Antique Lilac
  • Home
  • for Sale
  • Galleries
  • Favourite Photos
  • Tutorials
  • Blog
  • Links
  • Books

A Forest Dweller Christmas - part 3

The continuing story of the Christmas get-together at the Khitrula Foxes'
​

Setting the Table

Back at the Foxes', dinner was just about ready, so it was time to set the table. Rhett and Kitty were quite well-to-do, and had a huge formal dining room....
Picture
Maisie and Melody were busy setting the table...
Picture
Picture
Picture
While Muffy and Ginger laid out some of the desserts on one of the sideboards...
Picture
"Everything looks so yummy!"
Picture
Picture
Kitty and Missy were filling the second sideboard with even more desserts...
Picture
Picture
While Tiana and Jo filled the bread baskets....
Picture
Picture
Picture
Soon everything was laid out....
Picture
Picture
"I think we are done...."
Picture
Picture
"Well, everyone has worked really hard, and everything looks delicious..."
Picture
Picture
"It's time for me to go call in the menfolk..."
Picture
So Miss Kitty went to the living room to get the men....
Picture
...but there was no one there....​...just a big pile of clothes....
Picture
"Oh Rhett!  Where did you guys go?!?"
Picture

the Sauna

After the strip poker game when everyone was stark naked, Rhett suggested they try out his new sauna that had recently been built in the backyard....
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Cooling Off

It started to get way too hot in the sauna, and the guys decided they needed to cool off...
Picture
...so they ran out into the snow....
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
"So...here you all are!!"
Picture
"So...here you all are!!"
Picture
"...so you better hurry inside, and get dressed. We are all waiting for you!"
Picture

Dinner

The menfolk rushed inside and got dressed as fast as they could, as they had developed quite the appetite out in the snow. Soon everyone was seated around the table....
Picture
Rhett rose to make a toast.  "I think I speak for everyone in saying that we all had a wonderful time today...."
Picture
Picture
"We certainly did!'
Picture
Picture
"Well, here's to good friends, good food, and a wonderful day!"
Picture
"To good friends!!"
Picture
Then Rhett sat down and dinner commenced....
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Dessert 

With the main course finished, it was time for everyone's favourite part of the meal - dessert.  ​
Picture
Dessert was a much less formal course, and everyone was encouraged to get up and mingle....
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
With dinner almost over, the ladies were looking forward to their own special treat...
Picture

Cleaning up

With everyone having had their fill of all their favourite desserts, it was finally time for dinner to end, and like every year, it was the men's role to take care of the cleanup.  It had been their turn for fun and games all day while the ladies worked in the kitchen preparing dinner. They had worked hard all day while their menfolk had relaxed, and now it was the men's turn to work while their women relaxed. And the first chore was to take all the dishes and leftovers to the kitchen and do a basic clean up there before they could start washing the dishes...
Picture
Mr. Ropuha and Rhett Fox sorted the leftovers into containers for everyone to take home with them...
Picture
Mr. Ropuha made sure Tiana would get plenty of the leftover cream puffs that she loved so much..
Picture
He and Rhett made sure everyone would get some of their favourite things to take home with them...
Picture
Picture
Smuzhka and Mannie were scraping anything not saveable  into the garbage...
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
While Max swept the floor...
Picture
...and Chip cleaned the stove...
Picture
Picture

the Hot Tub

With all their menfolk in charge of kitchen clean up, the womenfolk finally had a chance to just relax.
​The garden lights were turned on as they climbed into the hot tub....
Picture
"This is the life!"
Picture
Picture
Picture
"I think we all outdid ourselves today.  That had to be the best dinner we've put together so far."
Picture
Picture
"Come on in....."
Picture
 "There's still plenty of room...."
Picture
Picture
Picture

Washing the Dishes

After getting the kitchen in some reasonable order, it was time to tackle the mountain of dirty dishes. The men had sorted the dirty dishes, pans, and cutlery, but there was so much needing to be washed that they hauled in a large laundry tub and filled it with hot soapy water. ​
Picture
Then Smuzhka, who was very organized, came up with an orderly efficient system. He and Chip would do the scrubbing..
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Then Rhett and the two mice would dry and stack them.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
They had it down to a very efficient system...
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

A Little Holiday Music

After the menfolk had finished cleaning up the kitchen, and their women had come back in from the hot tub, everyone gathered in the parlour just to relax and enjoy one last glass wine. ​
Picture
 Rhett sat down at the piano to play some holiday tunes...
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Max put his arm around Maisie. Their hearts were filled with joy. They were new to the Forest, and had made so many new friends today.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Maisie was also an accomplished pianist, and joined Rhett at the piano.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Making Music Together

The evening took on a party atmosphere as more instruments came out. ​
Picture
Those who could play them did....
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
....while Tiana led the others in a sing-along. ​
Picture
Picture
She even performed a few solos.
Picture

Good-Bye

Finally, it was getting rather late and it was time to leave. Kitty went to fetch everyone’s coats, hats, and scarves, ​​
Picture
while Rhett started handing out the baskets and containers with the leftovers. ​
Picture
Picture
Tiana was so pleased that she was taking home the leftover cream puffs.
Picture
Everyone had had a really good time, especially the four newcomers who were new to the Forest and the Foxes’ annual Christmas tradition. ​​
Picture
Picture
Picture
Tiana and Ginger thanked the Foxes for hosting. "We all had a really wonderful time..."
Picture
Picture
Max and Maisie had had a really good time, and made so many new friends....
Picture
...as had Chip and Jo....
Picture
"Thank you again for hosting! We all had a wonderful time..."
Picture
"You're all very welcome...."
Picture
"Good-bye, and good night!"
Picture
"Until next time!"
Picture

(return to Favourite Photos 2022)

Copyright © 2022  Martha Boers
All Rights Reserved
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.