Day Three Hundred Fifty One

Christmas Party At Morningside

Shelby, Santa, and Elijah share some smiles and candy canes.

Julia, Sarah, and Holly add some bling to the tree.

These people have had too much sweet tea to drink. Holly, Sarah, me, and Ann....doing who knows what.

Mom/Granny and Kelly share some holiday smiles.

Jane knew Kerry would look better with some rabbit ears. Ken and Don = life of the party.

We let brother Ken get away too soon before Kelly took this group shot of Mom and the kids. Me, Ann, Mom, and Jane. Oh yeah, girls rock! We all enjoyed a jolly good time and a tasty meal and hope to do it all over again this time next year.

Day Three Hundred Fifty

Happy 31st Birthday, Holly!

Our daughter, Holly Elizabeth Ranft (Myers), was born December 16, 1978, a mild and rainy Saturday night around 10:00 P.M. She was two weeks early, which was okay with me. Here she is being held by her dad during that four day hospital stay. (Unheard of these days.) Born just nine days before Christmas, the nurses sent her home tucked inside a bright red Christmas stocking.

Here she is today on her 31st birthday. I've always thought of her as our Christmas baby, so through the years, she usually ends up with red and green on her birthday cake. And she can always count on a Christmas tree shining in the background of her birthday pictures. Happy birthday, dear daughter. We love you very much. You are a blessing to us and to everyone who knows you. Wishing you all the best of everything today and always.

Day Three Hundred Forty Nine

Christmastime Is Here

Headless self-portrait in a silver ball

Christmas glow

Elijah deer needs some Crazy Glue

Shelby the red-nosed grand daughter deer

Eddie Kitty likes to sleep under the tree

He also likes to play with the tree
It's beginning to look a whole lot like Christmas!

Day Three Hundred Forty Eight

Simply The Best

My dad made the best spaghetti sauce in the universe. He passed away ten years ago, but his sauce lives on in the recipe he left behind. I'm so thankful he wrote it down! I can always tell when I get it right, because the sauce is bright red and the whole house smells like garlic blending with all those hot red spices my dad loved to cook with. I made a pot this afternoon and froze it after it was done simmering for three hours. For some reason, freezing it only intensifies the flavors. It's becoming a tradition on Christmas Eve at my house to enjoy a spaghetti dinner before we open our gifts. So, thanks, Pop, for the gift of your divine sauce and the aromatic memories it conjures up.

Day Three Hundred Forty Seven

Good Cheer