Let me start by wishing everyone a happy and healthy Christmas day and start to the New Year!  Here is a photo of this year’s National Christmas Tree.

Santa was very good to me this year!  Last night, LC and I went for a walk around the White House and took some great pictures of the national tree and my very favorite building, the Old Executive Building.  As the sun set and the weather dropped, we made our way back to Cheverly and started a roaring fire in the fireplace as we prepared dinner.

Dinner was a blast with an entire bottle of Prosecco and a 2005 blend of an Italian wine from Puglia filling our glasses through the evening!  We were able to time the meal correctly so the soup was done first, and just in time for the veal to be finished off in the oven.  The gnocchi was cooked quickly as fresh pasta always does and we sat and enjoyed a nice meal in preparation for Santa’s arrival!

Moving to the sitting room, in front of the fire, we continued to drink wine and enjoy the tiramisu that LC finished off with some shaved chocolate pieces atop the creamy dessert.  A perfect end to a perfect day!  But, alas, no sassy sauces!  We decided to save them for dessert New Year’s Eve which we will spend at his new condo across from the Kennedy Center.  Until then they will sit and rest until scooped up and placed over some fresh vanilla ice cream.  Yum!  Can’t wait…what is the countdown to 2009?

So, Santa brought me a bow tie from Brooks Brothers.  I love it!  It is a perfect edition to my collection and apparently Santa was listening one evening when I shared how much I like Brooks Brothers and bow ties…and he made a great connection in bringing me this gift.  How special, how sweet!

Ushering in Christmas Day, it was time for bed!  This morning we ate some fresh scones and drove to the airport where LC flew to Boston to gather the rest of this things from the parent’s house and drive it back to his new home.  His entire family will be driving back with him to spend time with relatives in the area, so he is literally going home for 2 days before making his drive back south on Sunday.  LC finished law school in May and this will be the first time since then he has seen his family.  Shortly after graduating he got his current job as a lawyer for the federal government and quickly began to settle in the area, finding a lovely condo literally across the road from the Kennedy Center.  How convenient for his concerts!

Anyway, Christmas has come and now we await the new year.  What an interesting year it has been and I can only begin to imagine the unpredictability that 2009 will bring us!  Well, time to continue celebrating with such enthusiasm and cheerful holiday spirit.  This truly is a merry Christmas!