Christmas 2019 @ Karnes
The seventeenth chapter of DP8/10-Christmas@ Karnes unfolded on a
pleasant late December evening. A rare Sunday called us,
accommodating the busy calendars that had claimed our usual
Saturday. Two feet of early December snow had almost melted
before a sneaky few inches piled on, giving Chay a challenge to
clear a track. Perhaps, the cars felt our anticipation, found the
bare track, and muscled their ways to the top of the driveway.
The Christmas lights on both sides of the Weed Road valley dotted
the darkness, with the Karneses’ lights outdotting the others.
The back door was filled by Chay and attendant Kalli who finally
is getting used to this. (Sad to say: no cats this year.)
Although there was ample sitting place outside the kitchen area,
it is there we congregated. The Adamses had returned, perhaps for
their last Christmas, someone intimated; the Monteverds bemoaned
the extra month of winter they endured; and we other six smiled
and nodded our heads in feigned sympathy.
The immediate center of attention was appetizers, with the
foot-and-a-half high Christmas tree festooning toothpicked chunks
of salami, pepperoni, cheddar and Colby jack cheese, green
olives, sweet petite gherkins, and grape tomatoes. ‘Twas so
well balanced that we quite cautiously snagged the first few
morsels but then nearly stripped the tree clean.
Accompanying was the hot artichoke dip
with peppers, celery, and crackers for dipping.
Somewhere in this midst, we Eight
presented Deb and Chay with a Resolution thanking and
acknowledging their twenty years of hospitality at Pine Meadow
Lane and for the seventeen years of hosting Christmas.
Course Two presented the large bowl of salad greens, topped with
blistered grapes, toasted slivered almonds, and fresh grated
Parmesan cheese.
After guesses of what Intermezzo flavor Deb had created, a peach
sorbet was tendered—a richer than usual sorbet, with peaches
frozen from this past summer. Farm to table, anyone?
Course Four:
Drinks:
Mark had brought a couple bottles of MacGregor 2013 Pinot Noir
Reserve, a good choice for the evening and a good showing from
the Finger Lakes. Otherwise, beer, water, and soda complemented,
while Ken was proffered his evening injections of coffee.
It was time to let dinner settle, head for the living room
furniture and chairs, and anticipate the Santa-Thief Christmas
gift exchange, as we have done for years. Chay’s rules have
stood in good stead since the beginning. After a sleepy start,
the thieves were busy looking over the set of lap blankets.
pottery brie bowl, tea/chest, specialty food box, phone chargers,
solar charger, Yeti mug, home security camera, braided Americana
mat and basket, and metal sign with wine. Merry Christmas!
By this time, most of dinner had settled, allowing consideration
of dessert. With long and sharp knife in hand, Deb, carefully at
first, crunched her way through the puff pastry cannoli cake –
layers of a beautifully scenic cake that Deb reassured us we
would never see again – a Royal PIA, if you catch the drift.
Differences of texture and taste made for one of the most
interesting cakes for DP8, and it soon evanesced to a few flakes
and fragments of puff pastry.
And there was a plate of assorted cookies
and candy. (a toast to Deb’s new business – Deb’s Sweeter
Side; I will not comment on the comments)
Although we had been in awe since the evening’s beginning, it
must now be revealed that Deb K once again masterminded, with
help from the capable and dependable Chay, the entire dinner! We
humbly and gratefully accepted this generosity of one our
culinary highlights of the year.
Dinner was done, with an extension of afterglow of story-telling,
reminiscing, and wishing well for the future. Before we
disappeared into the darkness, we wished that 2020 be as kind,
merciful, and eventful as can be and, when it is not, may we have
the grace and strength and support to venture onward. Thank you,
Deb and Chay, for such magnanimous hospitality.