Christmas Kids 2012

We were blessed to have our Texas grandchildren here at Christmas this year. (You will understand why Jack is upside down if you have ever tried to photograph children.)

Christmas 2000

This is how I picture Christmas in heaven. I have always loved this picture and have it in a frame with my decorations every Christmas. It is especially precious this year. Wishing all my readers a joyful and peaceful Christmas.

Joel

In loving memory of our grandson Joel Coleman: May 1, 1992 -December 7, 2012. I promise to do my best to continue your legacy of ministering through friendship and  enjoying life. See you soon. Love, Granny

Whidbey Island

 When we got to Seattle, it was before noon their time so we drove up I 5 to Anacortes and Washington Park to see the Straight of Juan de Fuca across from Victoria, Canada. it was raining all day, but we got some grey pictures. November is the month they get the most rain. (It is still raining.)

 We drove around the park on this road and stopped every time we saw a view of the ocean.

This is the last and best picture I got. It was raining really hard and it was getting dark.  (yes, I took this with my little $100 camera that I bought to use while my FinePix is in the shop)

When we got to our place, it was really dark, so it was a surprise when we got up the next morning and went out on the porch and saw the town of Coupeville. It gets dark at 4:30 there.

The wharf it the most photographed, but the town is full of old buildings.

We were still on Texas time so we walked to town before breakfast. (We actually never got off  Texas time.) We went around back of the stores and found the beach.

After breakfast, we found the city park and got back on the beach.

Coupeville is a pretty little town with lots of shopping for tourists and smells great since the "Knead and Feed" was baking cinnamon rolls.

The Park

I don't know why we are so silly,

but we think it is funny to take pictures of each other taking pictures of each other.

At the bottom of the city park, we found the museum. It was small but very nice and the volunteer gave us a private tour and he was very knowledgeable and interesting.

They call this a blockhouse. There are 3 of them in the area and they were used by the settlers during Indian attacks. There are holes in the upstairs to put your rifle through.

There are several state parks on the Island.

It was amazing to find ocean everywhere we went. Our cottage had an ocean view, also. I have been corrected by a citizen of the northwest. This is not the ocean, but Puget Sound. When you're from West Texas, it looks like an ocean!

From the top of the hill

More ocean!

Sunset

There is some agriculture on the island, also.

They put signs beside the fields to tell you what they are growing.

They have some kind of deal where property owners are paid some kind of compensation and they agree not to put anything up that would make the area less scenic.

Basil had to work on the seminar this morning, so I went to town by myself. I had coffee and one of those cinnamon rolls at the Knead and Feed and did some shopping. When I came out of the shops at the wharf, Mt. Baker had come out. It does not rain in Coupeville and the center part of the island as much as the rest of the area because it is in the "rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains".

So, I brought Basil down to see her.

Then we went to the northern part of the island to Deception Pass State Park. This bridge was built in the 1930's and joins Whidbey Island to Fildago Island. They call it Deception because the first person who explored this area did not see the pass.

The day after the seminar we had planned to go to Snoqualmie Falls south of Seattle. It was raining, of course. We took some pictures then drove to Seattle and went to the movies.

Our Thanksgiving

              We were happy that Courtney and her children were able to come for Thanksgiving. Allister had to work. He will be graduating in 2 weeks with a masters degree in nursing and starting a new job as manager of Pediatrics.                                                                        

                                                       Sisters

                          Son #3 bought himself a hat. I think he's pretty cool.

                                                   Just the girls

                                                     Miss Gorgeous

      Aunt Courtney got cousin #1 a hat, while she was black Friday shopping. I think it was a hit.

                                                   Cousins

                                            Brothers with one cousin

                          Some times you just feel like climbing the wall.

 It's a good day when you have grandchildren who are willing to play your favorite game with you.

                                                          Boys

                                          a stage for soft shoe

 Mom had a talk with the kids about cooperating with my photography obsession before they came.

                                             Cousin #4 loves balls.

                                                    Saying goodbye

Sunday

I knew my daughters who live far away would like to see these pics the pastor sent to us from our deacon ordination day at church. 

One lone elder ordained also. OK, I know he's been an elder, but he's never been ORDAINED as an elder, only as a "minister".

Friendliest Town in Texas: Post

We spent the weekend in Post celebrating Basil's birthday.

We were walking around the town and a man stopped to talk to us and told us about the OS Museum. We usually don't love museums but this one we did.

They have an original Ansel Adams photograph of Half Dome! 

 

We drove on FM 669 to Gail, Texas and enjoyed the views of the  typical caprock escarpment's scenic canyons and red rock formations.

Each time we stopped to take pictures, some local would stop and ask if we needed help. One young man even turned his truck around and came back to check on us. This is the friendliest place we have ever been.

I love gates.

We were really excited to find the horses around the rocks on the trip back.

The horses like to scratch themselves on the rocks.

Or maybe to drink water from the little pools. Thank you, Lord, for the rain!

 

The birthday boy, himself

The patio of the Ragtown Gospel Theater.

The theater is designed to resemble Jerusalem.

We saw "MYSTERY OF THE HEBREW SCRIBE". We loved it. There is also a music performance before the play which we enjoyed.

Ragtown Gospel Theater

Our Bed and Breakfast was built in 1915.

There is a little garden.

The Lobby

Our room

Saved the best for last...we visited our dear daughter  and our beautiful, smart, personality plus grandchildren in Lubbock Saturday afternoon.