Planning for Andrew's wedding put the 2019 Christmas schedule into January 2020 but celebrations with Dorothy and Barney on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day continued as usual.
After Christmas Eve services on Dec. 24, we went to Olive Garden for dinner. We avoided a long wait for seating by heading to the bar. Our timing was great because a couple in a booth were getting ready to leave and we slid in right behind them.
When I checked my restaurant gift cards, I found some from 54th Street, Frederick Inn and Olive Garden. The Olive Garden one was a gift from Andrew several years ago. (And I still have some $$ left on an iTunes card Adam gave me.)
At Barney and Dorothy's after dinner, I added my presents to the ones spread under the tree. Then Marcee joined us via Facetime and we took turns opening our gifts.
My presents included original artwork by Wanda Taylor and Lana Cease. I am collecting local artists so these pictures will be valued additions. I took some colored pencil classes with Wanda and now have purchased every colored pencil available at the St. Joseph Hobby Lobby. Lana is a friend who will probably be famous one day and, thanks to my sister and bro-in-law, I have one of her original watercolors.
Dorothy and Barney invited me to join them for dinner on Christmas Day. My favorite dish was the mac and cheese so Dot gave me the recipe: Go to the grocery store, find Stouffers in the frozen food section.
After we cleared the table and filled the dishwasher, Dot brought out her gift from Marcee, a karaoke microphone. Barney, wisely, retreated to watch tv. We sisters sang and recorded each other singing. I think we sounded better in person than we do on the videos we made. LOL
