Another fun family-filled night!
We met my uncle, aunt and cousin Mary Jane at the apartment around 4:30 for an early cocktail hour. We all had Manhattans made by my uncle – ’twas a GREAT drink!! Unfortunately I only got to drink half because we were due for dinner at 5:30
My cousin Mary Jane (aka Spud 
) with Smotey dressed in a scarf
We dined in the seated portion of the dining room tonight. I started my meal with a half glass of wine and half a roll –
And ordered a garden salad for an appetizer – it was fit for a doll! Like half a salad! But it’s good not to ruin your dinner appetite. The Mango Pineapple dressing was great –
For dinner I ordered Glazed Ham in a Southern Comfort Sauce. It was quite good! I could taste the kick of the alcohol. I ate half 
But I did eat all of my green beans – along with the half slice of orange!!
Then the dessert menu came –
Everyone pressured me to get a Hot Fudge Sundae – they are apparently the best on the menu!
I tried to eat half – but I ended up eating more like 3/4 
Plus a decaf coffee – half caf right?!
After dinner my almost-99-year-old Uncle Mel showed me the exercise center, and I found out I can use it in the morning! He works out in there with a trainer regularly!
My aunt made me a batch of her famous secret recipe oatmeal cookies!! There’s no sharing this recipe – she says it’s completely top secret! I can guess that there’s at least oats, coconut and cranberries in them, but who knows what else!? They were really good, and they tasted so healthy! I had one and a half
Me playin’ with Murphy!
I’m liking this new time schedule – up early, late lunch, early dinner, long evening, early to bed! Mom and I are planning to try to visit the small gym in the AM. Hopefully it will be rather empty so I’m not the only young person in there. I’ve got 8.5 hours of driving tomorrow – 6 to Hillsborough and 2.5 to Charlotte. I’m not sure of my blogging schedule tomorrow, but it’ll be up soon enough. I’m excited to see the husband, who reports he’s had a fun time with his college friends.
{ 53 comments… read them below or add one }
Kath, your family is so sweet. Thanks for sharing the photos. My grandparents moved 3 years ago to a retirement home (they jokingly call it “the Home”) and I know how it can be sort of sad to see their old home empty, even though I know they are so happy with their new place. My grandparents, like yours, have also decorated their new place with all of the “best” of their old decor, and like you we’ve reaped the benefits of their downsizing with some awesome old furniture. Your grandparents have a lovely place and seem so wonderful. Loved the photos of your uncle in the gym and your grandpa with the KERF sweatshirt. I really respect that you’ve taken the time to go visit them and invest in them. Tell them at least one of your bloggers says hi!
Looks like you are having a fantastic weekend with your family!! Hope you have safe travels tomorrow!!
OMG Uncle Mel is SOOOO cute!!!!
Hi Kath! It looks like you had a wonderful time with your family! I have a question for you and any readers who may have heard of this…
I have a friend who did something called the HCG diet. She got the homeopathic version of the HCG and now she is promoting the diet to everyone she knows. I have read a little bit about it and I am not sure it is medically possible for it to work? I was just wondering if you’d studied it in any of your classes! Thanks and have a safe trip home!!
Ahhh, I want one of those cookies!
And work it, Uncle Mel!
Oatmeal coconut and cranberry in a cookie? Yum!
How fun!!!
Uncle Mess = kick butt guy!
The secret cookie looks wonderful! I might have said it before, but oatmeal cookies are my fav, now I want to try a batch with those add-ins.
OK, so I can’t type or spell tonight (i’m working a 12 hr shift, not usual). *Uncle Mel!
Wow, that seems like a really nice retirement home!
The SoCo sauce sounds tasty! That’s so cute your 99 year old uncel still works out…that’s awesome! Go Mel!
Uncle Mel is too cute… it’s so cool that he still works out!
god bless Uncle Mel! Love that picture!
Hey Kath,
I can’t believe I forgot to tell you this before…but I HIGHLY suggest you pick up some Berger cookies while in Towson……Eddie’s has them for sure. They are AMAZING!!! Baltimore is famous for them. They are my fav!! Basically just a vanilla/sugar cookie(soft) with a HUGE pile of chocolate frosting on top. YUM!!!
Have a safe trip back to NC:)
That hot fudge is killing me. Ice cream in January? Yes, please.
Your uncle at the gym is priceless!
Safe traveling tomorrow!
Haha, how awesome! I love the pictures!
wow, 99 and still liftin heavy! looks like you got some good genes there.
Yum! That salad dressing sounds fabulous!
Like the rest of the ladies, I heart Uncle Mel!
Sounds like you had a wonderful time with the fam!
glad to hear everything is going smoothly, Kath!! Have a safe trip tomorrow. I myself just returned from MD (Salisbury, if your familiar? and tried crab dip bagel (basically just a “crab dip” melt in place of tuna/chicken salad). so yummy….so rich!)
Your Uncle is the cutest man ever.
My mother-in-law makes appetizer “salads” like that–literally a couple tomatoes, cucumber, a big lettuce leaf, and a shrimp or two. Crazy, I tell you!
Have a safe drive back!
Kath, your picture of Uncle Mel is so inspirational! It’s always great to see older people staying active, and it’s no surprise that your family also maintains such a healthy lifestyle. Thanks for sharing!
Glad you had fun with the fam, home made oatmeal raisin cookies are the BEST!!
http://www.kristinsnibbles.com
Kath, you do have a great family, thank you so much for sharing!
Thank you for all of your sweet comments
Tracy ,
I have not heard of the HCG diet or studied it yet in clinical. But you know my thoughts on diets – eat less, move more is all it takes.
kwaze ,
I wish I could but I don’t think we’ll have time. I’ll tell my grandmother though!
seelee live,
I’ve heard of Salisbury MD but haven’t been there.
Kath
Your grandfather on that exercise machine is one of the cutest things I have ever seen! It is great that he is still in shape. I’m always trying to get my father to join me for a trip to the gym or at least a walk, but he’s resistant to the idea. All I can do is try though right!
Have a good workout this morning and a safe drive back home.
SO much fun – and I love the photos of Smotey and Murphy; and of your grandfather at the gym
Ooops!! I meant uncle!!
This trip/post is exploding with cuteness- your 99 year old uncle at the gym, cocktail hour with the grandparents, kerf readers everwhere!
I hope I’m still working out regularly when I’m 99! That is awesome!
Uncle Mel is precious, I just want to hug him!!
Have a safe trip home!
I’m just getting caught up on your weekend and it looked fabulous! I am so glad you had such a great time. Good luck at the gym this morning (not that you will need it!). Hope your drive goes smoothly.
Angela
There is not much better than family time! It looks like you had a wonderful time.
Aw your uncle is adorable!! Good for him for working with a trainer – that’s great!
the picture of your uncle mel is the cutest thing EVER. I love that picture.
I love that picture of him showing you the fitness center!
Is Murphy a Brittany?
Looks like a fun trip!
Uncle Mel is awesome!
Any chance that oatmeal cookie recipe would be shared?
Haha whenever I’m with my family I always end up eating like 3X the usual amount of desserts.
Your Uncle Mel is adorable.
Wow I can’t believe Uncle Mel is almost 99! and he still worksout – what an inspiration! that dessert looks great!
Ok it’s official, I want to be adopted into your family! Or is 47 too old for that?
Your uncle is amazing! Yeah for him keeping up a fitness routine!
Uncle Mel has officially become one of my hero’s
Enjoy the fam time and final relaxation!
Awww – adorable uncle Mel. I love how so many of your family members are active…and a lot of them seem to be great cooks/bakers as well. You got some good genes Kath!
looks like you had a great time! I was in Maryland this weekend too and it’s funny to see the food overlap, there are certainly some regional favorites!
loved seeing the photos of your family! looks like you had such a great time
love maryland!!
Looks like Uncle Mel should start a blog he has quite the following
I would read it!! He is so cute!
Secret recipe cookies are devilish! They just tempt and tease you. They look so yummy!
I’ve never heard of sothern comfort sauce before, sounds tasty.
brandi ,
I don’t know what a Brittany looks like, but my guess is that Murph is more of a mix
HangryPants ,
No chance at all, she said. I’d love to have it too!
Kath
your uncle is so cute!! <3
hahah – not even for you! She’s a tough one.
hahaha Enjoy fam time!!
”Murphy” is so cute!!!