December Frio Float

Just me and the kingfishers down at the Frio! The day was too gorgeous to stay away, especially after the forecast for the rest of December showed no better day for floating. Standing on the porch and hearing the river rushing over the rocks only intensified the urge to grab my tube.

Since this is not my first winter float, I know the routine. Black clothing traps the sun's heat under a clear sky, and large wooden paddles keep my hands out of the water.

Photographer was very careful to keep his distance and stay dry while snapping a couple of candid shots. He wasted little time getting back to the house and his warm office chair.

As I carried my tube to the river's edge, I heard a neighbor tell his granddaughter that the water was too cold for her to go wading. She might fall in. She probably wanted to fall in.

Tube in the Frio, me in the tube, away from the neighbor's voice, past the annoying photographer, just me and the kingfishers.

Camo Limo

Yeehaw! Evidence of hunting season punctuates the Texas landscape. These Medina County gun-toters will travel in style.

Schoolgirls

Our adorable granddaughters are up early this morning and ready for school. Backpacks bulge with snow clothes just in case some of that white stuff falls from the sky. Their aunt left for the airport earlier while they slept, and last night's goodbyes linger in all of our hearts.

This afternoon we picked them up after school, visited briefly in the halls with their teachers from this year and last, looked at displays, and marveled at the tables piled high with "lost" clothes.

Tomorrow will be our turn to say goodbye, and then these schoolgirls will head for school again. Thankfully, a few weeks from now we will return. Joy!

Anniversary Sunday

Brunch buffet at the Pool and Yacht Club celebrated our wedding anniversary of only forty-six years. We ambled from station to station, filling plates, sitting and sampling, chatting and relaxing, appreciating views of the cold Mississippi outside and the fireplace inside. I started with an omelet made the way I like it with everything on the chef's table added. So many choices, everyone selecting favorites, a happy time for family.

Although daughter and SIL have taken us to this place several times, today was the best because we were all there together.

Ending Saturday

Final activities of the day had Pawpaw taking inventory of his chocolate stash delivered by Santa, girls and their dad playing "I Spy" with tree ornaments, and older girls relaxing with games of Sequence late into the night. Merry Christmas love to all! And sleep late tomorrow!

November Christmas

Just a few gifts under the tree for our family Christmas Saturday night! Cameras stayed busy, and I actually appear in some of the photos.

Saturday Afternoon Bowling

Yes, that is a disco ball rotating above bowling lanes. Daughter and SIL rented half of a bowling alley (four of eight lanes) from noon to three o'clock and invited three families to come bowling with us. We all had a blast on a great afternoon to be indoors. Ambience included a sports bar loaded with history and city-famous burgers. Definitely plan to repeat!

Skaters

First activity Saturday was skating lessons for both granddaughters. They have made great improvement since we last saw them. Although this arena is home to the St. Paul Figure Skating Club for competitions, our girls are focused on the fun of gliding across the ice.

Play Ball!

With balmy temps in the 50's, the afternoon air filled with the crack of the bat. Okay, maybe more of a whoosh from the wiffle ball used. Dad pitched, Pawpaw coached, and big sister took her stance and swung.
At first little sister waited patiently and practiced her swing, first right, then left, just in case switch hitting might be in her future. After seeing big sis connect and send the ball sailing, little sis checked her racket and stepped up to hit some pitches, too.
By daylight's end, the outdoor furniture, toys, play equipment, pots, etc. were stored or covered as preparation for winter weather that could soon bring snow that lasts until spring. We celebrated with a toasty fire before going inside and remarked that our next fire would most likely be indoors in the fireplace.

Christmas Tree

Fast forwarding to the next holiday, the tree went up, the lights went on, and little hands made quick work of decorating with ornaments. Granddaughters carefully removed tissue paper and reached higher than last year to hang their favorites. Younger granddaughter took her biennial turn topping the tree with the traditional gold star, and all of us pronounced it as the most beautiful tree ever. Tomorrow the presents go under, and between now and then we will frantically wrap them. Santa, help!

TG Afternoon

After stuffing ourselves with our favorite favorites, we moved away from the table and on to other activities. I have no photo of a quintessential plate, but you can easily imagine a target of beige gravy with a bullseye of fresh cranberry sauce. Family decision in recent years was to emphasize ultra faves the first menu and add the veggie sides (read "healthy") for the later menu. Works for us, cuts kitchen time, saves oven space, and allows the gravy to star and reign/rain over all. SIL carved out the turkey to create a portion of leftovers and a portion for the Sunday soup pot.

Walking to the park at the end of the cul-de-sac provided not only much appreciated exercise but also the pleasure of a mild and sunny afternoon, probably the nicest weather of the weekend. A close look at the pond photo shows some ducks swimming and four of our group standing at the far left.

Dark comes early in the north country, but we had time for more Monopoly and finally sampling the pies. Thanksgiving over and tomorrow Christmas begins!

The Table Awaits

Daughter sets a festive table and enjoys her hostess role. Her two little helpers make sure that everything is in place and stays there.

Game Time

A rousing game of Monopoly keeps minds off the approaching feast. But not for long!

Backyard Turkeys

No fear since our bird is in the oven, neighborhood turkeys confidently made themselves at home over the fence, in the yard, and on the patio. I like the juxtaposition of the cardinal thermometer.

If you're curious about the white thing hanging from the tree, it's a "leaf swing," a bag full of leaves for kids to swing high and have a reward for raking and piling leaves. Another innovation for fall fun!

Little Skater

Nothing like ice skating to wake a girl up on Thanksgiving morning! Also wakes up the mom lacer-upper and Ceecee chronicler.

Wednesday Pre-Turkey Day

Shopping and more shopping! Final grocery list, nearly end of Christmas list, anniversary card, birthday gifts, happy to check so much done. Which reminds me -- I have checks to write as extra gifts for the weekend's multiple celebrations.

For dinner tonight, only Mexican food would do, and eating out was an easy way to rest our own culinary talents for tomorrow.

A trip to the airport ended our day and brought the family's Seattle area contingent here to complete us.

Sent from my iPhone

Dancers

Ready for ballet with the requisite bun hairstyles created by Ceecee! After disappearing beneath hoodies, those buns may look quite different by the start of class.

Snow Guard

Mr. Scarecrow guards the remaining vestiges of last weekend's snowfall and welcomes us with the evidence. We walked out of the airport in 35 degrees, but weather will settle into sunny 50's for the rest of the week.

Falling

Once again I fell for fall, all it's color and crispness like no other season. The local folks wondered what effect the drought might have, but the leafy displays are magnificent, some trees, like the pecans and sycamores, showing brighter than ever.

Today we're traveling to Minnesota where autumn stripped branches bare last month except for the evergreens. Snow fell there Saturday for a whole other way to fall into a season.

More Utopian Saturday

Most chose the shrimp main course. 

Deepest, darkest, richest chocolate, oh my!

As we waited for the dessert course, a bride and groom entered and joined a small wedding party in the private dining room for a lunch reception. This photo shows her visiting with Laurel and the staff.

Once again, two hours passed quickly at the LT.

Utopian Saturday

Saturday morning started early with a text at 1:40 from my older sister confirming the time she and her daughter would leave for their drive to Utopia. Fortunately, I easily fell asleep again.
By nine o'clock I was strolling through booths at the Utopia Arts & Crafts Fair, an annual event held the opening weekend of deer season. By noon I was walking into the Laurel Tree with Hondo friends, a rendezvous where photos help to tell the story.

More Habitat

Double thankful that those young whippersnappers were eager to be on the roof, climb ladders, and use power tools!