Christmas

[fbhjr]

Christmas morning my wife and I went down to the hotel lobby for breakfast.


They were very “enthusiastic” to serve people there. My wife and I both got up to go to the buffet table and when we came back the table had been totally cleared.
“Were you sitting here?” the man doing it asked me.
“I was.”
“OK, I’ll bring you new stuff.”
He did. But, it was a bit strange.

We headed over to Mariness and her brother’s place and met her parents there.

I was told it was very unusual for the cats to be visible.

And, there were lots of bears.


We did get a tour of the gardens.

Including the new bat house.

And owl house.


The garden seemed more cultivated this year.


And there was a good size pineapple.


The weather station on top of the house is tied into the weather application my wife and I use. So now that we know that, we can know the precise conditions at our cousin’s house.


The cats that live there are very into giving gifts for people.
I understand why Mariness got tuna. Clearly so she’d share.


But, why they gave other people turnips is not so clear.


But, many other gifts were given.


The biggest impression give was the family history Mariness gave her father.

He spent a lot of time reading that.

Of course there was the spring loaded bear box where they tried to jump out.

There was also an explosive one too.

The dolphin pillow my wife picked out seemed to go well.


Tommy was cooking a goose. There had been a lot of talk about all side dishes being some sort of potato.


But, it all turned out well.


My wife says this photo proves I am related to my cousin because we look so much alike.


We tried for a group shot. There can be problems with a camera on timer.


But, a group shot was taken.


Then we headed back to the hotel to get some rest before heading north the next day.

Comments

[endlessblush.livejournal.com]

I see a lot of laughter and happiness in these photos :D

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

And turnips. Don't forget turnips.

[endlessblush.livejournal.com]

I'm as confused as you are about those?

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

I think it is because I had mentioned the day before that turnips were one of the two things my father would never eat. So, I think my cousin Thomas gave us all turnips to make up for that.
But, that is just a theory...

[blue-eye.livejournal.com]

I don't think I ever had goose.

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

It is all dark meat, and closer to turkey than chicken.
So, if you like turkey drumsticks, you would probably like goose.
My cousin had injected it with cajun spices, so it was very tasty.

[cissa.livejournal.com]

It's very similar to duck, but a bit tougher so needs more cooking.

[manue7a.livejournal.com]

First time I saw a pineapple like that.
Lovely pics!

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

He has a bunch of pineapple plants, but that's the only one that grew a fruit.
Maybe more next year.

[chaquir.livejournal.com]

hahaha Lol @ the timer-pic!!

Great pics!!

Funny they cleared your table when you were at the buffet.

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

The strange thing on the buffet is, we hadn't paid yet. You would think that would be when they wanted us to leave, not before...

[postingwhore.livejournal.com]

Can an owl even fit into the owl house? O:

And what does goose taste like? I supposedly had some when I was 8, after badgering my father to get some, but I didn't like the way it had been cooked and so ate like only a piece :\

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

It is a little less fatty than duck, but more fatty than chicken.
Like duck it is all dark meet with none of the lighter that chicken has.


Owls are mostly feathers. So, the compress more than you would think.
This owl house couldn't fit the really big ones, but those aren't the ones they get in that part of Florida.

[cissa.livejournal.com]

It's very similar to duck. I'd say about the same fattiness level, but it has more bones. It's also usually tougher, so benefits more from a long, slow cooking than duck does. I mean, I'll eat rare duck breast, but think that would be a bad idea with goose.

ETA: Duck does have more intramuscular fat, I think. Goose has more just under the skin, but the meat itself is pretty lean.

[postingwhore.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the info! :D

[chris-warrior.livejournal.com]

that is a lovely tree, and awesome pics in general. :D glad you had a great visit!

[hindustar.livejournal.com]

Kitties!