Happy, Happy

May God shine His love and His blessings on you and those you love!

Family

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.

KIndle Cover

Thanks to Erin, John, and Colt, I have a Kindle. I would love an Oberon cover for it... http://www.oberondesign.com/ ...and a matching purse. Well, maybe not the purse, but I still LOVE the Kindle cover...it may become a reality...just have to decide on the pattern. In the meantime, I've made my own cover. The hardest part was sticking velcro to the back of the brand new Kindle! I did some online research and this is the most secure manner to ...secure the Kindle in the quilted case. Cardboard insertions for protection. Recognize the basic block pattern? Yep! Left over from Isabel's quilt. This block had a problem so I made another for the quilt. Since this is my 'prototype,' I used this block. I still love the colors! So far, I have found only one thing to change. The ponytail elastic needs to be shorter to make a tighter fit around the button. And I'm trying to figure out how to and where to put a pocket for the charger and headphones (when I get them). I will probably just have to make a matching zipper bag to drop in my purse.

Merry Christmas

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.

Tigers THREE-Peat

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.

One Celebration Down

Just a couple more to go...

I have been craving a coconut cake for several months now. But I was dieting.

BTW (by the way), I'm no longer going to the gym. I lost about 15-17 pounds. Have gained NONE back as of Friday...not saying a thing about yesterday. I will not be eating supper tonight. Because...

LOOK AT THIS CAKE!!! It is from Good Morning America...Sam Champion's dad's favorite cake. http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/recipe?id=12400700

I had to make some changes because I couldn't find coconut milk. I purchased a can of cream of coconut intending to mix 4-5 tablespoons of the coconut cream with milk. I opened the can...and there was a black spot in it at the seam of the can so into the trash it went. I just used plain ol milk. The recipe also called for coconut flavoring. I just used vanilla flavoring. And I used all real butter in the buttercream icing. The cake is/was :o) DELICIOUS!

Sam requested a cherry pie made with Colorado tart cherries. Table set with the unimportant stuff. :o) Carol with her grand nephew Colt for the very first time. See the blanket I crocheted?! ;-) Erin said it is sooo soft. The funnest gifts! These little things are called Sing-a-ma-jigs. They are so much fun! I bought one for Colt, one for Isabel, and one for ME!!! Only I gave it to Carol. Each has a different 'voice.' They can - ahem - sing in harmony. Jibber-jabber to each other. OR Each has their very own song to sing solo. (As long as you can continue to squeeze their tummy in rhythm that is.) I was in a local store looking for something specific for Colt, but couldn't find it...and since he's not but five weeks old, I figured he wouldn't get his feeling hurt if I waited until I could find it. But I stumbled across these in the store and fell in love! I put the blue guy in his stocking and the red one in Isabel's stocking. AND...they are for 3 years +. But I knew that John and Cody (except Cody had to work) would enjoy them. We all sat around passing them back and forth and playing with them. I'm telling ya...You've GOT to get one...in each color!!! Yes...there are more than three available.

I sat around every night this last week crocheting scarves. Plan A did not work because I didn't have enough yarn. So on to Plan B. I made three scarves, but only gave two away...this red one to Brook and a very pretty dark blue to Erin. Colt getting after the grub.

Lighthouse

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.

Beautiful Monday

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)

New Job Training

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!

Look What Came to Stay With Me...

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!!