Birthday Boy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Birthday Dad!

Making Tracks IV

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deer. Just because.

Making Tracks III

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cat. Just because.

Making Tracks II

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Birds. Just because.

Making Tracks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dog and man. Just because.

Mo Sno

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The temps are slowly climbing and by tomorrow should crest well above freezing, but this morning we got hit with a surprise second blanket of snow. Still, as you can see it's warm enough to safely take the Mad out for her daily constitutional.

Three Wise People

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A really good Christmas, complete with gold, frankincense and myrrh.

CGG

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gigi enjoying Christmas.

No Grinch At This Grill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We did breakfast at our place and Dad did dinner at his. He put on a great table setting, had decorated the house, Mom would have been proud. And the steaks he grilled were absolutely amazing. Grill out Christmas dinner might have to become a tradition.

Christmas Is Still Here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the first Christmas in my life without my Mom. I honestly expected it to be worse, but I have Mari and Dad and we got together and really enjoyed the morning together. Presents, stockings, puppies, movies, orange danishes and coffee. On the weather front it's clear now and the temps are up in the 20's. I think we're gonna be OK. In more ways than one.

Still Frozen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We've made it up to a balmy 4 degrees today. There's been some issues at one of the power plants so they have to do rolling blackouts every hour for ten minutes. Still, I can't complain too much. We're warm, we have power most of the time, no pipes have frozen. 

As for the crows, we almost never get crows in the yard but we had a full murder this morning. I didn't get any good pictures, but I did like this one where I captured one of them taking off. So enjoy.

Snowglowb

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We don't normally put lights on the back deck but we had some extra strings and no place to put them, so I strung them along the rail. Nothing special about that, I just enjoyed the effect of the snow covered bulbs glowing.

Jolly Christmas Ollie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We're like the post office of Friday eating out. Neither freezing temps nor snowy roads will keep us from our appointed visit to Jolly Ollie's for some pizza and togetherness.

Short Sniff

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With it so bitterly cold there's no walks for Maddie and we have blocked the doggy door. Just quick bio breaks of no more than 10 minutes for her until things get warmer!

Deep Freeze

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They've been promising it in the news for days now, and it's finally delivered. It's -1 degrees outside and a layer of snow dropped this morning. The birds are still at it though, puffed into little round balls to keep warm.

Holiday Memorial III

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Together.

Holiday Memorial II

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's been eight months since Mom died, and this will be our first Christmas without her. It was a nice ceremony, they had live music and the singers were surprisingly good. It was good to take the time to think about Mom and life in general. I think we are all glad we went.

Holiday Memorial

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The funeral home that handled Mom's passing is holding a holiday remembrance tonight. A chance for those of us who have lost someone to take some time to come together with others and reflect since the holidays are probably the hardest times.

Mason Magic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don't know what magic they use to make these but the Fortnum and Mason salted caramel chocolate biscuits are just about the best thing in the world you can eat.

Momeh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first version of Dying Light was kind of meh but good enough I wanted to play the second. The second was indeed better in mechanics and story but still not quite good enough to really break into my good games list. I'd play a third, but this definitely a wait until its on sale series.

Social Attempt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the first time ever us antisocial hobbits in the lower Greer household had a little open house for some of our neighbors to come see the Christmas explosion. Fearing a strike out, we were happy a decent amount came. Well, as happy as a hobbit can be trying to be social. 

Office Party Peek

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A surreptitious shot of the office party during dirty Santa.

Downtown Christmas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Downtown this morning for out last Christmas party at Parkway, next year we'll be in some other building. This view has changed a lot over the years, including the building of the ballpark which is currently hosting a Christmas light show.

Turkey Time

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the first time I saw wild turkeys in our neighborhood. Hard to believe any wildlife can still surprise me here on the over-built peninsula.

Bidirectional Curiosity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two dogs keeping track of where Dad has gone.

Chimas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's not Christmas with a little taste of Chicago. Garrett's in the house!

Hey Deer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deer crossing.

Nosey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taking a peek.

Laser Focus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's hard to see but there's a squirrel out there digging through the bird seed. He's between the third set of rails from the right. Not hard for Mad to see, locked right on.

WOTM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whew. Last month was busy. Let's ease into the yule time!

It's Hockey Time

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They've put in a new video board, it's really impressive.

Preds vs Ducks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's been quite a while since our last Predators game, but we're back!

Week End

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The whole Georgia clan together, relaxing before the long drive back home.

Latesgiving

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm kicking myself for not taking any pictures of the meal itself, but our guests arrived today and we settled in for an excellent meal. Before they got here of course, there had to be entertainment to keep a homesick someone occupied with her Dad on the way.

Smallgiving

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A small Thanksgiving with just Mari, Dad, Mackenzie and me. Steak and hamburger provided by G's Meat and Dad's barbecue.

The Parade

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's Thanksgiving, and even though we're putting of the main meal until Saturday when Lonnie and Payton can be here, you still have to do the traditions. Can't miss the Macy's Parade!

Candy Hut

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With the glue not holding they house become more of a hut, still cute though.

Fun Build

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But the most important thing is the fun that was had!

Messy House

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With decorating pretty much done, Mari and Mackenzie moved on to a little gingerbread house building. Though it turned out to be a bit messier than expected as the frosting "glue" that came with the kit didn't seem to work so well.

Caroling

 

 

We even got a little caroling to go with our decorating.

 

Back To Decorating

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After a fun night of lights we're back to getting the house decorated for Christmas.

A Brilliant Night

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Zoolumination crew celebrating a fun night!

Dragontop Dream

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The final frontier.

A Rein Horse

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Mackenzie and her horses.

Two Foos

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guarding the way out.

Light Bridge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A point on the horizon.

A Horse Horse

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A horse is a horse of course of course.

Silk Village

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some light dumplings.

Dragon On

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Into the final stretch, the dragon walk.

Side Mission

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While Mari and Dad rested for a minute I took Mackenzie through the indoor display area, featuring frogs, snakes, bugs and other critters like this crocodile.

Mountain Theme

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The princess and the phoenix.