The Week Before Thanksgiving

Kinda sad Christmas is on our minds and Thanksgiving isn't here yet.  I actually have more memories of Thanksgiving than Christmas---how mom was up in the wee hours putting a HUGE turkey in the oven, helping cut up (and de-seed) grapes for the fruit salad, the home-made date-nut bread, the cut-glass turkey that held cranberry jelly, and most of all the wonderful celery stuffing!!!
I remember one particular Thanksgiving when Carol and I (and Cathy, I think) got new red plaid flannel shirts to wear at Thanksgiving.  That was just so exciting!  And who can forget the hunters that came every year from the New York/New Jersey area.  

I am thankful for those memories!!

Nancy and I went to Hobby Lobby last weekend.  We love looking around this store---so much to see.

This pic was taken at Cracker Barrel after we had lunch there.

The day before that, Nancy and I met Cathy in Arkport to attend a local shop's Christmas opening.  We mostly just look around and enjoy the decorations.  None of us need a thing!

 I'm in this pic if you look closely:)

Of course, a lunch break at the Arkport Cafe.

All of Judy's (and Tommy's) VanDaff kids were home this summer. 

Tommy sent me this a few weeks ago---a bit late in posting.  

Beautiful, happy photo!

*******

I met Nancy at Lacey's house to drive to Arkport together.  While waiting, I got out of my car and snapped this pic of "Swim-Swim"

in his favorite spot, watching the world go by.

Festive fall decorations---nice job, Lacey.

******

This from Timmy (in Louisiana)

Had another 3-vehicle convoy on Monday go to the Vineyard Church in Baton Rouge (which served as a base camp for volunteers coming in from  around the U.S. to help flooding victims). This time we had to move machinery, tools and supplies back to the New Orleans Vineyard where much of it is kept in storage containers (train car metal cargo type).
Anyway, here is a quick pic of my truck. I'm hauling an open trailer carrying the "Bobcat," and the bed of my truck is full of stuff, too. :-)

Thanks for your continued volunteer effort, Timmy.  These tragedies fade from the news, but their effects, sadly, linger on.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD

This is the first year I have ever participated in OCC.  It is such a great operation, run by Samaritan's Purse.  I chose to pack my box for a girl, age 5-9.  It was fun picking items out.  I'm not tooting my own horn, just putting it out there as some of you may want to participate next year!

*********


Steve and Claire were in California about three weeks ago and stayed a couple of nights right in
a vineyard!

Their room.  Perfect for wine lovers!

*********

 Here is another picture from Oktoberfest.  Just in case you didn't get enough!

Thought this might be of interest.  Jeff says the Germans love their keys.  He is right.  This is my hotel room door (when we vacationed for five days on the Romantic Road, 2 1/2 hours north of Munich.

Sure Europe has Air-Conditioning. It’s Called ‘Open The Window’ (Title is from an article I found online about why Europeans think Americans are stupid to have air conditioning.)

And this was the air conditioning in the hotel.   Germany is not big on air conditioning.

  This was just steps from my room.

Even so, I had a great time!

*****

Please keep praying for Patty.  She is having a rough time, and, understandably, discouraged.

Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Halloween and Patty's Birthday

HALLOWEEN

Lacey hosts a Halloween party every year.

Nancy came as the bird lady (in Home Alone 2) and won

the prize for most creative---great costume!

 Patty, Renee and Renee's daughter (Tara)

came as "Snap, Crackle & Pop.  Really cute!

Barry loves his coffee almost as much as I do!

Erin, with one of her fellow schoolteachers, was "Joy" from the Disney movie "Inside Out."  Great look  alike!

Sisters, Nancy-Patty-Cindy

I was a Goth Girl---crummy costume of the nite.

I didn't get a photo of my grandson in costume,

but I got this one of his "haul!"

Halloween in TEXAS

 Two of Tommy & Judy's grandkids went as Heisman Trophies!

Now this is original!  Daughter Lindsay made the costumes for her son, Reese, and Alison's son, Evan.

 They all look great.  However, the blue outfit (alien?) would

make me sooooo  claustrophobic:)

My granddaughter, Catherine, as Tinkerbell---just too cute!

Timmy and Kerry always get tons of kids on Halloween.  They  make it fun for them!

Happy Fall Everyone!

Sisters' Birthday Luncheon for PATTY!

 Renee waiting for her French onion soup to cool.

 Patty and Renee enjoying Tommy's "FLAT SISTER" book.

Lots of laughs!!

Patty, Renee, Cathy, myself and Nancy

 Socks to keep Patty warm this winter.  Not a great gift for KIDS---

GREAT gift for us seniors:)

(I always think of the movie, A Christmas Story, where the brothers open socks and throw them over their shoulders!

 Love this picture of Nancy and Patty.

We sisters are all very different, but we are always there for each other.  What a blessing!

 Cathy enjoying the birthday cards.

 More socks!

 Happy Birthday, PATTY!

Finally, dessert.  Many people like to share and taste each others' dishes.  I, for one, 

am totally against this practice!  I order it, I want it---and don't want a taste of yours---especially dessert!

Do you agree with me?!

Thanks for the great time, RENEE!

*******

When I returned from Steve's, the first thing I did was head to Renee's salon.  Cathy happened to be there the same day.

 Pigging out at the new Chic Fil A near Steve's in NJ.  This was my second visit in two weeks!

Autumn walk in November.  New York, despite its many negatives, is a wonderful place to live.

I love my granddogs!!

The weekend of Nov. 5,  Steve took Lola and Alex (along with Andrew) to the Jersey Shore.  These two labs love the water.  As seniors, who knows if this is their last adventure to the beach.  I am so happy to see them still enjoying life---sort of like us!  Every day is a gift.


This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.




That's all for now!