It was the real New Year's Eve and so the mixer ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110464 was prepared and in operation ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110465 for the cupcakes ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110466 some of which had already emerged ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110467 and others were waiting to emerge ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110468 as further prep was ongoing ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110469 for the nuts ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110470 which led to the obvious discussion about the egg crates and whether they would make a valid collection ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110471 but this was a mere distraction from the cupcakes ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110472 and pecans ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110473 as Lily arrived and the women in aprons continued on their path ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110474 with Ben supervising ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110475 ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110476 as the cheese plate was arranged ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110477 and cupcakes were completed ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110478 even as the table was set ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110479 and the first food was placed on the sideboard ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110480 ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110481 including cupcakes ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110482 and nuts ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110483 of various sorts ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110484 and grapes were prepared ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110485 with a break for dipping sauce ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110486 and not shredded enough shredded cheese ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110487 as the cheese platter was rearranged ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110488 and a secondary platter organized ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110489 as the gyrations continued. ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110490

Alex and Joyce arrived ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110491 and Alex showed off his 2012 glasses ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110492 as we did a time check ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110493 and bread was prepared ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110494 as the appetizers to go came ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110495 and peppers were cooked (though they were forgotten until the next day's bruschetta). ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110496 A camera check misfocussed on the liquor ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110497 and salsa ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110498 but clarity slowly returned ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110499 as egg salad was spread on bread ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110500 by Lily and Sarah ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110501 and bark was broken in differing colors ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110502 ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110503 before the caviar was added to the egg salad mixture and served. ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110504

Meanwhile there was an effort in the kitchen to juice the grapefruits for the specialty drink ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110505 as Claire and Raimund arrived ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110506 followed by Peter Kramer ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110507 Maggie and Joe ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110508 who brought wonderful cucumbers ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110509 and this allowed the kitchen crowd to congregate ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110510 and celebrate (perhaps worship is the right word here) the cucumbers ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110511 before they were worked into an offering ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110512 and placed alongside the other offerings ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110513 some of which seemed to disappear quickly ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110514 as the older generations at in the living room and munched away ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110515 and the younger generation posed for their holiday photo ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110516 ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110517 which amused the older generation no doubt. ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110518

Soon the stroke of 12 was upon us and all gathered in the family room ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110519 ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110520 ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110521 to be joined by the group who were pouring the champagne ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110522 as the crew at Times Square was where we expected them ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110523 which didn't seem to relieve Ben ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110524 but the seconds ticked away ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110525 and we were down to 139 ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110526 then 123 ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110527 and then 54 ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110528 43 ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110529 32 ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110530 14 ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110531 5 ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110532 and before we knew it, it was 2012. ../../../Sabbat/2011/12.27-31.11EndOf2011//P1110533