It’s 2018 now in New York at least. Here in Mississippi I have another hour of 2017. Thoughts on the year? Lots of bad things but lots of good things  What I’m thinking about though. 1970. My friend Jennie and I spending the night at her house. Laying on the floor of her living room in our sleeping bags listening to the count down of the top hits of the year. On her clock radio. I can remember hearing James Taylor’s Fire and Rain. I’ll Be Thereby MIchael. Bridge over Troubled Water. Ma Belle Ami. Wow.  So many good songs 

Our New Years scene. 

Ok I’m a little obsessed   Read the new one Sing Unburied Sing. Was almost through and checked the library and reserved Salvage the Bones. She is so good!

Our next endeavor. Ham. 

And this.  Jerky. Apparently winter makes us stock up on meat. 

Dehydrator humming into the night. 

Holidays 2

This is part 2 so be sure you see previous post. 

On to the Norwood’s for Christmas Day festivities. 

Mom and Ed. 

Paul and Joe

Jan, working hard. 

Tradition dictates a reading of the Christmas story from Luke. 

Always brings a tear to my eye.

Lil bit of everything dessert plate. 

2 nights later we gathered to see Cary and her babies. Bowls always make a good hat. 

Brody told Paul to keep making funny faces. 

My gifts of fish tails were not a hit with the kids but Ashley and Jan liked them. 

A doctor kit was fun. 

Even Elmo got checked. 

Paul also got shark bit 

Brody and T

Uncle Bryan tried to figure out a transformer toy.  

Took a walk to the lake a couple of days later. Look at that girl with her hands in her newly discovered pockets. 

Brody was throwing rocks in the water. 

This swing episode was frightening. 

They let Jan take a ride but when I got on Lelia tried to push me out. 

Then they headed home in the best possible way. Red wagon. 

Holidays

Ok...so I’ve gotten behind on the blog...was having too much fun. I also must admit that I didn’t get good photos. So I’ll hit the highlights and hope y’all forgive me. 

Christmas Eve at the Wolf’s. 

Everyone lining up for Mamaw’s “homemade” fried chicken, Karen’s crockpot Mac and cheese and 

Kathy’s baked beans. 

Joe waits his turn. 

Sweet cousins from Crystal Springs. 

Josh and his friend drove all the way from California. 

Sophie was still in a tropical mood from her trip to Jamaica for her table setting. 

Me, smiling because I just had Karen’s perfect chocolate pie. 

Still messing up pictures at 27. 

Jeff and Mom. 

Sophie and Paul’s future plans?

Christmas morning brunch for McNeil presents. 

Mary Grace now ready to launch her candle making career. 

Solstice and sister dinner

Our annual Winter Solstice Party took on a different slant due to Patrick work schedule. We had it at our house and I cooked Jambalaya. 

Mary Grace helped me (pretty much made it) make praline bread pudding   This is before we baked it the next day. 

Tables set. 

Pepper was a pain. He knew something was up. 

Everyone gathered for drinks and appetizers.  

All were glad to see Lucy. 

Truff wanted a pic too. 

Good friends.  

Tradition had us popping crackers. 

Each held a joke and a...

...Mustache 

Had a sister’s dinner that night. 

Linda and Joe brought steaks. 

Got a kick out of the fact that the men talk at the grill was about Social Security. 

Had more of that bread pudding with perfect praline sauce and Jan’s chocolate cake.