It is Going To Be a Wonderful New Year!

Every man should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page. Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary, or let down one, according to circumstances; but on the first of January let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front, and take no interest in the things that were and are past. ~Henry Ward Beecher

I'm excited! I'm happy! I'm sooooo moving on to 2010! But what do you call it? I'd call 2009 "o-9." Penny works at JetBlue and they call the new year 20-10. Maybe I'll call it "one-o." It really doesn't matter....I just like it already. I'm turning over a new leaf.....

The most wonderful party with friends last night. We hosted. Usually there are 6 couples and we've been together for over 25 years on New Year's. We tell the same stories over and over each year and laugh and laugh. We really think we are funny.

This year was different. 3 of the couples weren't here. The Olsen's are in California. The Talbot's daughter was sick so therefore they had sick grandkids. The Christensen's headed to their condo after Christmas for a much needed rest. Well, they didn't get it. They called before midnight to tell us all their mishaps. Roger already buried two snowmobiles and then a rescue vehicle. Digging out of the snow for 4 hours sounds dang fun....

I did a raclette party last night. It was new to everyone (except David) and so much fun.

Raclette is a pungent Swiss cheese dish....both the name of the cheese and the cooker. Hundreds of years ago, shepherds would move their herds up in the mountains for summer grazing and supplies had to be limited by what they could carry.Typically they would carry a wheel of cheese, some boiled potatoes, some pickles. They would build a big bonfire and set the wheel of cheese on a rock near the fire to "almost" melt. Then they would scrape the cheese onto their plates of potatoes and pickles. The word "Raclette" comes from the French word "racler" meaning "to scrape off." (I'm totally feeling like the Greek father in My Big Fat Greek Wedding...



) The above picture is the tail end picture of doing Raclette at my cousin's home for a Bucket luncheon. I didn't get pictures of our party last night but I'm kicking myself because all the bowls of chopped vegetables and sausages were so pretty. The raclette griddle is a double decker, with broiler coils under the first griddle. Each person has a raclette dish in which to put their cheese. The scraper is there as well. Below is my demonstation.

You put your cheese under the broiler to melt.

On the top griddle, we grilled two kinds of sliced sausages, chopped green,red and yellow peppers, mushrooms, green onions, zucchini. We passed a big bowl of boiled red potatoes and a basket of chunky bread, the pickles (because if sheepherders had pickles, we HAVE to have pickles as well.) When you cheese has melted you scrape it out of the raclette dish (hence the name "to scrape....") over your potatoes with toppings or bread. Yumo.

Raclette really originated in Switzerland but the first time I had it was in France with Voila! (Thank you Voila! I miss hearing about your life!) There it was much simpler meal..... a wonderful simple salad with greens and hazelnuts, good bread (bought at the market each day) and boiled potatoes with the cheese. Wonderful!

After dinner, we waddled into the other room and played Imaginiff. It was a game I forgot we had but we had a good time laughing over crazy questions and answers.

Then came the White Elephants. People were suppose to bring white elephants that symbolize something about our friendship/stories/events of our time being friends. They were so funny.


Brendalyn brought kitty slippers that David opened.

We were reminded (and laughed about again) (and I realize I've told this story before....like all my stories) the story of Karen and the kittens. Karen had just loaded up her little kids in the car and while backing out of the garage, ran over one of their new baby kittens. She and the kids were hysterical.....she slams on the brakes amidst all the sobbing going on, and runs into the house to get something to put kitty in. The cat and the other two kitties were beside themselves as well. When Karen came out the door, the wind sucked the door closed with a slam! One of the other kittens was in the doorway. Bam! One more down. Karen was totally hysterical and the kids inconsolable.....then Karen backed over another kitten. Or else the door slammed again. Anyway, all three kittens. We can't really remember the real story since we've told it so many times and Jim and Karen weren't there to set us straight but that was the jest of it.

That's the saddest kitty story I've ever heard.....

(Karen's husband was just elected as a city councilman in Farmington. For those of you who might live in the area, I would keep my kittens indoors if I were you. You know, in case Karen is driving...)

I would tell you the rest of the white elephants but honestly, we were up to 2:00 a.m. Too much good fun is exhausting!

Youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve. Middle age is when you're forced to. ~Bill Vaughn