Christmas Frivolity

Our Christmas Cedar getting weighed down....

Family.  What are you describing, G?

Our Christmas party

2 kinds of soup, crackers, cheese, bread, fruit tray, nuts, sweets, drink, cookies etc.

Time to eat!

Wait! One more thing!

Thank you everyone for lovely presents!

So cozy with a roaring fire - no chestnuts though.

M guarding the loot

Looks like Santa already dropped by - a little early....

Our camera mugger

Little D and Da playing with presents.

Christmas Prep, 2012

Our Christmas tree this year was a Cedar we cut down in the back yard. It might have worked out OK except the stand was cracked and we couldn't water it...hence, it became dry and very prickly and started dropping little prickly "leaves" about a week after coming inside...Oh well, it WAS different!

Trimming the tree

The tree looking pretty

Action!

We have to wear gloves to put the trimming on!

D and D watching Father Christmas Santa Claus light the SAU Christmas tree.

Are we in tune?  Playing violin this year.

Getting settled for the programme

Little D took a photo of the wreath.  I kinda like the little candy canes in it.

More of Little D's photography handiwork

End of the programme

Little D was the only one to stand with Santa.  Yay for her!

LIttle D adding her bit to the tree.

Winter Garden

November 18.  Greens

Broccoli and brussel sprouts etc.  11/18.  Herb garden in background.

Covered red-leafed lettuce. 11/18

Compost pile ready to dig in somewhere.

A still-growing broccoli close-up. 11/19

After reaping 3 large heads - December 7.  I honestly couldn't believe this broccoli - haven't been able to grow it like this before! Thank you, God - - and it was delicious!

Collard Greens

Brussel Sprouts  11/19

The red lettuce does well in the cold

Peas.

Various greens

A Quick trip to Arizona

D's very special day finally arrived and I was able to take a day off work and fly out for the big graduation from medical school.  Congrats, "sweet Dee"!   Maybe we'll have to change the name to "Dr. Dee" now!  Well done.  And even though there's another site for little J, I can't resist at least a few pics here!

My little man

D waiting for her turn

The class of 2012 - sorry my focus wasn't better!

I just can't say how proud we are of you, D, and all your hard work these past 4 years!

Happy little family.

Speech time!

The other grandparents...Lucky bums to live so close!

Behind D is her present from M - a lovely procedure/massage table. (notice J engrossed with the phone...)

Hi, precious J!  What a beautiful little boy you're growing into!

Silver Comet Bike trail

Another relatively cold (at nights) biking camping trip.  This time we were at Silver Comet trail in Georgia, near Atlanta.  This trail is a "rail to trail" type so very gradual altitude changes and quite straight.  The mornings were frosty but during the day it was actually very warm - into the mid to high 60s.  We had perfect weather!

In the Rockmart campground group area - a large field.

A lot of people huddled around the little fire, especially in the mornings.

Camping in style

We divided into several groups  - a 50 mile group, 25 mile, 12 mile and 6 - 8 mile.  I decided to accompany the 6-8 mile group.  Here is one of the train tunnels on the trail.   This is where our group turned around.

We had some time to kill while waiting for the rest of the group to catch up so did some "mountaineering".

Solo'ing...

Smile!

Beautiful fall colors

Even on the short run, we had to stop and wait several times...

Part of the trail.

A shimmering lake along the way.

We decided to stop for lunch here.

Nom, nom, nom.....

 C did the 50,  D did the 6-8.  Very proud of them for what they managed.  Only one accident, and that was a parent!  (Broke a bone in her wrist.) Last trip we had a dislocated knee!

Good-bye til next time!