Christmas and Birthdays... Oh my!

Sorry for the delay in posting our Christmas celebration, but my IE browser was causing me a lot of grief with uploading pictures so I changed to Google Chrome... low and behold - it is working!  Shawn and Carrie and family made it here on Christmas Eve -- just in time for Santa to show up for Christmas morning. We were all so excited since they didn't come home anytime during the year! Poor Cheyenne and Blackie and L.T. and Emmy were so happy to see them!  We didn't waste anytime getting down to working and playing. We even got a little snow so we got to ride the sled behind Papa's John Deere 60. That was a blast flying over the terraces! Eric and Theresa came the day after Christmas so we got to open presents and play with cousins. So, here are just a few of our Christmas in pictures.

 MY DUCK DYNASTY CREW :-)

 Even the dogs were happy and involved with Papa's hay rack rides. Looks like the girls were having a great time too!

 Tractor rides,

 coloring,

 iPad,

 smiles,

 presents,

and puppy and

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS

A VERY HAPPY CREW

Kassidy and her new birthday quilt. I think it matches her colorful personality with blooming character.

Kaylee turned 7 in December and loves to dance, dance, dance. She was pretty excited to get her new quilt.

And Karolyn actually helped to design her quilt. She created the horses and the quilt was totally my design.

As always, when everyone left--Papa and I were LOST! Not only us but our animals are sad too! Emmy is sulking as well as L.T. I think Cheyenne and Blackie are constantly looking for their apple treats from the kids. I am so proud of them for loving to ride. Each and everyone rode this time and LOVED it. I am a happy girl - make that a happy Nana! I have no pictures of that since I was giving the rides. Oh well, I carry it in my heart and my mind! As we ended our Christmas get together - for Bruce and I, its all about family, loving and laughing-- and not the gifts! I treasure those homemade gifts so much! Thank you kids for everything. We miss you all! Praying for a safe and healthy 2014.

Nana's Lil Helper...

It was so nice this year to have some real quality help to decorate the Christmas tree. Konnor was so eager to get the tree out he didn't even want to go outside with Papa! He helped me drag out the Christmas dodads and he really was a help when it came to plugging in all the cords on the tree. We had so much fun! I love the 3 airplanes on one branch but he is pretty proud of all the ornaments!

Since then, Santa has made a quick stop and dropped off quite a few presents... but there will be no peeking at Nana and Papa's house until Christmas. We are so ready for everyone to come!

John Deere Proud!

Earlier in November, Bruce and I loaded up the John Deere 60 that Bruce totally restored when he brought the tractor home in February from Jeanean's farm. This tractor was the first tractor that Grandpa bought new in 1956 along with the 3 bottom plow. He was so excited when he walked out the door to see it -- we had managed to keep it a total secret that we were bringing it home! Jeanean was there ahead of us so she kept Bernie and Dad busy while Bruce unloaded it off the trailer. I was fixing lunch, but he heard that pop, pop,  pop of the Johnny pop tractor and out the door he went. The look of shock and disbelief was one I'll never forget! That grin was ear to ear! 

Trust me, he went over every bolt, nook and cranny, and looked from top to bottom checking her out!  He was so excited to say the least!

 Bruce was pretty happy to see that all his work was totally appreciated by Dad..

 He  crawled right up on that 60 and put that baby in gear and off he went-- never skipped a beat! I had to jump out of the way for fear of getting run down!

 The 3 owners together after the restoration of the tractor!

 Yep, checking her out all over again... was so funny listening to the questions he had for Bruce.

 A very happy day at the farm and doesn't he look great!  So happy to see him happy!

 The 60 == HOME AGAIN! 

 

 

 

Grandpa headed around the farm on his old 60!  What a wonderful reunion!

The South - LOVE!

Once again my four friends from college made our bi-annual (sometimes annual) trip to Fripp Island this last week. This time there were no delays or any travel dilemmas - PTL! Was a great flight, landed in Savannah, got our rental, and made it to the island without any problems. There are not enough adjectives to describe this wonderful place that we treasure as well as Beaufort -- amazing, beautiful, dramatic, magical, mystical, mesmerizing, historical, colorful, delicious, and crazy..... especially when we are all together!

These pictures are upon arrival on Bay Street of Beaufort - the large old oak trees and Spanish moss evoke romance and mystery.

 

 

 

The ocean is just as inviting - the color, sand dunes, and sea grasses are all part of the drama and beauty of the low country area.

 

 

No matter where you are on the beach, it is glorious! The sands are clean, hard, and full of sea shells that draw you to look closer to see what they are saying.

 One of my famous portrait of all of our mugs while enjoying the beauty of the beach! We have never been here in October, but it was a wonderful experience.. Not too hot but very comfortable. The weather couldn't have been any better.

 I love this shot of us - I talked a couple into taking our picture - they were so friendly!

 

 

 We made the trip to Beaufort for the Historical Homes Tour and also for the Cuisine Tour which we enjoyed very much. Was a treat to enter into these old homes built before the Civil War. Much was destroyed or burned, but many withstood that as well as the great hurricane in 1893 where over 2000 people were killed.

 

 

 Then it was time to head back to Savannah for a little bit more touring. We went on a Ghost tour one night and the next day we headed to the Savannah River to shop and of course eat at a bar and grill.

 The cobblestones here are quite intriguing and the brick ancient - made by Graves...

 Along the river you see so many historic sites, shipping and cargo delivery areas, and of course shipping containers on the freighters. This one came from China! Our Captain said they travel 11 knots on the canal and are 16 containers wide. The minimum depth of the river is 45 feet. So they are constantly dredging the river to maintain that depth.

 

But the part I enjoyed the most and I think I can speak for my friends, was the dolphins we befriended on this excursion. They would swim right up to the boat and were curious enough to swim right up to the back and literally look up at us. They were as curious about us as we were about them!  I have a great video of them surfing behind the boat, but it is too long to attach... I think!

 

Shark tooth found in this river! Yikes!

 I think Jackie was off talking on the phone when I had the urge to take another group shot!

 In Beaufort on the Beaufort River where they have an amazing park, swings, and grills, and of course shopping.

 Happy Birthday to Jackie - # 63 on our trip in Beaufort!

Vic enjoying a little water on her toes!

 A great picture of our group while at a grill right before entering into Fripp Island.

This picture was on Fripp headed to take the golf cart back. Fun times!

 

A glorious trip - fun times, great food, precious memories! Thanks girlfriends....