Christmas

I haven't really been able to do much blogging so much going on to get back to normal (whatever that is). But here's a recap of Christmas. Grandpa Harold was here. We invited all the family over to our house for Christmas day. Only one of Tony's brothers did not come. Two of our neices were not present either,(they were missed). The focus became our nephew Brian who told us to save the date. Yes, he's getting married to a women he met on an internet dating service. I guess it really works, my son talked to someone a few days before and that guy had met his bride the same way. Just a note I would recommend any one who uses these types of services to check credentials of the site and spend some real time finding out about the other person, I'm sure for all the success stories there are probably some horror stories. We got on the computer and he showed us some photos of her. Lovely. The weddings in Seattle (her home) as you know we live in Arkansas so it will be quite a trip. He took addresses so the invites could be sent.

We also spent time taking pics of grandpa and the grandkids. I had them printed out so he could put them in the RV. He seemed to enjoy himself and so did every one else. All in all a good Christmas.

Bringing In The New Year

Yes here we are 3 freezing fools at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas on New Years Day. We live in Fayetteville, Arkansas which is of course home of the Arkansas Razorbacks football team. This year our team got to play against the Missouri Tigers. We froze as we kept hoping for something to change the mostly discouraging game we were watching. To no avail. The only thing that changed was the direction of the wind, blowing right in our faces. We were the home team and were located on the side of the press box. Which is the west side and not a ray of sunshine shed of course. We froze. I hate to say after 3 minutes into the 3rd quarter and a 28 to 7 score, Stacy and I went back to the RV, where we continued to watch the downfall of our team on national TV. So sad. We love our HOGS. We hoped they would win. But it's been many years since Missouri played at the Cotton Bowl so I guess they just brought it that day. Anyway HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!

It's Christmas Day!
God Bless Everyone!
Have a very Merry Christmas!

Tony and I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas!

Santa's Coming Soon!

8 Days till Christmas

Deck the Halls, ya'll!

9 Days till Christmas

Santa's checking his list.
Have you been naughty,
or nice?

13 days till Christmas!

14 Days till Christmas

Egg Nog

After our watch party of The Hills Tony came into the office with me and started watching news the evening news. Meanwhile I was reading several blogs I love to visit, and many of them had egg nog and recipes on them. Tony noticed one and said "Um, wouldn't eggnog be good right now?" I said yes and told him to run down to the corner store when suddenly I realized we use to make it ourself many times. Just not in a while. I jumped up and headed for the kitchen. In a couple of minutes it was done. Nutmeg and all. Tony and I ended our evening with a delicious cup of eggnog. My husband was right it would be good, and it was.

Newport Harbor

Season Finale

The hills ended its season tonight. Tony and I got a little caught up in the drama of Lauren, Heidi, Spencer, Whitney, Audrina, Brody. My guess was that Lauren would go to Paris, and sure enough she's going.

Tony and I also are goofy for Newport Harbor the real OC. He and I went out to Newport Beach this summer and let me tell you it is one of my favorite places. Something about that area. Balboa Island, and Ruby on the Pier. The Fun Zone and the rental boats of all variety. The Ferry crossing, so romantic on a warm summer evening. Everyone lined up to pull on to the ferry in their cars, or my favorite just walking and sitting on the benches. Take a ride on the ferry yourself, you can check it out on the web site http://www.talesofbalboa.com


Here are some of my memories of Newport Harbor....

15 Days till Christmas

The Girls Have A Tree

Saturday Tony took Stacy's car to get the tires replaced at Sears. Meanwhile I went over to the girls apartment with the intention of getting these girls in the Christmas spirit. They've had some tough times lately and it seemed to me a tree might just perk them up a bit. I pulled out some ribbon and told them what I had in mind.There was some orange ribbon in the bag I brought over, and I tied it around some candles the Marissa had, to give them a little flair. It sort of started getting them excited about the tree. Marissa was going to see if her mom would bring Marissa's tree over to the apartment, but she lives quite a distance from them and declined the task. I decided to just go to Wal-Mart and buy these girls a tree. Prelit so it's easy to put up. We found some adorable cubed decorations for the treeat the dollar tree. They were aqua or robin egg blue little glass squares, with a white snowflake on each side, sooo cute. Then Stacy loved these golden yellow feathered balls so we got some of them. We also got some little silver balls, and a big star to top the tree. We headed back to the apartment and the girls started decorating. It came out great. I can only hope they feel more like Christmas now. MERRY CHRISTMAS GIRLS I LOVE YOU!

Our Christmas Tree

This week we decorated the Christmas tree. Tony pulled down all the ornaments and decorations. After sorting through things a plan started developing, and I saw how I wanted the tree to look this year. Red and gold ornaments in several sizes, with lots of ribbon. Strings of beads draped daintily around the tree. Some poinsettas and berries placed here and there for a little drama. The result.... excellent! Exactly what I wanted. My husband Tony said he thought it was my best tree ever. My youngest daughter said it looks gooood. I think that's a compliment. I told her that her momma has "skills". She laughed. My mantle is the proud display space for the hand made Santa and Mrs. Claus that belonged to my mother-in-law Connie. They are made from antique bowling pins. That's right under there cute clothing is a wooden bowling pin. I think they're adorable. We have two beautiful white angels on the dining table they each hold two six inch red candles. We have lots of lovely Christmas wreaths and some lovely garland for the mantle and over our French doors in the dining room area.
Hope all of you have as much fun, joy and love as we do when decorating your home this holiday season. Let us not forget the true meaning of the season. The birth of our lord and saviour Jesus. God gave his only son for us who he loved so much. Give thanks for what you have, faith in God, love of family and friends, and may you and all have peace this Christmas holiday.
With love me

Cotton Bowl Bound

Arkansas Razorbacks are Cotton Bowl Bound!

The University of Arkansas pulled out the season and now they are headed for dallas and the Cotton Bowl.

We planned to go to the big bowl game in Dallas. I immediately got on the computer and looked for tickets. Me and every other Arkansas football fan must have been scrambling for tickets for I couldn't pull up any tickets until the day after they announced the BCS decisions.

Finally I was able to purchase 4 tickets, I only needed 3 but no one would sell 3 I could get 2 or 4 but not 3. My father in law owns a motorhome and he's going to meet us in Dallas. We'll stay with him at the stadium with all the tailgators. This game is on New Year's Day so New Year's Eve in Dallas will be great. We like to go to the Hard Rock Cafe there and enjoy the bands and bring in the New Year.

Razorback fans love their HOGS we love them so much we devise all sorts of Hog creations like the Hog mobile. I've included a few photos of this vehicle.

Lights of the Ozarks

Our small town still has a wonderful tradition of lighting up the downtown square. The old post office which is the center of the square is the centerpiece of the lights. The sidewalk and trees surrounding the old post office ablaze with 1/2 million lights, and yes I have heard some say this will be the last year to have the lights due to the cost and the energy consumption. You see Fayetteville wants to be a green city and having the lights would go against that direction. All I can say is when the lights go on the families and friends all gather to see the lights, to enjoy a feeling of Christmas and the little downhome feeling you get in the little one block space that is our square. To hear the Christmas carols, to catch a picture of a child or grandma, a mom and dad under the mistletoe or beside a glimmering archway. Then theirs the pony rides, the carriage rides with the horse drawn carriages and bells around their necks and tails in braids with Christmas ribbons red and green. Even a camel for the children to ride. The smell of roasted peanuts and the wonderful hot chocolate and cotton candy. The memories the family traditions that have been built by this wonderful event cannot be measured. So here are a few snapshots of Tony and I at the Lights of the Ozarks Fayetteville, Arkansas.

BIG DOG

One of the things I do is usher for the local university at the different events, and last night my husband and I worked the Chris Tolbin concert. This young Christian Rock singer was very entertaining. His music was easy to listen to and most of the show is actual audience participation. He sends a simple message with his music, praise God, and our lord Jesus. His guest speaker during this concert event was Louie Giglio, who spoke on our lord and savior and the molecular connections to him. It was amazing, and powerful. He spoke of the lord, and how in just his breathe, his word, he said let their be light, and of course we have our sun. But then Louie showed how there were 3 other stars many mega sizes larger than our son. He showed a relationship to them using a golf ball as representing the earth and how many earths could fit in our sun and then in the 3 other stars. The last and furthest star from the earth was given the name something Cannis. The something I'm sorry I don't remember the word meant Big and Cannis of course Dog. Louie told us how in just the breathe of our lord he created such light. I cannot justify in my writing the message we heard that night, but it was powerful. He led into how a thing called laminum a human protien that holds everything in our body is the form of the cross. That's right a cross. Amazed. You would be if you had been their to see it. After describing the miracle of creation and showing a slide show presentation of DNA and the formation of the human chromosomes from the parents that come together to make the DNA that makes you and me who we are. I am just simplifying the message he gave, but when you saw the laminum or luminum and you just become amazed. We were shown a diagram of the protein and it was in the shape of the cross. That's right the protien that holds all of our parts together is the shape of the cross. I totally loved the concert and the message meant so much to me as I have been going through some personal problems in my life and it was a great weight off me to hear this message and to have it laid out so plainly in front of me that god is my saviour and that Jesus died to carry the weight of all mans sins. And that who so ever believeth in him too shall be forgiven that message lifted the huge burden that I had been feeling. Then to hear Louie remind me that our heavenly father has already written our lifes out for us and he is here with us and he will take care of it. He does all, we must believe. For if we stop believing in him our world will get harder. When we choose to carry the burden instead of giving it to god then we have eliminated the very reason for his being. He loves us so much he wants us to give him our troubles and not to carry them.
Well a wonderful sermon and a great concert. Peace be to everyone and may god bless each and every one of you tonight, tomorrow, and all the days of our lives. Amen

Color Splash

Tony and I are painting the old home stead. Just a clue for all you home owners, don't wait 14 years to paint your home. My home is drinking up paint. It is so dry the old paint had to be wiped of to assure the new paint would stick. What old paint was left on our home was a powder as it seems. We were unaware of the condition of our home until this time.

The old house color was that good old country blue. Now a richer darker color and crisp white trim with white accent lamps, and house numbers. Our door will be red but we haven't gotten that far yet. We are so tired but we are loving seeing our house come alive with the new paint. Here's a few shots of some of our crew in their paint gear.

This summer my husband and I vacationed in California where we visited his aunt, and other family members. While there we saw lovely homes and beautiful water and boats. We are busy painting our home trying to give it life again, as the color is worn off our home and needs dire help. We decided we loved the homes we saw while at Balboa Island, CA. So when choosing our paint we decided to go with a rich blue as our primary color, and a crisp white trim color for some fachia boards and the porch railings. Above are some of the memories of our trip to Balboa Island from this summer. As you can see it is quite beautiful, most days I go to the site for Balboa Bay, a web cam shows time sequenced shots of the ferry crossing the bay. The memory of being on the ferry comes back and I am taken there again with each changing view. There is a quick video of the trip across the bay on Balboa Bay Autorun, check it out for yourself I'm sure you'll enjoy it. And maybe you'll be inspired to want to go to this quaint little place in the middle of the large California scene.

We are nearly done with our paint job on our home and I'll add photos soon to show you my homes transformation from faded country blue to rich nautical blue actually resembling probably more like a Nantucket look. I suppose that is nautical though isn't it? So that's where Debra is as of today.