Christmas was a little hectic this year. Spent a relaxing afternoon with the Ransom crowd and Chase and Sarah on the 23rd. Left right center and lunch from LaMadeline was a hit. Hosting was fun.

My table setting - loving red.

Christmas Eve was time spent at my moms - almost 30 people of craziness!!

Almost all made it into the picture! \240All immediate family was there which was great! \240Been awhile since both my sons and their families made it.

20 people participated in the Christmas gift exchange this year. Everyone had to bring a coffee cup with a gift inside. Drew a number and picked one. Faster and easier than swapping. Some creative ideas!

Diane and I decided to come back to New Orleans for a Christmas do over as it was super cold last year. Great driving on Christmas Day as almost no traffic. We arrived around 4 o’clock, checked in, unpacked, took Missy for a walk around the block and had dinner in the Peacock room at 7 o’clock. Hotel Fontenot still a favorite with our nice almost 600 square foot suite.

Walking away from the quarter on Tschapolis street was quiet and saw some really cool restaurants to check out.

What are we in Maine?

Gintilly - yum.

World War II Museum- way to big and way to sad and way to busy. Couldn’t take it very long - had to bail for a beer.

Saint X Brewery -Swarm brown lager for me and Rain dog for Diane. Don’t do a cask beer - warm.

We settled on this annual event at Tommy’s. Diane’s fish and the turtle soup were the best! \240And bonus Camus was 50% off - really good wine!

Most of our courses!

And so ends night 2.

Crepe wa thick but Potatoes were good.

Love this one. So New Orleans.

We decided to do a tourist trap - the Sazerac House. Totally fun. Self guided tour with a few tastings. Beautiful building and interactive bartender was fun.

Ended up at Mr Bs for our pear cosmos and back to the Peacock room for a Great Sazerac!

Nighy night.

Cute reindeer at the Royal Windsor

Of course we had to go to Crescent city brewery and \240we had shrimp and grits. Shrimp and grits were pretty good actually and of course the red stallion beer. Angel was our waitress and she was really sweet.

And yikes a stop at the Absinthe House.

Back to the room to finish off some wine and hit the sack - home tomorrow.

But we did have breakfast at the Ruby Slipper.

Sweet potato beignets sounded better than they tasted

In one of my two new hats.

Beautiful property we will have to go back without Missy and do the full tour.