A most unusual Show n Tell

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Flash NON-Fiction 55 below my....



SHOW N TELL


Okay, tell me....just how LONG have Bud and I lived in this house in Texas? Yep, going on seven years!! And I had a revelation!! Of the close-encounter type! Bring on the National Enquirer...no, on second thought, don't tell ANYone. But, realize you saw it here first. I really don't want those overzealous religious 'freaks' showing up in our neighborhood and blocking the streets and driveways, searching for a religious phenomenon that will save us all. But wait, I still want to share this with those who visit me today looking for a show n tell post. A while ago, several days, weeks ago in fact, when I opened our garage door to get the car backed out, I walked around the backside of the car to get into the driver's seat. And, yes, a squirrel scurried down the trunk of the pecan tree which made me look up because of the commotion. The light of day was just right...and the vision caught my eye immediately!! Once I noticed it, Bud was at his work bench in the garage and I told him he had to come look. Hoping he'd see the same as I did, I pointed it out to him with words only; where he was to look without pointing directly to it and not giving him any clue as to what I saw. Sure 'nough, he saw it too. Being that we now know where to look, we continued to seek it out at different times of day on different days. Come early daylight or dusk, cloudy or sunny...he keeps his vigil over our house and yard. And it only took us over 6 years to see it----------

Do YOU see him, tho primitive as it may be?




...if not, I colored in the feature[s] in the bark of the tree to assist you. Look at the primitive outlining I did, and compare with the above, natural, setting. Does it not look like Jesus Christ's image?---




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FLASH 55
today, my 55 isn't fiction


Heart and blood
Hardly an inkling of contrast
One; of kindred resolution
Today I celebrate; with her in mind
Today she celebrates.
We'll ring in the new year, sure--
But also her birth; years past
Together we've a special bond of sisterhood,
A solid institution!!
A sorority of a single kind...


Happy Birthday dear Sharon




sister clipart courtesy of Google images

....Remember this song?

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I once was a fanatic for Bobby Vinton. From decades ago. You wonder what ever happened to him? Oh his voice, so soft and melodic. Just making us girls swoon with each and every love song he recorded---






A long long time ago
On Graduation Day



You handed me your book



I signed this way:

roses are red, my love--



violets are blue...




...sugar is sweet my love
But not as
sweet as you---





SONG LINK from You Tube



Photos: Erik's Master's Degree Graduation Day at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Bud's School Picture Album from Colorado Springs, Roses from our garden, A wild blue violet blossom in the ferns, and last but not least, my "sweet as you" son again...Erik from a long long time ago!!!!

Giveway Drawing

I used the Number Generator found online to 'draw' a winner for my Poinsettia Scarf Giveaway just now.

Congratulations to the winner!!! [winner linked on sidebar]

[my Ruby Tuesday post is below this]

The Jolly ol' Elf was good to me....

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FOLLOW ME TUESDAY linked button on SIDEBAR!!

Santa was really good to me this year!! Except for one thing I received in the mailbox!...Christmas day is now over for, once again, another year. I will be busy 'undecorating' the house in a bit. At least will begin to take things down. It usually takes me 3 to 4 days to pack things away. Oh, and to get back to the 'lighter side' of the season, I received a package in the mail this past month, but there was a note stamped all over stating it's not to be opened 'til Christmas Eve!! No return address on the outside either. I was just itchin' to open the sucker!!! It's the cutest darned gift. It's from a secret Santa. I don't know who to thank for this. I'm venturing to think it's from a family member, tho not sure. Only those who visit my blog know I collect Santas, so it has to be someone close; like family or an online friend. All I DO KNOW is it's just too adorable. It's called "Sunday Drive"; a KSA Collector's Item. The photos aren't all that good, somewhat blurry, but I was elated and grabbed the closest camera to me. The cellphone--------







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Now, I do know where these gifts came from and who gave them to me...

From Mutti, my longtime friend in Denmark sent me this beautiful, BEAUTIFUL crystal decanter and 'shot' glasses. She wrote me that this year I must share with Bud...that's fine by me, Mutti!!! And when I get time to go to the Wine and Liquor Import store in town, I will try and find a bottle of Cherry Heering from Denmark...what else could I fill it with but the Danish Liqueur? Besides, I LOVE Cherry Heering!!! And, my dear friend....I LOVE the gift!! And so does Bud!!! I will have it on my dining room hutch all the time now! "TAK"---from the bottom of my heart.


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From Bud and family:





A blown glass tree ornament of Mary and Jesus









GWTW Scarlent 2010 Figurine
A diamond teddy bear pendant






A pretty porcelain dish of holly and a cardinal







A diamond ring
Jeff Dunham new autobiography







A Santa I don't HAVE!
A Holiday clock.
On the hour it chimes
8 different Christmas Carols.
[not all a once, but one different each hour]




Oh, maybe you're curious to what I didn't like receiving? In the mailbox? I have to report [again!!!] for jury duty January 3rd!! @!!#$!Crapola@!!#$!.

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And, please forgive me, but I have not had time to do my poinsettia scarf giveaway drawing yet!! Our Christmas company left early this morning. The holiday decorations have not been taken down and packed away yet either. I MUST do both these tasks. Hopefully I can get to it in a day or two. Keep faith....the lucky name WILL be drawn soon!!! [We didn't go traveling either as planned...we all decided to stay home, safe, and not be on the roads with San Antonio and Austin traffic. It was predicted to be at the freezing mark here for two days straight with heavy fog and icy roads...we just didn't want to take the chances of having dangerous road conditions in the Texas Hill Country. Altho, on Christmas Day it wasn't as bad as forecasted, but better to be safe than sorry and in the hospital from a wreck, right? I'm bummed, but that's life. Roll with the punches.]

NOTE: As of 8:10 AFTER I posted this post, I did draw for the Scarf Giveway Winner. See the top of my postings here for the link to view who will receive my gift.

Christmas in the heart puts Christmas in the air.....

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Photos don't really "match" the lyrics this time 'round, but it's all in the spirit of the magic of the season, and the child in us all--------




Fairy tales can come true
It can happen to you if you're young at heart
For it's hard, you will find
To be narrow of mind if you're young at heart


You can go to extremes with impossible schemes
You can laugh when your dreams fall apart at the seams
And life gets more exciting with each passing day
And love is either in your heart or on the way


Don't you know that it's worth
Every treasure on earth to be young at heart
For as rich as you are
It's much better by far to be young at heart


And if you should survive to a hundred and five
Look at all you'll derive out of bein' alive
And here is the best part, you have a head start
If you are among the very young at heart


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Each year there is an entire neighborhood area in town, near the Country Club District with dozens and dozens of homes, that participates in being overly-zealous in their decorating. Of course, no matter if it IS extreme, it's still fun and an eye-popping time had by all in town to drive by and oooooo, and ahhhhh at all the wonderment of the season! Bud and I are some of the oglers. Seriously, it brings the kid out in all of us! Not only that, but we adults, with any lick of sense, tend to think of all the hours of preparation it takes to give us, in the city, a bit of the taste of the season...all in colors of the yuletide along with animations and thrills. Hours, weeks of preparation!! It's become a tradition, and each year it just gets better and better. Afterall, I AM a KID at HEART. Oh but this year, I wasn't so 'un'Scrooge like for a few minutes...we had a traffic gridlock!!! Not one car could move forward/or BACKward for nearly 30 minutes or more!...so much traffic. Finally, after the gridlock broke up, I had Bud park blocks and blocks away, and we walked!!! Next year, if god willing, the two of will NOT go on opening night. From Thanksgiving on until the 'opening night' preparations of the neighborhood; this year the 18th, Candy Cane Lanes became a showcase of lights....







...and I thank them for sharing their neighborhood. I could have taken 100s of home photos, but above are just a few as we walked the night---
[each of the thumbnail images can be enlarged -take your time, they're worth enlarging and viewing!! Each will open in a new window]



HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!! This'll be the last post for me for quite a while. For the holiday weekend we'll have a house guest, who will arrive shortly; early in the day today sometime, and there are plans of going up north around the Texas' famed "hill country"... to our capital, Austin, meeting up with some friends, and many other things. Then, after the holiday, I'll be very busy getting our house back to normal, 'everyday life' once again, for another year. May your days be merry and bright...and filled with love of family and friends! If you're planning on traveling...have a safe trip. Hope Santa will be good to you!!!

THANKS GO OUT TO ALL WHO'VE SENT CARDS AND GIFTS TO OUR HOME!! From far away as Denmark, Canada, USA [including Hawai'i], and Spain---all your thoughts and love make our cups runneth over!!! See you later....

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM BUD AND ME---

SONG LINK [Frank Sinatra is the 'only one' that can really sing it]
Candy Cane Lane [news article on preparations of the Country Club 'hood]

Nighttime fountain colors - -

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I'm posting early for Wednesday...


Right at the end [or beginning, depending on how you look at it] of Texas' Interstate Highway #37, where the pavement ends and the Bay waters begin, you'll find a newer city fountain along the 2 mile walkway---this is near the cultural center of the city. Across the street from the fountain is the Bank Center, the indoor arena, the Auditorium, the Harbor Playhouse [live amateur theater] the Federal Courthouse, the Art Center, the science museum,--near the area, IN the bay [as you can see with the blue lights in the background to the left in the top photo, behind the palm trees] is the World War II aircraft carrier that's now a floating museum, the USS Lexington, and the lighted gazebo in the background of the photos is one of several along the walkway. And on the back side of the gazebos is...the Gulf of Mexico. At night, the fountain glows with beautiful colors---------Here are daytime photos, if you'd care to see....LINK