Brrr...Little House on the Prairie

If you have kept up with the weather, a winter storm has been hovering over Texas for the past 48 hours. Over 300 flights were canceled, roads were sanded, the wind howled, and there was no electricity or water when frozen limbs fell on electric lines. Utilities were out for about 10 hours and literally, living in a log cabin, I felt like Laura in Little House on the Prairie. I got up to no heat and went out to gather wood and build a fire. Honestly, it was refreshing to read by the light of the sun and build a fire and not be bombarded with noise from the TV or Computer. I wish I had more days like this to simply enjoy life. However, I will admit, when my cell phone went dead, I went out to start my car and left it running to de-ice it and charge my cell phone. :) I met up with my nieces and parents around lunch to have an inside weinie roast - yep: hot dogs and smores. You forget how much electricity is part of our everyday lives. I enjoyed the challenge for the day but prefer to live in the 21st century.

0007 ZooLoo Whiskey

I have rarely been known to do things spontaneously; however, I tried to "just do it" this Christmas. Here you can see the Cabin at Christmas with my girl Brady. Two days later I hitched a ride on this Diamond Star with Brenner Campbell over to Alabama to see my good friends Elizabeth and Forrest Williams (and his parents, and his grandma, and his uncle, and his cousin and his sister and her family)...their philosophy was "the more the merrier." Brenner is a pilot and was going to go to West Point for some racoon hunting with Forrest. I volunteered to be his co-pilot. Here is his plane with us ready to go. It only took a little over 2 hours to get there. It was so fun to be in a fully loaded (GPS system, auto-pilot - see top picture) plane with an excellent pilot. After we got to West Point the family time began. Honestly, that is the way holidays should be - laid back and inclusive of family and friends.

It was fun to be there and to experience Christmas the William's way. Some serious gifts, some thoughtful gifts, some funny gifts - all were meaningful gifts. Here's one little example of a sign given to "granny williams" whose real name is Joel. I can't show Sylvia's gift from Arbelle because it might be used to incriminate the innocent. And I would show you Elizabeth's gift...she got for the Clement's Athletic Banquet - for one whole dollar - but you know how it is...family secrets must stay in the family.

The one thing I thought over the course of this little southeastern adventure are actually the words to an old gospel song: "I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of God; I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood. Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod, I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of God. ~~ You will notice we say brother and sister around here; it's because we're a family and these folks are so dear. When one has a heartache we all share the tears and rejoice in each victory in this family so dear."

Take the 405 from Huntington to Westwood

Happy New Year! I finally found my camera cord - you know, it was in that safe place, right where I put it when I had to stash the junkie stuff when it was party time. Over the holidays, between December 14th and December 19th I flew (commercially) to California to see my family. The day I got to Huntington Beach, we piled into my uncle's "Duffy" to take a self-guided tour of the Huntington Harbor. Each year those who live on the water light up their boats and bayside homes and they hold a parade of lights. Here are two pictures from our tour.

Later that week, I got on "the 405" and headed up to the University of California at Los Angeles to watch the Lady Bears take on the UCLA Bruins at the famous Pauley Pavillion on Wooden Court. Such basketball history was made here by legendary Coach John Wooden. His "Pyramid of Success" is well-known to coaches and administrators alike. It was amazing to see the banners and experience this storied court (at this time the UCLA men are ranked #1 in the country) and of course to watch the Lady Bears take control of the Bruins - a good time was had by all.