Tis the Season

 Eh... what's up doc?

 Just before Bilbo's long overdue haircut I brushed his hair straight down. Then I burst out laughing as I recalled one of our priests saying long ago, "I wonder what is to become of that hair?"

 Well, I've got the answer.... he'll become a Duke of Hazard.

 Marigold seems to have regressed to her infantile days

 The tree was decorated this week.

 And some major playing was going on in the snow banks. That's my 6 foot son next to that pile which soon became a hobbit hole

 Yeah, lotsa snow.

 The Hobbit hole

 The Hobbit hole that I have not been in for fear it would be a "take two" of Winnie the Pooh at Rabbit's House.

If only Lady Modesty had these shiny icicles she wouldn't have to worry about cherubs on the roof! :D

Thanksgiving Dinner

Blurry Camera alert :(

 

 All the grandchildren. 

 Aragorn's side of the family knows how to do "family style"..... seriously.

 It's an "L" shaped table and accomodates everyone, parents, children, grandchildren.  Everything is passed all the way around.

 Cute table settings

 My girls went over to help Auntie with the construction of the candy turkeys.  They came home quite wired up, obviously having tried every kind of candy... more than once! :)

 We started the evening with a lively game of Lord of the Rings Trivial Pursuit.

 No party is complete without a skunk in arms. :D

 Then we had round of the good old fashioned Original Trivial Pursuit.

 I guess I forgot to take a (blurry) picture of the dinner food, and forgot to count all the courses that were passed, but dinner was a splendid array of turkey, chicken (since I can't eat turkey... waaaah), all sorts of side dishes and the best of all... the stuffing.  Then was the pie buffet for dessert.

 I guess this one didn't make the picture and was Sam's favorite. A Pumpkin trifle.  Sam is eager for the recipe!

 A day with grandma and grandpa is never complete without some dressing up.

Some being more dignified than others!  :)

Happy Thanksgiving

As I study with my children various explorers, one thing that was clear was that the Catholic explorers would first put up a cross in thanksgiving.   Pedro Menendez de Aviles celebrated the first known Catholic Mass at St. Augustine, Florida quite a number of years before the Pilgrims held their feast.  Being good Catholics, it is probably a pretty good guess that following the Sacrifice of the Mass, they held a feast... (the first potluck?). :)

And don't forget to count your blessings, it's so easy to get caught up in the drudge of life, this is a wonderful day to remember our blessings.  The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the biggest blessing (next to God Himself of course:) followed by Confession, other Sacraments, priests, family, friends, food on the table, roofs over our heads, jobs, GRACE, Faith, etc., etc., etc...!

Have a most blessed Thanksgiving

Happy Fourth-less of July

This is just plain local.  Dry everywhere. So obviously there are burning restrictions everywhere.  But just as proof.....

This is what our corn looks like.  Yes, that is corn not sugar cane.

We will have to skip fireworks this year as they are forbidden due to the very necessary burning restrictions but I noticed 2 fireworks places selling today.  You see it's ok to buy them just not light them.... *chuckle*  I did wonder though... would it be alright to do sparklers if you are sitting in your swimming pool?

On another note entirely separate from the needed burning restriction....  I wonder if this dry weather is a sign from Above to our country in general.  It's kind of like Independence-less Day without s'mores, bonfires and fireworks  but it seems to be where our country is going with the rights and freedoms written down by our Founding Fathers.  Now it's all about "freedom of choice" yet our choices are chosen for us.  Uncanny.  

 I usually get up and go to 6:30am Mass (I love mornings) but after being up playing musical beds most of the night trying to find a breath of air somewhere I just lay there watching the clock move past 6:30. Then I kicked myself as I love the TLM but I got up and went to Mass later and in the end it was a blessing. I ran into a friend of mine who told me that blueberries were in season nearby.  Strawberries and Blueberries thrill me.  And it was only 95 degrees at 9am so we followed her to the patch.

 Our goal was to fill up 4 pails (20 pounds) but by the time we filled up 2 we were dripping.

 Thanks Kay for letting us know about the blueberries ! :D  Can I take an order for some of that blueberry pie?

 Merry getting a lift while Pippin is driving.   Would you?!  It's enough to ride in a car with a 16 year old driver.... but riding with a 6 year old in a go cart is just too much.

 I was asked recently by a Grand Knight if we have a permit for the "Giant Pumpkin Patch Raceway"  *chuckle*  You just never know what you'll find at our place.... however I do have a restriction... no toilet flower pots please!

 Woops, did we forget your nap, Marigold?   Eowyn was the champion for falling asleep at doorways.  The first time that happened I nearly had a heart attack, I thought she was dead.  Merry on the other hand gets the prize for the oddest places to take a nap.

 I hope that is a bit off, but just the same, I'm sitting in a hot house with a hot laptop on my hot lap.  I think it is time to venture out to that pool.

 Oh my goodness, couldn't you just eat her up?

 The Bug's stickers arrived.

 I picked the number #490 (forgive 70x7times)

 Just proving that M&M's do melt in your mouth and in your hands.  Why was the baby eating an M&M? 

It rained just long enough for me to say "Get the camera it is raining!"and take the picture, then it stopped.  But it was rain.  Thankfully one of our great priests is offering a Mass on Saturday for Rain. 

God Bless America!