 14, 2015

Train wreck. Funny lady, that Amy Schumer.

Silver Hour

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Silver Hour

Dessert with Julie and Eric

Saturday, November 7, 2015

Dale and Julie had sea salt and caramel ice cream from Pumphouse Creamery. Eric and I had pumpkin pie flavored.

Dinner with Julie and Eric

Saturday, November 7, 2015

My friend and former colleague Julie along with her husband Eric joined Dale and me for dinner last night at our place. I haven't seen Julie much since she changed schools a few years ago but whenever I do we have some lovely conversations which always include reminiscences about notable teaching moments. It was nice to have some quality time to catch up on recent events in our lives.

Dale made baked rigatoni (also called baked ziti) with Italian sausage. He also stir fried green beans and served up some garlic bread. I drank a couple sidecars. The rest of the crew wasn't drinking much besides water.

Dinner music included the album Love Songs by Rosemary Clooney and Cugi's Cocktails by Xavier Cugat. 

Although I knew they used to live for a number of years by Mancini's in St. Paul, I didn't know they were fans. We've made some tentative plans to get together there in the next couple weeks.