I didn’t get out this morning as the airlines called yesterday and changed my early morning flight today and adjusted it for departure at 5:45 pm.I have no idea if I’m even going to get out today as the pretty white stuff is pouring down as I type.There are a couple airlines that have totally cancelled all their flights for the day and I’m waiting to see what US Air is up to.On top of that, I’m flying into (Philadelphia) and they’re being hit with this wintry mix as well.It seems the weather has taken a turn in the frightful direction and if nothing else, I’ll get to sleep in my own bed tonight.And I’m quite certain that sometime between now and Christmas I’ll get a flight.
Don’t have too much time to fool around as I need to get packed and ready for my flight (if I have one).I don’t look to be back here in the blog realm ‘til after we get back home on the 29th.So here’s wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Hubby is slaving away on our Christmas newsletter and we plan to have them in the mail drop box by late this evening or tomorrow. I’ve got all the address labels and return address labels adhered to all the envelopes and the postage has been added to the envelopes as well. Hubby’s diligently working on page 4 of 4 and it should be finished soon. I kept telling Hubby all along that we should just send Happy New Years Newsletters but he insisted on getting Christmas cards out and what a great job he’s doing orchestrating our newsletter to get it out before Christmas.
The airlines called this morning canceling my early morning flight due to the blizzard type weather in the forecast. However, I do have another flight scheduled to leave here at 5pm weather permitting. I’m hoping for a nice safe flight tomorrow and hope I can get out of here alright and if I have to wait ‘til Monday, no prob.
Last evening we went to a Christmas party held by (Kyle) one of the guys that works for Hubby. It was a great evening and I met some wonderful ladies there. One of the gals that I was speaking with told me about her sister who is a potter. Our conversation covered pottery, travel, and all sorts a stuff. She left her home and work numbers with me so that I could give her a ring to get together for lunch, catch a girlie flick, or whatever. No matter how cold the temps are the people here are genuinely warm and I love that so much.
That wraps up what’s going on around here. Here’s hoping all of you are keeping warm, drinking lots of coffee, hot tea or hot chocolate, and sitting in front of a nice flickering fire. Blessings to all of you this Christmas Season may you be blessed with Christ, the greatest gift of all.
I started this post this morning but just got around to finishing it this evening. I didn’t take any extra time with my pictures in my scrapbook program and just threw it together. So here goes from where I started this morning.
I’m sitting here in our apartment watching the beautiful snow fall. In my early years I remember snow like this and I remember playing in it when we lived up north, but let me tell you I’m really enjoying watching the pretty snow fall. The branches of the trees are coated in pretty white and the ground is covered in a beautiful blanket of snow. I’ve got the Christmas music filling the air and it is truly a beautiful “Winter Wonderland”.
Below are a few pictures taken from our back yard this AM. I’m so in love with the beautiful private back yard and the snow is absolutely stunning to watch. We are expected to have a foot of snow by morning and I would venture to say we are close to a good 10 inches already.
As you can tell we are finally in our apartment (as of yesterday) and I love it, especially the part where we finally have a place to call home! Last evening we met our new neighbors John and Joanna and we clicked from the moment we met them. We were on our way out when Bobby and I noticed two dear approx 10 very short feet away from us. I couldn’t believe it so we stopped and stood and watched them for a moment. They didn’t seem to be afraid of us at all but they scampered just a wee bit as we passed by but they were right back once we passed. John and Joanna were out in the parking lot returning from their evening out when we struck up a conversation with them about the deer. We learned that another sweet neighbor feeds the deer birdseed and these deer have become the neighborhood pets, or so we were told. There are actually 3 deer that hang out and we saw the other one shortly thereafter. I’ll have to take a picture of our outdoor pets one day.
There is so much to do and so little time as I’m south this Sunday and Hubby will be catching up with me Wednesday. So I’ll be spending two weeks in the south and Hubby is so funny when he tells people like our new friends last night when he’s asked what our plans are for Christmas. He says in a drab voice “We gotta spend Christmas with the in-laws” as if he’s looking for sympathy and then he says “Down South”. John and Joanna were good sports as he started looking for his violin straight away.
I don’t know how much I’ll be around the blog sphere the next two weeks but I will definitely return when we get back home. Until then, many blessings to you and yours this Wonderful Christmas Season!
What a glorious day with friends. Stefania and I met downstairs and made our way over to a wonderful place for breakfast (the same place Jennifer and I visited yesterday). What a lovely breakfast we had and we both enjoyed the wonderful French toast and coffee. We visited there ‘til around 11:30 and then made our way from there to lunch. We met our friend Evelyn at a different place for lunch where we once again had a very nice long visit. We all enjoyed homemade soup in a bread bowl followed by coffee. We visited until 3:00pm and had to literally pull ourselves away from the table as Stefania had to get back. I’m overjoyed to have met such wonderful friends here at the hotel and we all plan to stay in contact. As a matter of fact, I’m already looking forward to Stefania’s next visit.
A picture of Stefania and me at breakfast
Evelyn and Stefania – Stefania stooping to pet Felix (Evelyn’s cute dog). We are just out front of the restaurant an old home converted into such a nice cozy restaurant.
The benches continue to line the front but now the boots have been filled with holly.
The owner of was delivered her new 8 week old pup while we were having lunch. She was bombarded with questions like what’s her name. She kept telling guests, I don’t know, I just got her. She was beaming and it was so obvious that she fell in love with her cute little fella immediately.
Evelyn and Doug have already found their home and will be moving in just before Christmas. We’re already looking forward to our continued friendship long after we are out of the hotel and truly what a joy it has been meeting such wonderful new friends.
I met a wonderful lady (Stefania) here at the hotel last evening (her hubby had a 2 week business trip here) but the sad thing is they leave Saturday. We made the most of our short time here and arranged to meet downstairs for breakfast this morning. I just had a nice cup of coffee with her as I had a lunch date with my friend Jennifer later. Anyway, we had such a wonderful visit this morning and have made arrangements to go out for a nice breakfast tomorrow morning. My friend Evelyn who has been here almost as long as us, can’t make breakfast tomorrow, so it’s just Stefania and me and perhaps Jennifer will join us too. Then after breakfast we have plans to do a little fun shopping and then we have more plans to meet up with our buddy Evelyn for lunch. We decided just a while ago to make a whole day of it tomorrow. She’s such a joy with a beautiful German accent as that’s where she’s from.
Below you will see a couple pictures I took on my way down to breakfast. It’s so hard to believe it was 5 degrees when I took those shots as it was such a gorgeous sunny day with the prettiest blue sky!
We met at 11:30 so that we would get there before the place was packed. The next thing I know Jennifer was looking at her watch saying “its 2:00 already”. O how time flies when we’re having fun.
This is a picture I took on my way home. I was sitting at a red light right when I whipped out my camera to capture this pretty setting. I still can’t believe how pretty blue the sky was all freezing day long! It was an absolutely gorgeous day spent with wonderful friends.
It is 5 freezing degrees right now and I’m getting ready to venture out of my little warm hut and walk down to have coffee. I’ll have to say it’s a toss up right now, freezing cold and hot coffee or keeping nice and toasty warm in my pj’s. Well I do have a coffee pot in my room with a coffee bag mix but it just doesn’t taste as good to me as the coffee down there. The freezing cold and hot coffee is winning and I’m going to have that cup of coffee. I figure it will warm me enough to get back to my room. Plus I’m meeting my friend down there too and that’s worth getting out for as well.
Jennifer and I will be meeting for lunch today at a nice cozy little log cabin sort of restaurant. And that is definitely worth getting out for today. I have a nice day all planned out no matter the weather! And the beautiful thing about this day is that I see beautiful sunshine in spite of the weather!
Last evening, on the way to look at our mattress, I noticed this Christmas tree from a far away distance. As I was approaching, I quickly got my camera and put my window down to snap a picture. This totally reminded me of the song Silver Bells (one of my favorite Christmas Songs) as you will notice the many signs in the picture as well as the “Do not walk” red hand sign right smack dab in the front and center of the Christmas tree. The snow covered the ground so pretty white and I felt as though I were driving in a snow globe. That was the first time ever that I’ve driven in the stuff. Thank goodness they keep the roads nice and clear as I would not be driving otherwise. Hubby did give me some tips as he grew up in it, but I think I’ll pass if it gets too bad as I’m not experienced with this stuff.
Oh yes, about looking at our mattress… We found a very nice King size pillow top marked down at a very reasonable price. It will be delivered next week on our move in day right on time for us to get a good night’s sleep. Talk about relaxation, that’s just how I feel as now we have a place to stay and a bed to sleep on. Everything else is just icing on the cake from here on out!
I was so pleased with everything I got accomplished yesterday. Everything on my errand list was accomplished and my laundry and ironing were polished off by early afternoon.
My friend Evelyn and I met downstairs for breakfast this morning and then we were off shopping ‘til early afternoon. We made our way to an awesome Christmas Store that has the best deals around! Jennifer called to tell me about that new store and the Grand Opening right before our trip home for Thanksgiving. I didn’t get a chance to run by there but I didn’t forget about it. I’ve decided to just look and not touch this year as we won’t have that much time to enjoy Christmas decorations in our new apartment as we move in on the 12th and I head south on the 17th. Also, we don’t have tons and tons of storage so I don’t plan to purchase anything that needs our much needed space. But just because I don’t want anything doesn’t mean I can’t look, we had oh so much fun in that store.
My buddy Evelyn had to get back home as she had a Doctor appointment this afternoon and I decided to continue shopping. So I looked up the Olum’s Clearance Furniture Store that Jennifer just told me about today and checked out what they had available. They had some really cool stuff and I’ll have to take Hubby over there perhaps sometime this weekend. Hubby and I are shopping for a bed this evening and I sure hope we find one soon. We continue to plug away and before long we’ll be all settled in.
The warm glow on the snow is so pretty. Last evening when we were returning back to our room, I snapped a couple more pictures outside our door. This weather pushed us to get our boots over the weekend and what a difference they make. Now we’re all nice and toasty, and love the fact that I’m keeping warm in this stuff.
A pretty wintry mix has come our way, who’d a thunk? What a change in the weather since we’ve been back home. We actually had just a tiny dusting of snow the day we left to visit back home but this is what we woke to this morning. The pretty white stuff completely coats the ground and here are a few pictures I took this morning
We’ve had such a crazy busy week but things are going really well. We finally decided to rent an apartment for a year so that we can get a better handle on what area we would like to buy/build.
Now the pressure is off to buy a place and relief takes on a whole new meaning. We found an apartment last week and I could not be happier at this very moment. A place to call home is finally coming our way soon! We should be moving in sometime around the 12th of December and I can’t begin to express just how excited I am.
Let’s just say, we were going to spend a week down south for Christmas and another week back in our old home following Christmas. I’m so stoked about our new apartment that I have no desire to pass by our old home on the way back north. How cool is that folks!?! I am so ready to get settled down and am looking so forward to the New Year!
We are creeping away at our Christmas Newsletter and continue to make progress. But it looks like we are still going to be working on it a while longer. I don’t like being this late but that’s just the way it goes this year.
We did get some shopping done over the weekend as we have a 2 bedroom apartment to completely furnish. First things first as we have been trying to nail a king size bed, and then we will look for the rest of the furniture as soon as we get our bed ordered. Then I have to completely furnish my kitchen as we are not moving anything back home yet. I’m having fun looking for dishes, glassware, flatware, and all the fun stuff to make it pretty. It’s also fun shopping for bathroom accessories and new bedding. I found a great deal on my favorite Egyptian sheets and it will be like Christmas getting our new home sweet home all fixed up. There is light at the end of the tunnel and it’s so nice, bright and truly beautiful.
On Wednesday evening, November 14, 07 we arrived back in home and what a delight it was to get back home for a week and 1/2. As we were traveling the song “Wide Open Spaces” came to mind and the feeling of being back home started playing tricks on me. As we passed familiar sights my soul leaped for joy and I could not help the rush of sheer joy that washed over me. I felt like a very dried out sponge absorbing every little detail that I possibly could.
By the time Thursday morning rolled around there was no sleeping in for me, I just had to get up to savor the day. I flung open the blinds as fast as I could and began my little cleaning routine. I had the place cleaned in no time and then I was ready to kick back and let the rest of the day unfold.
Our first big meal that day was our favorite BBQ in town. The chopped brisket sandwich was calling me along with their fabulous fried okra. If I close my eyes, I can almost taste it. We also had the cobbler for desert. I’m a peach cobbler kinda gal and Hubby is my apple cobbler guy so that’s what we had, our favorites.
Normally right after a meal at a restaurant Hubby pays the bill and we leave. This time we just sat there taking in the old familiar feel of that place. And I still remember Hubby’s words to me as he said “I’m just taking this all in”. In some weird sort of way, It was during those “taking it in moments” that we began to feel like we were “Home”. Gasp, did I just say that, Hubby and I are definitely feeling pulled between two places to call home. And I told him that if he ever took me back to live that I would be perfectly happy staying there the rest of my life.
I did something while I was there that I’ve never done in my entire life. I got in a truck with a stranger. Please let me explain – Ya know, Hubby still can’t believe I did that, even after my explanation as that is NOT like me at ALL. So here’s the chain of events. Hubby had a dentist appointment in town and it was quite a procedure and was to last 2 hours. So, the day before his appointment, I took my nails off as he was going to drop me off at the mall and I was going to get a fresh set of nails and perhaps get into trouble for the other hour I had on my hands.
Hubby dropped me off at the entrance of the mall and away I went to the nail salon. I signed in and had just a brief wait. My name was called and I was seated right next to another gal who got there moments before me. We struck up conversation immediately and I truly felt a kindred spirit with her. It was as if we knew each other our entire lives and our conversation just flowed mixed with laughter. We finished up about the same time and she asked would I like to join her for lunch. She was not fond of doing the food court and asked if I would like to go across the street to Red Lobster. Sure I said, I have another 45 min. until my husband is finished at the dentist office.
Away we went out of there chatting all the way to her vehicle like two sisters would do. I got into here truck without even the slightest hesitation and we both began to laugh about this. She started the truck, put it in reverse and backed out. We drove towards the mall entrance and stopped at the red light. As the light was turning green, my cell phone rang. It was Hubby calling to say he was on his way. She said “Have him meet us at Red Lobster”. Unfortunately he was not in a Red Lobster mood as his entire mouth was numb from his little procedure and he needed to stop by the drug store to pick up some meds. She turned her truck around and headed back to the mall entrance where Hubby was to pick me up. When her truck came to a stop I got out and then is when she said my name is “Theresa” and I introduced myself to her as well. That all happened so fast and I’m not even sure of her name now. I just know it starts with a “T” and that’s all I remember. I keep thinking about her and wish we would have swapped information so that we could have remained in contact with each other. I’ll say, Theresa and I sure did have a “GOOD TIME” while it lasted.
Thanksgiving morning dawned and we were like two children on Christmas morning waiting on our big turkey meal. We had reservations at the same place we have been going the last two years and this making our 3rd year there. We left the house at noon and we were seated by 12:30 where we enjoyed a wonderful 2 hour Thanksgiving dinner. Below is the only picture I took to my dismay but let me tell ya, that ballroom was fit for a king.
We had beautiful dinner music by talented musicians who played violins, the piano and flute.
Hubby finally got his wii and all I can say is we have had more fun with that wii than any of our other games in the past. We’ve always been Nintendo, Game Cube and the like buffs but now, I can’t even imagine dragging those old games out anymore. Hubby and I have enjoyed tennis, baseball, bowling and golf from the comforts of home and I’ll say I’m having a little TOO much fun. I say that as both of my arms are equally sore and my legs are so sore too. As much as I enjoyed baseball my arm can’t take another game right now, that pitching did a number on me. It’s a good thing I’m ambidextrous as I can switch arms when one hurts too much. Our favorite games at the moment are tennis and golf.
It’s weird that I didn’t take pictures in TX as Hubby would always make sure I had my camera with me. I think we were absorbing more than taking pictures.
Now that we are back home (up north), I feel like we can finally begin to settle down. There is so much to enjoy here and I know we are going to be taking in a lot in the months to come.
Below is a picture I took of downtown yesterday. The holidays are upon us and the town is coming to life with Christmas décor.
Wow, my second post of the day, I’ll say I’m doing pretty good since I haven’t posted in quite some time.
Hubby and I went to visit with Hubby’s mom November 12 -13. Ma is such a very special mom to my Hubby and she loves me and has been the best mother-in-law I could ask for. She became “ma” to me when Hubby and I were dating and I’ve called her ma just like Hubby from that moment on.
The first day we were there we took ma to Wal-Mart where she just loves to shop. And then ordered pizza as that’s what she wanted for dinner. The next day she was up for us taking her to the Steak House down the street and that’s exactly what we did. We sat with her and visited and reminisced once again about old times. I never met Hubby’s father but for some reason, I feel like I know him just a bit from the stories I’m told. He was a tease and loved to joke and ma tells the best stories about him. Pa passed away in 1995 just before Hubby and I met and I can tell ma still misses him after all these years.
She used to play Nintendo up until just a couple years ago but now her vision has failed and it’s too hard for her to use the controller and play at the same time. She keeps herself busy by embroidering quilts and is a part of the “Red Hats Society”. She loves keeping up with different functions and activities and even asks Hubby from time to time to write articles for her to publish in the local paper.
Hubby is her baby boy and she calls him when she needs thread, stamps, or whatever and let me tell ya, he’s her Baby Boy on the spot and fills whatever order she places. He loves ma so much and dotes over her like a good loving son should. That’s just one of the many, many things I love about my honey.
That wraps up our time with ma and here’s a picture below of Hubby with ma. He always gives ma the whisker treatment on the neck and I always get a kick out of her jokingly yelling out his name!
I fell off the Blog wagon and it’s hard to get up, due to being so far behind. I thought I was going to have time to blog when we were back home but for some reason, blogging and vacationing don’t mix well with me. Now let’s see, where was I
We left St Louis on Monday November the 12th and went to Missouri to visit Hubby’s Sister and her Son and daughter-in-law and their two daughters. Little Connie was born just hours before we arrived at the hospital.
Baby Connie was born just hours before we arrived. What another precious little girl God has given our nephew his wife.
Proud parents of two very special little girls. Daddy is holding Samantha and Mommy with her precious new bundle of joy. Samantha just loves her new little sister and we were told that she cried when the nurses took her baby sister from the room.
Bobby’s Sister aka grandma. She’s so proud of her kids and she just adores her grandbabies so much.
Great Uncle and Aunt get in on this exciting day. I was honored to be handed the baby the moment we walked in the room, I must have bonded with her for an hour or so. How sweet it was to hold my Great Niece Connie. Sweet little Samantha was so shy and didn’t remember us although she did let us give her a little hug goodbye when it was time for us to leave.
What a wonderful visit we had with family and we look forward to seeing all of them again sometime.
I’ve been working on a few pictures from our trip so here goes the first couple days.
Our first night we met up at Ryan and Lauren’s house. Ryan and his mom had prepared 3 different kinds of brownies chocolate, spice and pumpkin. And they also had flat bread crackers, veggies and humus, yummo! What a treat after our trip. Then Lauren showed up with her boyfriend Kevin and we all went out to dinner.
Unfortunately Lauren had to get back to the campus so I only have this one picture with her and Kevin.
Family Night at a wonderful restaurant in Downtown
The next day Ryan and Danni met us and we took them out for lunch and then we went over to visit with Hubby’s family.
Pictures of Ryan and Dani
Dinner with the family, Hubby’s absolute favorite Mexican restaurant for nearly 30 years.
After dinner Luke and Trey started in on basketball out in the drive. Hubby enjoyed that too.
We are having the time of our lives and our trip has been just what the Dr. ordered. We spent our first two days in St Louis visiting with family. Then we went on to visit with Hubby’s sister and our nephew and his family. Our nephew and niece were due to have their little girl on the same day we arrived. With much delight, we made it the same day little Connie was born and was able to see her just hours after the delivery. That was totally not planned but such a wonderful highlight of our trip. Hubby and I now have 2 great nieces and 1 great nephew on Hubby’s side of the family. After our visit there, we were off to visit ma (Hubby’s mom) for a couple days and then we made our way home. We arrived Wednesday evening and we’re having the time of our lives and we have plans to stay here through Thanksgiving weekend.
There is just not enough words to express our joy to be back into our home and to be in the middle of all our stuff. We left here and moved up north on August 26th and have been staying in a hotel up until just two nights ago when we crawled back into our own bed. There is truly no place like home and we’re looking forward to the day when we can be back into the middle of all our stuff for a while.
I have some pictures to share but I may not get to them ‘til after our return north. So just for now, we’re taking advantage of our time together.
