2nd anniversary

Blogging was supposed to be my resolution for 2010, but I actually got a head start on that one and started blogging on New Years' Eve 2009.  I really enjoyed blogging that first year...what happened last year, I don't know.  It wasn't a lack of "enjoying" as much as a lack of time I think.  But I've got some projects lined up for 2012 that I'll want to post more frequently.  I'm also planning a 365, well, 366 since this is a leap year, picture-a-day.  My plan is to post all 366 days, but I feel an internal balk when I but that down in..ink...cyber ink?..too much committment, yikes!  To make a long story even longer, I'm going to blog more because I like it.

The Nockinbirds had an impromptu picnic today while out running errands.  In other words, we drove through Whataburger and then to a park.  I guess this is the last day that I'll be driving "Rudolpha" around.  Don't worry.  Character car will return...we have bunny ears.

The glory of a fried pie on an unseasonably warm afternoon, mmmm.

It was a little odd to walk out on the pier...that was on dry ground.  Not a boat dock in this county is open.  You can see why.

It did give us an opportunity to go "beach combing."  The guy in the red shirt was finding arrowheads left and right.

Loverboy made a few discoveries of the same.

This was my most interesting find.  And if there was a market for "lake" glass as opposed to "sea" glass, I'd have a new job for the new year.  We found some pull tabs from old aluminum cans, lots of the cans too.  Quite a few pairs of sunglasses of vaguely '80s vintage, shot gun shell casings, odd bits of lumber, pieces of brick, and what looked like was once a condom right next to an empty pack of birth control pills.  I didn't take a picture, because...yuck, but now I think I should have.

Later this afternoon,

Little Miss has gotten the hang of her really big-big girl bike.

Then she got some jump time in.  And I just realized what negligent parents we are.  She wasn't wearing a helmet on the bike, and here she's jumping without the net on her trampoline. 

I'm ready for the Christmas dismantling to begin, so I thought I'd better capture where we put everything this year.  It was fun decorating our amazingly fabulous house for our first Christmas here.

Elvis' Graceland was at home on bar of the dining side of the kitchen along side the gingerbread village.

I could do a whole post just on our Christmas nightlights, but I think I'll go room by room over the next few days.  This one is in Little Miss' bathroom.

Along with a variety of musical ornaments and snowglobes.

And the garland with all the Winnie-the-Pooh ornaments, which I started collecting, oh, TEN years before she was even born. 

In celebration of the changing of the year, Loverboy built a fire in our chicken bingo fire pit.  If it hadn't been almost 70 degrees outside, it would have been fun to sit nearby and roast marshmallows.  But I have a strict internal control that will only let me do that if it is below 60 degrees.  Maybe later this week.

He did pop in regularly to partake of our farewell-to-junk-food-fiesta.  Eat it up and get rid of it!  I love New Years'

The fun has just about wiped out Molly and Emily.

Happy New Year and welcome, welcome 2012!

Exterior Illumination

 I couldn't stand the thought of our first Christmas in our fabulous new nest being one without exterior illumination.  My plans were much grander, requiring extension ladders and safety harnesses; but, alas, Loverboy is still needed in his surprise calling as a nurse, aiding Mawmaw in her (now moving pretty quickly!) surgery recovery.  She was cruising her walker and  putting up dishes from the dishwasher (!) when Little Miss and I were down Waco way this weekend.  You can't keep a Mawmaw down I tell you.  Anyway, I scaled back my illumination design for this year, but the lights and roof clips are ready for next year!  Note the dark Little Miss presence under the tree/in front of the lights on the right.  The raised fist with a bent arm has become her pose of favor lately.

Loverboy really wanted a tree in the front window.  Of course, that's Little Miss's playroom and the living room is at the back of the house.  Molly to the rescue!  A veritable forest of interior illumination is available at her house.  We went with the slim-line so as to leave plenty of room for play.  And decorated with unbreakable ornaments because it is the playroom.

My only complaint is the front door wreath.  It's lighted, battery-operated with a timer, but the LED lights...I don't like 'em.  Why do the colors have to be so...wrong.  Multi-color, but not the right multi-colors.  Oh, well.  Check back for the interior tour!