Miss Elise from her Grandma Susan

We ate at Dairy Queen for supper last week, and of course had to have ice cream for dessert.  I think she liked it.  :) She is such a hoot!!  I’m amazed that Amanda got any good pictures – because we were laughing so hard!  Thought you guys would all enjoy these pics.  I think we can all safely say she gets her eating from her papa!!  HA!

Thanksgiving Day

Butch and I went up to Allen Hall and enjoyed the fantastic meal put together by many capable hands.  We came home and took the usual heavy meal nap after which we waded through this big pile of Black Friday ads.

We did not find one item worth the effort of going out into the masses to purchase. Someone else will have to buy enough to make up for our lack of patriotic duty. Wink, wink.

‎"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It

 turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." -Melody Beattie

I do not know who she is but I like what she says.

Thanks Giving

Tomorrow is the big day. We will be having our thanks giving meal with 150 of our South Texas friends. I plan to tell them and you my thoughts of thanks giving as it is my favorite holiday. Thanksgiving day and Christmas both suffer a similar malady in that they are too often thought of as just another holiday. The family gathers together and eats an enormous amount of food, maybe plays some games, maybe have a few disagreements and then return to their homes and jobs. For a very long time this day has been my favorite holiday because some people do take time to truly reflect on the meaning of the day. Giving thanks from the heart for all we have. Dwelling on what we are blessed with and forgetting what we lack. Some people seem to have difficulty thinking of what they are thankful for. I have difficulty thinking of something I lack! How many times do we say things like, Thank God I was there at just the right time? Isn't it lucky how that turned out?  If we acknowledge those moments for the miracles they are and take just a moment to be sincerely thankful from the bottom of our hearts it is amazing how they multiply and suddenly our days are filled with miracles from morning to night.
So I thank each of you for being our friend and adding so much to our lives and this day of Thanksgiving.

Tuesday is a golf day

Butch had surgery on his back 6 weeks ago today. He has done well, behaved himself and done his exercises. He is very happy to be here and healthy and able to do all the things he has done in years past.
I still feel like I am playing catch up but it is getting better. I am weighing between going to play golf or staying home and washing bedding...still haven't decided. It is amazing how quickly the time fills up!
There is still a bit of a gap between what I want to do (Make bracelets and visit with friends) and what I need to do (wash bedding and clean house) but it will resolve itself shortly. Have a good one!!

It takes awhile

It always takes awhile to settle in...a little bit like moving to a new town. A getting reacquainted process needs to take place and we are still a bit in that period. It is one of the reasons I like to get here earlier. It gives me a head start so I am not adjusting at the same time everyone else is.
I bought a new printer last spring and then about 6 weeks ago it quit working for me. My computer did not recognize it. I know, I know...we have all been there. So I didn't want to deal with it then so I waited till we got here. Today I called  Lexmark and after lots of doing this and that including turning the printer upside down and shaking it at least 5 times they are sending me a new one. My patience is tested to the max when things do not work as they should. Fortunately I am much more patient with people.
It is hot here now and we are running the AC. It is also a routine we are very familiar with. It gets hot for a few days and then a cold front breezes through and we have a few cool days and then it heats up again. What fluctuates is the time periods of each cycle. Fortunately the warm ones outnumber the cold ones or at least we hope so.