Salsa!

Mmmmmm......it turned out so good!!!

Lazy New Year's Eve

Since I didn't really have a picture to share today, I decided to show a picture of Joe enjoying his present from Santa. You really can't go wrong with a picture of Joe!

Pretty quiet evening last night. We were "scrapbooking" at a friend's house and it was interesting to see what everybody was doing. There were 7 ladies there and here's the breakdown: 3 were doing traditional scrapbooking, 1 was digital scrapbooking, 1 quilting, 1 doll making and I was knitting. Last night was the perfect example of how scrapbooking brought us together, but friendship keeps us that way.

I was really interested to watch the digital scrapbooking as it's something I would love to dabble in this coming year. So of course while Keith and I were out and about today I picked up the program! Haven't even taken it out of the shopping bag yet, but hope to do so soon.

Today was the kind of day I enjoy most with Keith. One of his friends owns a radio control hobby shop in Ft. Worth, so we headed over there today to check it out. Very nice man and I enjoyed talking with him. Pretty cool too was that his dad was in the shop with him and dad had just returned from Iraq! Lots of customer friends were coming in and slapping him on the back and welcoming him home.

We stopped for lunch at a new to me restaurant, then shopped in an area that we always enjoy. Basically just moseyed around a lot today and still got quite a bit done. Last stop was Sprout's Market - after taking Joe to the park - where we got the makings of salsa to use the new salsa maker that James and Loni got me for Christmas. Our big plans for New Year's Eve include eating salsa and watching a movie or two. Really what we most enjoy.

~ Elizabeth

Back to Normal

This is what happens to good natured dogs - they get humiliated by bows on their heads! Monday was mom's birthday, so she opened her birthday gifts before we headed out to lunch. Joe might look pretty silly here, but secretly he really enjoys it!

I'm just now starting to feel "normal" again after the holidays. This poor body just can't take the celebrating like it used to! For the most part this week I've come home from work, eaten dinner and gone to bed. Last night I finally stayed up til 9:00 - woohoo! There's really quite a bit I should be doing around here, but instead I sat and watched tv and did some sock knitting. So nice and peaceful. Tonight I'm going to a friend's house for scrapbooking, but will actually do more sock knitting! I don't have my scrapbooking stuff at a point that I know what I want to work on and the knitting is so portable - so easy to pick up the box and go. And really, it's mostly about being with friends anyway.

As we head into the New Year it's only natural to look back. 2005 was filled with many personal trials and I've said for some time that I can't wait for it to be over. But really, as I was standing at Daddy's grave on Christmas Day crying, I really was filled with a peace. Maybe I'm finally accepting the fact that he's gone. It's especially hard during the holidays as you realize that one of your group is missing from the table, and yet that table is still surrounded with people that I love deeply. I'm sure there's a lesson to be learned here somewhere.

~ Elizabeth

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. - Romans 15:13

The Quilt

The quilt was presented to James this Christmas by his Grandma Herman and it was very touching to witness. She's been working on this for 3 years and it's been fun to see it each time we visit to see how it's coming along. However, this was the first time that James got to see it. And Ferne read some statistics to him and I'm afraid I'll get most of them wrong, but I do remember that she said there are over 1,300 pieces in the quilt and pillows! What's especially meaningful is that there are some pieces in it from his Great Grandfather and Mother!

All the different blues that are seen here are from different jeans. The shading is remarkable and the finished quilt is just stunning. The "main" pillow has tags from many of the different jeans that were used to make the quilt and Ferne embroidered the rest. This will certainly be an heirloom for him.

Christmas Stories - Part III

One of the highlights of Christmas at the Hermans was the game "Lunar Probe" from when Keith and his siblings were younger. Even without flashing lights and digital sounds it captured everybody's interest for much of the day. Keith relived the glory days of his youth by showing his mastery of the game and James was bound and determined to rival him. He did do very well, but needs to work a little on doing it with his eyes closed. ;) And we never did see the demonstration of Keith doing this with his toes!!!

Of course no Christmas would be complete without the dog gifts! Unfortunately Joe wasn't able to come to the Herman Christmas this year because there was not room in the truck. We did bring his gift home to him and he is quite pleased with his new ball and chew bone. It's always easy to pick gifts for "the girls" (Harmony and Brandy) - Harmony is obsessed with chasing balls and Brandy loves food!


This year was the second year of our new tradition - singing carols after gifts. Brad has become very good at playing the guitar and I really think this is becoming one of my favorite parts of Christmas. Brad and Rhonda printed handouts so that everybody had the words to all the songs and we have the best time singing. The family favorite seems to be "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer", which is a little strange, but we do have fun singing it!

~ Elizabeth

"The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family."
- Thomas Jefferson

Christmas Stories - Part II

Sunday afternoon - after our rowsing Bingo game - we headed to the Gaylord Texan Resort for the ICE exhibit. This was much touted on local news and we've been looking forward to it for quite some time. It's a walk through exhibit where everything had been totally carved from ice! There were artisans from China (I think) that came over in October and spent 26 days carving this. The rooms are kept at 9 degrees and they supplied the styling parks you see in the picture. And pictured - from left - are Loni, James, Lynne' and I right before we went inside.

Next picture is the arch over the entrance - you can see Lynne' standing under the arch and Michele is about to enter. Note the green wreath over the archway - all made of ice. It was interesting to see the color variations in the "clear" ice as well.



This is Loni standing in front of one of the exhibits inside. They also used LED lights inside the ice on some of the exhibits and it glowed so nicely. Probably the highlight of the whole exhibit - and certainly the most popular - was the ice slide at the very end. We walked up ice steps and then slid down! Really funny and you couldn't help but smile when you did it. Everybody in our party went down the slide and we had some great laughs.


And note to self: always bring extra batteries. These are the only pictures I have of the inside and now am waiting on Lynne' and Michele to get their pictures developed and share with me!