Go Away Clouds

I just want to see the sun!   Oh, I know I shouldn't be complaining since the weather here is much better than up north but I have always after a few days of clouds yearned for the sun.

I know there is a 38 degree difference but......I am getting spoiled.
We ate at Outback tonight because right down the street was a Christmas Light Show......my last one of the season to see.  It was downtown Pensacola right off of Palafox Street.   Palafox is the main street through town and has the feel of New Orleans with the balconies above the sidewalk and the shops offering tables out front to eat a meal or have a drink.  

Sorry - taken with my cell phone and not too clear.

Kacey has major allergies and right now she is scratching all the time.  So tonight she got a pill for itching, a special spray for her paw that she has bitten raw because of itching, cleaned out ears, ear meds, and eye meds.  And a treat for when all is done.  That is all for now.....I have no special plans for New Year's Eve so I am sure I will just be watching tv.  I ALWAYS make my Aunt Clarice's BBQ recipe.   Always!  
Happy last day of 2013!

Too Quiet

It is just too quiet here.  Thanksgiving guests are gone, my brother's week stay is over, Sage (black lab) has gone home, and my - it is just too quiet.  That's ok though.  I am working on updating some items on the computer and learning some computer technology that I needed to sit down and figure out.   

Mom and Ron at Hemingways's.  Ron is in trouble with my Dad.  He gave me a remote to turn my ceiling fan off while in bed (in the middle of the night I sometimes get too cool but don't wish to get out of bed to turn off the fan).   He left without doing the installation and now Dad is doing it.  Ron - you will pay for that!

Looking good Ron!

Mom and Dad celebrating their 60th Anniversary.

This is the ceiling at McGuire's in Pensacola.  Approximately 1.6 million dollars in dollar bills are hanging from the ceiling and walls.  Oh, the food is good, also.

Me taking a picture of Dave taking a picture.

And me......new glasses and hair is too short.  

Winter in Pensacola is SOOOO mild compared to what I am used to.   Most days in the 60's and some go higher and some lower.  The grass is dormant so it has that brownish green to it but so many of the trees keep their leaves or they are pine or palm trees so there is green everywhere.  Not as many flowers as spring, summer, and fall but still lots - especially pansies.  

This picture was taken awhile back.   I thought I would throw up a picture of a nice sunny day.  We have had cloud cover for over a week and would be excited to see the sun!

Christmas Lights

Last night Ron, Dave, and I went to Bellingraph's in Alabama to see the Christmas Lights.   Now, they are known all year round for their beautiful gardens and a home that one can tour.   During the holiday season, they construct an absolutely incredible Christmas Light display that takes 1 1/2 hours to walk through.  It is $15.00 an adult and well worth the money. 

It is about 1 1/2 hours from our house - driving around the Mobile Bay takes time.  I think we found it a pleasant drive.   We drove by a mostly picked cotton field - we are used to seeing corn in Indiana.

The driving by Mobile, the USS Alabama, through the tunnel under the river, and seeing the upper Mobile Bay was interesting.

Spanish moss hangs in the trees like decorations in the parking lot.   I know over a long period of time it can kill off a tree but it sure is pretty.

Once arriving, we ate in their restaurant and had turkey.  It was fine except that I have had so much turkey lately that I am not ready to eat any more.

The lights are beautiful and it is very clear where to walk along the path.  This fountain is my favorite shot.

I have heard that Bellingrath's is the top Christmas Tree light display in the country.   I don't know if that is true but I would not be surprised.  Here is a poinsettia tree in the greenhouse.

This was a stunning display of lights hanging from a tree.  They hung down at least 15 feet long in blues, purples, and white lights.  Wow!

Every path has a different theme.  This path was candles.   It was as if someone saw a candle light display and said - hey, I like that, order 40!

In the main pasture there were groupings of Christmas trees - all in blues, purples, and greens.   It again was stunning.  The last white snow flakes hanging from above set off the winter scene.

We moved into the section with seagull and pelican lights that were at least four feet tall.

The swans were simply majestic in their water home.  These are at least 6 feet tall and yet so delicate.

How about a long path of cheery gingerbread men.  As you can see, if I got too close with my flash, I ruined part of the shot.  I'm learning.

The train was viewed across a pond and the reflection in the water gave you twice as much to look at.

This was quite far away so to see this so clearly shows you how large these objects are set back on the other side of another pond.

The thought process and organization was very evident.   You could never get off the path so it was so easy to follow.  People were enjoying the experience and very well behaved.  

http://www.bellingrath.org/home/

This is my second time at Bellingraph.  The first time was with my friends from Hobart and it rained the whole time.  Much nicer when you are dry and not cold.  The one thing that was mentioned by my brothers is that hardly any lights have a moving display.  Everything is stationary.  You know, that did not bother me in the least bit because I was in awe of all the displays.  It was fun to do with my silly brothers, they enjoyed the ride, especially driving UNDER the river in Mobile.  Just another one of our fun activities while they were here. 

Merry Christmas Everyone

First of all, I hope everyone has had a Merry Christmas.   Our day start like most people's - opening gifts after breakfast. 

After gifts was a great turkey dinner.

Then off for a walk on the beach.   As you can see, we were not the only people with that idea.

Today it was a bit cloudy and in the low 50's.  Brrrrrr.......

Seagulls taking a Christmas day stroll.

Dave in his new jacket.

I am looking for shells.   As you can see by my expression, I take that job very seriously.

After a sandwich this evening, Ron and I drove down the road to a house that has an incredible light show with the music and lights.  So Christmas day was lovely, relaxing, fun, and family.  

Merry Christmas to all!

Christmas Eve 2013

The last few days have been a crazy scheduling of family activities of celebration and gathering for Christmas.  Sunday evening a 60th Wedding Anniversary/Cookie Swap party was held at our house.  Besides the cookies we had chicken, pinwheel sandwiches, pasta salad, and more for our guest.   We were so thankful that all invited attended our little gathering and helped us "new to the neighborhood family" celebrate my parent's 60th.  

Everyone helped and did lots of work to prepare.  My brothers are decorating large gingerbread cookies.  (One gingerbread unfortunately ended up with boobies)

 

Getting the table ready for the cookie swap.  

Mom is taking a break and wearing her new A CHRISTMAS STORY t-shirt.  

Cupcakes were tasty and cleverly put in the shape of a wreath.

Getting the table ready to eat.

Homemade 60 centerpiece that worked out well.

The fire in the fireplace added to the cozy, Christmas holiday feeling even though it was 62 degrees.

Pictures of Mom and Dad early in their marriage.  Everyone loves a few pictures.

Ahhhh.....ready to eat!

Finally time for the cookie swap.   All the men got a plastic holiday tub and walk around the table filling it up with goodies.  Some cheated.   Some ate cookies as they moved around collecting their treats.  Ron (my brother) cheated by putting down a plate of Oreo cookies.  NO STORE BOUGHT RON!!!!  They were all silly and funny and had a great time.

Oh my, so many cookies.  What to take - what to eat........

For all the men, this was their first cookie swap.  All in all, I believe everyone had a good time 

Like I said, family is important to us at Christmas but we always remember the reason for the season.

Some last thoughts.....

• Monday I spent most of the day shopping with my brothers and we did quite well.  My back was in distress and it hurt to breath in so I had to put my shopping before pain.   Don't we all do that ladies?
• Tuesday we went to McGuires for lunch - a favorite in Pensacola and then had our Christmas with Nicole, Lamont, Kray, and Elise.  So fun!   
• Tomorrow is Christmas.  Goodness, it came so fast!  It will be a wonderful day of family, turkey, presents, Disney Parade, and more.
• Dad read The Night Before Christmas as he has done for as long as I can remember.  Tradition!
• And yes, it is coming now......Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!