New Jersey, USA

After Grandma's party dad and I drove to Raleigh, where we spent the night at an Uncle and Aunt's place then took off for New Jersey Monday morning. Dad and I have spent a lot of time together in the prius (see all the excitement of out journey from Breckenridge to Charlotte near the end of this post) and I have gotten really good at navigating the satellite radio stations.

We arrived safely and spent the next few days preparing for the upcoming festivities: grocery shopping, getting mani-pedis (the upselled us to gel manis... quite the rip off), accessorizing our wedding outfits (this means buying warm things, as it was an outdoor evening ceremony in November). Dad and I even hit up the local fishing hole, but had no luck -- even though they had stocked the pond that morning. It was the most miserable fishing experience of my life, and I didn't even fall in-- cold, rainy and no bites. We also ate at Jim's Lunch, a south Jersey institution with a special sauce.

My cheeseburger

with onions and sauce. Tasty!

For Thanksgiving I made a coconut ganache pie. It had pressed and toasted coconut for the crust, a layer of homemade carmel, and dark chocolate filling. I might get disowned for saying this, but it was too rich. Thanksgiving spread covered the basics: turkey, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, sweet potatoes, and stuffing. All delicious! I was able to talk my dad into making some broccoli, so there would be some non-starch veggies. My Uncle Todd's plate was filled with all white food! Dessert was great: pumpkin pie, apple pie, my pie and reese's pieces cupcakes. Plus we went over to my dad's cousin's house where his extended family had gathered where there was spice cake, more pies and cookies.

My pie

The sugar caramelizing!

The Fam around the table!

After all that food, we had to get up the next day and get all fancied up for my cousin Megan's wedding. It was so cold at the ceremony, but they had a hot coco station, so there was a little bit of warmth. The ceremony was celebratory and casual, with lots of clapping and wooooo-ing. We were able to get a full family shot during the cocktail hour and several informal photos during the reception. The food during the cocktail hour was, as Meg would say, slammin'. They were so impressive that there was some scandalous discussion about if there would be a dinner to follow. Apparently, dinner is standard at northern weddings. There was dinner and it was tasty as well. My little sister also taught me how to order a martini -- she is so fancy and cosmopolitan. My family hit up the photobooth and we even got my dad out on the dance floor. His lack of moves made me feel better about mine, but also worried that I looked like him :)

All of the cousins!

Happy family!

Saturday we said goodbye to my mom and sister and went fishing with some of my dad's college buddies (for being a small southern school, Pfeiffer sure had a lot of kids from New Jersey). It was so cold, but a pretty day nonetheless. It is the only time I have ever outfished my dad! We fished for about four hours without a hit. Then I pulled in a little sucker fish-- it's not a trout, so doesn't usually count, but we were just happy to have gotten a fish. On my next cast, I brought in a 14 inch rainbow. A few minutes later, my dad caught a rainbow. Not long after, it was getting chillier and we hadn't gotten any more strikes, so we headed back to the car. That little suckerfish turned out to be the tie breaker! Dad usually out catches me 2:1 (or worse), so I need to celebrate the little victory!

The tie-breaking fish!

Sunday we joined one of dad's cousins and her husband's family to make grave blankets out of evergreens and holly to place on relatives' gravestones. Apparently, someone will probably steal these pretty soon, but I really like the new-to-me heard lots of good stories about my family and those of the others who went with us.

North Carolina, USA

Shortly after I accepted the position in Switzerland, I flew home to the US. I wanted to experience an American autumn (and all of its holidays) and didn't want to spend my savings living in Stockholm's gloomy winter. This means three months with my parents. Because I went to boarding school for part of high school and spent my summers in college interning abroad, I haven't been at home for that long in about ten years.

Mom with some trick-or-treaters (a witch, frog, and functional transformer!)

My dad retired almost a year ago, so we have been doing lots of retired-man things: going to the grocery store multiple times a day, home improvement/DIY projects, home brewing, and fishing two days a week at my parents' house in Asheville. I'm loving it!

We tiled the mailbox!

This blue heron nabbed our fishing spot. 

Also spending some quality time with mom when she isn't at work!

At the Southern Christmas Show!

Cleaning mom's stitches after her skin cancer removal.
(She's fine! Wear Sunscreen!)

It couldn't all be fishing and beer, after a few weeks, I started working part-time for our neighbour who has a home civil engineering office. She designs parking lots and stormwater management strategies for them. I prepare environmental reports and look up regulations for cities and towns. I also draw schematics of sewer lines!

After two weeks on the job, I had to take a 2 week vacation for Thanksgiving. My dad and I drove to New Jersey for Thanksgiving with his side of the family and the wedding of a cousin that happened on Black Friday (my mom and sister had to work, so they flew in Thursday - Saturday). On the way, we went to my Grandmother's (mom's mom) 80th Birthday Ice Cream Party! Most of the fam was able to make it and it was so nice to be able to see so many folks who have been part of Gma's life.

I also got to see my college friend/flatmate/classmate, Alyssa, while I was in Winston!