The new County Judge, my new boss, at her swearing in ceremony Friday morning. We are both excited and looking forward to getting to work Tuesday. (Monday is our New Year holiday.)
We celebrated afterwards. ;o)
I undecorated my house this afternoon. Got all the Christmas decorations put away. Even the little plaster of Paris Santa Claus that I got in the second or third grade that I did not put away last year...when I saw it later, I put it behind a picture frame. No one else knew it was there all year! I put my little tree in a garbage bag, decorations and all LOL, and put it in the corner of the guest room closet. Next year, I'll pull it out and say, "Voila!"
The table linens are still in the dining room. Guess I will do that tomorrow. Also got the - yawn - ironing done. Thank goodness I didn't let it pile up this time...only four shirts for Sam, one blouse for me, and four pairs of slacks for me. I have a brown blouse that I need to shorten. It is way loooong. And since my body is more 'mature' now - boo hoo - I don't tuck my shirts in any more. This thing almost looks like a tunic. Got all the laundry done except our sheets. I'll do that tomorrow since the courthouse is closed for the New Year holiday.
I'm telling ya...this new (old) body sucks. (I hate that word and here I am using it.) When I was offered this new job, I realized I had to dress better. So into the guest room closet I dug pulling out clothes I wore to work six years ago. The skirts fit. Even the skirts with zippers The tops do NOT FIT! If I can get them to button, they gap. WHAT HAPPENED?! I've been buying 'coordinating' pieces. A size 12 skirt/pants and a size 14 or 16 top to go with it. eyeroll DISGUSTING!
Jonathan messaged me on Facebook and asked me to thank Sam again for taking him and his bike home after Christmas. He realized how bad his front tire was...really dangerous. Sam most likely saved him from having a blow-out and being severely injured or killed. I am so thankful for those little nudges that God gives us.
May God shine His love and His blessings on you and those you love!
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!
