Christmas

I got my nephew's a really cool Christmas gift - Air Swimmers.  A friend sent me a video months ago about them and I was so intrigued, I ordered it.  Then, I see it's one of the top gift items at Toys r Us.  It's huge, fun and really looks like it's swimming in the air.

I've had the idea for this cake for a couple of years and thought this was the year to try it out.

This was kind of a combo gift for my sister.  My parents were both rural mail carriers and we have this 'thing' about mailboxes.  I had my brother cut holes in the mailbox (not an easy thing) and then I gave my sister tons of succulents to choose from (from a friends garden) and she planted it.  My brother got into the fun and made himself a succulent garden and then my mom even found a pot and made one.  My sister is going to add a large 'cabbage' succulent in the front.  Can't wait to see the plants grow and spread to hopefully cover the mailbox.

I was headed out of town and decided to go through downtown Lemoore - I love small town America where there's still a Christmas tree in the center of town and decorations hanging over the street!

Lemoore High School

Here's where it began in 1971...my high school is soooo beautiful! The community made the decision many years ago to retrofit the school vs tearing it down. Thank you, thank you, thank you for preserving our beautiful school!

Looking down from the balcony in the auditorium.


I wonder if I noticed this beautiful column during my four years here...

or this stunning old chair...

We got a SPECIAL tour of the school - one of our classmates works there and has the keys to the place...

Lemoore

Memorial Service and My Old Home Town
My sister made this fabulous memory board to honor my cousin Gary's life!!!

It was a sad day...my cousin Gary passed away last month and friends and family gathered today to say our goodbyes. It was very strange for me - my parents and my sister could not attend, so my nephew and I traveled over to Lemoore for the memorial. Gary was 10 years older than me and when I was about 6 or 8, he was the mascot at the high school - I had very fond memories of him coming up into the stands at football games and hugging us and saying 'hi!' - pretty cool for a little kid! The picture with the flowers is for my sister's wedding in 1975 - Gary is helping put together the bouquets and that's me with the goofy look on my face. Gary lived with us for a little while, he was there at most Christmas celebrations and was a big part of our lives. He will be missed!!!

After the memorial service, we HAD to go to the local hangout - Superior Dairy (even though I'd been there a week ago!) Then, it was off to my old high school - my friend, Kathy (the one who lives in London) asked me to take some photos of our school for the website in preparation for our class reunion next year.

Here's the entrance to town - the arch wasn't there when I lived in the area.

Here's the front of my high school - I'm very thankful they decided to retrofit it instead of tear it down years ago. My aunt was in the first graduating class back in the 20's and her picture hangs in the auditorium.

Other hangouts in Lemoore - Jolly Kone and White Top!!!

I met a friend of my cousins at the memorial service who is planning their class reunion for this October and we're going to exchange photos and she says she's getting a professionally filmed and edited DVD - can't wait to see them all!!!

Take a moment today to show appreciation to your family and friends...

It's just after noon and it's been a day of lectures...

I had a follow-up doctor's appointment this morning - the lovely 'well-woman check-up' she called it. I got results of my blood tests and got the lecture about cholesterol - it's time to rethink some stuff.

Later, I was meeting my friend for a walk and just as I was about there, a policeman comes out from a parking lot with lights flashing. I never understood why most of the streets here in town are 25 - yes, 25 mph. Just kills me. The Sargent pulled me over, introduced himself, asked me where I was going in such a hurry and took my license. Then, I got Lecture #2 for today. But, no ticket!!! I'll take a lecture any ol' day over a ticket!

I'm driving to the movies tonight - man, that means eating and driving together - yikes!!!

How about that Super Bowl??? A friend and I went to a golf course / country club about 15 minutes from here. We were sitting outside waiting for the game to start and a guy comes walking by wearing a Lemoore High School T-shirt (where I went to high school about 2 hours from here) and we started talking. It's one of those small world things - he actually graduated the same year I did, but from the rival high school in Hanford, he knows the quarterback from my high school that I just happen to be getting together with this weekend. He now lives in Lemoore and his son goes to Lemoore High, he dated my best friend in elementary school who I just saw a couple of weeks ago. Yup, small world...

My Holiday Week

My nephews (and my brother David) got a slot car race track for Christmas - my mom and I take a try at keeping the cars on the track.


My nephew, Chris, brought the game Catch Phrase - we literally played for hours and hours and hours. It made waiting for the turkey to finish cooking, our car trip to Disneyland and waiting in line at Disneyland more enjoyable.

That's my nephew, Nathan, obviously trying to make a point.

That's my sister-in-law, Nicki. We must have been laughing at something my mom said - she was the shocker of the evening.

As I was driving out of town last Tuesday I shipped off a huge box for the book I'm working on. The final box went out just yesterday. Now, to write instructions.

My bro, David, and his new dog, Jack.

David made a brine for the turkey, let it soak in overnight and bbq'd it on Christmas morning.

The celebration for our high school friend Betty. Some of these ladies I hadn't seen in years and years.

The yummy Pink Champagne Cake from Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo. I'm going to stop by there on my way to the Pismo Dunes - I'm in charge of providing dessert for a bonfire on the beach tomorrow night to usher in the new year - I hope there are still some cakes left - I think I'll do a chocolate one this time. I already have my eye on a Toffee Cake there for my dad's birthday next month.

My family went down to Anaheim last Friday for a pre-wedding reception at the Disneyland Hotel. My cousin's are getting married in Hawaii and knew we all couldn't make it over there. We spent the morning at Disneyland having gotten there when the park opened (brrrrr...) and within 35 minutes we'd ridden the Matterhorn twice and Space Mountain. As we got off the Matterhorn the second time, we were greeted by Disney Cast Members saying we'd won Mickey Mouse ear hats - we all wore our hats proudly for the day. We spent a couple of hours at the reception and then back to Disneyland with a quick dinner and then back until about 11 p.m. Made for a long day, but it was tremendous fun. It was fun to see it through a child's eyes - mine.

Make it a great day!

Joan

Decoupage Fun!

I had a monumental high school class reunion last year and we had so much fun we decided to have one EVERY year!

The committee asked me to make the table decorations for this year's party and, of course, I had to stay within a very limited budget. I love a good challenge, so I was quick to accept.

I set my brain in crafting gear and came up with this quick and easy decoupage project.

~ I found cool vases at my local dollar store and spray painted them one of my school colors

~ Downloaded my high school logo from the website and printed them off

~ Decoupaged the logo on the vases using Aleene's Instant Decoupage

~ Popped in some silk flowers

Someone commented that it really made the party special. Don't you just love it when your projects are appreciated?