Sunday 12/5 - Bills Lose Another One; The Cousins' Party & Other Things.

I looked out the window Sunday morning and made a mental note.  It's snowing.  If it is snowing then it must the day for my cousin Annie's Christmas Party.  It snows every year for her party.  Next year will be different.  She is planning to have Christmas in July or August. 
That will be fun, but elements will be missing (besides the snow).  No Buffalo Bills game on TV; no roaring fire in the fireplace; no pile of coats on the bed and no pile of boots and shoes by the front door.
That said, it will mean that more of the cousins can attend because the weather won't be an issue.

We are a family loyal to the Bills.  As the Vikings continued to score points in the first half of the game, the hopeful comments came from everyone - they'll come back after half time and win.  They didn't.  We all agree they are just shy of being a champion team.  It will just take another year to make it so.

Annie's house is decorated inside and out for this party.  It is festive and welcoming.  Everywhere you look you will find Christmas.  My Aunt Pauline and her first cousins, Larry, Carmela and Marian represented that generation of first born Americans. 


Aunt Pauline and cousin, Annie

The food at the party was incredible.  From appetizers to desserts, it was truly a feast. 

Shrimp; cheese, spinach and artichoke dip; dill dip; a variety of fruit topped the list of appetizers.

At the other end of that table one would find chicken wings, pizza, stuffed shells, meatballs, three bean salad, homemade bread, and a wonderful tomato and mozzerella cheese salad.
A walk into the front room led you to the dessert table.  There are dozens of homemade Italian cookies, fudge, a delicious pineapple dessert and more.  The tree, in the front room, is loaded down with large chocolate candy canes that everyone gets to bring home.
So, we had football and a roaring fire.  We had perfect food.  Most of all we had a chance to gather, as an extended family, for an afternoon of good times. 

Thank you, Annie.  It was fun.

We are under another snow warning.  "Expect 8 to 10 inches of snow beginning around midnight, Dec. 6 and midnight Dec. 7", said the weatherman.  Actually, it snowed most of Sunday.  Not much accumulated, but it did snow.  It intensived as the evening wore on.  Looking out the window, I can see the snow blowing in from the west.  Another lake effect event is on the way.

19 days til' Christmas