Friday, November 28, 2025

Friday, November 28, 2025

Tonight's picture was taken in November of 2008. The day after Thanksgiving to be specific! Thanksgiving was a hard day, but again we tried to reset the mood in the house and Mattie went to one of his favorite stores and picked out this Scooby Doo light up Christmas display. Every year, the day after Thanksgiving, we would put up a light display in our commons area in the city. Our neighbors LOVED it and some of them would tell me that the holidays were hard for them, but seeing our lights perked them up. Each year, the light display grew in size! Scooby Doo was added to the display in 2008! It was the last year we decorated for Christmas. I only started to decorate again for Christmas in 2021, when my parents moved in with us. Otherwise, the holidays have lost their meaning for me, as they seem to remind me of the significant losses in my life.  

Quote of the day: Can you miss something before it's gone?" …"I think so. The anticipation of the loss hurts nearly as much as the loss itself. You find yourself trying to hold onto every detail, because you'll never have them again.” ~ Emily Lloyd-Jones

Today, we officially celebrated my mom's 90th birthday. Given the nature of all I am juggling, hosting a party wasn't going to be happening. In fact, I hate photos of myself now because when I see myself, I see a very exhausted and distraught woman. My face doesn't look the same. 

But my parents had a great time today, so my mission was accomplished. 

I was introduced to this restaurant in Great Falls, VA, years ago by my friend, Dawnee. She took me to Chez Francois for my birthday. Seriously it was love at first sight. Going to this restaurant is like a step back in time. Where you aren't rushed through a meal, where peace, tranquility, good food, and lovely service are the only things on the menu. In the summer months, their outside patio is open, which is surrounded by their lush gardens (they have extensive vegetable bed growing items featured on the menu).

They start every meal with an amuse bouche. Today's was butternut soup, with butternut squash from their gardens. It was so good, even my dad ate it! 

My mom and I then had a trio of salmon. When I became pregnant with Mattie, my taste for salmon changed, it just wouldn't go down. Prior to being pregnant, I loved salmon. However, give me lox, and I still love it. 

We then had a salad. 

Our entree was local Maryland Rockfish, which was sitting on a bed of celery root. Which was actually quite tasty. 

The birthday girl! Looking good at 90. We literally had three different desserts:

The candle was in a piece of pumpkin mousse (which actually tasted like pumpkin, in comparison to the night before).

My mom wanted a Grand Marnier souffle. 

This was a piece of black forest cake. 

When I got home today, this Christmas tree inflatable arrived. I got it on sale and I decided to replace the one we used to use, which was a snowman. I prefer the tree and the symbolism of the bright shining star that guided the wisemen to Bethlehem. May the spirit of this season find its way to my home and heart.