A Family Christmas Weekend, With So Much Going On!

 We had a fantastic weekend with Dad and Mom Stafford. They arrived Friday, and left this Monday morning. Let's see, where to begin...Saturday the men folk steamed up the engine and had a fire going in the wood burning stove, out in the little cabin. That was the first "snow" steam up day, and it was successful. After they steamed down, we headed to Freddy's for some lunch. Then at 3:00, we had a tour to go to, at the Riordan Mansion, in Flagstaff. That was the most fun tour, with amazing history. The house was built in 1904, and there is over 13,000 sq. ft. of it, with 40 rooms. At the ends of this mansion, there are the two homes (each with their own kitchens and everything, like a mirror image of each other); and then the center common area, which they shared. Our tour lady, named Mary, was the sweetest, and during the tour, she took us to a room with a 1904 Steinway piano. Mary asked if anybody knew how to play the piano, so I chirped in, "I do." So she asked me to sit down and play something. I played my short version of "What Child Is This." It was amazing and I felt honored to be playing on such a piece of history. A stunning piano. Wow. After the tour, we chatted with her about my piano music, and my Christmas and original Cd's. She brought out the director of the mansion, and they each purchased a Christmas CD (which I had to make later that night, along with four others, and two originals). So We all headed back to the mansion yesterday, that I may drop of their Christmas Cd's, and then Mary purchased the two original Cd's of mine, and they placed the other four Christmas Cd's out on display to sell, during the rest of the Christmas season. Can you believe it?! They are interested in selling my original Cd's as well, so that will take more production, on my part. Also (I know, like I don't have enough to say); they said they could have me play that 1904 Steinway on occasional Saturdays, as a volunteer. People would be hearing my music play during the tour, throughout the mansion. Surreal. It was awesome! Back to Saturday...so after the tour, we went to have dinner at Charly's Pub, in the old Weatherford Hotel. A classic evening, and the weather was wintry. We all went there this time last year, for lunch, and it is a charming place to eat really good food. Before we headed back home, yes, a Starbucks was in order. Come Sunday, we relaxed in the morning a bit, and  then headed into Flagstaff again, so I may drop off my Cd's at the mansion. After that we headed to, what else, the Cracker Barrel for lunch. What an experience there, and I don't just mean the food. Too much to type about, but we shall see what comes of it. It's awesome! After Cracker Barrel, we went to Target for my weekly grocery trip. It wasn't too painful. When we stepped out of Target, it was all snowy. Huge flakes falling, beautiful. We then drove through the Starbucks drive thru, and headed home. The rest of the day was hanging out at the house, watching the snow fall, and staying warm my the fire. I did make my homemade cheese enchiladas, and for dessert...(AUNT NANCY THIS IS FOR YOU)...THE KOLOTCHKYS. I made those cookies from scratch for the first time. They turned out delicious, and tasted like they were supposed to. *Aunt Nancy, I sent some of those cookies home with your brother and Gayle. They loved them...so thank you for sharing the recipe.* A blessed weekend that's for sure. God has plans for us all, and I got a glimpse at what I am supposed to be doing. Praise Jesus! Only through him could these things come true.


P.S. Doesn't Jeff look fantastic in his "supposed to be ugly, but you're cute, Christmas sweater?" That was mandatory for work on Friday, so our friend Tim let us borrow one of his sweaters, and I pined Christmas themed foam pins, to add that extra Christmas touch. Fanfriggintastic!