Jekyll Harbor Marina, Jekyll Island, GA
Looks like our wilted Christmas tree succeeded in getting Santa's attention because he paid a visit to KORKZcrew last night. Maybe he just felt sorry for us, but regardless, we were excited to wake up to stockings and all kinds of surprises in the pilot house. Alas, no replacement tree was found among them, but we consoled ourselves with a bike trip to breakfast before opening presents.
Nice touch with the NO WAKE sign, Santa
The concierge company who had helped us get to and from the restaurant last night suggested Christmas Day breakfast at Eighty Ocean Kitchen and Bar, located inside the Jekyll Island Club Resort, but you do not have to be a guest to eat there. And thank goodness for THAT. It did not disappoint. I mean, check out my eggs benedict with CRAB!!. But pay no attention to that Bloody Mary in the background. I'm sure it was Ron's. And so is that other one you see 😂.
Thank goodness we could bike off the damage we did at breakfast — we were completely stuffed so it was nice to pedal a bit before we made our way back to the marina in time to see what was under our fake tree.
Present opening is always a trip. But I'll never have stories as good as the ones from Ron's childhood, and he's got this crazy-sharp memory for things that are as entertaining as they are unique. And I'm STILL hearing tales I've never heard before, 30 years later. The classic one from Christmas Day involved one of his 4 siblings waking up before everyone else and taking gifts from his brothers' and sisters' piles and adding them to his. Once everyone woke up, Ron's mom kept announcing repeatedly that "Santa Claus made a mistake!" and began the process of one-by-one, restoring each present to its original pile and proper recipient. 😂
Skeet got a present that pretty much stole the show, and definitely didn't come from someone else's stash — it's a handmade sound toy with a loop switch — a concept made in Skeet heaven — and it entertained (and ultimately annoyed 🤫) all 4 of us for the rest of the day. This was that one and only time I can think of when Steve's deafness was an enviable attribute. But its various sound effects WERE funny, for sure. Just not as funny after the 95th time on repeat.
After we exchanged gifts, the family did what you're supposed to do on Christmas Day (which according to the Hesmer Handbook is lounge around), and I did what you're NOT supposed to do on ANY day, and that is to cook a special-occasion meal using a technique you've never tried before. They don't call me a rule breaker for nothin'!
Close friends of ours have told us about sous-vide cooking for years, and I finally broke down and bought an immersion circulator, and broke it out for the first time tonight. Swell idea, especially when you're cooking filet mignon for 4 that Ron usually grills perfectly. No pressure whatsoever. But any new gadget that requires me to involve my you-know-what is BOUND to be my new best friend.
This fascinating story continues with the news that I dipped into my sacred stash of frozen green bean casseroles and twice baked potatoes (I wasn't lying when I told you Ron's Christmas stories are FAR more interesting 😂), and while I'd get a D- for my very monochromatic (aka BROWN) visual presentation, everything came together nicely, tasted great, and the steak was FAB!!! Thank you, sous vide — that was crazy easy and the perfect tool for the very OCD yours truly who has to KNOW that she got the temp of the main course correct. Ron knows by touch; I know by my trusty digital device telling me so. Yes, I'm THAT pathetic. I've got some combination going on of not wanting to waste all my efforts by screwing up the main course, not wanting to mess up in general, and not wanting to poison my family specifically. I've been using the Meater digital thermometer for YEARS and I still swear by that, too.
Steve kept me company the entire time I worked on dinner. I'd like to think it had something to do with me, because I'm sure his affection for me FAR outweighs the smell of filet mignon and cheesy potatoes. I mean, obviously.
Hope Christmas was wonderful for your crew, too.
Night night KORKZcrew!
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