It's been awhile...

Well, let's see if I can play catch-up since Nov.28th!!! What have we been doing? Well, I finished sewing our Tree Skirt, it's quilted, and even though I'm no pro - I think it looks rather good! I'm finishing up the stockings tomorrow - just one part left, and then I have to do the binding on the mantel scarf and project will be COMPLETE! Aren't you proud?!

I was recently invited to lunch by our Landlord, seemed kinda odd to me but I thought why not. So I went with him and his employee Janet (she is super nice) and another lady that works for his wife - I think her name was Linda. Jeanie - his other employee is older and was in the hospital for pneumonia, so I was taking her place as the food was already bought and paid for. Which explains the invitation.

I rode down with Janet - to this college - I don't even know the name of it! Anyway, it has a restaurant in it, and the cooks, servers, and what not, are students - that want to go into that type of business or employment when they graduate. Culinary students. I've never had a "British Christmas Lunch" so I was rather curious as to what I was going to be eating! Thank heavens it was I that went and not David!!! I am also thankful I dressed up a bit more - as it was rather nice environment, white linen table cloths, and lots and lots of silverware. I think I had 4 butter knifes - and not a clue what to do with any of them! So I just watched Janet and followed along. I felt like I needed to go to "princess lessons" you know like from the movie Princess Diaries.

First we are served rolls, with these cute little rolls of butter (I should have once again taken my camera!) they were very good.

The first plate to be sat in front of me had on it, little Mandarin oranges, some sort of little nuts, lettuce, and a slice of DUCK! Now, I've never eaten duck before, I will generally try anything at least once (I hate lamb on a misson trip!) and so I gave it go. I don't really think it had a taste or a flavor, and it really reminded me of canned cat or dog food, from the looks and the way it cut. I was very thankful for the Mandarin oranges - it made it go down much easier - I don't think that would be a future choice of mine. David said grilled duck is okay - I don't know how this duck was cooked. So they take that plate away and I'm thinking okay that wasn't what I would call an appetizer so what was it? The meal or not?

It was not the meal, next arrives another plate and on it they put turkey (white and dark meat...yeah I'm a white meat girl), roasted potatoes, parsnips (yet another new food), brussel sprouts, cranberry sauce, and gravy. Now, I don't do Brussel sprouts or cranberry sauce (already tried that once), but I can handle the parsnips. They are kinda like potatoes, but they have a slight different flavor to them - they are tolerable, I do prefer potatoes. There was something else on there that looked like a chopped off finger wrapped in bacon - I've come to the conclusion that it might have been a piece of sausage. Fact #1 about me, "Tonya does not like pork!"

Okay so after all that I'm thinking surely we are finished - no we are not. Here comes another plate with Lemon Pie (YUCK!!!). Fact #2: "Tonya does not like LEMON!" Lemonade - yeah - anything else lemon - NO! So James took my pie and I got his Christmas Pudding - I know now, not to eat that either! I'm not sure what it was or how they made it. It resembled a chocolate cake with fruit in it. It was served with white Brandy sauce. I do not recommend the Christmas pudding, but I highly recommend the brandy sauce! You need it to wash it down with!!

So desert has come and I'm almost certain we are finished...uh wrong again. Here comes coffee & tea and mince pies. Now - they are not "mince meat" so I really don't know where the name comes from yet. It's got some sort of fruit in it - cherries maybe and its sprinkled with powered sugar - they were tolerable and looked much better than they tasted.

Now - this lunch adventure started at 12, noon. It did not end until just before 3 p.m.!!! James had just enough time to get me back to my house, so that I could jump in my car and run to grab the kids. I got in my car at 3:05...I pick the kids up at 3:15!! Thank heavens its not a long drive!!!

Anyway, the luncheon was by far the most interesting "food wise" and the most entertaining by James. He is so funny and so ornery! I don't know why poor Janet works for him, he teases her like crazy about her hair and how much she can eat (I'm trying to figure out where she put it all...I didn't eat til the next day!). I think they get along rather well haha.

The other lady that was with us made a comment about some one, I've no idea who - but she said, "She's as common as mud" I love it! It totally fit's my personality and I think it's my new favorite line...I'll be using it just wait and see!

I had a really great time though, learned a lot, laughed a lot, and was completely stuffed. Maybe someday I'll get to go again and order my own choices haha, but hey - I was game, I tried a few things! You'll never know if you don't try it - right?

I have so much more to write and tell you about - maybe I'll try that tomorrow, but any here is something for you to read for the time being.

Oh and guess what we have a PHONE! It's so crazy I live in England and I have a Ohio phone number! Gotta love technology!!!