Family 'Chopped' appetizers was a hit yet again! Even despite the fact that the mystery basket included hot dogs, fresh papaya, pickles, and chipotle chiles. 

What a year to be thankful! Here's to Meryl, family that loves to come together year after year, and friends who we're lucky to call family. The world is both big with all of us stretched across the globe and so much smaller knowing that we have each other. 

Girls, boys, and the Meryl pout; it comes from the Lawer side after all.

Aunt Sasha and aunt Lisa know the best moves!

Porchetta! And, tater tots...as a vehicle for our mystery ketchup tasting. Will Heinz reign supreme? 

The Lawer family has descended upon wine country! And today, we barrel tasted our way through the next vintage of Lawer Estates wines! We started with Viognier and Chardonnay, moved to Rose, then Cabernet (first vintage of our own Napa Cab!), Petit Sirah, Syrah, and lastly our Late Harvest.  

Here's looking at Meryl, while Meryl's mesmerized by the ceiling fan. 

Jetsetting again! Today, on football Sunday among the vines in Calistoga, Meryl is three months old!

Whitney and Ray drove up to Calistoga, from San Francisco, to visit for the night. What fun we had catching-up over grilled lamb chops and talking food! 

We're working on Meryl's rolling-over skills, and Lummi is her biggest fan! 

Heeeeeeeeeeere's Lummi! 

Well, she's too short to go on rides just yet, but this comes close:)  

This, here, is 15 lbs. of beef bones and chicken feet! Frank and I have gotten into broth, and I must say, Frank makes a delicious one. Not wanting to be without while in California, Frank ordered a few bones from the local butcher for making broth. The more chicken feet the better; gelatinous flavor to the max. Store bought isn't the same!

Normally, we get to see Roxanne in DC, but we missed her this last time in October. Luckily for us, she travels to the Bay Area frequently for work and was able to schedule us in while we're in California! California raised, now living in DC, we love talking about 'west-coastedness' with Roxanne, particularly while she drank an off-the-menu kombucha at lunch.

Roll over 'Good Dog, Carl,' we have Bon Appetit's Thanksgiving issue! We're liking the hassleback butternut squash with bay leaves, black pepper sauce for the turkey (or maybe the bourbon and brown sugar glaze?), and stuffing fried rice! We'll see what my aunt Lisa and Frank have to say though, as they ultimately command menu veto power:)