Leontyne, pretty pie

Do y'all know of Leontyne Price, the famous soprano? Her voice is other-wordly in the most incredible, moving sense. When I hear her sing, specifically a classic like Ave Maria or O Holy Night (her version of the latter is one of my favorite Christmas songs ever), I stop what I'm doing, rendered speechless each and every time I hear her vocals take flight. Wow. I also think she's gorgeous in such an arresting way. That face, that voice! If you can, try to listen to one or both of the songs I mentioned above. Incredible.

Despite my post-party fog, I was a machine today in getting through my catering order. All that's left is to shell shrimp which I just cannot bear to do tonight. In the morning it is! Look at this pretty pie.

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve!!! I'm so excited. We're taking the boys to a fantastic children's theater nearby to see Seussical in the morning, will open family presents in late afternoon and then try to get to sleep despite the wild anticipation of Santa's arrival. Happy, happy, merry, merry to you all!

Ugh

Friends, I was awakened at 5:50am (after going to bed past midnight) to calls of "I need help wiping. I need help wiping. Mom, Dad, I need help wiping." Oh boy. I had fallen asleep on the couch; Jack had been with me because he woke up around 11:30 and in my jovial state I invited him down for Christmas music and chocolate cake. Apparently, he did not find the couch to be a comfy sleep spot for two so he left sometime after I nodded off and moved back into his cozy bed. Fast forward to Oliver's patient yet plaintive calls for potty assistance, and it was with some vagueness and definite fatigue that I rolled off the couch and mosied up to him. Then it was off to the races! We all had gumbo for breakfast because why not; that and a side of leftover cheese straws and a sliver of cheesecake made for a hell of a breakfast. I am not hungover but I do feel like I'm on Mars. And boy do I have a lot of cooking looming in front of me. Not accepting a large catering order for pick-up on Christmas Eve might be a lesson learned this year. Better hop to it!

Today is bordering on "one of those days"

It is a gorgeous day here, albeit extremely windy. One of those that makes me glad we aren't getting on an airplane. Instead, I've been cooking for tonight, playing with the pets (have I mentioned how flipping adorable Nutmeg is?) and trying to enjoy the many things both boys feel they MUST.TELL.US.NOW. I took J to Tae Kwon Do, and after a quick come to jesus, he did his very best. It's fun to watch the kids don their sparring gear and start kicking each other. They're all so little and cute but the gear is totally enormous; it's like powder puff kick-boxing. In any case, Oliver has taken whining to a new level, and I've had just enough random difficulty doing stupid stuff (ex: trying to post a new recipe and having the whole thing just disappear; grr) that I'm starting to feel extremely peevish. It is Day 1 of winter vacation, and I swear y'all, Ol's new whinetastic affect makes me want to run for the hills already. Mother of god. And seriously, how can they both talk SO much? It boggles the mind. Literally.

What is good is the menu for our fête tonight! Rosemary-rubbed salmon, aged goat cheese and leek confit tart, gumbo, roasted veggies, cheese straws, delicious cheese plate, pepper jelly, salad with pears and pom, chocolate-almond-rum cake, goat cheese-crème fraîche cheesecake with balsamic sour cherry sauce, champagne punch, wine....

Oh, and the recipe for last night's fantastic shrimp cassoulet is now posted. Just as good, if not better, today!