Christmas Holidays 2014

The first of many Christmases at our new home.

Christmas Eve Lunch.





Candlelight Christmas Eve Service at Matthews United Methodist Church.

The start of our Christmas village...



...where it didn't snow this year.



Lot's of English and German goodies.



Oscar and Sophie got some toys for Christmas they were really happy. Our cats Buster, Boo & Milly got some turkey cat food.

 

 

Then off we went to the Blue Ridge Mountains for Christmas lunch at The Deerpark.

We wore purple for Grandee, her favorite color.



We had a beautiful Carolina blue day as we went on an Architects tour of The Biltmore.

On the tour we ventured up to the roof where there were uninterrupted views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Once copper, the roof has oxidized with a green patina. Apparently when it rains, the copper patina protects the roof and prevents moss from growing upon it. Who knew?!

Gargoyles to ward off evil spirits.



He said "I think we'll take it"...



...with 43 bathrooms I chuckled that one off!



We stopped for awhile and watched the most beautiful sunset before heading to The Omni Grove where we stayed awhile and sampled their delicious buffet.

I'd Rather See A Sermon

By Edgar A. Guest
✻════════════════════════✻
I'd rather see a sermon
than hear one any day;
I'd rather one should walk with me...
than merely tell the way.

The eye's a better pupil
and more willing than the ear,
Fine counsel is confusing,
but example's always clear;

And the best of all preachers
are the men who live their creeds,
For to see good put in action
is what everybody needs.

I soon can learn to do it
if you'll let me see it done;
I can watch your hands in action,
but your tongue too fast may run.

And the lecture you deliver
may be very wise and true,
But I'd rather get my lessons
by observing what you do;

For I might misunderstand you
and the high advice you give,
But there's no misunderstanding
how you act and how you live.

Christmas Card 2014

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is making our Christmas card and sending it to family and friends.

 

Without further adieu here's our 2014 Christmas Card.

 

 

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2015.

Christmas at the Billy Graham Library

We had a lovely evening on Saturday night at the Billy Graham Library. We arrived before the sun set. We walked around the bookstore and had a light dinner at the dairy barn before touring his childhood home and watching a live nativity. Afterwards, we did a little Christmas shopping and gift wrapping with Cory's famous hot chocolate and cheesy Hallmark movies.


Billy Graham's childhood home.

 

For a sneak peek inside Billy Graham's childhood home, here's a compilation I made.

 

Hope your getting into the Christmas spirit, only 10 days to go.

Nana and Grandad's Wedding Day

While I was in England earlier this year, I went through all my Nana's albums. Both she and my Granddad passed away in 2009. I scanned in all her pictures, and handwritten notes, including this one of her wedding day sixty years ago 'today' on December 12th, 1954. After their wedding my Granddad took my Nana honeymooning around Europe on a motorcycle and sidecar. We always laughed about that.

This Darn Fence!

At Graylands, our house in Richland, WA there was another wild wind storm. Luckily the tenants made a brace with a 4x4 and propped the garden bench on the other side. We had a similar thing happen in '11 or '12 and my dad's car was parked off to the side, luckily the panel flew under his car, not even one scratch, by less than an inch. Phew! But the pure mention of this fence, and it's collective stories over the years, there's nothing left to do but laugh.