A Snowy Christmas Eve, Cards by the Fire, and Oyster Stew

Snow marked the start of Christmas Eve—quiet and gentle. When I woke at 6:30 it was still clear, but snow was falling by the time I fetched Renn at 7:30. She and I curled up watching a bit of a kids’ show before I made my coffee and poured her an apple juice. Croissants went into the oven after feeding the cats and Harley.

S was up after 9, with Kaylin not long after. Nathan joined S a little later, and the warm croissants were absolutely delicious. Outside, the snow continued softly while Kaylin and Nathan played crib, setting a calm tone for the morning.

yummy warm buns

Once the snow let up, S headed out to shovel the deck and sidewalks, then came back in to light a fire. I cooked lunch—sausage, cheesy noodles, and salad—which was followed by S settling into big brown for a proper nap. Nathan ran to town for some shopping, Kaylin and Renn rested quietly on our bed watching some TV, and I caught up on writing yesterday’s blog while starting today’s.

B arrived before 2, had a quick giggle session on the bed with the girls, then headed back out to feed. S moved from nap to couch for an extended afternoon snooze. When Nathan returned and B was back in, the four of us played cards before Kaylin and Nathan got ready to head into town for Chinese food at bridesmaid Amanda's.

Amanda had a gingerbread house for Renn to decorate but seems the icing is the best part :)

S was up and ready for church, leaving just after 4:30. The Boysis family headed out by 5, leaving B and me by the fire for a game of canasta—B won by a very close 300 points. We then got busy making supper. B tackled flapper pies (her Christmas gifts to us) while we assigned S (once home) to make rum and eggnogs and prep a cheese-and-cracker tray.

One missing in my hasty photo but it seems the dogs outnumber us tonight :)

Nathan slipped back out with a sleeping Renn around 7, settling her into the crib before heading back to supper. The soup was enjoyed immensely. Once B finished her second pie, we returned to cards, tending the fire and managing dogs in and out.

Kaylin and Nathan were back after 10 and joined the card games. Renn woke briefly after 11 and was settled again, but near midnight Nathan found she had climbed out of the crib and wandered into Shaina’s room. With that excitement resolved, B and Cooper headed home and the rest of us called it a night.

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Oyster Stew (Christmas Eve Supper)

Ingredients

• ½ cup butter

• 1–2 large onions, finely diced

• ½ cup celery, finely diced

• 2 garlic cloves, grated or minced

• ¼ tsp red chili pepper

• ¼ tsp paprika

• ¼ tsp salt

• ¼ tsp seasoning salt

• ½ tsp ground black pepper

• 6 cups whole milk or half-and-half

• 1 tsp dried parsley

• 32 oz fresh raw oysters, undrained

Method

1. Melt butter over medium heat in a heavy-bottomed 3-quart saucepan.

2. Add onion and celery; sauté until tender, about 5 minutes.

3. Add garlic and cook 1–2 minutes more, watching carefully so it does not burn.

4. Stir in chili pepper, paprika, salt, seasoning salt, and black pepper. Cook about 1 minute to toast the spices.

5. Drain oysters, reserving the liquid (oyster liqueur).

6. Reduce heat to low. Add milk, parsley, and reserved oyster liquid. Heat gently until steaming, with bubbles just forming around the edge—do not boil.

7. Add oysters and cook just a few minutes, until the edges begin to curl.

8. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve warm.

Kuhn–Paetz Game Night and a House Full of Cheer

Today was Kuhn–Paetz game night. S made the coffees to get the day rolling before heading into the city. I wrapped up the Kuhn Christmas Saturday blog, complete with photos and videos, then shifted straight into prep mode for the evening—more gifts wrapped, cards written, and a special highlight: recording a voice storybook for Renny.

At B’s request, I fed the horses and removed all three blankets. It was a brisk job. Even though the temperature had warmed to –9, the wind still had a sharp bite. Once everyone was fed—Bird, as always, being the slowest eater on the planet—the blankets were hung, buckets collected, and I headed back to the garage. I attempted to help Harley with what seemed like plugged anal glands, but with no success. All dog dishes were scrubbed, then it was back inside to finish Sunday’s blog post and then write yesterday’s as well.

Next came packaging up the beef broth, curling my hair, and adding a bit of war paint in preparation for company. Kaylin arrived just after 2 with the dogs in Shaina’s Jeep, unloaded, and did her makeup. Nathan and Renn followed around 2:30 with armloads of things. Renn and I played while they tucked everything away.

This tug a war action went on daily :)

S was back shortly after 3, with Amanda dropping the girls off not long after. Amanda headed back home to continue baking and wrapping. S, Kaylin, and Nathan started a crib game while the girls happily played. I finished watching another Home episode—this one featuring an in-ground-style home in Austin, Texas.

Spite and Malice followed with S, K, N, and me. The remaining four Paetz crew members arrived around 5:30, just as pizzas were going into the oven. Cards continued while the boys disappeared into the dark basement for hide-and-seek. B arrived from work thinking the party was at Paetz’s and had just put blankets back on the horses since I’d fed earlier. She ran into town for a quick shower and returned to join the games.

Aislyn is a dog lover like her twinnie B

Auntie Amanda trimmed Renn's bangs too :)

it was suggested to take a video and screenshot still photos.. this is a challenge :0)

The girls reading Renn her bedtime stories

The kids were entertained with movies, jumping on the bed, wrestling, general pestering, and a steady stream of snacks and cookies. Renn was tucked into bed around 9, and Avatar 2 went on for the other kids. Nathan headed to bed around 11, expecting an early morning.

The Paetz’s loaded up and headed home just before midnight, with B and Cooper leaving shortly after. I watched a bit of Jay Kelly to wind down, while S was sound asleep almost the moment his head hit the pillow.

A Dusting of Snow, Applesauce made, and Holiday Prep

A light dusting of snow covered the ground, making it feel a bit more like Christmas, though the cold remained relentless. Harley’s early-morning venture outside at 3 am was brief at –20 with the wind cutting through. A hot coffee helped take the edge off as I worked on catching up Friday’s blog post. S was up for his coffee around 9:30. I followed with a second cup, a shower, and then shifted into preparation mode for the holiday days ahead.

S had a fellow arrive for bison, followed later by another picking up the hide he had salted. Once that was wrapped up, the two of us reorganized the stand-up freezer and Harley’s freezer, sorting and reordering meat so everything was easier to find. I also put some bones on to make broth for Har.

Lunch was salmon sandwiches, after which S headed to town around 1:30 for his later hockey start at 2:45. I turned my attention to the box of apples waiting on the counter. They were washed, chopped, and cooked into applesauce in the Instant Pot. Once finished, the sauce was vitamin blended, packaged and left to cool while I watched a few episodes of Palm Royale on the kitchen TV.

The afternoon moved into sorting and wrapping Christmas gifts. I was writing cards when S returned just before 5:30 with another bison customer. The meat was loaded up, and the fellow came in for a bit of Christmas cheer and visit before heading on his way.

I began supper after that, and B arrived early around 7. She fed and blanketed Switch, then came in for a warming bowl of chili before heading home shortly after 8. S settled into the sports TV room, and I finished the evening in the bedroom, wrapping up all available Palm Royale episodes and watching a Home episode set in India—beautiful, unique, and a quiet close to a full winter day.

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Instant Pot Applesauce Recipe

Ingredients

• 3–4 lbs apples (a mix of sweet and tart works best)

• ¼ to ½ cup liquid (water, apple juice, or apple cider)

• 1 tsp ground cinnamon (optional, to taste)

• Optional sweetener: up to ¼ cup sugar, maple syrup, or honey if apples are very tart

Instructions

1. Prep: Wash apples thoroughly. Remove stems and chop into large chunks or quarters. Do not peel or core.

2. Combine: Place apples and liquid into the Instant Pot stainless steel liner.

3. Cook: Secure the lid and cook on High Pressure for 4–5 minutes.

4. Release: Allow natural pressure release for at least 25 minutes to prevent hot applesauce from spraying.

5. Blend:

   • For smooth sauce: Use an immersion blender directly in the pot.

   • For ultra-smooth, skinless sauce: Transfer to a high-speed blender and blend 60–90 seconds.

   • Optional: Run through a food mill or strainer to remove skins and seeds completely.

6. Cool: Let cool before serving or storing.

Tips

• The skins blend in easily, adding fiber and nutrients.

• Store in the refrigerator for up to 10 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Solstice Mornings, Family Breakfasts, and the Road Home

Happy birthday to Mom, and happy winter solstice—the shortest day of the year and the turning point back toward longer days ahead.

4 generations of fun

S was dressed just in time for Papa to knock on the door at 8, ready for their breakfast outing. B and I took the dogs out, then settled in with Grama for coffee. They returned with three breakfasts for us, which we enjoyed with another cup of coffee. Candace came by to join us for the visit.

Breakfast is served and below the fun at Whitney's for the little girls

After 10, S headed out to load the bison meat. The Boysis crew arrived around 11, dropping Kaylin and Renn at the door while Nathan went for gas. We toured around the building and then headed up to their apartment. Poor little Renn had been awake since 3 a.m. and was clearly overtired, but a bit of chocolate revived her into full dance mode—though I did manage to get half a banana into her as well.

We all headed out shortly after noon. The Boysis car went west toward Cowtown, while we loaded up the dogs and headed west too, following behind for part of the way. We stopped in Brooks for fuel and lunch, then continued on home.

Once back, B fed the horses and then she and Cooper headed home. S settled into the TV room with sports and his laptop, while I retreated to the bedroom for a Palm Royale marathon, feeling especially sluggish in the warmth and sunshine pouring in.

That was our afternoon and evening—quiet and low-key—with a break for supper. S had a yogurt bowl, I opted for ice cream and a cookie, a small but fitting celebration for Mom’s birthday and a quiet close to a full family weekend.