Catching up...

A few short weeks ago we had

Thanksgiving in Alabama

and it was

wonderful!

After running around

trying to see as

many people as we could

Thursday we spent most of the day

with the Ryans,

visiting the Ryan brothers,

(sorry , Jeff and Marcy were

not able to be there!)

and their families..

Aunt Freda , Uncle David

their family

and Uncle Charlie , too.

After we ate,

(and I would like to repeat,

while running the risk of sounding redundant..)

Mam-maw really out did herself..

it was a true feast!

I joined Michael out side for a walk..

which seemed to take us pretty straight to

that large red tractor..

to make a long story short..

He seemed to think that he

NEEDED

to ride said tractor..

I have promised pictures of this event..

so with out further ado..

Papa , his buddy Michael and

his big old tractor ..

Michael, seems to think he could talk the

Papa into letting him have a turn at the wheel...

maybe in a few years, buddy.

We left Alabama the next day

headed back to Rye..

Driving all day till 10:30 that night

brought us to Maryland and

a hotel..

a wake up call at 4:30 and we were back on the road..

Destination..Rye..

eta..3 to 3:30..

before the vet closes at 4 and

..

before the Alabama /Auburn

Iron Bowl kickoff..

During the week the

Koi pond still was covered in ice...

Chloe seems to think

she might like

to try out for the ice skating

events come the next winter Olympics!

Sonja Henie

move on over!!!

The Big Dog's moving in!The next week end

Michael and I headed down the road to

Hampton Falls

Tonry Tree Farm

to harvest a real tree..

first one in many years for this family..

The children will be joining us to celebrate Christmas,

Dee-Cee and her family, the day after

and Miss Carrie and her boyfriend on the 30th!

We are very excited and can hardly wait!

Our trip to the tree farm:

there was a light snow that day... Chloe was a star at the tree farm..

everyone wanted to pet her..

she was a very good girl..

so calm and she really enjoyed the attention

from all the children,

she got her head petted many times!

After, Michael got the tree back to the truck

we decided to drive back to Love Lane

via

the beach..

I had never seen snow on a beach!

I have a feeling there is plenty more to come!The Galley HatchSo now its time to get ready for Christmas...

Having a grandchild seems

to be a good excuse

for letting the inner child come out..

(well, at least this year..I can use him

for an excuse...)

I do love Christmas!!The following week

in the wee hours of the night

upwards of 400 thousand

homes lost electricity..

due to an ice storm..

Michael & I

were in away very lucky

to have the gas logs for some heat,

and the gas range top..

The water is from the well...

which uses an electric pump...thank goodness

the hospital job site had water

and we could buy some really big jugs..

water heated on the stove can

be used so one is not so

"stinky"

After a couple of cold days

and very cold nights..

the power finally came back to Love Lane..

many souls went all this week without power..

ending up in shelters..

schools were still closed today...

Wednesday morning we awoke to

a pretty good start to a New Hampshire

winter...

Chloe LOVES the snow..

It snowed till around noon...the days was very grey

and the sky very heavy..all day...

the pond is still frozen

since the ice storm settled in... The snow is still here and more is expected tomorrow!

They predict with each snow fall

(suppose to be 2 more storms in the next 3 days)

that each one will be bigger than the last..

Can you believe 7 to 8 inches tomorrow?

How does that old song go?

"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas..

just like the ones..."

I've never known...