More Snow!

So, today was a snow day! We had planned to fly out to South Florida this morning. But that was not to be....

so, we just enjoyed the snow!







I don't think we can taxi out just yet.....



Take-off might be a bit of a problem too! I'll keep ya posted on our progress southbound!

SNOW!!!

OK, so the weatherman was right this time! We have about 6" of the powdery white stuff. Only a few power "blinks" so far. Warm and cozy inside.




I'm not sure that the plans for an early departure to south Florida are gonna work out - unless there's a miraculous melting of the snow on the taxiway/runway!!!

Oh well, there's always the next day!

Merry Christmas!

I embellished the kids' stockings with their names when we lived in Boca Raton, so they would have been 1 and 2 years old. Every year since, I've stuffed them with the usual trinkets and candy. I guess I'll continue to do so until someone brings in a tiny one to take their place!

This year, I found the sparkly puff-paint and added a stocking for my "daughter" Miranda!



First we had a nice, big meal. I decided to set up an extra "extension-table" so the table wouldn't be so crowded with dishes. That worked out well.


The turkey turned out well - I usually smoke the turkey, but this year my smoker finally gave up the ghost.



Then on to the usual gift-opening. A good time was had by all, I think!


Although I don't think Richard was too thrilled by the "squeaky toy" we gave to Axle!


The kids gave me a great gift - a Kindle reader! I love it! They loaded my next book-club book on it. There are lots of classics out there that you can download for free. I happen to be reading one - The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - so I easily downloaded it and picked up reading where I was in the "real book". Really nice - and I can enlarge the print to help with my little bit of "old age".....


And Miranda made good on her "threat" of making me an honorary "UNC Mom". I look good in blue, don't cha think??? Robert did not.

A little warm slideshow!

Pat and Diane put together this neat little slideshow with music about our trip to the Leeward Islands back in May and gave it to us on a disc for Christmas. You can enjoy it here - turn your music up! (it's pretty long.....but it was as much fun as it looked!) :

Leeward Island Sailing

Christmas has gotten a little less vibrant around lately with no little ones around. Just some red bows around the house and the "tree" is the infamous Ficus tree that my sis sent me in the early 90's when I was still working at IBM. (I've virtually killed it with freeze/frost several times - therefore it's still reasonably sized....) Add some nice multi-colored lights and you have a quick and easy Christmas Tree!




Saturday we were off to "my side" of the family's Christmas celebration. This year it was at Keith and Denise's house. Let it be noted that we do not go hungry!!


No, there was an abundance of delectable edibles!!


After much visiting and eating, we organized for the "Christmas Present Game".



Same "game" we have played for the past several years. Everyone brought a generic, wrapped gift. We all chose a number from a "hat" - then we either chose a wrapped gift or "stole" a gift from someone else. We do have a few thieves, I might add!

I think everyone had alot of fun. Mom with her first gift - although she ended up with something else!


Robert and Aaron being silly.


Miranda being silly - really hard to see in the dim light, but Miranda had put Bridget's UNC Tarheel Christmas hat on Robert's head.....I think at that moment, Robert didn't know what was on the hat. A moment later, he realized it and very quickly removed it!!!


There was some very pretty ribbon - I think from Eddie and Trudi's gifts....you'll notice it was popular because it was worn by several people during the night.

Aaron A.K.A. Michalangelo (from the 80's -early 90's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)



Miranda and Richard opening gifts.


"Fist Bump" with Grandma and Franks gift to them (ski gloves - they were going skiing on Sunday).

The lovely couple - newly engaged Aaron and Ashlee.



I tried to get a picture of Miranda in NC State RED!!!




She wasn't being very co-operative!!!



Then someone got this photo of me with the evil hat!


Duane and I opening our gift from my sis in N.D. - notice the ribbon around his head - he was said to be "Donatello" (also a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle).





Really, everyone seemed to have a terrific time!



We stayed overnite at Mom and Frank's - then headed over to Granny and Cordy's for the McCraw Christmas gathering. We don't often get to go to that gathering because it is almost always on a date we can't attend. We had a nice reunion-style dinner with Duane's dad's siblings and their families. I only snapped a photo of Obie the cat at Granny's house! Happy, spoiled cat!!

New Radios for the Airplane

Finally got the Mooney back on Wednesday after 4 weeks in the avionics shop. We're really pleased with the results.

Here's the veritable "before" shot. Most of these radios were original equipment and many of them didn't work. We knew this when we bought the airplane and planned to immediately install new radios.



So, out with the old......what a tangled mess! You can see why this is not a job for the faint of heart (and you can also see why this is not a do-it-yourself project!!)





Here's the expert - Jerry Jeffers from Air Associates at the Asheboro Airport (gotta give him a plug!) This is the actual radio stack that he eventually installed in the gaping hole above.


All done! Very nice, modern electronics. (One instrument is missing because it was not functioning correctly and went back to the manufacturer for repair/replacement). Now for some good flying weather!!!

Winter time is here!

Just scurrying around, getting ready for Christmas. Our weather today was not as bad as predicted, thank you very much!!! Cold and dreary, though. Guess you gotta have some of that, I just don't have to like it!

Office Christmas Party

It's that time of year again, isn't it? We had our "airport bums" Christmas party Saturday night at Bobbi's house again this year. I spent the better part of last week cooking/baking for all the goodies.

Unfortunately, all of the photos were blurred. I had turned the flash off so as to be less obtrusive....apparently the camera doesn't take good photos that way. Oh well, you get the idea. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves!

My precious book club ladies Christmas get-together

I know you're used to seeing this space set up for a certain Friday night card game.....

But tonight it was all about the ladies and our book club! 3 of the ladies were absent for very, very good reasons - but we managed to have a very nice time (we missed you Marianne, Nina and Charlee!)





We do a gift exchange/steal......the most popular this year were - herb cutter scissors, a beautiful scarf, and....drum roll please....a pair of cozy boots....

Yaay - I ended up with the boots - (mmm - sorry Joyce!) very warm and snuggly!!!


A wonderful way to start the holiday season! Hope all you gals have a great Holiday!! (Sorry Carol - didn't aim the auto-timer camera quite right, did I???)

Lonnie's customer appreciation day

Every year our good buddy Lonnie throws a "customer appreciation day" at his lawn/garden shop. I have volunteered to bring my turkey fryer and fry up the hushpuppies for the event several years now.

This year, it was coooolllddd for an outside event. I actually stayed pretty toasty next to the hot oil cooker!


While they were waiting on the go-ahead to eat, most everyone milled around, stopping near the cookers often for a quick warm-up.


A nice event - a LOT of folks stop by. Many pick up their Christmas trees and wreaths on the way home.


At last, it was time to dig in! A nice, community event. (And yes, they ate every last hushpuppy!!)

First snowfall

Our local weatherman had forecast some snow flurries for today - I didn't believe him.....

but he was right and then some! I stepped out to take a picture thinking that this might be my only opportunity



But the snow kept falling - more than just flurries....I know this is not a big deal - but exciting in a nice, childish sort of way....


After a while, I did a little walk-about....





And caught a few wet snowflakes in my tongue!!!