Family Christmas

Christmas Eve

Marcello, Christian, and I went to the family Christmas Eve service at St. Christopher's. It was lovely.

Marcello, Chris, Christian in the Fellowship Hall after the service

Then we picked up Arthur and went to Marcello's to enjoy a Pasta Bar created by Michelle for our Christmas Eve dinner.

 After dinner we had lots of fun playing Shut the Box and some card games.

Christmas Morning 

Michelle served German pancakes with raspberries. Delicious!

Pajama Boys: Christian, Colin, Arthur

Christian with Frosty

One of my gifts: A Year's Supply of Pasta in a lovely box

  

A wonderful gift from my former Latin student Stephen and his wife

Divine sandwich cookies filled with raspberry jam in two shapes. Some were Democratic elephants and others were round and others. They arrived in in a festive holiday tin.

Living Links

Another wonderful lunch at Pain Quotidien with Washburn and Edmonds-Peabody Connections -

Sonia (Toni's daughter)

Nancy (Aaron's mother)

Kim (Denny's daughter) and Chris 

Christmas at Epiphany

John, Indra, and I went to the Church of the Epiphany for its annual Christmas concert.

The program with Dr. Jinsun Cho, Music Director, The Church of the Epiphany Choir, and Modern Musick (Violin I, Violin II, Violoncello, and Organ)

• A Festive Voluntary: Variations on "Good King Wenceslas" by Petr Eben

• Cantemus Domino by Johann Joseph Ignaz Brentner

• Missa San Xavier by Giovanni Battists Bassani

• Kyrie- Gloria - Credo - Sanctus - Agnus Dei

• Congregation Hymns: Once in royal David's city and O come, all ye faithful (Adeste Fideles)

• Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day arr. by David Willcocks

• Rejoice in the Lord Alway (The Bell Anthem) by Henry Purcell

We had lunch at Au Bon Pain following the concert.

 John

Indra and Chris

Greek

Marcello, Colin, and I had Sunday brunch at Eleni's in Springfield.

No, Colin was not wearing a laurel wreath. (I took poetic license here!)

We then went back to Apache Street for some football, conversation, and Christmas decorating.

Mima and Colinsky

I'd Rather Be Reading

Christmas present from Katie

Art Talk

I met my friends Liz and Jane in the Cascade Cafe at the National Gallery of Art where we had lunch before visiting the Verrocchio exhibit. I was in the presence of two art scholars so I was in very good company and was able to enjoy the exhibit on a deeper level than would have otherwise been possible.

Jane and Liz posing in front of a beautiful display of Christmas flowers with the waterfall backdrop

The gorgeous floral display around the fountain in the NGA's rotunda

Photos of the art in the exhibit? Stay tuned!

Italian birthday lunch

I took my friend Barbara to Osteria da Nino for her birthday. She ordered a chicken dish and kept swooning over it. "It is so delicious," she repeated over and over again.

I chose exactly the same dish I had when I went there with Bill: the spinach ravioli filled with mozzarella di buffala, ricotta, and caciocavallo.

We then split a torta di ricotta for dessert. It was very good but not as delicious as the torte di ricotta prepared by Fabrizio in Via Antonio Silvani in Rome!

I had then felt in the mood to drink an espresso so I did!

 The Birthday Girl

 Barbara and Christine

One of the above needs a haircut!

Barbara's half of the torta di ricotta on a biscotto
She, by the way, ate all of the mint leaves and the orange peel.

I was able to chat a bit with Nino, the owner. I discovered much to my surprise that this restaurant has been in this very location for five - 5! - years!

It was Norway

Our Sons of Norway Reading Circle had a very interesting discussion about Steinbeck's book The Moon is Down about the Nazi occupation of Norway. Well, to be truthful, Norway is not actually named in the book but it was widely perceived as a description of Norway and its people during the war. I unfortunately forgot to take a photo of the group, probably because our professional photographer John O was not in attendance.

I highly recommend this interesting and not very well-known book by John Steinbeck.

Tuesday Concert

I joined my friends George and Mike at the Church of the Epiphany for the weekly Tuesday concert. It was "Radical Innovators and Deep Listeners" performed by faculty musicians from the Levine School of Music: Gary Prince, Electric Guitar, Sarah Foard, Electric Violin, Manny Arciniega, Percussion, and Chris Brown, Electric Bass. They played seven pieces but unfortunately I had to leave after the second one because the volume was too hurtful for my poor damaged ears.

I waited at Au Bon Pain for my friends and we had lunch together.

 George and Mike

Christine

Since my photo of the two men was not very good, I am posting an earlier photo.

Mike and George

Trying out Nino

My friend Cav. William and I went to Shirlington Village to try out a new restaurant there, Osteria da Nino. We found the food very good indeed. We, of course, tried pasta as the true test of the value of Italian cuisine.

William was not smiling in his sleep. He was awake! His dish: cavatelli al ragu d'agnello.

 My dish was ravioli di spinach stuffed with mozzarella di bufala and two other cheeses.

 A close-up of my delicious ravioli

William concluded his meal with an espresso.

The waiter was a charming man from El Salvador. He understood Italian quite well so there was some conversation in la bella lingua.

Into the City

Marcello and Christian came to pick us up and we went into the District.

First stop: Ambasciata dell'Italia

Second stop: Washington National Cathedral

We immediately went into the Gift Shop so that Christian could add 5 bricks to the construction of the Lego Cathedral. All of the brick money goes directly to the building fund to repair the 2011 earthquake damage.

 Christian chooses his bricks as his uncle looks over his shoulder.

This is the section that Christian has helped build. 

More of an overview

Third stop: Cheesecake Factory for lunch 

Christian and Marcello

Pima and Adriano

We had an eventful ride home. 😒

Family

The Ashburn Melonis were the gracious hosts for our Thanksgiving Feast this year. Here are some photos from this event.

Christian with The Pig 

Christian with The Pig
and Arthur with The Plaque:
When the Queen is happy, there is peace in the kingdom.

 Marcello

 Arthur with his father

Ready to eat: Arthur, Colin, Christian, and Adriano 

Appetizers: A variety of olives and cheese cubes

Arthur, Colin, and Christian

Main Course: Gnocchi, Turkey, Brussel Sprouts, Mashed Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Cranberry Sauce, and tapenade  

Two desserts: Pumpkin Pie and Tiramisu

Entertainment: Some football, Scrabble (Arthur, Colin, & Pima), and a very stupid movie

Where are photos of the two women?

Russian Birthdays on Apache Street

We had a very special celebration today, our traditional lunch to celebrate the birthdays of our dear Russian friends, Larissa and Oksana. It was a potluck with everyone bringing something tasty. The venue: Christine's home

Oksana, Ginny, Larissa, Christine (reflected in the glass above Ginny)

              

Many delicious dishes: Lentil & Spinach Salad, Cabbage & Beet Salad, Vegetable Spread for the Russian bread, Herring, Cheese and Crackers

 Larissa cuts the birthday cake as Ginny looks on. Ginny brought some Russian chocolates.

Oksana, Ginny, and Larissa

After lunch the Birthday Girls opened their presents. From Ginny to each BG: Marvelous scented hand creams. From Larissa to Oksana: A beautiful cherry blossom thermos, Nordic Style. From Christine to each BG: A framed photo of one of our birthday lunches at the Aroma, where we originally met for these lunches. See the photo below: Pictured are Larissa, Oksana, Ginny, Christine, and George (missing today).

George, Oksana, Christine, Larissa, and Ginny (Year?)

Expanding Local Horizons

Until quite recently, I almost always headed to D.C. when I left my house. Now I seem to spend more time in Springfield so, after having lived here since 1977, I am finally beginning to learn my way around and discover what Springfield has to offer!

Today my friend Janet introduced me to three new locations: Chloez Care in Burke, Pohick Regional Library, and a new-to-me Hallmark Store.

I loved both of these photos of Janet so I posted both!

Janet looked especially happy because she was enjoying a big cup of very fluffy hot chocolate with marshmallows on the side!