Jonathan in his riding gear Christmas morning showing off his "trunk." Last summer he visited with us. On his way home, he passed a guy hauling a BMW bike in his pickup bed. The guy passed Jonathan and flagged him over. The motor had blown in his BMW, and he was taking it to sell for scrap. He GAVE Jonathan the trunk! This is not a cheap motorcycle accessory! It mounts to the luggage rack. And, as you can see, is removable and functions as a piece of luggage! 
Monday Jonathan and Sam stopped by the courthouse for a retirement reception for the outgoing county judge and one of the commissioners. (Of course, that's where I work now.) His uncle is a friend of the commissioner and was at the reception. 
When I moved back home in 2004 and saw Mike for the first time in about 5 or 6 years, I was so surprised how much he looked like his mother...shape of face, chin, etc, but he especially looks like his dad. Everyone who knew Jonathan's dad talks about how much Jonathan looks like him...and Ron looked like his dad...only he was a bit taller than Mike.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.
The Tigers did it again! Texas Class 2A. THREE years in a row!!
This year's team adds to previous wins beginning in 1968 and continuing in 1983 and 1985.
Kudos to the team!
For the last five years, I subbed for these children...LOL as I called them in class when they got too rowdy...YOUNG MEN! So know them all. I pray that they take the memory of their high school years and apply the hard work to their future studies and life.
While I had the machine embroidery attachment hooked up, I did a couple of towels for some friends. I wanted to do two different designs, but the only other lighthouse design I had on my computer was too detailed for what I wanted. So...I just used two different colors. I think Ben and Pat will be able to tell which towel belongs to whom. 
It was a clear cold 24 degrees this morning! I LOVE IT! Cold. No wind to amount to anything. Dry. I moved my potted plants in Saturday so they are safe. We don't have any pets. Propane tank is full. Contentment. No change in the seasons...or very little change...is one of the main reasons I did not like living on the Gulf coast. ...Well not ON the coast, but 10 miles from it. (Although according to the weather report...they got rather chilly down there today too. And my poor baby is down there riding a motorcycle back and forth to work and home.)
I made beef stew for supper Sunday night. Browned the flour-dredged meat and put it in a slow cooker with potatoes, onions, carrots, bay leaves, garlic, tomatoes. Simmered on high all afternoon. Served with a pan of homemade cornbread. Sam bragged and bragged on the cornbread. This morning I ladled some into a container and put it in a soft-sided insulated bag and left it in the Tahoe. When I left for lunch...it was 42 degrees. Perfect! I drove to Mama's for lunch. She did not know that I was coming. First thing, she asked me to change the sheets on her bed. :o) Gotta love her! She had already been to town for lunch but she sat with me in the kitchen while I ate. (YES! I brought enough stew for her supper!!! What kind of daughter do you think I am?) I plan to do that again...maybe once or twice a week.
This is what I saw on the way back to work... 
Saturday, I made three stockings...
All of the adults have one like Erin's. I threw the other two together with fabric from my stash. As the babies (remember, Colt is only a month old and Isabel isn't even born yet) develop personalities, I'll make appropriate stockings for them.
Sam celebrated his 75th birthday last Thursday! I did not have time to make his all time favorite dessert for his birthday, but I told him that I would do it Saturday. Weeeelllllllll.....Saturday I forgot. I cleaned house. Decorated a bit for Christmas. Made the three stockings. I don't know when I had the head thump moment...but first thing Sunday morning I started preparing the dried apricot filling. Sam noticed it when he walked through the kitchen. He asked what happened to Saturday? I asked if he remembered that I told him I would make them Saturday. Well, of course. I got busy cleaning house and decorating. But I'm making them now. :o)
He worked in the wood shop Sunday afternoon. When he came in he asked where they all were? Usually there's about a dozen. I made them bigger this time. 
But there's ONLY seven. They're bigger though.
His sister is in from Bay City. She spent the night at Elton and Carol's. Elton and Linda came up and Sam joined them to go see Colt. But, last night...Sam and I discussed the apricot fried pies. At first there were seven. After supper there were only FIVE! Did he want to share them? LOL He told me to put them in the pantry. HECK NO! He's not sharing his apricot fried pies with anybody!!! But me... ;o)
And I've been running around catching up with myself. WHEW! What a busy, busy life! I have been working two jobs. The first day I came straight home from the courthouse...well...I felt like I had 4 hours to get supper ready. LOL Actually got to sit down for a few minutes. I've been busy with the Friends of the Library, the Chamber of Commerce, and working full time training at the Courthouse.
The Friends hosted our second annual Breakfast With Rudolph last Saturday. 
And we had photo problems AGAIN! The photos are the only charge - or should I say "suggested donation." Breakfast is free. Sitting on Rudolph's lap is free. The $1 'donation' for the photos in no way covers the expense. I think we need to just put a donation jar on the counter and print hahahahaha free photos. Then they can donate whatever they want. We are going to try a different photo approach next year and also tell parents/aunts/uncles/grandparents/whoever to be sure to bring their own camera. Or maybe that's just what we need to do to start with!
That over with - the Chamber sponsored Christmas parade and concert in the park was Monday night. And voting for new directors is ongoing. I've been going to the Chamber office during lunch and after work. The directors' meeting was Tuesday night and with a bit of help, I got the 2011 billing envelopes sealed and stamped and in the mail afterwards. Finishing everything up during noon Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday...sigh... I will now check the mail only a couple of times a week. Yes. Interviews are ongoing for my replacement. And I told the directors that I would train my replacement. One business woman fussed that if this were next year...after retirement...that she would love it! Sorry...
The job training is going smooth. I'm am really excited about the first of the year when the new judge comes in. We've both got a lot of learning to do...her waaaay more than me of course!
All the way from Cherry in Australia!! 
Aren't they just too cute?!
Remember I sent her the Texas shaped sun-catcher? This is what she sent me in return.
Thanks Cherry!!
We went to Brook and Cody's for a delicious Thanksgiving dinner. Drove to the dealership where we got the Tahoe to have a couple of squeaks taken care of. Stopped to see Colt...Yeah...Erin and John too...but they are incidental. ;o) (John was at work.)
Erin is a sweetheart. She said, "I bet Colt wants you to pick him up." What else could I do? Insult her?
I sat down with him, looked at Sam, and told him to get the camera out of my purse. Ta-da!
The dealership called that the Tahoe was ready (we were in a courtesy car). Sam went to swap out. Erin and I went to Target and Hobby Lobby. She said it was a whole lot easier with help. I do remember!
...Awwww 
Funny thing happened.
Sam has a camera.
I have a camera.
I took several photos of him holding Colt.
He pulled his camera out several times.
Guess how many he took of me?
See below...
Yep. That's me on the far left out of reach of the camera flash watching television. But you can see who has 100% of Erin's attention!
I have been pleasantly surprised. When the county judge decided to retire after this term, we knew that we would be getting a new county judge. We had people running in two parties for the position. After the November 2 election, we now know who it will be. Since the judge is retiring...so is his administrative assistant.
After the primary, I plastered my resume around the courthouse because there is going to be personnel changes in several offices. Then, the part time position with the Chamber of Commerce opened up and after interviewing, I was offered this position. I thought that part time would be sufficient. Unfortunately, while it helps "this" month, it does nothing for my retirement. I could see that some day I might have to sell my home and downsize. I do not want to HAVE to do that. If I want to is one thing...but to HAVE to is a whole 'nuther ball game. (Don't know what happened to the font!!)
I made sure that the county judge-elect had a copy of my resume. I interviewed Monday afternoon. Around 5 p.m. that same day, she called and offered the position to me. I was shocked. With this economy...
I learned a long time ago to pray for MY job. Not to pray for "A" job or "THAT" job. This time I also prayed that the CJ-elect be guided in her decision. I do NOT want someone else's job!
I honestly thought that I had blown the interview because of one of the duties that I had no knowledge about. Not something hard...just something I did not expect. The few years that I worked across the hall in the probation department and I did not know that the CJs office handled indigent cases. I repeated that about three times. I turned to the CJ-elect and said, "It's not a problem. I just didn't know that."
I walked out after the interview and did the head thump (when no one was watching of course!). Well, I thought. I'll be keeping the part time job a while longer. So when the call came in. I was shocked. Elated. Jumping out of my skin. HALLELUJAH!
But then I had to tell my current employers. That was hard. I fully intended this job to be my last before real retirement. It's been handled. Now the world knows.
And I need new clothes. YIPPEE...except I HATE shopping for clothes. I pretty much hate shopping for anything.
Oh.
Except maybe yarn.
And definitely quilt fabric. :o)
I went to the gym Friday and Saturday morning.
I did NOT clean house! But I did wash a couple of loads of clothes. One load is still in the dryer. :o)
I moved plants on the front porch into the house. Those on the back porch I grouped together and covered with sheets. Low was 38 so everything was okie dokie.
I went to Wal-Mart and got an electric blanket for Mama's bed. Changed her sheets and put the new blanket on the bed. Then visited with her.
Made homemade biscuits for breakfast.
Baked a chicken and some sweet potatoes for lunch along with fresh cooked spinach.
Visited with Sam's cousins.
Baked a loaf of bread in the bread machine. 
Kept smelling the stinky trash every time I opened the cabinet under the sink. That is unusual because I generally don't throw food scraps in the kitchen trash. After loading the dishwasher, I opened the door again and thought, Whew! Gotta get the trash out. I leaned down for the DWer tablet and saw a tale sticking out underneath an upside down trap. Found the little stinker causing the stink. It was NOT this cute!
I got a couple of latex gloves out of the pool supplies in the garage. I heard Sam ask, "You want me to handle that?" Well DUH! ;o)
I finished binding a quilt for a baby. Nothing special. I used "cheater" fabric...printed to look like quilt blocks. Just meandered it over all. Turned the backing over the front and basically hemmed it.
Everyone have a great week!
Monday Jonathan and Sam stopped by the courthouse for a retirement reception for the outgoing county judge and one of the commissioners. (Of course, that's where I work now.) His uncle is a friend of the commissioner and was at the reception. 
When I moved back home in 2004 and saw Mike for the first time in about 5 or 6 years, I was so surprised how much he looked like his mother...shape of face, chin, etc, but he especially looks like his dad. Everyone who knew Jonathan's dad talks about how much Jonathan looks like him...and Ron looked like his dad...only he was a bit taller than Mike. 
Everyone, thanks for the congratulations and best wishes! 
