A Very Nice Christmas

We'll start with Melissa's favorite gift and a big Thank You to the four couples who made it possible with quick responses. I absolutely couldn't have done it without each of you.

Though there were lots of stockings and presents, the "pile" paled versus past years when everyone was here. But not in thoughtfulness! Every gift seemed to touch the receiver and the giver, as well.

Melissa, in her new "green mode," found this artificial tree and it looks great. Came in a box - three sections. All one has to do is insert pipe into pipe (I did that) and then figure out the lights (I couldn't do that!). Turned out very nice and we'll use it for years to come.

Uh oh, a stranger in our midst - well, not really. This is a stray cat found in Plano and "rescued" by a friend from high school, Carol Fort. The reason it's included is that this is the 1st white Christmas she can remember in the Dallas area (and you all missed it, Holly!).

Michael and Louise - a professor buddy of ours and artist wife. They moved here from Canada a couple of years ago. She's French-Canadian. Michael and I try to play pool once a week.

My wonderful and creative gift from Luke and Kayla. Kerry's sister, Jen, has a small business which helps kids make these original drawings. Thanks, Kids, it's beuuuuutiful! Can we expect one every Christmas??

What a surprise when I opened this sweet gift from Jordan and Olivia. I first thought it was a nice ornament for our mantle. Then, as I was putting the box aside, I noticed the writing said something about a "recording!" Lo and behold, when I pushed the recording button, there were two little voices wishing us a Merry christmas. Good work, Girls. Very impressive.

We, too, had a white Christmas, albeit not as unusual as Dallas'. Also, not as deep as Kevin's various visits when there was 3 - 4' in the yard for he and his friends to enjoy on the slopes.

MK with Oscar. He's regrown the fur that was clumpy and shaved off in the rescue kennel. He looks wonderful. Sweetest cat going and a durn sweet wifely, too!

Well Folks, that was our '09 Christmas. We hope each of you had one equally as nice. We're off to Austin tomorrow to visit Lindy, Chris, and baby Riley to come 2/14. I'll get down to Bastrop to see Jan and Jack and have BBQ in Lockhart. May go to a Texas State B'Ball game, too.

It's Almost Here

We are going to have a very different Christmas this year. In prior years, all Melissa's kids and spouses/SOs have been home, my Chris was always here, and a couple of times Holly and Kevin, with families, have been in SLC. This year, only Logan and Jody will be able to make it. Chris will be in San Diego with Sandra, Lindy can't fly because of  her 2/14 due date, Duncan and Betsy were just here to surprise me on my birthday (and take their car back - Melissa's '98 Mazda), and Holly and Family will be in Houston with Kevin and Family.

Oh well, gives us even more time to enjoy Logan and Jody. I suspect it will be more this way than what we've enjoyed in the past. We do get a bit spoiled, tho!

Come On Santa!

Winter's Coming and My Pool Exploits

Almost every year, I get our trees thinned (more sunlight - better for garden) and we seem to have EVEN MORE leaves - figure that one out! Just look at those bags of leaves, and they are big bags, too, especially the black ones. And this doesn't even show the numerous garbage cans I've already sent to the dump (And yes, D and B, we have yard waste recycling and I use that). I ask, where were you kids when I needed you???

There, it's done! Perennials cut back, leaves raked, roses trimmed, etc. I'm ready for snow now -- bring it on.

Melissa's blog had had several entries of her favorite squirrel and the hard work as he/she got ready for winter. Just look at this feeder. Almost all the corn was brought from the ground up into the feeder by the squirrel., one kernel at a time -- thousands of trips up and down the tree. Hmmmm, I just wonder if the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics would justify this effort. Logan, with all your physics awards, will you run the calculations for those of us not equally gifted?

Ah, my pool game! I played in the Utah Open last weekend and did not distinguish myself. Lost to an inferior player in 9 Ball, beat an equal (handicapped by playing level) player in 8 ball, then absolutely got dusted by a much better player from Idaho. I was not satisfied with my play, so back to the drawing board - in this case, Melissa's little flip camera, as seen in the background. The camera showed me that I have a liittle "twitch" in my follow thru which, I believe, effects the shot. Chances are the twitch gets worse under pressure ( kinda' like the yips in putting). Oh,well, gonna' continue to work on my game and compete. Keeps me young enough to rake all those leaves! Now, when Lindy and Chris get out here, I'll have some help next fall. YES!!

WINTER?

Well, the last blog, Fall Colors, was just a few days ago. Now, on the 28th, we have snow. Pretty, tho, and one reason we live in beautiful Utah.

Fall Colors

We usually show our spring and early summer colors, especially tulips and early perennials. So far this fall, I've cut back some of the bushes and flowers leaving the pretty fall blooms.

The pink and white flowers next to the porch are Japanese anemone, the red bush  under the window is called a Burning Bush, and the big blue flowers are MK's favorites, Monkshead. The reddish tree in the foreground is a Japanese Maple. Within a week or so, the garden will be cut down and put to bed for the winter. It's been a great year for our garden and with the addition of another 135 tulips, the spring will be a riot of colors.

Fund Raising Time for Their School

Jordan and Olivia signed up to run laps for X $/lap to raise money for school. J completed 35 laps and O did 33 (in the gym since it was too bad outside that day). Notice the determined look on Olivia's face - she's absolutely going to finish! And Jordan's having fun - big smile, or was that just for the camera?

Way to go Girls. We're real proud of you. Before long, you'll be right up there with Chris, Lindy, Duncan, Betsy, Logan, and Jody who are in long races several times a year. Logan has a marathon in a week or so - he's setting the standard for all of us.

My Wonderful Dallas (Allen) Trip

The girls were so effecient in the mornings that we got to school early each day - though not as early as the dark pic indicates. But, we did get there before the doors opened. J & O though this was pretty neat (my word). I don't believe they'd ever say "neat."

Jordan put on some very lively music and was teaching Olivia some "ballet" moves. I was able to catch her in mid-leap.

Kids at the Donut Palace on a rainy Sunday morning. No, Kevin, we didn't make it to church on Sunday.

Cooking time for two pies. J rolled out the two doughs, O helped measure, and both helped with the assembly. Reeses was no help at all! We gave one of the chocolate pies to the neighbor and we ate one. Andy Moore, my 2nd cousin, came over with his family to help eat it.

O at computer and does she love it. Don't anyone tell Holly and Narith, but she probably spent more time on the computer than allowed by her parents. But, hey, what are grandparents for, anyway??

J ready for 1st soccer game - but alas, rained us out. Well, Braums' ice cream cones were a great substitute. However, before the rains came, we did get in some practice at a field nearby. O joined in for a little bit. Not her thing, right now.

Dee (close cousin) and Pat came over from Stephenville to visit Robin and her family. We met Pat, Robin, and her two kids at a butterfly festival before having dinner at Robin's.  J is holding one, though hard to see due to the lack of skillful  photography.

O and Robin's son, Kenny, doing the same.

Ah, now to one of my favorites: Shadow. I tried to take this 17 week old darling home with me, but I couldn't convince J, O, and Holly on the deal. What a great little cat! Sharp teeth, tho, and loves to bite.

I read a bunch when the girls were in school and Shadow would almost always find his way to my lap, even stick hid head under the book to get noticed. (Janie should take a lesson!)

That's my trip and I wouldn't take anything for those 5 days. The only thing that would have made it better was if MK could have come along. But, classes called!

Wedding Garden

These three pics were taken the day before the wedding of Melissa's niece, Michelle. The wedding took place right in the middle of the yard, as shown in the pics, especially in the bottom one. It was a sweet ceremony and there were about 125 people standing/sitting around, even out into the street (a cul-de-sac). They had the catered reception in the back yard. Very well done, all in all. MK's children and their spouses/SOs + her Dad and Stepmom came and they all stayed at our house. We were pleased to be key part of the wedding and preparation and it was great to see everyone. Chris and Devon came to the wedding, too, as well as MK's brother, Scott and family, up from Las Vegas.

Just Planted for the Wedding

We chose about 15 plants for BA's garden in preparation for the wedding this Saturday. Again, the wedding is going to be in front of the garden, so it really has to look good. We chose mums (5), purple gay feather, salvia, pinks, a couple of grasses, 3 flats of pansies for instant color, and a few more perennials (I've forgotten the names). This week will be sunny and everything should "pop." I'll update this when the color is at its best. These pics were taken in late afternoon - no sun, and one can't see the color that's already there. I'll do better next time.

Also, notice those crisp edges and curvey design. MK got busy with the flat blade shovel. I was wondering if BA was going to have any yard left!

BA's Garden for Wedding

The before pictures are in my blog entry below. These three are from Chris' and my work over the last couple of days. We have taken out 10 leaf bags full of perennial "overgrowth" and now the garden is ready for Melissa to do her magic - that is select the right plants and color for the 8/22 wedding. We'll also fill in the gaps with fresh bark or wood chips, whatever BA and family select. We're right on schedule to finish it well before the wedding.

Our Wedding Gift to Michelle and Jason

BA, Michelle, and Jason accepted our wedding gift offer to shape and update the front garden for the wedding on 8/22. They are doing a lot to the house, inside and out, and this will be a nice complement to what they are already doing.

After we made the offer, we found that M and J had changed their minds about where to have the ceremony. It's going to now be in the front, as in the 2nd pic, with the guests standing or sitting on chair on the lawn, sidewalk, and street. Oh no, the pressure is on to do a great job of cleaning up, shaping, pruning, and adding colorful plants and bark. These are the "before" pics. Chris and I will start next week after MK and I go to Seattle for the weekend to see Duncan and Betsy.

Several years ago, we did a family project and put in the garden. They have maintained it over the years, but for this special occasion, it needs our special touch. I certainly wish all of MK's children were here to help re-do the garden they helped put in. I'll keep pics coming on my blog.

David's House

The back yard and covered patio (and New Braunfels Smoker) is where they spend their time. Many a brisket and rack of ribs have already come off that smoker. The front view shows the recent yard work and trim painting done by a young painter who has worked on our house. The overall result, painting, yard work, and inside work have given David and Laura a wonderful, functional, and comfortable home. Fenced all around in the back and quite private. Now that David is retired, I'm sure he'll find no end of "projects" to occupy his time (and drain his wallet!).

Anniversary!!

Today, we celebrated our 14th anniversary. Who'd have thunk MK could ever put up with me for that long? We had dinner at the Sun and Moon up the canyon, then came home to a bottle of bubbly. What a life we have! A loving, accomplished wife, some cats who put up with me wanting to handle them, a house that's perfect for us, a son doing great at the "U," MK's kids with SOs - all doing well, a brother with a new old home which is becoming a showplace, a sister who is settling into Central TX close to her grandsons, -- can it be/get any better?

Kayla, notice the wonderful necklace Melissa is wearing? Have you ever seen that before?

More Tulips

In my last blog (4/26), I said I was concerned that our trip to Brazil wouldn't allow us to see our tulips at their best. When we pulled in the driveway Friday from our trip, I found I was wrong. We may have missed the true high point, but these pics show there's still lots of color. Also, see MK's blog for Brazil trip photos and updates. These are a bit fuzzy, but one can see the colors.

Tulips Everywhere

I decided to take these before we left for Brazil on Tuesday. By the time we get back, tulips will be all but spent - terrible timing on our part!