Thursday, December 23, 2010

The Christmas Race is in the clubhouse turn . . . .


The title is from the book above.  Cheesy, perhaps, but this little book has always been one of my favorites.  We're in the clubhouse turn here.  Grocery-getting scheduled for tonight, then a full-on Christmas eve kitchen assault involving Chicken Parmesan, Shrimp Scampi, spiced nuts, and perhaps a Yule Log cake.  Our annual Christmas Even guests - the other paisano family in Northfield - is bringing the salad, bread, and antipasti platter.  Today I'm scrambling with laundry and getting gifts into bags.

Last night I achieved one of my non-gift oriented Christmas activities - visiting the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis:


No, not that one.



This one, which for $6 admission was a whopping good time.  Our planned evening was cut short by inexplicable traffic on I35 - took us over an hour to go 15 miles.  But the one hour we had was well worth the drive.  This place is amazing!  All lit up and decorated for Christmas.  One of my favorite things to tour are old mansions.  I always envision living there.  I took three teens with me and they loved it, much to their own surprise.  They've even got things to entertain little ones.  How did I miss this gem for 13 years?




The evening was rounded out by a drive-through at White Castle on Lake Street.  The teen friend with us had NEVER had a White Castle!  Can you imagine?  He's hooked now.  Another nice white boy discovers trailer-trashdom at my hands.

Merry Christmas!

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I've got to slow down. I read this so fast, I thought you were serious about the IKEA thing. Merry Christmas to you and the family.

Unknown said...

Oh please! I miss White Castle so much, they were all over the place in St. Louis. I must find a location map and map out the closest state with one, and begin my vacation plans!!
The mansion looks lovely........what fun!!!

Charlene said...

I must report there is a genuine White Castle restaurant within a quarter mile of my chair as I type. I hadn't been there for almost a decade and this past summer got 4 double cheese burgers with extra pickles and a "sack" of onion rings. I ate all of it and got heartburn. I never get hartburn unless I eat greasy stuff.

SMILE

lisahgolden said...

That sounds like a great time except for the traffic. I so hope you passed the time by singing rounds of Christmas carols.

We get so desperate for White Castles that we buy the frozen when we can't take their absence any longer.

Merry Christmas to you and your family. I hope your Christmas Buche is a great success.

Some Guy said...

Merry Christmas to you, MNMom, and to your family! Have a great one!

Lesli said...

Merry Christmas!!!

xoxox

MommyLisa said...

Ha ha ha! Ikea...

that was awesome. glad you had fun.

Mauigirl said...

Merry Christmas! I love touring old mansions too, one of my favorite things to do. That one was gorgeous, thanks for sharing it!

I haven't had White Castle in years - there is still one in the next town over from me. One of these days I will indulge myself again.