After we left Suffolk, we picked Annie up in Richmond and then started what turned out to be a long drive up to Philadelphia. It seems everyone else in the entire country was also changing locations on Friday. We arrived at the Brandywine B&B aka Mom and Dad's house at around 4 and were quickly greeted with pomegranate proseccos and Dale's Pale Ale. Mom and I then began our work in the kitchen to prepare our Christmas dinner of Oyster Stew, Tuscan Pork Roast, Winter Vegetable Salad and Tuscan Bread. It was soo yummy. After dinner we all opened one gift each, visited more and then hit the hay in preparation for the arrival of the rest of the family on Saturday. 
On Saturday morning mom and I exercised with Ginger before beginning that day's food preparation. On the menu for Saturday was a smoked fish platter, a sweet potato and goat cheese frittata (recipe from Gwyneth Paltrow's newsletter), a cheese platter and some delicious shrimp. The rest of the fam arrived between 2 and 4 and the volume in the house quickly rose as we all began chatting, laughing, eating and drinking. We had a long session of present opening and everyone received some really great gifts. Scattegories was next on the agenda with the score remaining too close to call until a tie breaking round. A quick game of Charades followed until no one could keep their eyes open any longer.
We all woke slowly but surely on Sunday morning and Chef Bianca busily prepared made to order breakfasts. After showers most of the group headed out into the neighborhood for a casual stroll to the steps of the art museum and then a visit to the architecture museum. Unfortunately Jeff and I had to skip out on the museum visit so we could hit the road and make it back to Richmond at a decent hour. 95 was once again a nightmare and it took us 6 rather than 4 hours to get home. But the trip was totally worth all the fun time we had with both families.
We hope everyone as much fun this Christmas as we did.
No comments:
Post a Comment