Winter Slips Away

It is really hard to believe I haven't posted on the blog for almost a year!! I really miss it and feel determined to get back in the groove!

Needless to say, quite a few important events have come and gone in my life during this time...we'll have a quick rundown to catch up!

Momma celebrated her 80th birthday in August with a family dinner at the Callawassie river Club!

Annette and Lee celebrated their SECOND Birthday in September with a Cat in the

Hat party and lots of excitement!

November brought a "surprise" 60th Birthday Party for Philip!

Thanksgiving memories were made at Baybottom again in 2011 with turkey and all the trimmings followed by he annual hayride!

We enjoyed having all our family together for the Christmas holidays as we celebrated the birth of the Christchild. We will probably never forget trekking down Hwy 17 to Mass in Hardeeville after finding no priest for Mass in Ridgeland. Also, going through a "license check" en route to that Mass in Hardeeville!!

2012 has arrived and we have much excitement on the horizon! Philip,Jr. and his girlfriend Amanda became engaged!!!! We are anticipating their wedding in spring 2013 and are immensely happy for them! We travelled to Snowshoe, WVa a few weeks ago with them and Amanda's parents.  Very cold and lots of snow .....a great time was had by all!!

In a few weeks we'll travel to Columbia for the wedding of our nephew Rush and his fiancée Jessica! We are wishing them a beautiful wedding weekend and much happiness.

When I look back on all these events, I guess it helps me understand why I haven't had time to blog!

Next up:  Update of Camellias and Knitting Projects

November Reprise

Wow! It is the end of November and no blog post!
I'll have to work fast!

First, Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. I am thankful for so much, but especially my family and so many dear friends. You all enrich my life and I treasure each of you! I'll have many great memories of this Thanksgiving as we spent time and enjoyed traditional Thanksgiving fare with each of our families. We enjoyed a hayride after lunch at Grays. This photo of all the "Thomas cousins" provided a real "Kodak moment".



Laura, Fields, Tom, James, Fisher,Annette, Lee, Elizabeth, Sarah, Michael, and John



Knitting Update: Working (slowly) on Jane Slicer-Smith's "Boxes Drape". I am liking the yarn and get the feel for how "drapey" it will be . . . and can't wait to see it finished!

We also enjoyed spending time with Annette and Lee while Ashley and David went to Carolina-Clemson football game and had a little time off. Here they are at breakfast!

Now it is time to prepare for the Christmas season . As we ready our hearts to celebrate the birth of the Christ child, we can enjoy some other favorites of the season . . .



Camelias beginning to blooom . . .







Baking fruit cake . . .



Decorating for the holidays!!





Welcoming family and friends to share the joy of the season!





Reminder to Santa

Luke 1:14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. Yeah!!! I have finally finished Christmas stockings for Annette and Lee. So sending out this post to remind Santa that there will be two new stockings hanging by the chimney this year!!

Santa needs to know that Grandma Pixie doesn't knit as tightly as Aunt Cathy (who has made these beautiful stockings for our family through the years). The result is that these stockings are a little bigger - - - which means they'll hold a little more loot!!

I am really hoping to finish my Christmas shopping today and then have time to enjoy some of the holiday fun . . . wrapping packages, baking, etc. I may even get brave (and energetic) and try to make a fruit cake.

Have fun getting ready . . . and remember the reason we celebrate!!

Great Grands Visit the Twins

Last weekend, before I ended my visit in Aiken, Momma, Daddy,and Aunt Cathy came by to see Annette and Lee. They were driving back to Ridgeland from the Clemson football game.

Daddy holds Lee. . .

Aunt Cathy takes a turn with Annette. . .

Everyone agreed . . . they are beautiful babies!!

Fall Breakfast

Earlier in the day we made a yummy breakfast. So many wonderful friends were bringing great things for dinner, we had eaten light breakfast all week . I decided to splurge a little on Sunday morning: we had sauage casserole and pumpkin muffins. It was a nice treat!

The sausage casserole was a recipe from food network. One of those things you can make the evening before and refrigerate until time to bake. I used regular white bread and left out the green onions.

Then there were those yummy pumpkin muffins with cream cheese filling. I only changed the type of oil. I used canola oil instead of olive oil. After the recipe is completed . . . fill muffin cups about one-half full.

Then add 1-2 teaspoons of cream cheese mixture.

Then top with a little of the brown sugar - cinnamon crumbs.

Voila!! The finished product . . . I'll definitely be making these again.

Knitting Babies have to sleep sometime . . . I was finally able to finish Annette's and Lee's baby blankets. Here is Annette's being blocked.

Here is Lee's after blocking.

I have enjoyed these long projects for the babies, but have to admit that I am REALLY excited about being done with these special blankets. I can't wait to get started with a few shorter projects I have been eyeing for quite some time.

My visit to Aiken would not have been complete without visiting Barbara Sue Brodie's wonderful knitting and needlework shop on Hayne St. She was having an October birthday celebration for the shop and there were just a few things that I couldn't resist! Here is the ingredient for my next knitting project . . .

Any idea what this might turn into???????

Falling in Love

There is no doubt about it . . . Annette and Lee have stolen my heart!!

When these babies are together, Lee has the most adoring looks for his twin sister. She bats her arms around and they really like to touch one another. Look at the excitement in their eyes!

"...We're a team!" (Watch out Ashley and David!!)