Feline Friends

Christmas is over, but for Figero and Raphael it is still going on. They took residence in a Christmas wreath as we were trying to take them down.

We believe they are allowing us to stay at Casa Somerset with them. They run the house and greet all that come hoping they are bringing food to them. Raphael loves cheese.... in case you are coming over!

Christmas 2009

This was our first Christmas at Casa Somerset!
What a wonderful time it was... we had most of the
family here together. Christmas Eve we had a great ham
dinner, and prime rib for Christmas dinner. Josh made

Granma Dot's cherry slices, and Mike and Josh made her

stuffed cabbage.

Here is the whole crowd passing out gifts and opening gifts in the morning!

My son Josh and his son Eric. Christmas morning.... a new shotgun!

When the family arrived on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, no one had any idea what the weather was going to do. We had SO MUCH SNOW!!!!!

Josh and Tina ended up in a ditch Christmas Eve at the house next door. The towtruck pulled them out on Christmas morning. Mark and Toshia drove here Christmas morning from Olathe in 4-wheel drive. It snowed all day. When they got ready to leave, everyone worked at digging the cars out. They slid off in a ditch just about 500 feet from the house. Once again, the towtruck driver showed up at our house that day! He was a little mad..... :-) So, Michael and Stephanie did not even try in their Honda!!!

We had a great night laughing and teasing each other, and Mike fixed breakfast for everyone on Saturday morning!

Thomas has arrived at Casa Somerset

Thomas arrived last Saturday for Christmas this year. Our first Christmas with our youngest grandchild, and our first Christmas at Casa Somerset! Thomas is a very busy 18 month old. As I am writing this he knows I have pretzels at my desk, I have to stop and give him a treat. He knows a softie when he sees one!!

He has been trying to catch Raphael and Figero since his arrival a week ago. They don't appreciate him as we do. I would put in a picture of them with him, but they will have no part of it. It might have to do with the squeals he lets out every time he spots them!!

He has really made this a great Christmas. He is a bundle of energy. He is so well behaved for his age. He eats well and is our pride and joy. Thomas, and his mommy and daddy, Beatriz and Joe, live in Rapid City, South Dakota, a long way off. We are so glad they all came for Christmas.

Love and Happiness is in the air at Casa Somerset.

Meadowlark Acres

WOW!!!! Who loves fresh baked bread? Suzanne and Dan Frisse were here for the Christmas Home Tour baking bread. The smell took over the house.... it is the smell you know when you walk in. I remember baking bread with my grandfather, when I was 18 years old. This brought back great memories.

Suzanne has taken her bread-making hobby to a new height. Dan and Suzanne are trying new ingredients all of the time to come up with the perfect taste. I went to their home and test kitchen , they were so intense on creating the perfect product. I also found their artisan jellys everywhere.

They grow their own produce on their three acre farm .

Our friend Jasper sent them to our house a few weeks ago ,he was doing a book signing of his new cookbook at Somerset Ridge Winery. They brought two loaves of Kalamala olive bread, whoa.....no hold on the taste!!!

I won't even at this time go into the pizza parties that they have brought to us. If you get an invite to one of Suzanne's Pizza Parties, you'd better grab on.

This is the bread we are having for Christmas and the holidays, and if you want something that people will talk about, you should too. http://www.meadowlark-acres.com/

I thank Jasper so much for sending us such great new friends.

Christmas Home Tour Saturday the 5th

In the very beginning of the house building process, we decided that we wanted to be on the Paola Christmas home tour some day. Well, it is here... this coming Saturday. We were fortunate to get wonderful decorators; Kathy Peace, Cindy Porter, Pam King and Diane Husted to help us. Their visions have brought Casa Somerset to be the most beautiful decorated home I have ever lived in. They put hours and hours into it. The room shown is just one of many. We call it the Raphael room. We hope you will stop by to view our house and all of the others on Paola's Christmas home tour. Christine's future daughter-on-law, Toshia , will be baking cookies at the house that day. Her son Mark will be here as well.

You can read more about it at http://www.paolachamber.org/

AND ON THE HOME FRONT......

My son Joshua went the extra mile with the Turkey for Thanksgiving on the roof. It was a practical joke on Christine, as she is not fond of inflatables. She came home last Tuesday evening and it was up on the roof. As she drove up, she just stopped and stared at it! It was hilarious!

I hope everyone had a happy and delicious Thanksgiving! Christine and I made our usual family favorites... she did her family's choices and I made mine. She had dressing, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole. I fixed stuffing, sweet potatoes, and brussel sprouts. We are able to agree on the turkey, so only one of those was necessary! :-)

Saturday, we went down to my daughter Heather's house for a second Thanksgiving dinner. She did a great job. They live down in Warsaw, Missouri.

Next on the family favorite calendar is Christmas Eve and Christmas day dinners....

Mike (and Christine)

Holiday Recipes.

This is remarkable, and just in time for the holiday baking season! Even if you have no particular interest, please pass this on to the bakers in your life.
Just click on the name of the cake and bam the recipe appears!

These come from http://www.northpole.com/

This was sent to me from my friend Jasper Mirabile. I love to try new recipes.

Christine and I wish all of our friends and family a great holiday season. We are hurrying around getting things ready for Thanksgiving day. Christine's son Jeff, who lives in North Carolina, will be joining us. She is really excited to have both of her sons with us for Thanksgiving!

Love to all
Christine and Mike


'Night Before Christmas' Coffee Cake
'Real New York Style' Cheesecake Supreme

A Cake That's Fit For A Queen
Amaretto Italian Sour Cream Cake
Amazing Tropical Fruit Cake
Apple and Nut Cake
Apple Cake
Apple Cake
Apple Sauce Cake
Applesauce Fruitcake
Apricot Nectar Pound Cake
Baby Cheescakes Baby Cheesecakes
Banana Cake
Barron Family Cheesecake
Baumtorte (Tree Cake)
Becky's Pumpkin Cupcakes
Blueberry Swirl Cheesecake
Blueberry Swirl Cheesecake
Broken Angel Cake With Chocolate Chips
Candied Fruit Cake
Carmel Coffee Cake
Carrot Cake with Hot Glaze
Carrot-Pineapple Cake
Cherry Cake
Cherry Cake Sauce
Cherry Cheesecake Cups
Cherry-Pineapple Dump Cake
Chocolate Angel Food
Chocolate Browny Cake
Chocolate Chip Muffins
Chocolate Cookie Sheet Cake
Chocolat e Éclair Cake
Chocolate Ice Box Dessert
Chocolate Logs
Chocolate Lovers Heaven Triple Threat Chocolate Di
Chocolate Sheet Cake
Chocolate welington fudge pudding
Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate Chip Cake
Christmas Cake
Christmas choclate cake
Christmas Mixed Glace Fruit Loaf
Christmas-Comes-But-Once-A-Year-Chocolate Cake
Cinnamon Morning Delight
Coca-Cola Cake
Coconut Cake
Cookie Pizza
Cream Cheese Icing
Cream Cheese Pound Cake
Cream Puff Cake
Creamy Chocolate Cupcakes
Creamy Chocolate Layered Cake
Decadent Chocolate Cake
Decadent Fudge Cake
Deluxe Chocolate Marshmallow Bars
Dream Cake
Dreamcicle Cake
Drizzle Cake
Earthquake Cake
Easy Cocoa Snack Cake
Easy Coconut Cake
Éclair Cake
Edie Ching's Cherry Cheesecake
Eggnog Cake
Extra Moist Coconut Cakes
Festive Pumpkin Gingerbread
Flower Garden Cake
Fruit Cake
Fruit Cocktail Cake
German Chocolate Upside-Down Cake
Golden Bacardi Rum Cake
Gooey Butter Cake
Gum drop cake
Heavenly Pecan Cake
Hedge Hog Cake
Holiday Cake
Holiday Poke Cake
Holiday Rum Cake
Honey Bun Cake
Honey Cake
Hot Fudge Pudding Cake
Hummingbird Cake
Ice-Cream Chocolate Roll
Jewish Apple Cake
Johnny Appleseed Cake
Lemon Cake
Lemon Poppyseed Cakes
Lemon Pound Cake
Linda's Yule Log
Mama's Homemade Banana Cake
Mandy's Cake
Microwave Scottish Pudding
Mini Fruitcakes
Miniature Cheesecakes
Mississippi Fudge Cake
Mississippi Mud
Mock Lemon Meringue Cake
Neiman Marcus Cake
No Bake Fruit Cake
Norwegian Gold Cake
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cake
Old Fashion Pound Cake
Old Fashioned Light Fruitcake
Orange Date-Nut Cake
Orange Slice Cake
Oreo Cheesecake
Peanut-Topped Devil's Food
Pecan Icing
Pennsylvania Dutch Pastry
Pineapple Heaven
Plum-Nut Cake
Pound Cake Pound Cake
Pumpkin Cake Roll
Pumpkin Cheesecake
Pumpkin log
Pumpkin Nut Roll
Pumpkin Pie Cake
Pumpkin Roll
Queen's Cake
Red Velvet Cake
Reese`s white cake
Reese's Brownie Cupcakes
Refrigerator Chocolate Cheesecake
Russian Tea Cakes
Russian Teacakes
Santa's Breakfast Cake
Self-Filled Cupcakes
Shirley's Chocolate Sheet Cake
Sour Cream Coffee Cake
Sour Cream Pound Cake
Southern Apple Cake
Swedish Nut Cake
Tiny Christmas Fruitcakes
Toll House Carrot Cake
Triple Chocolate Torte
Turtle Bars
Turtle Cake
Warcake
Watergate Cake
White Christmas Loaf
World War I Cake
World War II Cake