2011 Favorites

As I was packing up Christmas decorations,

I was thinking back over the year.

(yes, I am one of those who take down before New Years)

Where did the time go?

It seems as though the year melted away

like an ice cream cone....

gone before I really had time to enjoy it.

Here are a few of my favorite things

shared with you in 2011.

This gorgeous day in January when

the sky was so blue reflected in the lake.

A spring walk in the park with another

blue sky framed with the fresh green leaves

of spring.

Dogwoods of Easter.

Do we detect a nature theme here...............

Surprise wildflower "secret garden"

Sunflower Trail

Fall trip to the Ozarks

Beautiful Lake Greeson, Arkansas

Melrose Plantation tour with my

lovely daughter.

Home for Thanksgiving and Mama's

Rio Somba rose.

Beautiful Christmas gift of Pelicans

on the lake.

Not all was lovely....the drought, the unexpected

surgery, the relentless, record high heat of our summer..

but, for some reason,

 my heart chooses to remember the beauty.

I pray your 2011 was beautiful........

looking forward to the blessings of 2012. 

Till next time.....

                   Carolyn

Merry Christmas

 From Our House To Yours!



A Pelican Brief

As you know, we live in the Pelican State

with the Brown Pelican as our state bird.

We rarely see Pelicans this far north, but

once in a while, we get this awesome experience

and usually it is only for a brief time.

I passed by what is locally known as the

"twin bridges" and as I looked into the lake

cove, this is what I saw. Hundreds of

pelicans, white egrets and "poodle doos"

or "coots"  as some folks call them.

The day is overcast and grey so the

pictures are a little on the grey side as well.

The beauty of our state just speaks to my heart and
I know you all have places of beauty where

 you live as well.

Lots of folks fish from the bank on this

part of the lake. This pickup truck caught my eye.

I know my son-in-law would like it....

pretty cool ride to go fishin' in, I'm thinking.

I know this isn't exactly Christmasy to

most folks, but for us, this is what we

see this time of year.

This brought such joy to my day

and I hope it brightened yours a little also!

Til next time,

               Carolyn

Autumn............again

Not pictures you would expect in December.

As I drive down the street to my house,

this is what I see................

Beautiful fall color...

Isn't it almost Christmas??

I took this one this morning while a misty

 fog was hovering, but this color would

not be quiet!

Even trees that normally just drop

their leaves without turning color

are favoring us with beauty.

I was going to post some Christmas

pictures but just couldn't resist nature.

We had some fall color back in October and

early November. Below freezing

temps the first of December could be

what brought the color out.

I, on the other hand, prefer to think God

just decided to bless us with an extra dose

of beauty right now as we celebrate

the birth of His Son.

"Oh come, let us adore Him!!"

Office Christmas Elves

We're getting into the Christmas spirit

around here, going to great lengths

to bring a smile to the faces of

folks who drop by the church :))

Meet Mrs. Rudolph, Mrs. Santa and Mrs. Christmas Cheer...

(I'm the Frosty Hat lady)

Don't you wish you had a little

Christmas elf to help you get

all your work done?

How about a cute little reindeer like Megan,

who makes sure things run smoothly

for Bro. Randy?

Or a Mrs. Santa like Ilona, who

publishes our bulletins and calendars

and keeps Bro. Kris at the right place

at the right time.......

Or maybe, Mrs. Christmas Cheer, Sharla,

who makes sure our bills are paid and

our paychecks are delivered.....

a favorite of everyone on payday!

As well as decorating ourselves, we like to decorate

 our office area for the holidays.

Keeping the reason we celebrate Christmas

evident to all who enter.

With a little winter whimsy added for fun.

These ladies are the sweetest!

They make going to work fun.

Now, if I could just get Mrs. Santa to finish

my shopping and Mrs. Rudolph to wrap my

gifts and Mrs. Christmas Cheer to do my

 holiday baking, ..........

Hoping your day is merry and bright!



PRACTICING

While visiting family in Mississippi recently, my niece

 and I took the opportunity to shoot a few photos of this

wonderful old barn near my mother's house.

The patina of the wood is just beautiful and the

barn has been lovingly and carefully preserved. 

I have a little confession to make, I

still haven't learned to use my new camera!

I am so familiar with my old Canon,

I just grab it an go.

I know my niece has the same camera

and she takes great pictures. So I imposed

upon her to give me a few lessons.

This old barn was the perfect place to practice.

But, there is still much to learn........:)

~ Remembering Pearl Harbor ~

An Especially Happy Thanksgiving!



With a face like this...what's not to be thankful for?

How about a whole couch-full of sweet

faces to be thankful for?

They are GG and Pawpaw's great-grandchildren.



Grandma Karen and GG with the newest member

 of the Mississippi side of the family.



This was our first time to see this sweet

little boy. He was a joy all weekend.

We also got to visit with the twins (niece's children)

 and the triplets and their older brother

(nephew's children) on Thanksgiving Day.

(Yep, we come in groups on this side of the family:)

The only thing missing was our daughter and son-in-law

who gathered with the family in Shreveport this year.

We have much to be thankful for...........

I visited some of the beautiful places around Columbus

while I was there. It is a beautiful old city

with tons of southern history.

I will share those pictures in a later post.

Till next time.............

                                  Carolyn

                                  

~ GIVING THANKS ~

"Over the river and through the woods

Trot fast my dapple gray.

Spring over the round

Like a hunting hound

On this Thanksgiving Day. Hey!

Over the river and through the woods

Now Grandmother's face I spy.

Hurrah for the fun,

Is the pudding done?

Hurrah for the pumpkin pie."

                        English folksong

We will be going

"over the Mississippi River"

and through the

"woods of western Mississippi"

to Mother's house this week.

We won't be riding a dapple gray

but we are looking forward to

mama's dressing and pumpkin pie!

 I am thankful for family and

the opportunity to gather together

around the table in fellowship.

Wishing you all a blessed Thanksgiving Day.

                              Carolyn

Chicken Pot Pie Weather

Our daughter and son-in-law came for

supper. The weather was

crisp and cool yesterday, so I

decided it was a pot pie night.

Rooster plates seemed to go with

the chicken theme :)

Hot from the oven!

This recipe was given to me by

a co-worker many years ago

and always tastes good and is

very simple, quick and easy to prepare.

Chicken Pot Pie

2-3 chicken breasts - boiled and chopped

2 cans cream of potato soup

1 can mixed vegetables-drained

(frozen mixed veggies can be used also)

1/2 cup milk

Fresh rosemary - finely chopped

(or 1/2 tsp dried thyme)

Salt and pepper to taste

2 pie crusts -  I use Pet Ritz rolled crusts

that come two in a box.

Mix all ingredients and pour into an unbaked pie shell.

Top with second pie crust.

Slit top crust to allow steam to vent.

Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour or until

top is browned and filling is bubbly.

We also had a green salad and Shannon

brought brownies for dessert. Not gourmet

food by a long shot, but good and filling

and best of all, shared with family.

Till next time.....

                          Carolyn



~ LEAF LOVE ~

"How silently they tumble down

And come to rest upon the ground

To lay a carpet, rich and rare,

Beneath the trees without a care,

Content to sleep, their work well done,

Colors gleaming in the sun.

At other times, they wildly fly

Until they nearly reach the sky,

Twisting, turning through the air

Till all the trees stand stark and bare.

Exhausted, drop to earth below

To wait, like children, for the snow.

                                                    Elsie N. Brady, Leaves

Are you tired of tree pictures?

I hope not..........

The trees are spectacular here now.

I am afraid any day now, I am going

to wind up in the ditch because I have

 my eyes on the trees instead of the road!

As I write, we are actually getting some rain

and I'm afraid most of the leaves will be

on the ground after this.

I hope your part of the world has been

 as beautiful as ours this fall.

These are pictures from my yard.

Sassafras, Black Oak, Crape Myrtle and

maybe a few others are pictured today.

Till next time.......

                               Carolyn