December 23, 2013

We are already for Christmas here.  Veenitha and I have been cooking all morning.  Everything is ready except for the bobbotie which will be prepared tomorrow morning along with the rice.  Menu for lunch with the Kawasakis and Jayanthi who is happily coming up from Colombo is:

Devilled Jack Seeds

Cape Verde Vegetable Soup

Paneer Bobbotie

Rice

Okra Curry

Banana Chutney

Fried Salt and Pepper Plantain

Dessert is a Kawasaki Surprise

Arpico very efficiently and uncharacteristically delivered a replacement tree the other day which promptly went up.  Christmas at Riverside Gardens:

Not bad for a $25 tree.  The last one, I bought in Singapore for $300.  This is just as good.

Bootee is up but did not make it for St. Nicholas Day on December 6.  Oh well, no parents to fill it with candy anymore anyway.

Even the Buddha can enjoy Christmas. 

Everything is decorated.  All my parents old glass decorations even found a place.

Father Christmas among the puppets.  He especially likes Stanley.  (Sorry Terry.  Look away.)

The weather is clear and sunny.  It will be a hot and eclectic Christmas.   I will especially miss my friends the Sines with whom I have spent the last many Christmases along with my good friend Joan Shoults.  I will be thinking of all of you and missing Pamela's mac and cheese. 

No matter who your god is, we can all agree that what we all want at this time of year is 

PEACE ON EARTH