Getting ready and being thankful

Sunday, November 30, 2008

The weather is turning downright COLD and the sleet pellets are covering the ground. Findlay is enjoying this new treat...something to eat and smell!! Thanksgiving day was quiet with a small celebration here at the house. Just two people and three dogs!! It was relaxing and fun for all of us. Loads of food and left-overs for all members of the party!!

This weekend was outside decorating time. We put up garland on the new side porch and the fence-line. We decided to try something new and added 1000 lights to the outside trees. You can see from the pictures that it looks...interesting. Not exactly what I had invisioned, but a good first year. We will need a taller ladder to get the real affect for next year!!

Now we are working inside, eating turkey sandwiches and cranberry sauce. Eating left-over pie and drinking cidar. Can you tell that it is COLD outside!!??

Assignment Completed

Sunday, November 16, 2008

As many of you know, I have been planning our professional organization's fall meeting for the past 11 months. Yes - 11 months!! It has been a labor of love filled with joyful and somewhat less joyful moments. I just wanted to report that the event went very well. We had a record attendance just under 800 people. This is pretty good considering it is 80% of our total membership.

Our speakers are now gone, including those that stayed after the meeting to visit. I am about to head to grade some papers in bed...translated...fall asleep early. But wanted to say thank you for all the thoughts and prayers. They were essential in making me survive the meeting and the prep. I am also including a little photo of my newest toy... I am now officially the PRESIDENT of the organization...so I get to have a gavel!! How funny is that!!?? I might take it home at Christmas to keep the day 'orderly'.....

Spooky Night

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Halloween has come and gone with the ghosts and goblins, witches and vampires, princesses, tramps, Indiana Jones and Spidermen all passing by to say hello. We had about 60 or so trick-or-treaters stop by last night. It was a chilly but nice night out for them. Strangely there were about 100 less than last year - much to Carrie's dismay. This was her first year home and she only had about 1/3 of the typical numbers. The folks were also older - not many little ones this year. But it was a fun time. We sat on the porch and drank hot cider while the people gathered. Our outdoor path was a HUGE HIT with most of the neighbors who dropped by with their children. All of them had been watching our 'construction' over the summer!!! Nice to have good neighbors around for sure.

Findlay, Koda and Cheyenne did pretty well inside chewing on a special treat - pig hooves. YUCKY!!! But these guys love them. Today is a bit of raking and loads of school work. Oh yeah - fun fun fun fun fun. I hope that all of you had a very scary Halloween!!