Christmas 2024

We traveled to Evanston Tuesday afternoon and arrived there around 3:30 p.m. The traffic was manageable. We did have problems with the GPS lady. At first she was not speaking. Then when that was corrected, she was speaking very quietly. Unusual for her. It helped when we turned off the radio racket.

Supper was home-made tourtière, a french-Canadian meat pie often served on Christmas Eve, and salad. Pumpkin pie was a homey dessert. JF's version of tourtiere has chunks of beef and pork roast plus chopped potatoes and onions. Then it's flavored with a variety of spices, some sweet. I don't know how it makes its sauce -- maybe just the natural meat juices. All inside a pie crust and bakes on very low temperature for 4 to 5 hours.

Tourtière

We explored P and JF's newly remodeled basement. It's so nice. Then after C went to bed we watched a movie, "The Fall Guy," in the new family room. First we watched that day's Jeopardy episode. One clue had P and JF puzzled. JB and I both knew the answer, and we said "What's the matter? Everyone knows that!" Guess not. They'd never heard the expression.

We heard a happy little voice Christmas morning around 7:15. Breakfast was a delicious home-baked chocolate croissant (compliments of Trader Joe's) and hot orange tea. C had yogurt and blueberries. And she got to play with Mama's tea bag and tear it apart. Oh my.

We opened presents, and we were all pleased with our gifts. C was busy tearing paper off boxes and she didn't care what was inside: wooden train set, stickers, blocks, new backpack, book, and more. 

Lunch was leftover tourtiere. Then we sampled the cookies that JB had brought. 

It was time for C's afternoon nap. The rest of us dozed or read books. P asked What's your plan for the day. I told him We're staying another night. What a reaction on his face. We stayed until C woke from her nap and said good-bye and "Merry Christmas" to all. As we drove away, P, JF, and C were headed out for an afternoon walk through the neighborhood.

The GPS lady must have woke from a long winter's nap because she was too loud. JB needs to figure out how to control her volume. We arrived back home before 6 p.m.