Tuesday, December 15, 2009

"It Came Upon the Midnight Clear..."

...couldn't be happening on Bolivar Peninsula lately.

Never have I ever seen such thick fog as last night riding the ferry home from Galveston. Literally could not see one car length ahead of me.

I've heard that old expression all my life, "It's like driving in pea soup," and I have now experienced it for myself. Without the white line on the right side of the road, I couldn't have known I was in the right place from the ferry landing to the house.

Wrapping Christmas gifts and listening to Christmas music. Does it get any better than this during this happy time of the year? Just received a basket of Christmas cards from friends and the older I get, the more I appreciate and enjoy them. Now, to display them somewhere in the house properly so all can enjoy them with me.

Merry Christmas, everyone, until the next page turns...

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Happy Birthday to Me...

OK, OK, so I know that the traditional "Happy Birthday to You" is not thought of as a Christmas song, but it should be since we celebrate the birthday of the Lord Jesus Christ. In this case, the Happy Birthday song was sung a bit early last night as four beach neighbors celebrated our December birthdays together in the lovely home of Warren and Pam Adams.

Terri Ward, a special friend to Steven, Warren Adams (host), myself, and Michael Likos, all share December birthdays just a few days apart, so last year, shortly after Hurricane Ike, we started a good tradition of planning our own birthday party since they are so hard to come by in the busy month of December. Everyone is tired of shopping, going to parties, and they have little money to spend on birthday gifts. It comes with being a December child, though unfair.

We had such fun with the birthday honorees, and Jim and Cindy Srader, Ted Henley, Pam Adams, Michael and Laurie Likos, and John and Joni Harding, all good friends. Mike and Yvonne VanZandt were to join the group, but Yvonne got sick on Saturday during the day. Randy Ward was also unable to attend this year due to medical testing at the hospital.

The group enjoyed wonderful food with Warren doing prime rib for everyone on his fabulous new grill. The Adams also learned during the party that they had won first place for Christmas decorations on the entire Bolivar Peninsula so our congratulations to them for that achievement. Gifts, good food, fellowship, and fun was shared, as well as the four birthday honorees feeling very special. Can't wait until next year's traditional gathering.

Until the next page turns...

Warren also played for us his favorite Christmas song, "Christmas in Dixie."

Friday, December 11, 2009

The Candy Man Can...

I know we are supposed to lead off our blogs with lines or titles of Christmas songs, but after seeing a very good live presentation of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory last night in Galveston, I've been singing "The Candy Man Can" all day long.

Christmas time is a good time for the candy man, I think, too.

Merry Christmas to all until the next page turns...off to a Christmas party in Shoreacres (near Houston) tonight. Good wishes to all...Cold and dreary outside at the beach, but still nice.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

I think Santa Claus is Coming to Town...

I realize some of you don't believe in Santa and don't want your kids to think he is real, but I, for one, still believe he is coming to see me.

Can't give that up!

I'm enjoying getting ready for his visit and trust he makes to the beach where we have sand instead of the traditional snow.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good day...Until the next page turns.

Ginger, I received a wonderful surprise gift in the mail yesterday afternoon. One of my favorite movies of all time and a nice, warm, beautifully colored throw to wrap up in to watch it here at the house. However, I have been creative and designed the throw to wear as a big scarf/wrap with an outfit tomorrow night to a huge Christmas party in Houston. It matched my outfit perfectly and I started out teasing about doing it, but goodness sake, it works! Thank you so much!

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

I promise, Daina, I've kept the December challenge

I just forgot and wrote it on my Yahoo Internet Site, Bolivar BLUE and several of the members there are doing it with me. I know I did "Silver Bells" on Monday and "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" yesterday and today I wrote "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" in my status.

OK, OK, so I'm in...

Others if you want to get in on the challenge, write something every day from now until December 20 using a line, title, thought from a Christmas carol, song, play, or writing. It is fun!

I've had some good ones on the group site including a clever one using "Go Tell It On the Mountain." To join or see Bolivar BLUE, simply go to Yahoo Internet Groups and type in Bolivar BLUE (spelled like this) and I'll approve you for membership. The BLUE is an acronym for Beach Lovers United Effectively.

Until the next page turns...

Friday, December 4, 2009

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!


Today is December 4, and we are getting snow in Southeast Texas. This is the earliest date recorded. We got flurries last year on December 10 and it was beautiful in Galveston. We all rushed out to take photographs.

There is just something pretty spectacular about snow falling against the backdrop of the Gulf of Mexico.

We have a winter weather advisory and the snow is predicted to start at noon and last into the evening. Of course, our temps will warm up and it will be all gone, but it is fun right now and our folks are filled with anticipation. School and some offices have been dismissed for fear of icy roads.

I know our friends in Michigan (Jack and Laura Rounds) are laughing mightily at our excitement over snow when they have something like 7-8 inches and it will stay on the ground there until spring most likely. But for Southeast Texans, it is a novel thing.

Ted's niece has challenged everyone who blogs to begin on Monday, December 7 and go through December 20, using a line or the title of a Christmas carol or snow in their blog header. I said I would participate, so I'll try to be faithful.

Merry Christmas everyone,
Brenda

Until the next page turns...