Winter Tea at Grandma's
Monday, December 14, 2009
Puck began his morning over at the house with wooden blocks intended for domino races. Carrie-Bri helped him get started.
“These are very dock-o-whet (delicate)!” he said. “Don’t touch dem yet. These are gonna be very dock-o-whet. These are gonna be very dock-o-whet. I’m gonna knock dem over. Make a track wiff me, Sun. Make a track wiff me.” Some time later, Puck joined his aunts and uncle outside, and Francis pulled him around the grass in the old orange sled. And Carrie was busy clearing space for the garage to be dry-walled. In the process
of cleaning out the attic, Carrie found the rather ancient rocking-airplane, which Linnea set up for Puck inside. When the mail arrived, Mom and Collette decided to present Carrie with one of her Christmas gifts, early, so that she could use it throughout the holidays. She had put it on her wish list: a beautiful golden yellow trench coat with large buttons down the front and back, from Victoria’s Secret. It looked great on her, of course. And after she had tried it on, she and Mom decided that Collette should also have one of her birthday presents early. Something from her own wish list: the Fair Isle sweater dress, in beige and red and dark browns, also from Victoria’s secret, which was also very beautiful.
In the afternoon, Francis had Linnea put on her crash helmet and hold onto his shoulder while he drove her down to Gretyl’s house in his go-cart. After he returned, Joe also showed up after his first final, with news about hyperextending his ankle by jumping down a flight of stairs.
When they returned to the house, Collette and Puck returned home, bringing Mom, Carrie, and Linnea with them. And OLeif returned to be with Puck for the evening, while all the girls, including Rose, drove over to Grandma Combs’ house for a winter tea.
When they arrived, Grandma had the table set, and there were candles and lamps lit, and little Christmas lights on the tree and on her chopstick star, etc., etc. And when Aunt Petunia and Lucia had arrived, Carrie helped Grandma with the serving of the I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas soup, which they all thought was very, very good, and Grandma’s chicken salad on the bread from Soulard, equally good. There was also a cheese spread from Grandma’s travels around the state, and a tray of green grapes, red pepper, pineapple, and watermelon. There was tea, brought by Carrie, and fruit juice. And Linnea was given her own special bowl of macaroni and cheese.
During the meal, Lucia and Rose kept up a battle of friendly word wars. And by the time, Rose began writing ridiculous lines of poetry, as if Lucia had written them herself, including such beauties as, ‘I love you as the clouds are white,’…. it was time for the next course of the evening.
This was followed with gifts for Collette and Aunt Petunia from Grandma. For Collette: a new beautiful journal in reds and yellows, and two old books – one from 1914, inscribed as a gift, originally received by a doctor of Collette’s surname who was a missionary to India, and the other, a large book of children’s stories published in 1895. And for Aunt Leslie: an outdoor lantern and two large sorts of picnic cartons for cupcakes and casseroles, etc. This was followed with a cake from England with brandy sauce while they watched one of Grandma’s favorite shows: Cake Boss.
On the way home, Linnea fell asleep on Carrie’s shoulder.
“These are very dock-o-whet (delicate)!” he said. “Don’t touch dem yet. These are gonna be very dock-o-whet. These are gonna be very dock-o-whet. I’m gonna knock dem over. Make a track wiff me, Sun. Make a track wiff me.” Some time later, Puck joined his aunts and uncle outside, and Francis pulled him around the grass in the old orange sled. And Carrie was busy clearing space for the garage to be dry-walled. In the process
of cleaning out the attic, Carrie found the rather ancient rocking-airplane, which Linnea set up for Puck inside. When the mail arrived, Mom and Collette decided to present Carrie with one of her Christmas gifts, early, so that she could use it throughout the holidays. She had put it on her wish list: a beautiful golden yellow trench coat with large buttons down the front and back, from Victoria’s Secret. It looked great on her, of course. And after she had tried it on, she and Mom decided that Collette should also have one of her birthday presents early. Something from her own wish list: the Fair Isle sweater dress, in beige and red and dark browns, also from Victoria’s secret, which was also very beautiful.
In the afternoon, Francis had Linnea put on her crash helmet and hold onto his shoulder while he drove her down to Gretyl’s house in his go-cart. After he returned, Joe also showed up after his first final, with news about hyperextending his ankle by jumping down a flight of stairs.
Later, Francis was dropped off with a bike and Creole’s go-cart at Creole’s house for the afternoon, in the rapidly dropping temperatures, after which Mom and Collette hit the post office once again for delivery of a Christmas letter to Australia and one to England, and for further adoption paperwork to be sent to California. Then to Trader Joe’s for a few items, and Mom talked to the very tall, friendly, blonde, female checker with an interesting, sort of familiar smile, about Arizona.
When they returned to the house, Collette and Puck returned home, bringing Mom, Carrie, and Linnea with them. And OLeif returned to be with Puck for the evening, while all the girls, including Rose, drove over to Grandma Combs’ house for a winter tea.
When they arrived, Grandma had the table set, and there were candles and lamps lit, and little Christmas lights on the tree and on her chopstick star, etc., etc. And when Aunt Petunia and Lucia had arrived, Carrie helped Grandma with the serving of the I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas soup, which they all thought was very, very good, and Grandma’s chicken salad on the bread from Soulard, equally good. There was also a cheese spread from Grandma’s travels around the state, and a tray of green grapes, red pepper, pineapple, and watermelon. There was tea, brought by Carrie, and fruit juice. And Linnea was given her own special bowl of macaroni and cheese.
During the meal, Lucia and Rose kept up a battle of friendly word wars. And by the time, Rose began writing ridiculous lines of poetry, as if Lucia had written them herself, including such beauties as, ‘I love you as the clouds are white,’…. it was time for the next course of the evening.
This was followed with gifts for Collette and Aunt Petunia from Grandma. For Collette: a new beautiful journal in reds and yellows, and two old books – one from 1914, inscribed as a gift, originally received by a doctor of Collette’s surname who was a missionary to India, and the other, a large book of children’s stories published in 1895. And for Aunt Leslie: an outdoor lantern and two large sorts of picnic cartons for cupcakes and casseroles, etc. This was followed with a cake from England with brandy sauce while they watched one of Grandma’s favorite shows: Cake Boss.
On the way home, Linnea fell asleep on Carrie’s shoulder.
It was a nice evening.