The Christmas Decorator

This traveling Christmas Decorator is going home tomorrow. Patsy and Mama's house is decked from halls to livingroom. It was fun playing in Patsy's decorations and putting them together in her house. Now I must do the same with my house. I hope I am not Christmased out--that is doubtful. Mama offered to come to Texas and help me decorate my house. I told Patsy that she owed me--she laughed (cause she knows that she does!!!!!!). I really do wish that they could just fold up and I could put them in my suitcase and carry them home with me. I think I am going to miss them awfully. I get back into the grinder on Tuesday. We have just about 3 weeks left in the semester. Boy, do I have a lot to finish! I will get my Thanksgiving decorations down on Tuesday after school, and clean up everything and get the Christmas decorations done. I plan to get it done in quick time so I can relax. It will be so much fun this year with Camaryn. I can hardly wait. Well, I must go and finish packing for the trip home tomorrow. See ya'll back in Texas.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

The long awaited day is here. Today America will eat to near explosion, then perch themselves upon the sofa and nap until their favorite football game comes on television. In Texas, the traditional game is the Aggie vs. Longhorns game. In Mississippi, it's the traditional Mississippi State vs. Ole Miss game. I hope those Bulldogs, as my Mama is so fond of saying," clean Ole Miss' plow." Of course, there are two people in my family who want those Aggies to roast the Longhorns. Don't tell them, but I think the Longhorns will take that game--BIG. Linell and Ralph are hosting the family gathering this year, and of course there will be more food than can be consumed. Yippee, lots of left overs. Their house will be beautiful as always, Linell has such a way with decorating. Everything is always so elegant and fine. Her house reminds me of a European country home--maybe in Tuscany. It has an old world look and feel, and the garden surrounding it, HOLY MOLY!!!!! That garden is an oasis.
Larry and Cheri are down from Dallas. Kirk has all his kids home this year. He just doesn't have his wife--that's me--I wanted to spend Thanksgiving with my Mama and sister and niece this year. My family is scattered to the four winds and when I get an opportunity to see any member, I take it. This brings me to what I am thankful for--I am thankful for my husband, Kirk, my children Jessica, Gwen, and Larry. I am thankful for Cheri and Rob because they love Larry and Gwen. I am thankful for Jessica because she saved my life many years ago as a wide eyed cherub sent to me by God. She once told me "It'll be awight, Mommie," and you know something, it was. It is!!! I am thankful for Gwen because she is the sister for Jessica and the Mommie for Camaryn. I am thankful for Larry because he is the son I never had and he has added music to my life. I am thankful for Ralph because he is the brother Kirk never had and he is Linell's rock. I love him. I am thankful for Linell, first of all, she is my wine drinking buddy. She is my sister in San Antonio(since Patsy is so far away). She is beautiful, funny, and is the best gardner in Texas. I have lots to live up to, in her. I am thankful for Effie Nell because she has such fine children in Linell and Kirk. I am thankful for Tracy, Joshua, and Bethany because they are such wonderful kids. They are loving, giving, funny and are a credit to their parents. I have used the word funny several times here--a sense of humor is crucial if you are going through this life. These days life is too much with us and if we don't laugh, we might fold up in a heap and never move. I am thankful for my close friends who have seen me through and always been there. I hope that you all have a blessed Thanksgiving. Please know that you are loved tremendously. Happy Thanksgiving everybody!!!!

"Thanks Christmas"

Patsy and company are celebrating "Thanks Christmas". She had all of her Thanksgiving decorations already out when I got here. We went shopping yesterday and she bought a 9 foot Douglas fir (artifical--everyone is allergic to real ones). I'll swear, Patsy has her days and nights mixed up. We stayed up until almost three in the A.M. sputzing around with that tree. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas here in Kansas. I was awake at 7:45, and I will probably crash by 2:00. Another shopping trip is scheduled for this afternoon. We are going to my favorite store--Nell Hill's in Atchison. I always find some great stuff there. I will be looking for special Christmas presents. I love this time of year. Some people really hate the whole Christmas scene. I love it because it puts the "wonder" back into my heart. I will especially love it this year because of Camaryn. It doesn't matter that she is terrified of Santa Clause--she will be OK. Patsy and I are going to go to the grocery store. Later.

Phew!! I'm relaxing!!!!!

The overcast sky has gone away, so I don't think that I will be seeing any snow this trip. Unless a blue norther blows in from Canada. Amanda and I made a quick trip to KC to get card stock for her art project, which is due this morning. That girl really has her shit together!! She created a business card, even. Her whole project looked like it had been professionally done. She is GOOD!!!!! I am going to get her to show me how to do the business cards. I think they would be such an assest to have one you could "whip" out whenever you wanted to let folks know what you do!!!! I learn new stuff from her every time I come. It is nice to get cutting edge information, sometimes, I think I live and exist under a rock. Why don't I know these things, automatically? Being a teacher of English leaves me isolated from the rest of the world. I would like to think it is a world of academia, however, I am not that stuffy.
Mama and I are going to decorate and play in the house today, while Patsy is at work. Amanda left early to turn in her project and she will be back later. Everybody is up now, so I think I will go and make another cup of tea and have breakfast. Later, ya'll.

Kansas City--Here I am

Hello everybody!!
Arrived last night--it was COLD. Amanda picked me up at the airport and we got out to the house around 10:30. Mama is looking great and spry as ever. She did complain about aching joints, though. She does very well for an octogenarian(sp?). Amanda is amazing--she is working on her final project for school. She is so good with the technology. I am just happy to be able to do this blog. It is a miracle that I was able to find it on someone else's computer. I know that sound ignorant--I am computer ignorant. Patsy is working hard, but she will be off Tuesday and Wednesday and we plan to shop until we drop. Can't wait. I think I am going to make a quick trip to KC with Amanda and then come back to the house and hibernate for the rest of the day. I had better stop this and go get dressed, or else Amanda Panda will leave me.

Thanksgiving is Coming!!

Wow! It is so hard to believe that Thanksgiving is upon us again. In some ways it seems like it has taken forever to get here and then on the other hand, it rushed right in. Of course, I have been measuring the slow side of time by the school clock. With my needy and demanding students, this year has moved like molasses on a very cold day. I am getting ready to go to Kansas for Thanksgiving to visit my sister and Mother. My sister and niece are in New York ,as I write this ,checking out art schools there. Amanda will be going there as soon as she finishes the art school in Kansas City. I am looking forward to going up--Mom told me, Tuesday, they had snow. It did not stick because the ground was not frozen, yet. IT IS NOW!!! I may get to throw a snow ball or two while I'm there. I have always been a summer kind of chic(that's why I live in south Texas), however, after 100 degree temps all the way into late September, I am more than ready for some cold weather. I'll be leaving Kirk again this year. He is so wonderful to not object to my going away for a week around a major holiday. He is such a good guy. I am very lucky. Of course, we will talk every day while I am gone. Thank goodness for cell phones!!!!! Well, I have used up enough time (should have been packing). Happy Thankgiving to everybody!! I am so thankful for all of my family and friends. I am sorry that I will miss seeing Larry and Cheri. You know that I love you guys a lot. Safe traveling from Dallas--sorry about your Jeep, Larry. The jerks!!!!!