2007 is almost over -- just a very few hours. It has been a very different year for us. It surely has been a year of transition. We have spent most of the year getting to know our new surroundings. I prepared this little video to show you a synopsis of our past year.
Our wishes to all for a joyous and fulfilling 2008. Happy New Year!
Our great old friend Dave is having a special birthday today! Dave is a retired member of the US Forest Service. He loves puttering around outside and is a devoted spouse to Robin and father to Nathan and Rachel and their spouses. He newest loves are his grandson Luke and new granddaughter Lily. Dave is a wonderful friend and we a blessed to have him in our lives.
Today is his Medicare birthday. Congratulations, you made it old man.
The tree is all decorated and there are lots of presents beneath it.
Our trees do not have an angel on top but there is always an angel on the tree. This angel has adorned our trees or mantels for many years now. Erica made it, as I remember, while she was in pre-school.
It's Christmas Eve and everyone is ready.
Geoff, Erica, Bentley and Frankie opening presents on Christmas morning.
We always get up early on Christmas morning (5:00 a.m.). Here you can see that most of the presents have been opened and it is still dark outside.
A trip to the beach was in order. Here we have Erica, Geoff and the dogs enjoying the outing.
Bentley usually doesn't enjoy the beach that much, but he enjoys running with Erica.
Bentley love Erica especially when she plays with him.
Saturday Bill, Bentley and I headed back to Arlington. There we joined Erica and Geoff at the annual Christmas party hosted by Erica's very good friend Alexandra's mother, Anca. Whenever one goes to Anca's you first of all do not eat before you go there and you never leave there hungry. How she does it I will never know. It is wonderful and so good to be included in that family fun.
This party had lots of conversation, laughs and music. One of Anca's friends brought his keyboard and another friend brought sheet music for the masses. We all sang Christmas carols for well over an hour. The three little girls there were like angels completely wrapped up in the music. What a warm feeling we all got by participating in the singing.
A lot of pictures were taken but this one of Alexandra and Katrina shows the spirit and magic of the evening.
Thank you Anca and Alexandra. It a special evening.
Well, we made it! Another year! Today is our anniversary. Bill and I have been married for 32 years. I know that it is often said that it seems like only yesterday that we were married. Well, that is mostly true except on those days when it feels like we have always been married. Through all these years Bill continues to be my friend, my companion and my lover. He is my sounding board and all too often he is my verbal punching bag. As we grow older we grow more comfortable together. Sure, there are those moments when there is pebble in the shoe but those are removed and we are comfortable once again. What a wonderful feeling know that there is someone in my life who is and continues to be the holder of the key to my heart. I love you Bill.
Any who follow this blog know that Bentley joined our family in March. He is such fun and frustration. He and Bill are great pals. This picture was taken last weekend when we went to D.C. for a concert of the band Erica plays in. (Since I do not like my picture taken there are no recent ones of me really worth printing.)
Today is also the birthday of my friend Kathleen. Just wanted to say, "Have a Great Day!" I sure miss you.
There's an ad for the Maryland Lottery that must run 50-60 times a day. It goes something like this, "All time bad gifts -- nose hair trimmers. . ." So, now what am I supposed to do for a stocking stuffer for Bill? That was what I was going to get him and since that stupid ad just keeps running and running I got the nose hair mower (that's what I call it) as a "you really need it" item and gave it to him with the razor blades we picked up at the same time.
Now, I know that personal care items are not always the best gifts. But, I ask you to compare them with the "Chia Pet" for example. That is what I call a bad gift. Besides which a Chia Pet does not come with a fancy box or name like say Sharper Image. The question for me is what do I get for a stocking stuffer? A Chia Pet, the Clapper or refills for his electronic toothbrush.
Refills for the toothbrush are sound pretty good right now.
With the arrival of these roses and a lovely bouquet of lilies and tulips, we can officially start Christmas holiday season at our house. The flowers arrived on Friday for my birthday. The roses are from Bill. He has given me roses on my birthday every year for 32 years. That is very special to me.
It seems that everyone decorates for the holidays earlier and earlier each year. But, tradition is strong and these are among some of our early season traditions. The Christmas tree does not go up until after my birthday. But, it is selected and reserved Thanksgiving weekend. Outside decorations start going up after Thanksgiving. Inside decorations are completed the week of December 10.
This year our tree went up on Sunday. There are a few finishing touches to be made (photos will follow). The rest of the inside decorations will also be completed today and tomorrow. We are a little anxious about some of the decorations this year since this is Bentley's first Christmas with us. He loves to play with almost anything within his reach. Already he has been caught taking a ball from the tree. This should be an adventure.
More of our holiday fun to come later in the week and next week.
Yesterday it snowed here. Not very much at all but enough to cancel the Christmas parade. I can honestly say that I really wanted to go to it. Besides that, there was a run on milk, bread and other necessities at the grocery store. I was amazed because there was so very little snow and it was so much nicer outside yesterday and last night than it had been the previous two days when the wind blew hard and constantly. Things around here pretty much button-up with just a little snow. The schools all had a early release, classes and events canceled. It was hard for us to understand because it seemed liked nothing. But, I understand the concern about icing and the lack of equipment for that type of condition. The Goshen UM Chicken and Dumpling did go on and we went and then enjoyed the lights in downtown Milton.
The above picture was taken earlier today when I stepped out the back to take a couple of photos. I was rudely interrupted by a naughty dog who sneaked out right behind me and then proceeded to prance about in the white stuff. He would not come in when I called. Bill came home and got him in and so Bentley is in trouble today. Here is Bentley out on his adventure.
Weekend television is not very good if you ask me. Here, there has to be at least 50 (maybe a little inflated) football games starting around 11:00 a.m. on Saturday and running until 11:30 p.m. on Sunday. Enough already!! Yeah, yeah we did watch the Army-Navy game when we were not out and about.
I was flipping through the channels trying to find something other than college football in the early evening. Well, there was the standard offering of celebrity watching channels, rebroadcasts of design shows I already seen, shopping channels, rehashed and spinning news shows and finally I chanced on one of the ESPN stations broadcasting the Gonzaga-UConn basketball game. Considering ourselves former Spokanites, it is hard not to be fans of Gonzaga basketball. We used to watch almost every game. Now, we consider it a rarity to be able to see a game. It was a special treat since the game was close and Gonzaga won. GO ZAGS!!
Well, we kept the TV tuned to that channel as they next broadcast the Oregon-Oregon State football game. I know, a football game. But, for some reason it was nice visit to the Pacific Northwest. Besides, the Oregon State Beavers won in OT. That's OK.
