Day Three Hundred Thirty Eight

Happy 95th Birthday, Aunt Joy Brown!

About half the town of Gainesboro, Tennessee, and assorted relatives from near and far gathered at Helen's Restaurant to celebrate my Aunt Joy Brown's 95th birthday. Aunt Joy is a special lady and deserves these yearly accolades, which have turned into a major event. In this picture from left are Hamp Mabry (my mom and Joy's younger sister--Mom is 88), Aunt Joy, and their cousin, Glenn Ragland (who is nearing 90 herself). Glenn and family traveled all the way from Memphis today to surprise Aunt Joy on her special day.

After the party, relatives gathered at Aunt Joy's house to visit, tell stories, laugh, and make lots of noise. Here are sisters Joy Brown and Hamp Mabry.

These two cousins finally got to meet. They were born a day apart in August, 2006. On the left is Landon Brown, who lives in Texas, and Elijah Myers. They hit it off big time and had the best time playing together.

The family group shot. From top left: Kathy Brown, Lowell Brown, Don Foy, Jane Foy, Kay Ranft, Ann Sissom, Tom Brown, Neil Ranft & Terry Sissom. Middle row from left: Mike Brown, Joy Brown, Landon Brown, Hamp Mabry, Shelby Myers, Julia Foy & Elijah Myers. Front row from left: Ken Mabry, Kelly Kimbrough, Holly Myers & Tony Sircy. This bunch always has a great time when we manage to get together, which isn't as often as we'd like any more. Happy birthday, Aunt Joy! Wishing you many more!

Day Three Hundred Thirty Seven

Please Don't Eat The Candles

My candy cane candles look good enough to eat--except maybe for the wicks sticking out the ends. They sort of look like fancy firecrackers. It's s-l-o-w-l-y starting to look like Christmas around here.

Day Three Hundred Thirty Six

'Tis The Season

I'll be the first to admit that Christmas is not one of my favorite holidays, so I have to warm up to the idea of decorating and ease into it. Today I took down the Thanksgiving flag and put up the Santa Ho Ho Ho flag (which says oH oH oH on the flip side).

Found this small berry and pine cone wreath half price at Hobby Lobby not long ago and hung it on the pie safe in the dining room. Festive, isn't it? I know. It's not much. But it's a start. Tomorrow, I just might break out the candy cane candles.

Day Three Hundred Thirty Five

Never Ignore Anything In The Shape Of A Heart

Impossible to ignore this perfectly heart-shaped leaf. It caught my eye as I was pulling out of the driveway at lunch time today. Since the leaf isn't much longer for this world, I thought a portrait was fitting. A valentine in December.

Day Three Hundred Thirty Four

Sweet!

Grand daughter Shelby's third grade teacher picked up on the fact that Shelby loves the whole 'Twilight Saga' stories. Of course, Shelby has made no secret of it. When Shelby got in from school this afternoon, she couldn't wait to show me what her teacher had given to her today--a package of Twilight New Moon creme filled chocolates. No kidding. Shelby was so pleased and excited that she immediately began to create a thank you card for her teacher.

The one she opened was inside a Bella wrapper. It says Bella on the first heart and Cullen on the second heart, along with the Cullen family crest. How cool is that! Shelby says her teacher told her she found these at K-Mart. What a sweet thing for a teacher to do for a student. This teacher is obviously paying attention. And, yes, Shelby thoroughly enjoyed her chocolate!