New Year

New Year's Eve day we went to the Georgia O'Keefe Museum.  I have to say I was a bit disappointed in our visit.   There was an exhibit entitled "Masterworks of American Modernism from the Vilcek Foundation Collection" in this relatively small museum and I felt it completely overshadowed the O'Keefe offerings we had come to see....sigh.

an O'Keefe sculpture perfectly framed in front of a winter window

Afterward we had a nice lunch across the street at the Terracotta Wine Bistro and then a interesting visit with a Harley School and Skidmore Alumni (Jesse's alma maters, )  Heidi Loewen at her shop next door.   Heidi is a porcelain artist and real character, she welcomed us with open arms, to put it mildly.

We strolled the streets once again, looking in windows, poking around in a huge architectural salvage warehouse and visiting with the Indian jewelry vendors offering their one of a kind works of art in front of the Palace of Governors on the historic Plaza.

 Erin was looking for a brass bracelet she had passed up a few days ago, and I was on the hunt for a tiny something for a friend's newborn girl.   Mission accomplished!

It was another spectacularly sunny and cold day. We walked briskly, enjoying the sites of old Santa Fe.

unusual adobe house painted to look like brick

We enjoyed a late dinner at the Pink Adobe (one of Santa Fe's oldest restaurants housed in a centuries old adobe house) and then watched the NY Times Square ball drop at midnight (knowing full well that the deed was done by the time we sat down to watch it).    There was a large gathering on the Plaza with bonfires and a chili pepper drop, but we all decided it was too cold to leave the fireside....we're all softies.

New Year's day started with a new Bank family tradition.   Freshly made Beignets.   Erin and Jesse have made them for us for a few years now, and we look forward to them with great expectation.

wine bottles make perfect rolling pins

boys play ball

We decided that, since we'd had plenty of fabulous dinners out, we'd make a "fancy" 60's type dinner in our very own little kitchen.     Beef Wellington for Jesse and I and Lobster for Dave and Erin.

It was fun cooking together.   This rental was very well equipped, but it did not have a steamer for the lobster.    We put out heads and hands together and improvised a very good Rube Goldberg steamer.    Who knew that Julian Pie Company could help us make yummy lobsters!

The pie was long gone, but the pie plate was still with us.....Jesse drilled holes in it and we placed it upside down in a large pot.

Erin prepped the lobster tails, put them in the impromptu steamer and - voila!
Perfectly steamed dinner.

Jesse opened the magnum of champagne in spectacular fashion and we sat down to a sumptuous feast.

off goes the cork!

yep, lost lots of bubbly, but the face is priceless (and he brought the champagne)
Ya can't take the little boy out of the man.....

After desert of fresh fruit tarts, Jesse and Erin cleaned up the kitchen, loaded the dishwasher and Dave stoked the ever present fire.    I don't think that fireplace was left to cool down the entire time we had the casita.    Dave and Erin run a bit cold, and they both totally enjoyed the warmth it gave us.

Last night, however, it was almost too hot for them to sit in front of.   They started out right by the flames and as I tried to take their pictures, they kept moving further and further away from it...finally they had to admit it was just too hot for even them~~~~never thought I'd see that day come.

Today, Saturday, we all packed up our things and headed home.   It was a wonderful family holiday vacation.

Our drive south took us through some pretty snowy landscapes as we headed toward our overnight stop in Deming, NM.

The familiar landscape takes on a completely different look at this time of year.

I've just ordered a take-out dinner and the "boys" are ensconsed in front of the TV watching the Oregon Ducks football game.....Go Ducks!