Several months ago, when we were booking our flights for the holidays, it seemed to make sense to skip our annual pilgrimage to Austin in order to see my family at a cousin’s wedding in St. Louis between Christmas and New Year’s. But when Stephanie learned last week that she could work from home before and after Christmas, it didn’t seem right to stick in San Francisco while my family was at home in Austin. I’m all for feeding that first-born spirit of making my own traditions, but frankly, the holidays are best spent with family (a chance I only get once or twice a year). So we decided that if we could afford to change our flights, we would. And we did.
Unfortunately mother nature didn’t quite get the memo, so on Sunday, our newly booked flight to Austin was canceled due to weather just after we got through airport security. To make a long story short, we got to Austin after midnight, an arduous 5 hours later than planned, but all that matters is—we got to Austin. Which meant we were able to spend a lovely Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with my family.
“The Mouth of Truth [La Bocca della Verità]. You are supposed to put your hand in the mouth. If you are a liar you will lose your hand. I still have my hand.” —Katie
My parents drove all the way from Austin to visit us over Labor Day weekend. It was the first time they got to see our new home, not to mention the first time my mom had been to San Francisco since before I was born. It was also the first time we had anyone stay with us overnight, hence the aforementioned preparations.
Their trip gave us an excuse to be tourists in our own city, which is a role we always enjoy playing. On Saturday we took them on a driving tour that included Twin Peaks, Golden Gate Park, Ocean Beach, Lands End, and Union Square. Then on Sunday we had lunch at Fisherman’s Wharf, visited the Musée Mécanique, and checked out the old boats at the Hyde Street Pier.
From l’aéroport in Paris we traveled by train to Loriol-sur-Drôme—the town where Jean-Claude, Sabine, and Gaïa (Stephanie’s dad’s family) live. We stopped there to take a much-needed shower before continuing by car to Ruoms, a village across the Rhone where Sabine’s family has a country house.
On Saturday (the day after our arrival in France), Jean-Claude and Sabine held a reunion at the house for over 100 friends and family (hence the program of preemptive jetlag before we left). We were there to help out and, of course, partake in the festivities—which included lots of eating, drinking, and pushing Gaïa, Stephanie’s 20-month-old half-sister, on the “ba-la-lo”, her word for balançoire (swing). We took it easy on Sunday, enjoying the leftover ratatouille et rosé, and then we spent most of Monday packing up the house before heading back to Loriol.
I spent last weekend in Indiana, celebrating the 90th birthday of my grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Barnette, known affectionately as Grandmommy to her six grandchildren, and Mary Lib to everyone else.
justin: Dan, nice find. I emailed Marlene separately (it's becoming an annual public service of mine) with a scan from my copy of the Woman’s Day Encyclopedia of Cookery. Interesting to…
DanGarion: Marlene here is the recipe you are looking for.
http://sodoe sthatmeaniamsouthern .com/2012/12/12/a-tr aditional-sugar-cook ie-recipe-and-a-suga r-free-cookie-recipe /
Here is a link to what appears to be the frosting. http://www.makingmis schef.com/?p=267 Good Luck!
Marlene: We have moved and my woman’s day encyclopedia of cookery set is missing my familys favorite cookie is the Christmas Sugar Cookie and Frosting I would really appreciate it…
justin: Dale, I found the Yellow Rings cookie recipe in the Woman's Day Cookie Cook Book from 1962 and 1963. Send me an email, and I'll send you the recipe.
justin: Thanks! The light was incredible that day. We had clear skies above the trees which let the morning sun cut dramatically through occasional holes in the canopy.
Doctor Popular: Wow, those Muir photos are AMAZING!
justin: The thing that struck me the most about reading her telegrams is how similar they are to an email or text message (or tweet or Facebook status update) of today.…
Geli: Your grandmother is a very good looking person!!! i wish to look like here when i will be 70;-).
Mom: Wonderful piece--I know your Grandmommy is proud of the writing you do. I believe your Aunt Betsey did some taping a while back with your Grandmother about some family stories.…
justin: Not this trip. Grandmommy had always been a loquacious conversationalist (most of the time it was hard for anyone else to get a word in edgewise), but in recent years…
Anton Zuiker: What an amazing post, and great way to mark your decade blogging. You continue to amaze me. Did you happen to get any audio of Grandmommy? Oral history is important!
chris: Happy to know you all spent christmas together ! You all look great ! Many kisses to all of you !