New Year: Solemn and then Lighthearted

A new year has dawned.

We are now in 2009! I wonder if it too, will pass as quickly as 2008 did?

I ususally do not make resolutions. Up until a few years ago, it was basically any other day. As I have grown older, or maybe it is as life has challenged me more, thrown down the gauntlet, if you will, I do see the new year as a fresh beginning. As a time of hope.



Resolutions can be trite. Lose weight. Exercise more. Save money. I guess that is why I say I do not make resolutions, but I do, daily. I guess because to me each day is a new start, and goals are made each day to be what God would want me to be. Determination to be the mom or wife or friend or Christian that maybe I felt short of being the day before.

I am watchful as this new year begins. This past year has opened and closed new doors politically and financially. What will these changes bring?


Will we see skepticism replaced with trust? Will we see American ingenuity open doors that were not as obvious the previous year? Now that the Christmas "season" is over, will we step back into our boxes or will we continue to reach out and support those that need it, those all around us?


I truly believe this is a dawning of a new era. I am working hard at replacing worry with excitement for what is new around the corner . . . for what we cannot yet see. I believe it is there. I believe we will come together and build each other up with prayers and support. I believe it will be a good year.

...

Ok. That is enough seriousness. Now I resolve to be lighthearted. I resolved to make a few resolutions.






1. I resolve to lose my keys no more than 56 times in 2009 as opposed to the 273 times in 2008.

In actuality my husband made this resolution AND remedy for this situation. The last time I was unsure of where my keys were, he located them and then this is how I found them:

wait, where are my keys. . . where did I take that photo . . .

2. I resolve not to start any home rennovation projects after September 1st of the coming year.

I would not want to repeat this years fiasco with the turned over and stacked furniture and torn out walls up to the week before Christmas. Nope. Not going to happen.
Will post some almost finished pics when the human paper weights leave re-enter the portal to the non internet world.

3. I resolve to start homemade Christmas crafts and goodies much sooner.

Homemade Vanilla and Homemade lemon vanilla sugar needs to be started in May. Draft Bloggyland Tour post sooner than the day of. Pizzelles finished in October and frozen. I started these charms for my mom before Thanksgiving, but we did not finish them until the day before Christmas. Nothing like the 11th hour.

Did I show you? Naw, I could not get a real good pic but I do have these:

4. I resolve to ride the wonderful bike my sweet hubby bought me, for Mother's Day.

I will try to get the rides in before June and July this year!

5. I resolve to include my face in the next "I See What You're Saying" !! Tha Linda at 2nd Cup

I did include my feet. That should not be considered cheating, I was there!

6. I resolve to take Chunky Soup to Church on Souper Bowl Sunday.

And not leave them at home like I did last year!

I really think that is all I can come up with!

Happy New Year!!



Oh . . . and I had 30 comments on Monday's Post - A first! Yay!!

I See What You Are Saying . . .

I have pushed myself to do this . . . well a little, it is a start. Several months ago, in one of CJane's post, she mentioned (paraphrased) how glad she was that her sister had not been camera shy. For me it posed a challenge -to quote "be enchanted with yourself." Well, I HATE having my picture taken. If I was photogenic or nice looking (I don't know which is the problem, my face or the camera) I would not mind, but for the most part I do not like pictures of myself - I can't find the enchantment.
Then this week, Linda, at 2nd Cup of Coffee is hosting her second "I See What You Are Saying," where all post a simple or funny or cute or heart felt video of themselves. Or maybe their family. Well, that posed a second problem, I don't really care to hear myself either.
So, I could not push myself to go all the way - you know, image and voice. So . . . . well, here is my entry for "I See What Your Are Saying" . . . .









ok ok, I did thicken up the accent some, it is not quite that bad, never know there was time in the Mid West, huh? Maybe one day, maybe on the third go around, I can rid myself of my yellow bellied ways and produce more of a me video, more than my shoed tootsies! S



o now go check out the real good videos, ones with faces, not feet!

Eggnog Soup

The Man is great at Freudian Slips.

A few years ago, we were at the beach, returning to the house when a jet from a nearby air base was noticed flying over. There was a bit of dark smoke coming from the plane. As The Man watches, we hear him say "hmmm . . ."

We asked him what was up.

He then says, "I wonder if they are calling Mayonnaise?"

Us: "What? Why would they call Mayonnaise?"

The Man: Frustrated "You know, when a plane is crashing, they call Mayonnaise, Mayonnaise!"

Oh, "May Day, May Day"

So fast forward to last night. After helping Will under the house - repairing a cracked drain pipe, Will took us out to eat. It was late and The Man was a great help to him, so Will let him choose the restaurant.

Choice made - Chinese.

As meals were picked, The Man asked, "Can I have Eggnog Soup with mine?"

Eggnog Soup = Egg Drop Soup

It was funny. So we reminded him it was Egg Drop.

The waitress arrived to take our order. We let The Man start, he ordered his entree and then remembered the soup. You guessed it, he ordered Eggnog Soup. The waitress was a little confused until we quickly spoke up to correct his slip.

I wonder if she thought he had had a little to much of the grogg?

Spring Is In The Air

If it weren't for the remnants of Christmas still around the house and on the television, I might have to wonder . . . what season are we in?


I opened the bedroom window last night, the house had warmed up consiserably, so cooler air was needed.


This morning dawned with the sound of birds singing.


Cardinals flitting around the trees and shrubs.


And . . . .


What is that smell?



It

smells

like



spring!!


I know it sounds crazy and I know it is not! But it feels like it, and smells like it and even at 11:00 in the morning, as I iron by the open window, the birds are singing as if spring is on its way! Can you imagine? I mean, it is, but not in December/January.

As the day continues to warm to the 80's, I am actually not bemoaning the lack of snow or cold. But savoring the breeze and the the sounds, cuz the cold is coming back!

May all of you, buried in snow, have a cuddly, warm inside day!

P.S. This is also the first Saturday that I have been off AND at home in a very long time. This feels great!

"In the depth of winter I finally learned that there within me lay an invincible summer"

Albert Camus

Christmas has come and there was lots of fun! My word bank is empty today, so the words will be few!

We started Christmas Eve morning with Gifts . . .

With Food (breakfast) and Family

With Cookie Making

Christmasy Pizzelles

Over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house we went

For Family and Food

Gifts

Then Christmas morning . . . more food

. . . more gifts

. . . more family

...more fun

. . . then Christmas evening, Dark Thirty Party!

The guys . . . watching . . . .

More

Foooooooood!

Christmas Spirit

The afternoon sun is shining in the windows and finally life is slowing down some.
Although I have felt joy and happiness, which I do most anytime of the year, the Christmas Spirit has eluded me this time around. Even with planning and having much of the shopping finished early, it was the most hectic Christmas Season I can remember. Mocha with Linda posted a video of Amy Grant’s “I Need A Silent Night,” and oh how that song touched me and is such a reflection of my life recently.

This morning, as I headed to the shop, to grab a couple items left there, and then back home, I noticed the empty parking lots. I noticed the stillness and the quiet. I noticed the little girl with her new pink and purple coat with the fuzzy edges (had to be new, it was the 70’s, only NEW heavy coats get worn in warm weather) riding her new pink bike. I noticed the happy parents and grandparents watching.

And guess what?

I found the Christmas Spirit! In the peace and silence of morning! I finally felt that missing mushy sentimental sensation.

Now soon, we will be off to yet another get together – to Annies and Pappies “Dark thirty” get together. Every year, there is grilled sausage and tenderloin and tables filled with snacks and dips and spreads and sweets. As the sun sets and the darkness covers the Christmas day, their house fills with the voices of family, friends, and guests of their guest. This year I am looking forward to it even more. Recently, I heard one of the ladies in our Sunday School class tell some other’s about this evening. She is essentially alone on Christmas, but every year she knows there will be the “Dark Thirty” Party. That is her time with others. That is her family for the day. I never thought about how going to someone’s house to walk around, noshing on everything in site, and chatting about with all, was also giving a gift, giving the Christmas Spirit, loving one another as God would have us do.

So even though it wasn’t long before the quiet of the morning was replaced with more Christmas paper ripping and laughter and talking over each other. And even though more busyness is to come, the peace experienced early this morning has sustained me through the day.


Merry Christmas!

Odd Shot Monday -Water Drops

I noticed this picture last week - it is definitely out of season, but I liked something about it.

I liked the way the water drops showed up in the photo.

Summer 2007 seemed extra hot and the kids were bored one day, so Will pulled out some old plastic sheeting and made a homemade slip and slide. It was fun getting out and having fun in the sprinklers. Just great ol' summer day.

And with all so brown and blah here, and probably so cold and white most everywhere else - a little addition of bright green was fun for today!

Odd Shot Monday is sponsored by Katney's Kaboodle

Photo Phun Phriday - Ice and Snow

Nope, that is not where I am, but it was where I once was!

Since it is hot as hades (ok, slight exaggeration), I thought for the Phriday Photo Phiesta with Carrie, I would have phun reminiscing about the little bit of ice and snow that has been phun!

When Traveler started looking at colleges, one of the first places we visited was in Gainesville Georgia. We headed up to their open house weekend on a Friday. Traveler and her friend rode with Traveler’s mom. Will and I and Ocho and Demolition D made the trip together.

We knew icy/snowy weather was too hit the area, but the school had not cancelled the weekend or the Theatre auditions Traveler was participating in, so we headed on. We arrived at the hotel just as the sleet started.

Taking two cars ended up being more than just a necessity because of space, but because both cars were covered with about an inch of ice the next morning. We got working on de-icy one vehicle to at least get Traveler to the auditions.

Will, Traveler, her mom and the friend loaded up and headed to the college campus, leaving Demolition D, Ocho and me at the hotel.

Luckily we did have power. So we could watch TV and stay warm, but why? There was ice and sort of snow outside!

A skateboard had also accompanied us on our trip. The boys came up with a great idea – take the wheels (trucks) off the skate board and use the board as a “small” sled.

It worked!

The hill of a driveway was used some, then we noticed a small grassy hill behind the hotel.

(It was more ice than snow, every step crunched)

We had a blast taking turns sliding down the ice on the skateboard!

I have some other snow phun, but I think I will save that for another post, so you can hop in your sled and giddy up your horses to the other photo phun to be had!

Snow fun to come . . .

Wordless Wednesday - NOT - I have a word!

UGGGGHHHHHH!

While 37 of the states are experiencing COLD winter conditions. I am in one of the 13 NOT. Tomorrow? Suppose to hit 81. That means shorts weather. That means I have to turn the air conditioner back on at work -cha ching!

But good news, next Tuesday's high is suppose to be 59 . . . just in time for Christmas! Maybe something strange will happen, like it did for Louisianna, maybe a dusting of snow could hit Christmas day. Or the next.

So here is to the majority of you in the cold

Put on some fun warm socks today and enjoy a hot chocolate!

Cheers!

Caught!!

I'm Late, I'm Late For A Very Important Date . . . Bloggyland Christmas

So today is a wonderful tour through the land of Christmas by a gracious host - Muse-Swings, and I feel like a horses, well

{backside} Thanks, muse-swings for the pic ;)

. . . because I just did not get it done. See, my home is in disarray. I have chairs on their sides, furniture pulled from the walls, furniture stacked in spare rooms - you know, the redoing of room. You get the picture, well maybe not, with the broken battery housing on camera and such.

Soooo, I can't leave you pictures of my beautiful gingerbread house (well, I couldn't anyway, I can't make pretty ones). Or of our tall, elegant Christmas tree (we, have the Charlie Brown one this year); Or a snow covered beauty of a yard or a blazing fire place (it is high 70's today).

BUT, I can leave you this wonderful Christmas video and wish every single one of you, moments of calm and joy and laughter this beautiful season. (and eggnog, and cake, and cookies, and dip and chips, and casseroles)

Odd Shot Monday - Francie

Odd Shot Monday is sponsored by Katney's Kaboodle. It has been fun seeing the different odd shots that folks have around the world.

So here is my submission. Happy Monday.

This is not an actual shot taken by me, but by Demolition D. He borrowed my camera a couple years ago and took these shots.

This is Francie, our 5 year old spoiled rotten joyful pup. She had been the happy man's best friend of my sister-in-law Betsy, until unfortunately, we lost Betsy.

Francie came to live with us a little over two years ago. Demolition D spotted her under the Camellia Bush, alert to noises of the neighborhood and the passing cars.

The fuzzy edges and then the wrinkles and intensity in her expression made these shots, different, if not entirely odd.

And then there is the fact that Demolition D had laid down on the ground to shoot these - not something he would normally do, something odd, but something this silly mut can bring out in any of the kids. Ocho said sometime around the time of this shot "she just brings me so much joy." Quite a comment from a 16 year old.

Photo Phun Phriday - All I Want For Christmas

I have never been overly on top of Christmas list. I am of the opinion it sets up expectations that might not be able to be met. And as much as I love giving Christmas presents, I have always been concerned about putting too much emphasis on the receiving of gifts.

When The Man was three, he asked for something to write on because he wanted to let Santa know what he wanted for Christmas. I handed him a post it and told him we would put it on the fireplace.

This is what he wrote.

The only item on his list.

Did he get it? Why most certainly yes!

That was the year that he was into ties. This is him, later Christmas day, proudly wearing that tie left in his stocking. Everytime he wore a tie, and still today, I think of that sweet post it and the simple but excited request of a three year old years ago.

So this was one of our Phun Photo times . . . check out more phriday phun photos at Candid Candie's!

Somehow, not only for Christmas, But all the long year through, the joy that you give to others, is the joy that comes back to you. John Greenleaf Whittier

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Wordless Wednesday - Light It Up!

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

Falalalala . . . . or Bah Humbug

The Christmas Season is a time that excites me!

A time I look forward to from early fall on.

That is, until we enter the season . Then life takes over and seems to make it almost impossible to truly enjoy. Some of the “life” is poor planning on my part. But most of it is just the life.

So that leaves me wavering between Falalalala-lalala and BAH-HUMBUG. For each Bah-humbug, I am looking for the Falalalala-lalala.

My first BAH-HUMBUG?

Remember record players? Remember how if you turned the speed to 78 it sounded like chipmunks on speed? We lost a week between Thanksgiving and Christmas and I feel like the record player sounds set at 78. So much to do. Gift to be made and purchased and wrapped and tagged. And decorating, on top of all there was already to do!

The Falalalala-lalala?

I have let myself realized that there is just not enough time to dig out every Christmas trinket. We will streamline the decorating, thus, less to put back in the attic in a couple weeks meaning a some down time is on its way!

BAH-HUMBUG
Remember the haunting of Archie Bunker’s wallpaper?

Well, instead of ripping down wallpaper and simply mending and painting and making pretty, we have had to (or should I say hubby) implement a full blown exorcism of the haunting. Drywall had to be cut out and replaced.







The Falalalala-lalala

We might not be getting a “dusting” of snow, but I do have a white “dusting” of sanded plaster. White drifts on everything in the room. The white stuff without the cold! The drywall is back up and soon it will be sanded and ready to be painted. I will have a new look to the room!

BAH-HUMBUG
Notice how there are no pictures of the snow drifts or the finished drywall? As I entered the attic the other evening, I noticed a box I had forgotten. A yard sale find. As I delighted in finding my find from earlier this year, I thought of a blog and thought I would add pictures of unpacking my newest Christmas goodie. I snapped this picture of the opening of the box.

Then as I picked up the camera from the counter and turned to snap a second picture, the strap on the camera caught on the drawer pull and yanked the camera from my hands. Before I could catch it, it the floor. The tile floor. The battery cover broke! Duct tape does not hold it close for more than a few seconds. {{{sigh}}} Oh my, this was not on my budget or in my plans or on my wish list!

The Falalalala-lalala

Ebay has cameras! We can replace the one we had/have with an identical one, orrrr, we could upgrade to a 10mp from our 3 mp for not much more. Now to decide . . .


BAH-HUMBUG
The Senior High Church Choir trip for next summer is to New York City and places in between. Amtrak will be the mode of transportation. Since the initial plans began, the economy has taken a nose dive. The original prices are no longer available. They have been replaced with pricier ones! To help offset the increase, the choir sold Christmas trees. Orders were placed. The trees arrived Saturday. When Will arrived, only one tree was left in the height we ordered. When I returned home from work, he told me he had picked up the tree. I excitedly asked where it was.

Will: “you walked past it coming in” (with a grin on his face)

I headed back out the door for a peak.

No wonder he was grinning.
It is a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree!!

By the time we remove the lower limbs so the tree can be placed in a stand, I wonder what will be left?

The Falalalala-lalala

It was a good cause. It won’t hold as many ornaments, thus less to put back up! It will smell good and the removed limbs can be used to decorate in some way. Falalalala-lalala

That was all just the highlights of last week. This week is starting off at a better pace. I finally made some cookies that I had been trying to get to for the last three weeks.

I donned a Santa hat and embraced the fun of the season and plan on being overtaken by the true Joy of the season . . .

Falalalala-lalala

Phriday Photo Phinish . . .Frosty the Snow . . . um, man??

Even though we have had below normal temperatures lately, the chances of snow are slim.

Next to Nada!

Yet every year I have high hopes for a dusting . . . remember, no shoveling. I love hoping for snow.

Even a dusting shuts this area down. We do not know how to drive in it. Plain and simple. We have no reason to, except every 4 or 5 years. So it a flurry equates to a snow day. It is great!

So today's Photo Phun is in honor of the host of this phun meme - Candid Carrie.

Here is to your hopes for the doing away with winter . . .

But first . . .A South Georgia Snow

This was January 2002 . . .Demolition D was so proud of the above snowball. He kept it in the freezer for quite awhile . . . after all, it took scraping the top of six trash cans lining the alley to come up with enough for that snowball!

Then, with the snow on the trunk of the car. The Man created . . . .

Snnnnnnooooooowwwwman

See that hat The Man is wearing? That hat was knitted by my grandmother when I was little and lived in Denver. I wore the very same hat when I was just a kid. (note, he has on Denver Bronco gloves too!!)

So now everyone, the list of participants on her blog are great - go forth and be entertained!!)

Randomness Meme

I was tagged before Thanksgiving by Sandi at Holding Patterns . Check out her blog ... she has some wonderful post, great stories. Sandi’s entries for the “portrait of words” challenges are great, it amazes me how she pulls the cards together for great stories.

Ok, so for the tag. First the rules:

1) Link to the person who tagged you.2) Post the rules on your blog (copy and paste 1-6).3) Write 6 random things about yourself (see below).4) Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them.5) Let each person know they have been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.6) Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

Drumroll for the 6 random things that I hopefully have not already mentioned:

1. My favorite comfort foods: Mac and Cheese, Grilled Cheese, Popcorn, Ice-cream (anytime of the year).

2. I have not balanced my personal checking account in, well, maybe 9 years?? It would stress me big time if it is off by even a few cents. So I just don’t do it! No stress. Just keep up with what I have and what is coming through. I did let Will know that when we began dating, just in case that kind of thing was a deal breaker or some inside look at a character flaw. HA!

3. I had a lunch date with a garbage man once. I was 18 and agreed to lunch with a 21 year old fella I had met at church. I found out his occupation after agreeing too go to lunch. I know SHALLOW. He also shared he had failed the GED three times. Then at lunch, I noticed how long his fingernails were. Gaaarooooossssss! He handled garbage with those long nails. We were definitely at different places in life. He was a kind guy – just not for me.

4. I spotted Tiny Tim in the Atlanta Hartsfield Airport in 1990. I did have my friend take my picture with him, just for the fun of it. The picture did not turn out. He did not smell good either. Not as good or as lucky as those of you with Donny Osmond stories. All I got was the tulip man!

5. I graduated from a class of 14. I attended a small Christian School for High School, that’s why the small class.

6. I love a dusting (key word dusting) of snow. I don’t want to live in it day in and out. I don’t want to shovel it. I don’t want to fall on my backside on iced side walks (been there, done that). But I get SO EXCITED when there is a possibility of snow here. My mom bought me a can of fake snow for Christmas one year. That was even great! My birthday present from hubby this year? An overnight trip to Highlands to see snow. Play in snow, hmmm might have to blog it!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow (this was for you Carrie!!)

So now I name, I am trying to remember who has posted a random list recently and who has not, hmmmm:

Merrie at Merrie Days.

Ann at AnnOnandon

Hadriana at Hadriana's Treasures

Carrie at Candid Carrie

Gayle at Planet M Files

Jane at Jumpin in the Jungle

And anyone else who wants to reveal personal randomness . . . jump right in and share with us!

The Things We Least Expect

I feel as if I have lost a week this season, but I will catch up.

It is a quiet beginning this week at the shop, but I am full of thanks today. Gifts come unexpected and sometimes in ways we take for granted.

After dropping kids off at school this morning, my phone rang with an unknown cell number. It was my mom (she never uses a cell phone, I did not even know she still had one!). Anyway, she said she was at the hospital with my dad, he was/is ok, but they wanted him to stay in ICU til tomorrow morning.

He had an allergic reaction to Advil (huh????). He woke up with a bad muscle cramp at 4:00, took two regular Advil, but he had taken Advil PM before going to bed. Evidently it was too much of something. His eyes started to feel like sand in them, when he looked in the mirror his face was swelling up. He woke my mom, she said he sounded like Daffy Duck because of the swelling. She got him to the Emergency Room. By the time they made it to the hospital, his throat was closing up and he was having problems breathing.

The nurse told him to have a seat and they would take him back after completing paperwork. He told her, “no, I need to see someone now.” Do you know she told him he still needed to fill out paperwork!?!

Luckily, another nurse walked, saw my dad and his face and that he was need of immediate attention, and he told the first nurse he would take my dad back and to let my mom do the paperwork.

When my mom finished and found where they had taken my dad, they had just finished taking his blood pressure – 79/45. They sent her out of the room because they were about put in a trach. The meds kicked in and thankfully that did not have to happen.

The doctor came and told her things were better, but 10 minutes difference would have been the difference between him being here and not.

Life is so fragile, we never know what is around the corner or how quickly what we know can change.

So as I again give thanks, what wonderful blessings have you had today? Is the sun shining and you can see all God’s wonder? Are you listening to beautiful Christmas music? Are you warm and comfy? Did you find the keys you misplaced? Or did you get to feel the warm hug of a loved one? I hope so and I would love to hear your blessings of the day . . .

Smiles and Blessings . . .

Rodent Magnet Extraordinaire

Cute, huh?

So in my wonderful glowing recap of the Thanksgiving, I did leave out one aspect.

There was sleep deprivation ...

Niquel Drinking...



Room changing . . .

Forced by cute, fuzzy, adorable

Hades sent Chipmunks!!

See, every year there is one BIG challenge - A good night's sleep. We normally have room #3 at the farm. There is chipmunk chewed hole on the outside that lets the fuzzy creatures into a home. A nest.

Chipmunks are nocturnal - I am not! Their scampering up and down the inside of the wall during the night is less than ideal.

Two years ago there were babies. Do you know when baby chipmunks cry for the mommies?? About 3:00 in the morning.

Last year we went out a week early and moth balled the hole and then stopped it up.

This year we started our stay in room #4.

Guess what?? They found me!!

About 3 or 4 in the morning we were pulled out of our sleep by what sounded like a rodent freeway. Scampering back and forth and back and forth in the wall behind our bed. I did finally manage to doze back off.

Then, something else woke me up.

It can't be . ..

In the mattress beneath me, there was a stirring. Not my imagination. I fully awaken, and yup, there it is again.

There is an unidentified creature moving inside the mattress!!

Not on top - I thank God! But inside.

The sun comes up, hubby comes back from hunting and checks out the building for Chipmunk holes. Found two of them, one on the front of our room and one on the back. They had full run of the end of the cabin!

Hubby fixed them!

Mothballs were poured in the holes!

We settle in for, what should be, a great night's sleep after losing sleep the night before.

We knew Chipmunks ddi not like mothballs. We did not know and had not considered how they would would take to the new addition to their hangout.

Their reaction upon finding mothballs in their quarters?

We had screaming chipmunks!!! (oh, were they mad!)

Since a guest had returned home ... we snagged their room!

Thanksgiving Recapped

Thanksgiving Day was beautiful. A little warm, but at least the rain held off til Friday morning.

The 4 Flying Dutchmen arrived in the dark on Wednesday evening, they awoke to a bright morning and more space than they realized.

(The view from the door of the rooms they stayed in)

(checking out their surroundings)

Will and Pappie got started early with the fried turkey! Dutchy called it the "Magic Broom" as the bird was lowered into the hot oil.

When Will learned Wednesday evening that they were all computer geeks, he happily wore the shirt his math teacher sister, A, gave him last year for Christmas:

Will and those four visitors discussing binary and how to count in it was a hoot . . .only geeks! Gotta love mine (even though I completely zone out after my eye roll when counting and explaining begins)

As we were working away in the kitchen, we noticed out the window, our Dutch friends getting their supplies out of the cooler in the car. It was fun watching these guys discuss, with animation, their plan of attack for the dish they were about to prepare.

Here were two of them working away on the preparation for a . . . .

Dish of Sauerkraut, potatoes, cheese, white wine, bacon and sausage.

Then all the goodies were brought out, the serving tables laden with food.

And we all stuffed ourselves way too much!

See that piano in the background. I do not know the technical name for it, but it is a self playing piano. A will load the punched music sheets in it,turns it on and off it goes, much to the kids delight.

So what did they do after overloading on so much food? It wasn't walking. . . but Will and Ocho brought around the buggy for a ride around the farm - no crops, just woods and ponds and paths.

Then followed by skeet shooting. A couple of the guest tried it. I did ask about hunting in the Netherlands, since gun ownership is not allowed. There are hunting clubs that you can join, and with the proper registeration, own a gun for hunting. There is limited land for hunting so hunting is limited, but some game still needs to be controlled (sounded mainly like wild boars).

The negotiations made on Wednesday evening worked out ok. No beer or wine was brought out at Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving evening, the group huddled outside with their wine and drinks and I guess you could say the day was "toasted." A (sister in law) was disappointed that they stayed outside, but since the majority of the group are chain smokers, sipping wine and having to go back outside every few minutes might not have made for great game time.

By then, I believe, Traveler had started to relax and stopped trying to be so hard on the Dutchmen. She seemed to underestimate all of our ability to be accepting and inviting as well as the sense of humor her family does have. Sometimes, I think it is easy for young adults to believe differing values equates to judgement and coldness and closure. I think "not traveling the world" to them, means closeness of mind and inability to connect. I hope she is seeing otherwise now. We really enjoyed her company and they seemed to be comfortable quite quikly!

Friday came the rain. We needed it, but it did change a the pace of the day some. They guys did get in some target practice.

I loved looking out seeing most of them plugging their ears. (heare no evil!!)

Will got the mini-bike running and in no time The Man was flying along the lane, in the rain. Dutchy became quite alive too when heard it zipping by outside the door. I love that the rain did not deter the fellas.

Demolition D and Will still went to the deer stands in hopes of getting a buck . . .

Every time out, Demolition saw the same young buck - knuckle heads. The mature ones must have been smarter - they stayed out of the rain!

Our visitors headed back to Atlanta on Saturday and will be heading to warmer waters soon.

Cancun.

They will have definitely had an eventful holiday.

We arrived home late Saturday evening. Sunday morning as we headed out for church, I was amazed! Our neighborhood was peppered with these beautiful colors on the Bradford Pears.

The pictures do not give the color justice. Much more vibrant in person!

It is amazing how quickly the trees can turn. They are a little late, but with the grass already being brown and grayness of the rainy day, the color was shocking and uplifting.

So our holiday was full of color and flair with all the newness the holiday brought.

I hope yours was just as wonderful and fullfilling!

"So live that your memories will be part of your happiness"