Day Three Hundred Sixty Four 2013

“Never laugh at live dragons, Bilbo you fool!”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit

Neil and I took grandpeeps Shelby and Elijah to the movies this afternoon and immersed ourselves in the lives and times of Hobbits, Dwarves, Elves, Orcs, and the occasional human or two.

A bucket of popcorn is a must for a movie like The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug, which runs for nearly three hours [not counting commercials and previews of coming attractions].

Shelby found this piece of popcorn shaped like Mickey Mouse, so I had to take its picture. She said she couldn’t eat it because it was too cute. And then she accidentally dropped it between our seats. I attempted to retrieve it for her, but there was too much ickiness under there. We all enjoyed the movie. All the “ring” movies are fun, especially if you like Hobbits. Looking forward to part three.
“May the hair on your toes never fall out!”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit

Day Three Hundred Sixty Three 2013

We forget just how painfully dim the world was before electricity. A candle, a good candle, provides barely a hundredth of the illumination of a single 100 watt light bulb.
~Bill Bryson
This may be true, but a light bulb can’t hold a candle to the delicious vanilla scent in my house right now. Smells good enough to eat, but I’d burn my tongue.

Day Three Hundred Sixty Two 2013

Some people never grow up. Grandpa was having fun building towers with grandson Knox’s blocks this afternoon. An episode of Thomas The Train was on in the background. And notice that grandson Knox wasn’t  paying attention to either of these things. He was having his own fun [playing with his trains, most likely]. Good times on a lazy Saturday. [thanks for the pic, daughter Kelly]

Day Three Hundred Sixty One 2013

It’s easy when your cup is full of boiled custard and whipped cream.

Grandkids Shelby, Elijah and Knox hanging out at my house today ~ finally went outside this afternoon ~ I told Shelby to jump into the picture, so she did

Beautiful day for a stroll in the neighborhood ~ Knox is loving his new car that his Aunt Holly and Uncle Jerry and cousins Shelby and Elijah gave him for Christmas ~ it’s fun to ride when somebody is willing to push.  Happy TGIF, everyone!

Day Three Hundred Sixty 2013

Grandson Knox [a.k.a. The Bachelor] hitched a ride on Thomas The Train this afternoon. He has a fierce passion for all things trains right now. And since 90% of his birthday and Christmas gifts were train-related this year, his mom and dad are hoping this passion lasts for another year or two or maybe ten. Chugga Chugga! Keep on chugging, Knox!

Day Three Hundred Fifty Nine 2013

MERRY CHRISTMAS                    
from The Mabry Clan!

Sister Ann and brother in law Terry hosted our annual Mabry Family get together tonight. We enjoyed yummy food and had a great time playing Dirty Santa [although settling on the rules of the game maybe took longer than playing the game itself]. Those who could attend this year from left: brother in law Don, sister Jane, brother in law Terry, nephew Ian, nephew Chris, niece Evan, nephew in law Shaun, niece Sarah, son in law Kerry, grandson Knox, niece Julia, daughter Kelly, sister Ann and front row brother Ken, moi, and hubby Neil and streaming live on Face Time on the iPad granddaughter Shelby, grandson Elijah and daughter Holly. Thanks, Ann and Terry, for hosting our good time. Love my awesome family. So blessed to be able to be together again on Christmas day.  Merry Christmas!

Day Three Hundred Fifty Eight 2013

MERRY CHRISTMAS!
from the Ranft, Myers, Kimbrough Families









My greatest blessing on this earth is my family. We had such a great time together tonight, celebrating Christmas. It came and went in the blink of an eye, same as all good times do. Merry Christmas!
The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree:  the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.                                    
~Burton Hillis

Day Three Hundred Fifty Seven 2013

Grandpa and grandson Knox having fun with Knox’s Thomas Trains on the train table we got him for Christmas. Neil put the table together this evening, and we decided there was no reason not to go ahead and let him enjoy it now. We loaded it in the truck and took it over to his house. When we left, he was playing with his trains on his train table, having more fun than pint sized human beings should be allowed to have two days before Christmas.

Day Three Hundred Fifty Six 2013

Christmas - that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance.  It may weave a spell of nostalgia.  Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance - a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved.                                      ~Augusta E. Rundel



Hope you don’t mind seeing more pictures of Christmas tree ornaments. Our tree is just about the only decoration we have in the house this year. I never get tired of looking at it [well, until December 26, maybe] because I love the way the lights reflect on the ornaments. [That’s my gratuitous Christmas selfie wishing you a Merry Christmas.]

Day Three Hundred Fifty Five 2013

Yes, Christmas is almost here, and yes, it would be nice to have one of everything [and we all know that ain’t gonna happen, right?]. That’s not why I took a snapshot of my computer desktop screen. See that? 66 degrees? First day of winter? Maybe it’s just me, but this time of year, I’d rather it be cold and sunny than hot and rainy. It’s also the  shortest day of the year, for all you daylight savings time people out there. We’ll be inching toward longer daylight each day, one minute at a time.
Wishing my bro-in-law, Terry, a big Happy Birthday today!

Day Three Hundred Fifty Four 2013

Christmas gift suggestions:  To your enemy, forgiveness.  To an opponent, tolerance.  To a friend, your heart.  To a customer, service.  To all, charity.  To every child, a good example.  To yourself, respect.                                                                                      
~Oren Arnold
Happy TGIF!

Day Three Hundred Fifty Three 2013

Every day after school, grandson Elijah looks for the elf on the shelf at my house. I told him the elf was hiding today. Elijah looked in all the nooks and crannies and cabinets.

He finally found the elf sitting under the Christmas tree. You have to look closely to find him.

He was holding one of the icicles from the tree [probably the closest thing to a weapon this thing will ever be allowed to have].

Elijah was dressed like an elf, too. His class Christmas party was today [that’s what I call it; I’m not sure what the school calls it these days]. They got to wear their comfy jammies, eat treats, play games, watch a movie [Polar Express] and decorate these neat elf hats. And they also got bells to wear around their necks [after school, I’m sure]. Tomorrow is a two hour day, then the kiddos and teachers are free until next year. Good times as the big day draws nearer. Six days!

Day Three Hundred Fifty Two 2013

Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time.                          
~Laura Ingalls Wilder

Day Three Hundred Fifty One 2013

O CHRISTMAS TREE

We finally decorated our Christmas tree.

See?  [this late date must be a record for us]

Day Three Hundred Fifty 2013

HAPPY 35TH BIRTHDAY, HOLLY!


Daughter Holly celebrated her 35th birthday today. Family enjoyed a fun party at her house tonight with all the traditional goodies like homemade punch and an ice cream cake from Baskin-Robbins all dressed up in Christmas decorations and of course presents. Wishing our Christmas baby a very happy birthday and all the best of everything life has to offer in the year to come. We love you very much!!

Day Three Hundred Forty Nine 2013

She Never Saw It Coming…….

Daughter Holly celebrates her 35th birthday tomorrow, so her dad could hardly believe she handed this opportunity to him without a thought when she suggested we eat lunch after church at El Tapatio, one of our local Mexican restaurants. The servers at El Tap, as the locals call it, are known for gathering at the table of the birthday girl or guy, placing a sombrero on her/his head, and singing, quite loudly, a birthday song in Spanish. Needless to say, her dad gleefully alerted our server that Holly is celebrating her birthday. She never saw it coming.

The really funny part is that they brought the child-sized sombrero and mistakenly plopped it down on granddaughter Shelby’s head. I quickly pointed to Holly and they moved it to her while they sang, patting it down on her head, because, clearly, it did not fit. Shelby didn’t see that coming, either, because they had come up behind her. The shocked look on her face was priceless. Holly, I think, was mortified. Of course, that didn’t stop us from laughing. [And laughing] [And taking pictures]

Holly took it in good-natured stride, but she didn’t let that little sombrero sit on her head for another second after the singing and clapping were done. Her dad will never let her live it down. And next year she’ll think twice about the date on the calendar and where she might want to have lunch. Love you, Holly! Looking forward to some more celebrating on the 16th.

Day Three Hundred Forty Eight 2013

Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.
~Calvin Coolidge

Day Three Hundred Forty Seven 2013

Our demented version of the elf on the shelf has made his presence known in our house this week. He’s been keeping an eye on grandson Elijah, who was freaked out this afternoon to find the elf sitting on top of a door in the living room, a picture of Elijah by his side. Who knows where the elf might show up next? Elijah will be cautiously on the lookout.  Happy TGIF, everyone!

Day Three Hundred Forty Six 2013

HO HO HO ~ have you been naughty or nice today?

Day Three Hundred Forty Five 2013

Neil cut down our tree today at the Christmas tree farm. Looking forward to the decked out version sitting in our living room. Stay tuned.

Day Three Hundred Forty Four 2013

“Snow day” today. Ice day, actually. Kids out of school. They hung out with me. I didn’t think I was ever going to get the ice off my car so I could go to my dentist appointment which was a little after noon. Neil came and took the kiddos to lunch. I survived the dentist, thank God. [Thought I might have to endure getting a new crown, but I can keep the one I have. Yay!] Joined the lunch bunch at Ocha. After that, the grandpeeps and I landed at Ralph’s Donut Shop where they not only have donuts, but also yummy Christmas cookies. Yay! Nice way to top off an icy day.

Day Three Hundred Forty Three 2013

I wish I could say this is my fireplace all decked out for Christmas. It belongs to Cracker Barrel where we enjoyed some comfort food before heading out to do some Christmas shopping. It would have been nice to sit right here all evening and play checkers or read a book.

Day Three Hundred Forty Two 2013

Grandson Knox at Starbuck’s this afternoon on his mom’s iPhone, no doubt updating his Facebook status. Kids these days…..

Day Three Hundred Forty One 2013

Here Comes Santa Claus!

The Cookeville Depot Museum held their Christmas open house today. We took grandson Knox to visit with Santa Claus. Kelly gave him a pep talk last night, telling Knox what to expect, but he was still a bit intimidated by the man in red.

“What’s your name?” Santa asked.  “Knox,” he said, pointing to himself.

Knox was very brave and sat on Santa’s lap. He told Santa he wanted Thomas The Train for Christmas. He didn’t cry or get upset, but he only sat there long enough to snap a picture or two.

For a little boy who adores trains right now, Knox was thrilled to be at the depot. He literally squealed with delight when he saw this display case with his favorite Thomas The Train stuff inside.

Best of all was getting to watch the electric train travel the track around the replica of the Cookeville Depot.


Another train on a track circling the Christmas tree caught his eye. I think he could have watched these trains all day.

He got to visit one of Santa’s reindeer ~ Comet ~ who was having breakfast.

Knox had the best time ever at the train depot. Seeing Santa wasn’t so scary after all.