STEPH’S FIRST BLOG
How exciting to be writing my first blog. I find it especially appropriate to be writing this as we officially begin the holiday season.. After successfully hosting Thanksgiving dinner for sixteen friends, I am feeling quite festive. This is the first Thanksgiving that Don and I have not spent Thanksgiving with our kids…it’s getting too expensive to travel over the holidays so we stayed put in Key West.
For the past three years, Dons’ Place has hosted a chili cook-off the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Nancy Pastore, my great friend and our office manager, successfully organized this event with Peppers of Key West. We had 28 chili entries and I was thrilled to be a judge. After some mighty spicy chili, we awarded several prizes in four different categories. I was pleased that the grand prize winner was Jules mother, Marie, from Tampa. Julie Nevius is another great friend and I am happy both she and her mother won in their categories. Julie is a great cook. She provided all of the deserts at our Thanksgiving feast.
After the chili cook-off, I attended the Messiah at the Key West United Methodist Church. Dean Walters puts this whole thing together in one day but you would think they have been practicing for weeks. Dean keeps trying to get me to sing but I was busy tasting chili while they were practicing so I just went to enjoy the glorious music. It was especially thrilling to see four members of the Curtis family participating. Parents Mark and Libby Curtis must be bursting with pride as Clinton’s solo was superb and son Daniel directed the Halleluiah Chorus. I have been following this talented musical family since we moved to Key West eleven years ago. My daughter Liz went to Key West High School with both Daniel and Clinton so I have heard both boys perform often.
This weekend officially marked the beginning of a busy holiday season in Key West. Next up is the Christmas Parade. Nancy, Jules, and I will be Santa’s elves serving customers as the Holiday Parade marches down Truman Avenue. Hope to see you there.