Whew! What a week, what a week!After enjoying a white Christmas (the first in this area since 1992), we loaded up the car and headed to L.A. (Lower Alabama). We woke up to around 2 inches of the white stuff on Sunday, and discussed whether we should leave or wait.
The news reported that the interstates were fine, so we CH decided to go for it. We got about 20-25 minutes down the road, and I asked FES if he had his passport. Or any id. Or his insurance card. We doubled back, picked up his id, used the bathroom, and off we went...again. We drove in snow all the way south of Birmingham. Unusual, to say the least.
My FIL had arranged a cabin for us to stay in on a lake. Nothing fancy, just the basics, but it was better than staying in a hotel (they don't have room for us in their house). Here's the morning view we had:
Too bad it was so cold...the cabin had a screened-in porch with rocking chairs. "What is there to do in Lower Alabama?" you might ask. You can go to the Army Aviation Museum:
They have this circular room with all of the names of aviators who have lost their lives while in the line of duty. In the middle of the room, there is this statue:
Paying homage to the Boll Weevil is a must when visiting this town in LA:
Isn't she beautiful, all dressed up for Christmas? Oh, and to put my boys' sizes in perspective: I'm 5'9". Yes, I have big boys! We went by the new high school; it just opened this fall after being destroyed by a tornado 3 years ago. CH had to get out on the new field; luckily one of the assistant coaches (who was a former teammate) came by just as we got there.
What else would you do when you're this close to Florida? Go the beach, of course!
It just so happens what one of my blogging friends lives in the area, so we were able to meet up for a while! "Where's the picture?" you ask.Well, Auburnchick doesn't put pictures on her blog, so I didn't take one. I had my camera in my pocketbook, but didn't even get it out.She's the second blogger I've met. It was like we'd known each other forever. Seriously.Her husband discovered that I'm not a mass murderer, and CH was relieved that she wasn't an Armenian man who had just been released from prison. I don't think there was ever a lull in the conversation; I just wish we had more time, because I keep thinking about things I wanted to talk to her about! Guess I'll just have to make another trip down there sometime! We ended the year with new windows. Yes. NEW WINDOWS! They are gorgeous! Here's the before picture:
And the after picture:
Oh. My. The silence is absolutely golden. I'm not feeling any kind of draft as I sit in the living room. I love, love, love these windows! And, one of the best parts is the tax credit we'll get! Here's wishing everyone a Healthy and Happy New Year!
1. This was actually from last week, but having 3 days off from work due to snow/ice.
2. Christmas goodies all ready to go:
3. Feedin' time at our house with all of the boys home. (You can kind of see FES in the background. I think he was afraid he was going to lose a hand.)
Gotta love them, even if they do act pretty goofy sometimes:
4. In the bathroom-over the toilet-at the Tanger Outlet (how thoughtful is this?):
There's no wondering where you're going to put your pocketbook in those stalls!
5. Getting together with friends and getting a present!
Oh, y'all...I wish I could send the smell of the coffee through the 'puter, 'cause it smells wonderful.
Happy birthday to my dear, sweet Mama!Tomorrow is her birthday. When we were younger, we used to see who would be the first person to wish her happy birthday right after Midnight Mass began. We're a little competitive!
The Meteorologists are calling for a White Christmas here in East Tennessee. We'll see if they're right!
We call today "Christmas Adam" at our house, because it's the day before Christmas Eve, and Adam came before "Eve"! We're weird fun like that.
Some people participated in an "Open House" last week, but I wasn't ready, so I didn't participate. So, here is a tour of my house dressed up for Christmas.
One of my SILs gave me this little guy years ago.
Our next door neighbor from Ga. gave us this...it sits on the fireplace insert in the kitchen.
Holiday train that use to have a place at the top of our stairs in SC. It's on the desk next to my kitchen tv.
The front hallway. The tower on the left was a gift from a student. It plays "Away in a Manger"
CH's aunt (now deceased) gave us this plate our first married Christmas.
We don't have a fireplace that has a mantel upstairs, so we put the stockings on the divider between the living and dining rooms. I took this picture before FES was here; there are now 6 stockings!
The tables on either side of the couch. These were gifts from the boys, my MIL; my mom painted the pictures that are framed.
A couple of Santas in the hallways. The lower one is actually a piece of wood that someone painted to look like Santa. I think I got it at the Christmas show in Charlotte when we lived in SC.
The planter on the front porch. My sister (you know, the one who gives me stuff!) gave me the snowman. Another sister supplied the jacket and scarf: they were her sons' (and got passed on to me) when they were little.
This is one of my most favorite decorations. My MIL gave us this Santa. When you turn it on, it snows and plays "Santa Claus is Coming to Town". The runner it's on also came from my MIL.
This is the hi-fi that came with the house. CH wanted to keep something that belonged to the previous owner (who built the house), so this is what we got. I have a few snowmen and Christmas village buildings. This is also where Ally & Pepper have their stockings ready for Santa Paws to fill.
The dining room table from last year, 'cause, heeeeelloooo, this year's table has tins all over it.
Here is our tree this year, before presents. The tree skirt was also a gift from my MIL.
These last pictures are Christmas items that are Danish. They hold a special place in my heart. Enjoy!
