2017 End-Of-Year Picture Postcard

Tom's one lone pumpkin from his garden.
                                           Isn't it pretty!

 

We enjoyed getting to see all my family in November when my niece Amanda was married.  Amanda is a beautiful girl and was such a lovely bride!

Even my younger sister Donna who lives in Wyoming came to Texas for the wedding.  We don't get to see her often enough.  Love you Donna!  I love this photo of Donna with our Mom.

Needing a challenge, Tom and I adopted a different section on the Ouachita Trail, MM 23.7-MM 26, which includes this Winding Stair Mountain Shelter.  We plan to make another trip up to Oklahoma just to work on the area around the shelter, clearing out some of the low growing brush.

I was excited to see my 3 year old great granddaughter, Juliette in November.  And her dad, my grandson Dylan who is now in the Army doing his Basic Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

After visiting with Dylan and Juliette, we continued south to Galveston.  Walked on the beach, put my toes in the Gulf waters, and rode the Port Bolivar Ferry.

The first of December, Tom's brother Mark and wife Janie came to Canton's 1st Monday Trade Day so we met them there and followed Janie around as she did some of her Christmas shopping (and bought herself another puppy!).  In the evening they came over to our house where we enjoyed sitting on the patio enjoying the fire in the fire pit.  Mark was celebrating turning 60!

Aren't Christmas cactuses amazing!  We have had this one for years, one year the wild bunny rabbits came onto our patio and chewed it down to nubs, but look at it now!  Just gorgeous!

I am so incredibly grateful to still have my Mom with us, and she still likes to play cards and dominoes with us, regularly winning.  I can only pray that I am that vibrant at 92.

You know how I while away a lot of hours on rainy or cold days in Winter?  Jigsaw puzzles!  Here is just a sample of some I have completed since November.

Well Tom and I are adjusting to him working the 2-11 p.m. shift four days a week.  Hopefully he will be moved into another position soon where his talents can be utilized more fully.  Like he said he is just glad to see a few dollars going into his bank account instead of  going out.

We give thanks to God for another year.  We are truly blessed.