Decorations & Celebrations

 

Well I planned on getting this post completed before Christmas but that didn't happen. So you're gonna be reading about what lead up to the big day. Since I was going to be hosting the book club at the house I wanted to get the tree up and the house decorated. Well I don't necessarily go all out in decorating but I do a little but I wanted to share some of our new tree decor. 

David saw this one on FB and so I went in and customized it and surprised him by ordering it.  I think it's perfect. LOL. I think the people are close to looking like us but the saying definitely works. 

One year while in Missouri visiting family we stopped in at Missouri Star Quilt Co. and Pamela bought me the sewing related Christmas ornaments and I got them on the tree this year.

  

I put my little red truck ornaments on my new lazy Susan

Then while in Fredericksburg David found a new Texas ornament and I found a tool chest ornament that reminded me of David.

 

Finished product with the tree skirt I made for our first Christmas together. Dang that skirt is 45 years old and it's still together. In the background you can see the stockings hung on the book shelf.  Our fire place mantel has the natural shape of the tree so it won't hold the normal stocking holders and I won't let David put hooks on the underside of it.

Saturday Dec 2 I drove into Houston for the WTS Book Club Meeting. I hadn't been or seen many of the ladies in almost a year. Their book was the The Christmas Book Store by Jenny Colgan.  It was about family reconnections and one sister finding herself by helping re-create an aging book store that was failing in business. And at the same time found love. She help the shop owner also overcome his past and learn more about his family.

 On Monday Dec 4th the Sassy Stitchers Quilt Bee I go to in Cameron held our Christmas celebration. We had pot luck and a white elephant gift exchange and some even did some sewing. Judy showed off her finished house quilt top.  Sew cute and colorful.

I snapped a few pictures of the various gifts and people involved. This tea towel was funny as you can see from Nancy's reaction.

We also went around the circle telling a story or a tradition around the holidays.

Tiffany's white elephant gift was Christmas decor and she told us how many of her decorations were destroyed by accident when they moved.  No one stole her happiness by stealing her white elephant gift. But unfortunately Lori wasn't so lucky with her white elephant gift. I stole it. The rug is now in front of my kitchen sink.

 

Thursday Dec 14th rolled around and it was time for the G3 (aka Gause Girl Guild Book Club). We had pot luck and enough food to feed an army. Everyone brought something. And some brought gifts to share with everyone. 

Our book up for discussion was The Monkey's Raincoat by Robert Crais. We didn't much discussing done to be honest. We had too much fun laughing and talking. Plus a white elephant gift exchange. Such a fun group of ladies.

The Monkey's Raincoat is about an LA private detective Elvis Coe who was hired to find Ellen Lang's missing husband who had taken their son. Only he didn't take the son and there was more to the story than she ever thought possible.  Not a bad book but Elvis was very confident in himself. Not totally a bad thing.

 

Kerry and everyone just learned that the Gnome could grow tall. I bought one for the sewing bee white elephant too. I should have bought one for myself. Oh well maybe next year.  

Gifts from everyone and my white elephant gift the succulent planter. We also collected books to give to a local Nursing Home and Rehab to help refresh their resident library. Maybe a tradition for G3?...

 

Such a fun evening. One year anniversary done and we're ready for another year of reading.

Pamela has finally finished asking the girls to be her bridesmaids. Only two of them actually lived in Bryan/College Station area so getting the task completed took some planning but everyone said Yes.

  

 

Kaleb is almost done. I believe he has one more guy to ask. He'll get it done soon. A picture of Nick is MIA but here's the pictures we have so far.

 

He asked his sister to stand on his side and she said sure thing.

Of course capturing a picture isn't always easy when Kaleb is involved. LOL.  But he's learning pictures are mine and Pamela's thing. Poor guy he doesn't have a chance in escaping.

5 YEARS gone by.                       It's hard to imagine but on December 21st, 2018 I said Goodbye to Cyfair ISD and my friends/co-workers. Retirement at last. And the next day the moving van showed up and moved our debris to the Rock'n K.

 

I've changed and the Rock'n K has changed.

This 'Rock'n K" was made by my friend Sheryl's son Aaron.   We've gone from raw land with only a barn that we added what I called the mini mansion thinking we'd stay in it while the house was built. David stayed in it a couple of times.

We did our version of the American Gothic picture 

We added cows and a donkey that we named Jerry.

Ground was broke, then the foundation was poured weeks later before sunrise.

Up goes the house More fencing and penning area..

We have seen many a beautiful sunsets that buildings obscured in the city

and nights on the patio with a fire and maybe even an adult drink.

We've experienced wildlife of all kinds but this is the cutest. And our babies have made new friends of a different kind from themselves.

The sidewalk entrance and parking area has changed even more than these pictures. Crepe Myrtles are taller than the Welcome sign.

From no landscaping to landscaping and a growing landscape. All thanks to the hard work of David. He works in the 106 degree weather to get it done.

Even since this picture the Belinda's dream roses have been blooming like crazy.

Home sweet home. What will the next 5 years bring....

That's it for now.

Until next blog...May the Good Lord fulfill you with His promises and bestow on you His many blessings