Ft.Worth--Finally

Whew! We finally made it to Ft. Worth!! When we got up this AM I-20 was still closed so we went the back way from Abilene-Brownwood-Bangs-Cisco and then to I-20. We got in late this afternoon. The road was still icy most of the way. The total of ditched cars------73.

When we got to our room there were Christmas presents, brought to the hotel by our daughter. Bittersweet. I am sure they are having a wonderful Christmas in Oklahoma with their family.

Tomorrow afternoon late, it is off to Vienna. We will arrive in London at 7:40 then another 2 hour flight to Vienna. The adventure begins!

No pictures today--just more icy roads and ditched cars! I will continue the trip on the blog on January 4th--too expensive to blog, text or talk on the phone from Europe.

Off to Europe--gotta get to DFW first though!!

Our flight to Munich isn't until the 26th,

but we decided to go to Dallas on the 24th so

we wouldn't be traveling on Christmas.

We woke up to a surprise this AM--Snow.

Due to the weather we put off leaving until 11:00AM. By then we thought the wind and the snow would have stopped and the ice would have melted off the streets.

The snow stopped--but the snow didn't melt and the streets were icy and treacherous.

We made the first tracks down the alley-----------------------------------

Down our street---

Past the house and onto Hwy 84---we followed the "Casket Truck" foreverrrrrrrrrrr

The snow let up but the ice and snow on the roads did not.

Fortunately Jim has done a lot of driving on icy roads and we didn't end

up in the ditch like the 51 cars we counted on the roadside did.

They evidently didn't know the

SNOW RULE #1: Drive slowly and don't use your brakes!!

Tomorrow we only have a 3 hour drive to Dallas------or do we?

Snow on Christmas Eve

We woke up to about 6 inches of snow and STILL snowing. It was to be Maisie's first Christmas with us. It would have been perfect, snow on Christmas Eve especially for her. Jim was going to wear his Santa Costume--we were looking forward to this Christmas so much!! She will still get snow probably, it looks like it is going to snow in Ft. Worth too.

Looking out the front door--Oh that newspaper look sooooooooooooooooooo far away!!

PEACE

Happy Skye

I don't know if it is the cold weather, Christmas, or what but Skye has been

in fine form lately.It is nice have something to keep us entertained.

We have gotten very sad news this season. It seems that our daughter

and precious little granddaughter have chosen to no longer be a part of our lives.

Rave Reviews for Santa Jim

Since Jim I are going on a trip for Christmas, we had our family Christmas today. With such a small group we all decided that just having the snacks that Gran used to fix would be better than a big dinner, then we opened our gifts.

Austin loved his new shirt, sport coat and things for his new apartment in San Antonio.

Then just like after a big meal--a nap of course!!
Then it was out to Vintage Township for the last night of visiting with Santa.

Santa was looking forward to the night--although getting a little tired after three nights of babies and little ones.Tonight the babies who loved Santa came! This little angel walked right up to him and climbed in his lap, made him think of little Maisie. One little boy insisted that they come back to Vintage to See Santa---"Because he was the real Santa--he didn't have fake hair."

The highlight of the evening though was when Michael had his girlfriend sit in Santa's lap and then got down on one knee and proposed to her. Santa handed Michael the ring and she jumped up and started crying.

little boy watching saidm "Why is she crying? She got a present tonight!!!" I didn't get a picture of them--I was taking a video with Michael's camera.

Jim had a great week in his stint as Santa!

Christmas with Santa

Santa is out at Vintage Township this weekend.

The townhall was decorated anticipating

the arrival of the Jolly Ole Elf.

The Vintage ladies spent the day decorating to get everything just perfect for Santa.
Jesus, the Reason for the Season was the main display.

Even the houses were ready for Christmas

Santa

Santa was met with a long line of children anxious to see him.

What? Snoozing on the job?

Tomorrow should be even better--and---I will have my camera battery fully charged!!

O Christmas Tree

We hadn't planned to have Christmas tree this year. We had gone through several Christmas plans that had all fallen through, and quite frankly we didn't have much Christmas spirit. Then last night we went to Lowe's Home Improvement Center. The smell of those Douglas Firs took us back to childhood. Before we knew it, we were digging through to find just the perfect tree. It was a 7 foot tree for $7--irresistible!!


We were reminded of all the years that we went to "Rudolf''s Pasture" in Southeast Texas to pick out our perfect tree. Rudolf’s let everyone come the weekend before Thanksgiving to tag their trees. So, we had gone several weeks before to tag a beautiful 8 foot tree as ours. Jim's car was a four door Mercury sedan--like a Taurus. We had the tree cut and a teenage boy brought it out to our car, but as he started to help Jim tie it on top, Jim told him he didn't need any help. From the backseat I could hear Erin and Austin groan. We had been waiting, it was hot, muggy, all of the windows were down, and we just wanted to get going. Jim started to tie the tree to the roof and wound the rope around through the windows--Austin whispered to Erin, "How will he get in? He won't be able to open the door?" Erin shhhhhed him. I looked around at the kids, we could see what was about to happen and the giggles started to well up inside the three of us.


Jim finally finished, pulled on the door handle--then he looked at us with an embarrassed grin. We all howled with laughter--the teenage boy who had brought our tree--just walking by from tying someone else's tree to their car---was also laughing. Jim had this silly grin--backed up and dived through the window. It took us about 10 minutes to get him out of my lap, turned around and into the driver's seat but he was in the car--Austin asked--"Hey Dad, how are we going to get out?" Jim, still laughing said, "Well we will worry about that when we get back to Beaumont!"

More Goose Therapy

Armed with the new 40-150 lense for my camera I thought

I would combine phtography with my goose therapy today.

The statue is of Willie McCool, the astronaut from Lubbock that was in the Shuttle that

exploded over Lubbock. As you can see there are thousands of Canada Geese there.
These three were a little less timid and I was able to get them "tip toing" into the
water--although they don't have toes or tips the way they walk seems like
tip-toing to me.


Smile Guys!! They were not pleased that I didn't have any deer corn for them today.

Oops too close! "Everyone! Head for the Water!! And off they flew to the water.

They arrived here on November 3rd this year--they stay exactly 3 months.

On February 3rd we will notice their absence once again. They fly 2,000 miles to get here

carrying Humming birds under their feathers on their backs.
They are truly remarkable creatures.

Santa

Santa will be at Vintage Township on the 18th, 19th and 20th. He is really looking forward to seeing all the kids. Merry Christmas little Maisie---can't wait to see you on Christmas Eve!!

How to make a Bed--not what you think--

First you take your dog bed---

Then you dig until it is piled up in the right places, oh and until little fuzzies go everywhere---

Then you turn the whole bed over one more time---

Then you turn it over and again dig on it some more---

Drag it across two more rooms

and

Voila--it is made!! Yours, with doggy breath forever----SKYE

Goose Therapy

While driving today I noitced about 10,000 Canda geese at one of the playa lakes on 82nd Street. It was wing to wing with geese at the edge of the playa and there was almost not enough swimming room in the lake. I couldn't resist and had to stop, get out and see them up close and personal. Once I got out I noticed that deer corn had been dumped right by the street. I filled up the pockets in my hoodie and headed for the geese. I no time I was surrounded by ducks, with the geese being much more cautious. The more deer corn I threw the more comfortable we all became.

I realized they are kind of like some children. They won't have anything to do with you unless feeding them, or with kids buying them things and giving them gifts. The geese (and children) don't realize that all we would like in return is a little thanks--a touch of one of their soft feathers or just a little more time spent with them.

I got back in my car put the top down and let the wind blow on my face--Goose therapy--hmm--I think I will go back for some more tomorrow.

But I just wanted ta see how it worked-------

We had put Skye out in the backyard about 5 minutes before the phone rang. "Are you missing a dog?"

"Ugh--well I didn't think so but maybe so----do you have one--?"
"Well---", the caller said, "I run "Impressions Jewerly store, I was helping a customer when I noticed this pup in the store with a pink bandana on, I said to myself--no stray would be wearing a pink bandana."

Skye had learned how to open the gate, Jim put a new more secure latch on it--and TODAY Skye figured out how to open the new latch and took a little stroll down to the jewelry store.

That's it we are just putting a lock on the gate, just a plain old lock with a key.

SKYE!!! BAD DOG!!

In the Doghouse

My sweet puppy!! Skye played in the backyard most of the afternoon so when she "knocked" I let her come in. I was cleaning up the kitchen, when I saw her go into the laundry room. Her kennel is in there and when she goes in there she is usually tired and goes to bed.

A few minutes later I peeked in and she was laying in her kennel with her nose out--she looked really guilty--and about that time the sweet fragrance hit me---like the laundry. I opened the door and looked at the floor--it was covered with blue laundry detergent and dozens of little blue paw prints. She had gotten on the top of the washer---nosed the cabinet door open--knocked the jug of laundry soap to the floor. She had carefully chewed the top of the closed lid off--only the top of the lid was broken open. After that feat, she had played in the laundry soap and put the blue sitcky footprints all over the off-white tile.

After mopping and mopping I think I probably have the cleanest laundry room floor in Lubbock. Skye has done everything I have asked her to do--very obedient this evening--I think she knows she is in trouble. She also chose to go to bed early tonight--guilty--very guilty!!

A Fun Week!

Last night was our Bible Study Christmas Party. It was at Fred and Jody's beautiful home.

Our hostess Jody

Garry and Jan

Kitty, Helen, Ann and Donna

Jim and Helen

Jim and Jan

Katiebeth ( I think I surprised her!) Oops !I think I surprised Mickey too!

Cheryl ---making a"point".

Bill and Andy--thrilled to have Bill out of the hospital and home again.

Tim, Jody, Jeannie and Jim

Kitty, Annetta, Melissa, Andy and our host, Fred

Gene and Mary

Bill, Jeannie, Annetta, Cheryl , Andy and Helen

Jim, Melissa, Katiebeth and Mickey

Kitty, Ann and Richard

Donna, Garry, Mary, Gene, Lyn and Marsha

Tim, Jan, Fred and Jody

Toby--in his "Reindeer in Training" costume.

Toby was an exceptional host too.


Opening presents

There were nearly riots (of laughter) over the Scarf-a-Roos

Donna and her pig (which she lost to Cheryl)

Great Party--Thanks Fred and Jody--oh and Toby!!

Moving on--

My cousin Paul from Seattle came down to visit. He is planning to move to Texas in the near future, with his wife Karin and 5 children.

Jan and Paul

Austin and Paul

My cousin Joyce and her husband David came down from Tulsa to visit too,

I was thrilled to get to see them as well!!

David, Joyce and Paul

To celebrate us all being together--for the first time in 40 years,

Jim took us all out to Cagles for dinner.

Dinner at Cagles


Carol of Lights
Paul arrived on Wednesday which just happened to be the night of Carol of Lights.

We went to the reception at the Frazier Pavillion before the Carol of Lights.

It was really lovely and the admission was one toy for Toys for Tots.

Skye came along too. She loved the crowds and activity.
Paul was amazed that Christian songs were sung at "Carol"

--a right they have lost in Washington state.When he saw the phtographers on the roof, he was afraid they were going to

start shooting or that riots would erupt. We are soo blessed in TEXAS!!

Paul and Jim at "Carol"

What a wonderful week of Cousins and Christmas Celebrations!