Month: December 2010

Since we are leaving for our much anticipated trip to Europe with Sarah tomorrow, I am thinking that I better get this done. Yay, it’s my birthday? I am having a harder and harder time getting up for this event. Passing 60 a couple of years ago puts a damper on things.

What would a birthday celebration be without some fun event with my birthday buddy, George. Our birthday excitement started out with a trip up to some wineries up by Healdsburg on a dreary winterish day. But even winter here has its charms.

Wintery Sonoma Valley

We visited Gary Farrell, Thomas George, Hop Kiln, Stryker and Stonestreet wineries. That’s quite a bit of tasting. Stonestreet had some really exceptional white wines. Then we headed down to Napa where we caught a few winks at the hotel. Wine tasting always makes me sleepy. Later we dined at Le Toque, a Michelin one star restaurant. The dinner was really, really good. We had the sommelier do wine pairings and a good time was had by all.

Karen, George, Mary and John at Gary Farrell Winery

Shortly after the actual day, the whole fam came over for brunch, cards and birthday cake. John made the strata. Sarah got the pretzel rolls and Ryan and Jon brought the cake. Sam and Nathan brought me pictures they had drawn, Sam’s abstract art with candles and Nathan’s truck with candles. I got some great cards so the mantle is full now of congratulations on my oldness. After brunch we blew out the candles and had cake – Sam and Nathan’s favorite part.

Sam and Nathan celebrate my birthday

I love cards!

Nathan and I blow out the candles!

Tonight we had a little impromptu Hanukah celebration. Sarah and I had gone shopping today to get her a coat for our upcoming trip, then she was staying overnight, and in the morning we would proceed to Burlingame to get our hair cut. (at last!) Whilst discussing dinner plans, Sarah suggested we have latkes, it being Hanukah and all. So John set up his fry station in the garage and started preparing his secret latke recipe.

John’s secret latke recipe

The reason that it’s a secret is that no one really knows what it consists of. Every year John asks if we have the recipe, I search for it and come up empty. So John makes it up every year.

First, though, light the menorah. Hmmm, do we have any candles? I get out the menorah and John finds a box with only eight candles. It’s a sign that we must light all the candles tonight even though it’s not the last night.

Sarah and John – candles lighted

I prepare a salad, Sarah gets out the sour cream, John fries the latkes and our Hanukah dinner is ready. I am really glad that Sarah suggested it. The latkes are crunchy on the outside and creamy inside. Our little impromptu celebration is a success.

Hanukah dinner