First Advent, 2015

Light the first candle. (That's after checking the score of the FSU-FL game.  Good for us!)

Several weeks ago we went to a small and private market and I saw there an Advent arrangement that was pleasing and thought I like that.  It's easy.  So here it is, set up in a basket with a battery operated LED twinkly light.  I'm not yet enamored, but maybe I will be.

We missed last year's First Advent Feast at René and Rima's - that was the Thanksgiving in the USofA year.  But here we are this year so it is time again.  Every year, there is some gourmet surprise.  Yes.  Gourmet. You are not surprised.

Actually, this year was a repeat of The Fowl in Fowl in Fowl from 2008 albeit with different guests.  That year, Mutti was still a guest, and we miss her still.  This year we had Amina's Godparents, two sets of grandparents and Olaf, a good friend and a trained chef who especially wanted to see (EAT!!) this special dish.

Rima prepared the setting and set the table.

And the bird was served.  A corn-stuffed dove in a bread-stuffed guinea hen in a farce-stuffed duck.  Yes, a lot of work. Hours.  And hours of cooking.  It was delicious.

After the feast, we had dessert.  Without consulting, both Rima's mother and I brought cheesecakes, but hers was traditional and mine was a pumpkin.  The same but different.  Both delicious.

The last time I did a pumpkin cheese cake it was all soggy on the bottom.  With some advice from Lee, this was much better.  But I'm thinking how I can make it more pumpkin-y next time.

And then of course coffee and schnapps and conversation.  It's never long enough,

But next weekend, we get to do the Christmas Market together.  The party never ends!