SRWABS=Sunday Roast, Wine and Beer Society

I stand corrected...how could I leave out the "TRADITIONAL"?
S.T.R.A.W.B.S = Sunday Traditional Roast and Wine, (mint tea), & Beer Society

How about this one-
F.R.I.E.N.D.S = friends residing in England nourishment & drinks society





We just returned from our first, official, monthly meeting of the Srwabs = The Sunday Roast, Wine and Beer Society. Our Australian friends came up with the name...."Bonzer name, Mate'! The freezing cold weather did not keep us from Sunday lunch at The Orange Public House and Hotel on Pimlico Road. It is a fairly new, fresh yet warm and inviting pub...a gastro-pub or "posh pub" as far as traditional British food goes.




We all chose the Kilravock Farm pork rack, with spiced plum chutney. It was served with Yorkshire pudding, duck fat roast potatoes, honey and thyme parsnips and carrots, braised red cabbage and gravy. You can see from my picture that it was delicious...next time I will take the picture before I eat! For dessert I ordered Chocolate cherry cake with pistachio ice cream and let me just say "No, None of this is on my January Fat Belly Diet".














As a group we are going to rate the Pubs using a scale of 1-10.
The categories are:
Food and Drink
Service
Atmosphere
Location
Value for money
I'm giving everything a 9 because I'm not sure we can beat this place. I'll let you know the results next time!




Rick was so fast at counting up the £££ that the picture looks blurred! Well he does work for an accounting firm!

These trees were first a seed, then a stem, then a living trunk, then a family's Christmas joy......
and then dead timber! In Brompton Square we await the "rubbish and recycle" lorry and the "gritting vehicles" to keep up with the snow which has been falling all morning! I am staying inside and watching scenes of school children "sledging" on the "tele"!
Beware of flight delays my friends!

Once in a Blue Moon.....

A "blue moon" is the "extra" full moon in years that have thirteen moons. Most years have 12 full moons which occur monthly but in addition to those 12 full cycles, each solar calendar year contains an excess of 11 days. The extra days accumulate so there is an extra full moon.
On the Nawth River (North for those of you who pronounce your R's) and at Scituate Habaw (Harbor ...) that means a "freak'n" high tide! We have never seen the water this high, our neighbor's dock is almost completely under water. Add a fresh coating of snow and we have a winter wonderland......













at least Tucker thinks so!

Sunsets on the "Nawth" River

As the SUN SETS on 2009 and I look back over the year, I am thinking that in spite of the Economic Crisis, Michael Jackson's last live performance of "Beat It", and the split-up of Jon and Kate plus eight (and who knows where Tiger is?) ....our year has been a good one! We finished the renovations on the Boston house and shared it with family in June, attended a wedding at the Vatican, had a blast at the beach with family in August, helped both girls move into places of their own, celebrated my Dad's 80th birthday and said our final good byes under an Alabama pine tree. Friends and family are really what it's all about and I am looking forward to spending 2010 surrounded by the best!
HAPPY NEW YEAR Y'ALL !!!

The Swing

This was Rick's family, the Christenberrys, 50th Christmas reunion....an amazing tribute to the bonds of this family! For the last 30 years the family has gathered at the Alabama 4-H Center which Rick's Dad was instrumental in building. Alabama Power donated the lake property and Dr. Cecil Mayfield, Papa to us, raised the rest of the money to build a "camp for kids to learn about health to better living, hands to larger service, heart to greater loyalty, and head to clearer thinking". There were 60 of us there this year. The Aunts brought their famous fudge, divinity, and lemon coconut cake, Santa made a surprise visit, the musicians played Christmas carols, and this year we assembled family cookbooks (which weigh about 20 pounds each!)

Every year the kids, and the grown kids, look forward to one of the outdoor activities; skeet shooting, the zip line, rock climbing, and this year, THE SWING. That harness looked a little uncomfortable and the first drop reminded me of a ride at Six Flags...no thank you! But Christy and Haley loved it!








...who knew that the trunk of a Cadillac has gotten smaller? "On the road again......"

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

.....snow is still falling, evergreen and apple wreaths decorate the front doors, and candles light the windows of the homes along main street Norwell.


Mailboxes are stuffed full of last minute Christmas cards (mine are coming!) and after-Christmas sale catalogs and the UPS men are making their last runs.



The farm animals have on their winter coats and Tucker and I are about to enjoy a hot bowl of oatmeal while we watch the ice float down the river. I have all day to wrap gifts and fill the kitchen with smells of Christmas Eve dinner.


I hope you are warm with the spirit of Christmas and surrounded by friends and family on this Christmas Eve!
...With love and best wishes.....

Which Witch?

Don't assume that Harrods has fallen on the "Wicked Witch"....
If you haven't been to see "Wicked" (my new favorite production in London!) you may not know the whole story
of OZ!