We ended up with a white Christmas after all – just.

About a week before we had about a foot of snow and I was convinced that there would be a white Christmas. Then the temperatures went up into the high 60s/low 70s and it all melted. No white Christmas in the offing. Then, on Christmas Eve, we had another snowfall. I believe the actual definition of a white Christmas is that there must be an inch of snow on the ground on Christmas Day – and that was just about what we got.

I spent the day cooking. Spicy garlic shrimp; roast duck marinated in five spice powder and stuffed with oranges, garlic and ginger; mashed potatoes; sauteed asparagus; homemade apple pie and rye bread. I got a certain satisfaction that I had made everything except the wine we had to accompany the meal: Ladoix premier from Bourgogyne.

Happy Christmas everyone!