We thought we were missing a parade...

Hank, Lorelai and I sitting around talking when Lor noticed that a "wagon full of people" were riding in front of our house.  They meandered down the lane on the side of the house (and met a dead end). I grabbed my camera so that you could see what we saw as they made their way back.

We encounter all sorts of things in these parts.  For one thing...we live in South Carolina...the lowcountry of South Carolina...Berkeley County in the lowcountry of South Carolina.  I believe they were Episcopalians. I don't know what else I can tell you...other than a part of me wanted to go jump on that wagon with them. I know who was driving and I don't think he would have minded...

It kinda looked like fun!!

For your prayer list...

Please put our Lorelai and her poor foot on your prayer list.  As you may know, she's been in a "boot" for some time with a fractured sesamoid bone.  From Wikipedia...In the foot - the first metatarsal bone usually has two sesamoid bones at its connection to the big toe (both within the tendon of flexor hallucis brevis).[2] In some people, only a single sesamoid is found on the first MCP.


She begins student teaching in kindergarten on January 17.  To have surgery on January 12, or thereabouts, would only give her four days to get rested and back to Clemson. She would not be able to put weight on the foot for six weeks. She would likely have to depend on the kindness of others to drive her for six weeks. That is a lot to ask people who aren't family to do for you.  In her apartment, she won't be able to count on but one of her roommates for any support at all and they aren't in the same major.  Her apartment is on the third floor with no elevator. We live three and a half hours away.

I know she's tired...this has been going on since October.  I know she's frustrated as can be about not being able to exercise...she loves to run and that option has been (and will be for awhile) off the table.  This isn't how any of us envisioned her senior year of college.  I have her an appointment this morning with a personal trainer and plan to engage one when she gets back to Clemson...hopefully they can design an exercise routine for her that will give her some relief and not hurt the foot.

Hank and I feel like it might be better to wait until after graduation in early May to have the surgery. Yes, she will have to endure some discomfort and prolong the exercise dilemma BUT that way she will be home for the recovery and able to completely stay off the foot.  She wants to go ahead with it now because she is sick and tired of the whole mess.

We covet your prayers as we support Lorelai in making the right decision about what to do...

Thank you so much...

On the 4th Day after Christmas...

1.  Hank is with Lorelai at the orthopedist. We are praying that her foot has healed and she can take off that awful "boot." (Before I could post, Hank called and the broken foot has not healed...surgery scheduled for mid-January...Lor is a VERY unhappy camper right now.)

2.  I'm paying bills...ICK and DOUBLE ICK.

3.  On a brighter note, I have a hot stone massage at 2:30. 

4.  I declared that I would not be entertaining much during the holidays, but we've had SO much fun that we're throwing together a Saturday night shindig.  Not a huge crowd...10-15 folks.  Nothing like an oyster roast to ring in the New Year.

5.  Since we're going out for New Year's Day dinner at Peninsula Grill, I'm keeping our good luck lunch simple.  BBQ, Hoppin' John, Collard Greens, Hot Rolls, Artichoke Relish and Sweet Tea.
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...seems that I am having trouble completing this post. Have returned from my hot stone massage and after a glorious hot shower could just melt into a puddle....SO INCREDIBLE.

Christmas 2011

We enjoyed a relaxing Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Gifts were opened on Christmas Eve and on Christmas morn, there was no rushing around.  There were eight around our dining room table for a 1:00 pm dinner and I hope that our company enjoyed it as much as we did.  Legare and Lorelai are real troopers when it comes to my picture taking. Hope you enjoy...cannot wait to see your photos.

In the above photo, Legare threw his first handful or oats so high that it came back down on top of his head.

The gift cards on top of the candle box are to Dean and Deluca and Brooks Brothers.

Since neither Legare no Lorelai wrote letters to Santa, they got ALL surprises. 

Boy howdy...Santa sure does have good taste!

 Hank and Legare were in charge of the roast.

Thankfully, I'm still on vacation...no work for me until January 3. 

Counting down...

Hank and I spent some time with Mother and Ned yesterday. Legare stopped at Green Grove on his way home for the holiday weekend and we all went to Dukes BBQ for lunch. We adore Dukes.  

Mother was in rare form. She had her little living room all decorated and we arrived loaded with gifts that she and Ned will open tonight when he spends the night with her. They will enjoy tomorrow with her sister Elizabeth and assorted nieces and nephews, while we entertain "Hank's people" here.

As we were riding to the restaurant, Mother kept telling me to look at the clouds, saying she'd never seen such a beautiful sky in her "whole entire life!!"  After the 4th or 5th time, I said, "Really, in your WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE?  Are you positive??" 

"Well yes," she replied.  "My whole entire life...at least what I can remember of it."

BAZINGA!!!!!!!!!!!        Mother = 1             Belle = 0

Last night, we went over to visit our friends Tom and Ann and have some dessert.  Ann has not one, but TWO grand pianos.  I don't have but one...BAZINGA!!!!!!!!!!!!   Ann = 2        Belle = 1

We played piano while our families oohed and ahhed over how wonderful we were. Lord love them...they love us!! Smarty pants Legare documented a few seconds of my rendition of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas...of course, I'm talking while I'm playing.

FOOD!!!  For Christmas Eve supper, Hank's famous shrimp and grits.

Christmas Day!!   Butternut squash soup, iceberg wedge w/ blue cheese, tomato and bacon, rib roast, roasted potatoes, sauteed brussel sprouts w/ caramelized onions and balsamic vinegar, a vegetable casserole (courtesy of Hank's aunt and uncle who will be joining us, along with Hank's mom and half-brother), hot yeast rolls, fruit cake, pecan pie, and ambrosia.

What does a high school principal do on the first morning of Christmas vacation?

1.  She sleeps until 8:00 a.m.
2.  She is still in her pajamas at 9:00 a.m.
3.  She catches up on reading her beloved blogs.
4.  She realizes that she did not dream about work at ALL the night before...not one bit!!  How awesome is that???
5.  She plans her day.
6.  The plan for the day is NOT to leave the house...maybe do a little baking...a little decorating...a little reading...a little napping...
7.  Seriously...HOW AWESOME IS THAT?????

What are you doing today?

An itty bitty tour of my decorations...

Goodness Gracious...I haven't posted since December 5.  Getting school closed up for the holidays was time consuming to the max but I do have a bit of decorating done.  I spent a lot of this afternoon in the dining room.  Minimalism is the word of the year in the sunroom and living room.  My lowcountry-themed tree is up and while I have a few up close photos of the ornaments, I couldn't seem to get a good one of the whole tree.  The mantle isn't done yet so hopefully there will be additional photos later this week.

Lorelai is home...Legare, being a working man, won't be in until the end of the week.  All of our gifts are purchased and the Christmas Day menu set...more on that later.  Enjoy the photos...I've surely been enjoying yours. Off to happy hour across the street...best neighbors in the world!!

Wish I'd had my camera...

So, last Friday night Hank and I went to a Christmas party at Ned's house. We picked up Mother to driver her across the street and she protested that she was NOT going because she was NOT invited. We played it cool...said, Oh well...you're welcome to go but if you don't want to, we'll see you later.  Cool works...wish I could be that way with her more often. She promptly got up, combed her hair and got in the car.

She spent the next two hours thinking that it was Christmas Day. Hey...she was happy. Ned sat beside her and let her hold his hand.  He's a good son.  A new fellow moved in on Friday and I'm sure he was a bit overwhelmed with all of the merry making.  Like Ned, he's lived at home with his mother his entire life. He's 52 and doesn't speak.  Mother kept trying to ask the poor guy questions.

After supper, there was an sing along.  One of the wonderful women who takes care of Ned and his buddies has a gorgeous voice...I contend that if given a chance, she could take on Susan Boyle. She sang White Christmas and Silent Night for us. When the group started with The Twelve Days of Christmas, Ned went to his room for his guitar.  He's been "playing" guitar since he was very young and is never without one.  Since everybody attending works at the home or has a relative living there, his performance was accepted with joy and love.  Hank did his best to get a photo with his phone. You'll see Ned toward the back strumming along.  What he lacks in playing the actual tune of a song, he makes up with steady rhythm and enthusiasm.  Scott (in chair) was celebrating his birthday along with our holiday party which explans why his dad is wearing a birthday cake hat.  We're QUITE a group...

We got our tree up yesterday...Lowcountry theme.  Hope to finish up the decorating tonight and concentrate on being Merry and Bright!  Have a good week..

And what a night it was!!!!

Orange Bowl HERE WE COME!!!!!

It appears that they took my advice this week. 

The Duke Building Bathed in Orange and Purple!!!



My Inquiring Mind Wants to Know...

Where did the week go? 

I'm finishing my Christmas shopping tomorrow. How 'bout you?

My brother Ned is supposed to take a HANDMADE gift to a Christmas party.  I just hot-glued twine to three silver spray-painted pine cones.  Is that bad?

When Hank came downstairs at 5:45 this morning, he walked into the kitchen to find me holding a cup of coffee in one hand and a bottle of bourbon in the other.  Whatcha think about that??? 

In my defense, I was mixing up a sweet potato casserole for a dinner we're going to tonight...it called for 1/4 cup of bourbon.  You didn't really think I was drinking bourbon, did you?

Ten more school days until Christmas vacation!  Who's excited??

I need a good book to read...my "to read" shelf is bare.  Any ideas?

Have a fabulous weekend...I know I deserve one.  Don't you?