Silversea Water Cooler: Welcome! Part Five

[mysty]

1 hour ago, FlyingScotSailors said:

 

We are getting, as forecast, rain here.  The temperature is 49 F, a heat wave for us.  

 

I copied your map, since although it does not show Albany, NY, it does show Chibougamau, PQ.  I had a summer job at a copper mine there in 1969.  Apparently, they have a paved road all the way there now!

 

 

We have rain here too Flying!  Most un-Christmas-like!  Merry Christmas to you and your chef wife!

[mysty]

1 hour ago, silkismom said:

Here in our part of the CO mountains, we walked in 40+ weather with NO WIND for a change. The snow we got several days ago is mostly gone, so no "White Christmas" for us. Have a wonderful, safe, peaceful day everyone. Merry Christmas.

 

Merry Christmas Silki!  

[jpalbny]

DW, it wasn't a traditional Ukrainian lunch unless it also involved salo. That stuff will coat your innards so that no kind of vodka could ever get through! What kind of vodka comes with a ringpull top?

 

Pouring here. Time to pour a G&T and relax in the hot tub!

Edited December 25, 2020 by jpalbny

[Daveywavey70]

30 minutes ago, jpalbny said:

DW, it wasn't a traditional Ukrainian lunch unless it also involved salo. That stuff will coat your innards so that no kind of vodka could ever get through! What kind of vodka comes with a ringpull top?

 

Pouring here. Time to pour a G&T and relax in the hot tub!

My Polish grandfather always used to have a similar bottle in the freezer. It did always give the impression that it started life at the back of a petrol station but had been passed through several old oil filters before being "casked and aged" in a metal drum. Do they not have ring pull bottles of Vodka in the Ukraine any more? Such a shame when culture is eroded.

[zqtchas]

[mysty]

10 minutes ago, zqtchas said:

 

 

I do love the smell of bacon!  Merry Christmas Chas and  Mrs  Chas!  May your wit follow us into the new year! 🥰

[jpalbny]

54 minutes ago, Daveywavey70 said:

My Polish grandfather always used to have a similar bottle in the freezer. It did always give the impression that it started life at the back of a petrol station but had been passed through several old oil filters before being "casked and aged" in a metal drum. Do they not have ring pull bottles of Vodka in the Ukraine any more? Such a shame when culture is eroded.

 

I wasn't checking last year when we visited. Was too busy enjoying the cheap wine! We went to a wine bar in Lviv where they were pouring 250 ml glasses of wine for ₴25 - and the exchange rate was ₴27 for $1, so a huge pour (1/3 of a bottle) cost about 92¢!

 

It really spoiled us for the expensive wine bar we tried the next night, where the pours were smaller (125 ml) and the price a ludicrous ₴50 - $1.85 a glass! What an outrage!

 

I will say that the first wine bar's offerings did kind of taste like ringpull wine (if there is such a thing). 

 

But I have bought wine from a petrol station once! In Madagascar, while we were driving from Tana to our forest lodge a few hours away, we made a pit stop for gas and other things. They had a selection of wine in the attached convenience store and I picked one of the more expensive ones - 15.000 Ary - about $4.50 at the time. It was (and still is) my only one-star review on Vivino.

 

 

Not one to recommend. Despite the fancy French label!

[Reef Knot]

JP, I live here in Antananarivo and can absolutely vouch for your 1 star review, the local wine is truly awful both the red and the white. 

On another note we traveled up to the North East region of Madagascar last week for a short break around the Masoala national park, one night we ate a Malagasy dish of duck and goose in a thick gravy  flavored with amongst other things cloves. Have to say the duck was very good as usual but the goose was tough as old boots and too many small bones to pick out whilst eating.

Its put me off goose for a long time, so I hope your pictures will restore my faith in the bird.

Enjoy you lunch.

[lincslady]

Wishing all coolers a Happy  Christmas and a better New Year for the whole world.

 

I have enjoyed all your pics, cartoons and messages recently - it is a bit quiet round here, just me and an increasingly frail 93 year old husband.  Daughter was able to come over for a few hours last weekend, and son is hopefully coming, again for a few hours, in a few days.  They each live about 3 hours drive away  in opposite directions.

 

There was a lovely,  more traditional, version of the Carols from King's College Cambridge on TV yesterday evening.  I don't know if it is seen in other countries, but it is in a beautiful setting, and wonderful  singing from the boy's choir, augmented by the King's Singers yesterday.   Sadly, no congregation.  I hope some of you are able to see it - on the BBC.

 

Lola

 

 

 

 

[brimary]

Agree re Carols from Kings College,Cambridge.Its been on our must watch list since it started and long may it continue.Have a pleasant Christmas everyone and fingers crossed for an excellent 2021 to wipe out the unfortunate 2020.

[mysty]

So this is Christmas
And what have you done?
Another year over
And a new one just begun

And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

John Lennon - 1971

 

Merry Christmas Coolers!

[zqtchas]

[zqtchas]

[mysty]

[Lois R]

Good morning friends--------thinking about all of you and hoping all of you have a good day.

[jpalbny]

Merry Christmas all! We slept in and listened to the rain. A lot of the snow has melted, sadly. But, we might be able to access the garden hose and change the water in our hot tub, so that's a plus!

 

Going to have some sweet breads for breakfast and then get cooking for later. And of course that ubiquitous 2020 activity - a Zoom call with the family!

[Tothesunset]

13 hours ago, Daveywavey70 said:

At this rate TTS 2022 🙂

 

It's a date. 😂

[Lois R]

6 minutes ago, jpalbny said:

Merry Christmas all! We slept in and listened to the rain. A lot of the snow has melted, sadly. But, we might be able to access the garden hose and change the water in our hot tub, so that's a plus!

 

Going to have some sweet breads for breakfast and then get cooking for later. And of course that ubiquitous 2020 activity - a Zoom call with the family!

Sounds lovely-----we are all waiting to hear how that goose comes out!😀

[jpalbny]

40 minutes ago, Lois R said:

Sounds lovely-----we are all waiting to hear how that goose comes out!😀

 

Ha, me too! I'm a little nervous about overcooking it. Will have to keep a close eye on things.

[jpalbny]

It's in the oven! T-2h or so.

 

 

When the snow thawed, I was amazed to see that some of the herbs in the garden were still alive. So I snipped some oregano to go in the stuffing. On Christmas. Amazing!

Edited December 25, 2020 by jpalbny

[Daveywavey70]

Merry Christmas all.

Coquille saint Jacques

Terrines and Pate

Lobster Bisque

St Clements Sorbet with blood orange gin and cointreau

Turkey and trimmings

Clementine and Prosecco Trifle

A Unanimous decision has been taken to postpone courses 7 and 8 until later this evening.

 

Nadolig Llawen everybody.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TLCOhio]

23 minutes ago, Daveywavey70 said:

Merry Christmas all.  Coquille saint Jacques   Terrines and Pate

Lobster Bisque  St Clements Sorbet with blood orange gin and cointreau    Turkey and trimmings   Clementine and Prosecco Trifle

A Unanimous decision has been taken to postpone courses 7 and 8 until later this evening.   Nadolig Llawen everybody.

 

SUPER WOW!!!!  That's an amazing menu and such wonderful visuals as "proof and evidence" from our UK friend. What time can we come over to your home for an encore dining experience?  Nice looking bird for J.P. and Chris.  Much great sharing here at The Cooler. 

 

Yes, we did have a wonderful "White Christmas" in Central Ohio.  About three inches of snow greeted us this morning.    Want positive proof?  Below are a few visuals that I captured today.  This includes some of our "visitors".  Sorry, they did not wear face masks!!  We figured that we could trust these "feather friends"?   Right?  For those who received only high winds, rain and/or power outages, sorry!!  We are enjoying the wintery scenes in our wooded, ravine setting where we are seeking to survive during this Covid-inspired, "stay-home" season.  The good news is that our Ohio Governor announced this week that those age 65+ will be the next,  top priority group to receive the vaccine in mid January 2021 for our state.

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

Starting with a look out of our front window, the roads and trees are covered with snow on Christmas Day. Next are one of our welcome bird visitors and a view of our inside Norway Spruce with lights and decorations.:

(Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!)

 

 

 

Below are a couple more of our varied bird visitors, plus one of our back gate with the snow piled up, bushes covered, etc.  Look like a wintery White Christmas?:

 

 

[mysty]

1 hour ago, Daveywavey70 said:

Merry Christmas all.

Coquille saint Jacques

Terrines and Pate

Lobster Bisque

St Clements Sorbet with blood orange gin and cointreau

Turkey and trimmings

Clementine and Prosecco Trifle

A Unanimous decision has been taken to postpone courses 7 and 8 until later this evening.

 

Nadolig Llawen everybody.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DW your beautiful presentation is amazing!  From the exquisite table settings and glassware to the most mouth-watering of dishes!  Bravo!!!! 🥰

[jpalbny]

Wow, Davey! And you said that you weren't working for Christmas? Really impressive! 

 

The goose was delsih. So rich and tasty! And it looked pretty nice too. After 1h in the oven.

 

 

Done after 2h. Time to rest. 

 

 

A nice Christmas setting. We brought out the good china. Why not?

 

 

Carved and time to eat! Such crispy skin.

 

 

The meat was rich and flavorful. It was perfect with a raw cranberry relish, and an Oregon Pinot Noir. And the russet potatoes were cooked in the roasting pan with lots of goose fat. Divine! 

 

I'd cook a goose again. It's a bit of work but the end result felt special and very festive. Merry Christmas to all.

 

 

[jillyf]

DW, I’m inviting myself next year. 
 

We have rented a farm house about 2 hours from Melbourne. It’s very basic with glassware etc unfortunately, but we managed. 
Photo is from the first course.fresh prawns, stir fried prawns and lobster tails with my favourite Riesling from Skilogalee South Australia and a Dr Loosen riesling. Very nice. 
No photos of the Roast pork, glazed ham and chicken ballontine ( stuffed with Toulouse sausage). 
Had some lovely Zema Estate Shiraz and Henschke Hill of Grace Shiraz. 
We finished the afternoon at the pool. Only the children swam as the water is too cold for the adults!

The sun was shining and it was a pleasant 29C ( 84F). 
The funny looking candle is lit to remember those not with us.