Happy New Year to all our friends and family!

We would love to post photos of the two of us dressed to the nines, sipping Champagne with our smart and sassy friends. But that would take too much photo shopping as Captain is sitting in front of the TV watching football and ABN is in her pajamas puttering around in her studio. I know, it’s sad but we’ve been there, done that and have had the hangover.

Besides, we want to share what is really important to us, our family.

Holly, Camille and Alison

We were the lucky ones to get them this Christmas, (sorry other parents and grandparents, NOT.)  So we packed all we could into the few days they were here including Christmas Eve church service 

followed with the traditional supper at our house.












Church again on Sunday followed by unwrapping of gifts,

a nap,

and dinner.

Table setting by Camille

 It was decided Alison's stocking was entirely too small

so, after Christmas we headed to the studio to fix that.

Preparing to quilt fabric for a new stocking.

Quilting the fabric 

Much better!

And they had to try their skill at ice skating.

Not bad for the first time.

They arrived on Saturday and left on Wednesday; we didn't get to do everything we wanted but enough to tire the grandparents. 

As we say good-bye to 2016, we do so with gratitude for the joy of family and friends. Looking forward with hope that our adventures in 2017 include many of you.

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Keeping in touch

as promised to friends and family.

We are settling in for the winter with a bit of reservation. With night time temperatures in the teens and the possibility of ice and maybe snow next week, we are kind of rethinking this “stay at home this winter and finish renovating the upstairs.” We really questioned the logic when Mom told us it was 70° in College Station earlier this evening. But, since we are here, we will make the best of it.

The Wanderer has been emptied and thoroughly cleaned. Captain has installed a back-up camera and replaced the power converter. After her check-up maintenance service, she will be ready to hibernate in winter storage.

Speaking of check-ups, we made a trip to Nashville for our annual medical and financial check-ups last week.

The best part of that trip was a (way too short) visit with our friends, John and Melissa; the second best part was (let’s get this clear, for ABN,) a stop at The Container Store.

Inspired by Melissa (the queen of minimalism) she is so excited to start organizing the upstairs closets. Already the Free Friday Box has appeared on the curb with our no-longer wanted/needed stuff.  

We are so excited to prepare for Christmas this year; our girls are coming! The decorations are up, 

the menu is being planned, almost daily the UPS driver stops by and the craft studio is alive with music, the hum of the sewing machine and the smell of paint.

To all of you in the south and southwest, enjoy your warm weather; to friends/family in the north and midwest, hang in there, spring will come again; and those on the west coast, count your blessings. For us, we are going to work hard so next winter we can travel to warmer places.

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Fall Adventure 2016 has come to an end.

After traveling for about 6 weeks through the hot and muggy Southeast in The Wanderer followed by another 7 weeks in warm, sticky College Station, TX, we came home to rain and mild temperatures.

The front of the house was almost as we left it, roses still blooming and the lawn, although brown, neatly mowed (Thank you, Mark.)

Inside we found three months of mail sorted and neatly stacked (Thank you, Mark.)

And then there is the back,

leaves

and more leaves,

and of course weeds. 

Without rain for about 3 months only a few of the geranium cuttings (on the rack) ABN took before we left made it. But the mother plants still have some life. (Looks as though the squirrels may have had a party on the rack.)

Not all is lost, the geraniums on the patio survived so ABN can take more cuttings. (Yeah!)

Shortly after our arrival home, our friend, Jean stoped by and not empty handed. Thank you, Jean, for the most delicious ham/bean soup, fruit salad and bread from Kirchhoff's; perfect dinner for a cool rainy day!

We had a fantastic fall adventure hanging out with friends in Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas. It is sad to see that one of our very favorite places is now being engulfed with fire. Our friends in North Carolina and East Tennessee are in our thoughts and prayers.

Now that we are home we must get busy and give The Wanderer a good cleaning and a couple of upgrades before putting her away for the winter. ABN is excited to be back in her studio in time to do some Christmas crafting. We are both excited to catch up with our hometown friends. ABN wants to continue her walking explorations. When will she ever get around to raking those leaves!? (Captain is copping out on the leave raking citing his extreme seasonal allergies. Not to worry, ABN has started a list of inside chores to keep him busy.)

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