Fireworks and Tucker, An Update

Since folks decided to start fireworks a little early this year - oh say, Thursday night - I already know that Tucker still hates them.  But finally for once, Andrew got to enjoy the crazy-man our dog becomes when he hears fireworks. Tonight is going to be very long night.  Sorry, but if you live near us, our dog is barking like crazy.  If you choose to shoot off fireworks, you will have to listen to my dog.  Oh and yes, I really hope it storms like heck tonight...Happy New Year!!

Christmas 2011

Christmas is so exciting.  We celebrate Jesus, the most wonderful gift ever!  We celebrate family!  We celebrate friends!  I love Christmas.

This year was a little different than most years in that we didn't spend Christmas morning in Bostwick with Grandmoma and Granddaddy, but we did get to spend it with the majority of our family.  We started in Macon.  Rather than gifts with Gary and Lindley, we started going to dinner just to spend time together a few years ago and it has been a great decision.  Dinner this year was of course wonderful.  Christmas Eve morning, Mrs. Susan's brother's and their families join us for brunch. (Thanksgiving is with the Ouzts', Christmas is with the Beall's...).  Then we go to 5pm Church, come home for a pizza dinner, then open gifts.  (At one point, they went to the 11pm service and did gifts afterwards which took until about 3am...).  Andrew and I typically leave early Christmas morning for Bostwick where we do breakfast at the grandparents, then go to Madison for the rest of the trip.  This year, Hugh had to work on Christmas, so we headed to Ocean Springs instead.  Mom and Dad joined us there - so we really missed seeing the grandparents, but were glad we could be together.  We loved getting to see everyone and spend time together.  Here are some pictures...more to come of course.

 Tucker

 Mr. Charlie made me a lazy susan!!

 Lazy Susan in use

 Painting from Yazoo City Artist

Ducks made from true wooden, 3 and 5 woods...old, old golf clubs

Another Rooster!!!

Visit with John

Andrew and I kept Tico (MB and Hugh's dog) while the rest of my family went to St. John the week after Thanksgiving...rough life, huh?  I finally took him back home on Saturday and got to visit with John and my grandparents who were visiting since I was going to be coming in town.  It sure is nice to be able to spend time with Grandmomma and Granddaddy, we just don't get to see them that often these days.  Thank goodness Grandmomma is willing and able to drive out here.

We had lunch at Shaggy's on the Beach in Biloxi...it is wonderful!  It is one of our favorites, just a typical beach joint, but so good.  John said it was a little bright and need to borrow his mom's shades...then decided to flash me his age when I pulled up the camera.

So you remember that the reason we have Tucker is because MB and Hugh like to make "bad decisions" each July.  July 2010 - Tucker, July 2011 - bought a sailboat.  Anyway, part of the reason they gave him to us was that he and John just didn't get along.  John didn't like him and Tucker was a little too playful around John.  Well not any more.  John loves Tucker and Tucker loves John.  If Tuck was outside, John wanted to be with him.  If Tuck was inside, John was at his side offering him food, his bone, loving on him, talking to him, dancing for him, anything to be with Tucker.  I will post some video of them loving on each other when I am no longer too lazy to connect my phone to the computer.

They're Engaged!

Yep, it's true! 

Steven and Cate are engaged! 

A Few Pictures

Friday night I had a work dinner at downtown and caught this view of the Jackson Tree Lighting at City Hall

Saturday - I went to the Madison Christmas Parade with Anna and her three kiddos. We had a blast! Andrew and I spent the afternoon relaxing since he was post call. Tico was keeping him company.

Then Sunday - one of his scheduled off days - he woke up sick.  For the first time since starting residency, he called in sick today.  He has also only taken two showers...he takes showers to "help him feel better" and in the past I have witnessed 4 or 5 showers in a day, only two in two days means it is bad. 
We did spot this typo (maybe) on the Sunday night news...

And this morning I spotted another classic tag..."OMGWHEE"...yep, special.

Thank a Farmer

WARNING: SOAPBOX ISSUE

I watch the Georgia Farm Monitor each week - this is a show produced by the Georgia Farm Bureau and for me, it is a way to stay connected to home, learn new things about my home state, and learn more about agriculture.  Obviously having a grandfather that farmed and having my other grandparents live beside a massive dairy growing up, I have a significant appreciation for farming and farmers. 

I also understand that unlike most of us, farmers (and ranchers, dairymen, etc) put everything on the line and are at the mercy of really one thing - the weather.  Something they have no control over - bad weather can mean no crop, which basically means no money.  Think about that for a minute.  Sure, USDA offers crop insurance but keep in mind - that isn't a given - each year cuts are discussed for it (and yes, I am sure some people cheat the system, but not everyone).  And there are other factors, but more and more it comes back to the weather.  Then toss in increase in gas prices which is required to operate the equipment that is required to plant and harvest crops or feed the cattle or deliver the milk...then all these new EPA regulations on everything from pollution (yes cows produce methane, yes it is considered a pollutant that some have tried to regulate - so please tell me where to get my milk or beef if cows are now regulated for the bodily functions) to medications.  Now I understand we have got to regulate things, but when those that grow our food can no longer operate because of cost, we have a problem.  Get beyond food - what about cotton?  Are we going to become completely dependent on other countries to grow one of the most basic, most commonly used fibers??

Anyway - back off the regulation issues - back to the life of a farmer.  I can't say it any better than to share a real life story.  I encourage you to watch this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMSFN8FFRXQ&feature=channel_video_title).  A childhood friend (honestly she was born 5 days after me at the same hospital - we have been friends since we met in the hospital nursery) and her husband have been selected as a finalist for a Farm Bureau award.  If selected, they win a trip to Hawaii.  After you watch this, I think you will agree with me - they deserve this trip - they need a break.  Even Andrew said, "my hours aren't as bad as the hours they put in each day, and they don't even know if they will break even."

I say all of this for one reason - to ask you to Thank a Farmer.  To all of my young friends that are continuing on the tradition and for those in my family still keeping up the cows, thank you. 

And I leave with my the prayer my parents taught MB and I, "Thank you, God, for bread and milk and other things so good.  Thank you, God, for those who grow and cook our food. Amen." 

Ouzts Thanksgiving

I am super thankful and filled with warm gratitude to have in-laws that I truly enjoy.  Here is a picture sample of our evening together.

Greenhood...I mean, Greenwood

My dear former co-worker that left us for Viking, Kim, has renamed Greenwood to Greenhood.  Here is a prime example of the reason for this new name.

I encourage you to click the picture for a larger view and please, oh please, let me know what Christmas decorations you can identify.  Oh and if you can tell me what those red things are - Lesley and I will both sleep better tonight.

Thanksgiving

Are you ready for this? 

I have hit or miss pictures - but here are some highlights.  We were able to go to Madison on Tuesday afternoon, but drove in terrible storms (including tornado warnings)...it took 7.5 hours - usually takes slightly over 6 hours.  We made it safely and for that we were extremely thankful.  During the trip, we were taught that if Tucker starts panting uncontrollably in the car, it is his way of telling us he needs a potty break.  We learned the hard way - he wee'd in the car on his bed.  I caught it the best I could in a Chick-Fil-A kid's cup.  It was his first accident in the car ever.  Poor boy - didn't know how to tell us to he needed to go when in the car.  He held it for nearly 3 hours.  I was not thankful for this experience...I also was not thankful for having poured water in my lap attempting to get water for him to drink thinking he was thirsty before the accident.  We stopped as soon as possible to clean up - and yes it looked like I was the one that had the accident.

Mom and I cooked all morning on Wednesday - we each made a 3-layer cake...both tasted great - one isn't as tall as the other and it seems neither of us can ice the bottom of a cake - she is going to kill me for posting this...I gave thanks for my dad's mother's baking abilities.

We flat out love how much Tucker loves his grandparents.  He goes nuts when he sees any of them and could careless about us once he is with them. Tucker and Mac are attached at the hip...or leg...he is actually attached to all of his grandparents like this - I just only got pictures with Mac. 

We enjoyed this beauty on Wednesday night...dinner outside by the fire was perfect.

We stuffed our faces twice on Thanksgiving.  Once with my granddad's extended family then again with Andrew's family.  It is wonderful to be able to spend Thanksgiving with both families.  We are so grateful to be able to share with both families.  We were also able to spend lots of time with Gary and Lindley - which let's be honest, they are essentially family.   Brandy took a ton of pictures at Thanksgiving and once I get a few from her, I will share the Ouzts family Thanksgiving.  I think MB took some in Bostwick.

Then this is the return trip home...we have Tico for the week.  All were concerned about Tucker and Tico in the car together, but they were super wonderful...sitting this close even...

Just a cool picture I got while we were driving beside the Atlanta airport...it is the highlight of my trip usually - I love planes...



And I will leave you with this beauty - Tucker slept like this for a solid 30 minutes - we decided this would be like us stretching to reach our toes and then sleeping like that...

 Back view -

Front View - all four paws together...

Prayer Request for Dalton

First and foremost, Andrew and I would like to share a prayer request with everyone.  Some of our dearest friends, Jonathan and Kara, are expecting their first child, Dalton, in February.  Dalton has been diagnosed with severe partial Trisomy 13.  Rather than attempting to explain, I direct you to their blog.  Here is the link to their blog (http://devotionstodalton.blogspot.com/).  There are so many unknowns at this time that prayer is the best answer.  Jonathan, Kara, and Dalton - we send our love and prayers daily from Mississippi.

We're Home!

We are back from a wonderful visit to Georgia for Thanksgiving.  I have pictures and stories for later - but for now - I am working on Christmas decorations and making sure Tucker and Tico continue to ignore each other.

We hope everyone had an amazing Thanksgiving and was able to spend time with family and/or friends!

Bop's!!

We are addicted to sweets, even through all of our diet efforts - we can't kick it.  As many of you know, we are both calorie counters - ask Andrew - he lost 35 pounds counting calories (and walking the golf course, but really just counting).  We have learned the art of saving calories during the day so we can have a treat at night.  A piece of bread or french fries vs fruit can be exchanged for a cookie - which would you rather have????

Anyway - there is a Mississippi custard spot that we love...love...love!  BOP'S!  Call me crazy but their custard (super thick ice cream) is the best I have ever had.  Andrew's favorite is the "Mocha-Chocha-YaYa" and mine is the "Fudge Brownie Sundae."  However, I didn't feel like the super warm, moist brownie topped with amazing vanilla custard, roasted pecans and hot fudge last night - so I got a concrete instead - an M&M concrete.  You know how back in the day at DQ they would turn the blizzard upside down to show you how thick it is - well I am fairly certain that you could leave a Bop's treat upside down and it wouldn't come out for days...it is that thick and creamy and dreamy...

Sooo next time you are in town - we will take you to get a real treat - BOP'S!!

Burnt Nail

Pretty sure I need to go back home and start over...

I just managed to burn my fingernail.  Not my finger, but the nail only.  I was lighting a candle with a lighter and got the nail only.  Gross and odd, huh?

A Glimpse at Our Future

I must share this story...we enjoyed a nice lunch at the Japanese place (after cutting both front and back yards, scooping pop, spreading winterizer, cleaning house including mopping) with a family of five sitting at the same table.  There were three kids, boy, girl, boy...oldest maybe 10 youngest around 3 or 4.  The entire meal they all ate their food, asked nicely for whatever they wanted, and even tried new foods...and never once did any of them do anything out of line (even a minor step).  


During this youngest son asked dad if he could go hunting tomorrow.  Dad said, I am taking your older brother, so you will have to ask mom if she will go with him so I can take you.  Very quickly both boys turn to mom and ask, will you please go hunting with us so both can go? Mom asked sister if she would go spend the afternoon with her grandparents...and she said of course, so Mom agreed to go hunting.  


As we drove away, I said, "wow, that was a glimpse at our future."  Andrew responds, "First, we aren't going to have three, just two and ours will never be that well behaved."  I died laughing...I was thinking more about the hunting discussion than the behavior, but I just loved how honest he is about how terrible he was as a kid.   Once we stopped laughing, we agreed that we will likely face the same hunting situations one day too.

Cooking Club, November Edition

More recipes to share...all from Southern Sideboards (Junior League of Jackson) again...

 Make this cake and make it now!  It is wonderful!  Would be great as cupcakes, muffins, anything, just make it!

 These little fellows were surprisingly good.  We first tried them cold and they were really good, but then we tried them warm and they were even better.  So here's the deal...they are great cold, but they are excellent warm...unless you tried them both ways at the same time, you wouldn't know this though.  Great for a party!

 This is very similar to Grandmomma's mac and cheese...also reminded me of Bear's Den, just not as greasy...  Super quick, super easy.

We actually had this in July, but it is really good.  Sounds kinda odd, but good.  In fact, I think we are going to have it tonight.

Not Right

It is not right to have this amount of candy sitting on your desk when you are trying not to eat sugar during the day.  It just stares at me all day - I wish my coworkers would hurry up and eat it all.

 It is not right to make your dog carry his own bed from the bedroom to the living room, but if he volunteers, then it is perfectly acceptable.  It is my understanding that he volunteered for this task.

Loud Prints, Loving Boys, and Looks Yummy

MB knows me well - I love loud prints, colors, designs, etc on the golf course and while I don't like things to be overly feminine, I don't like to have  "man's bag" either.  So her choice of head covers is just perfect!

Then I caught this loving embrace and look...

Cooking club is tonight. My task for the evening is pumpkin cake.  The recipe indicates that the cake should be made ahead of time and chilled so that the icing may set.  Now in my family, if the cake looks like the Leaning Tower of Pisa it will taste wonderful.  If like looks wonderful, it usually doesn't taste too hot.  (Yes the picture is at an angle, so no Leaning Tower of Pisa).  The truth will be discovered this evening.

Oh Mrs. Susan - I need my cake pan back.  I left it at your house last weekend.