Rainy Rainy

It started raining at 3pm yesterday, and hasn't stopped. Just one of those steady, sometimes heavy, persistent rains that, while messy and inconvenient, we need so desperately here in Georgia. A good time for building a fire and reading or knitting.

I haven't posted anything about knitting in a while. I've finished several projects, and all that can be found on my Ravelry page- check out the links. I'm finishing the last bit of a pink cardigan---a cabled band that goes all around the edge--and it's 85 inches of 11 stitches and 10 row repeats. Terribly repetitive, and BORING. I allow myself to get up every 45 minutes or so and do something else. It should take me about 5 more hours, then I can block the pieces of the sweater and seam them up.

Above the links you'll see I've added a list of books I've read or am in the process of reading this year. I love to read and have a neverending stack on my bedside table. I buy books, and then MORE books, and then something else comes up..... I'm trying to read at least an hour or two a day. I also listen to unabridged books while I knit--the limit of my multitasking ability. Hopefully, the list will remind me to set aside more time to read. It truly is better for one's brain than the hopeless drivel on the idiotbox.

Speaking of the idiotbox, one great thing that just started last Sunday is the new season of Masterpiece Theatre, or "Masterpiece" as it's now called. The latest offering is a 12-week series "The Complete Jane Austen." And if you know me, you know I love Jane Austen. Sunday's offering was a 90-minute version of "Persuasion" which I enjoyed immensely. I'm looking forward to the next few weeks.

Back to the books- you may also notice that there are several India and Asian-inspired tomes....I'm trying to read up before a trip I am taking with my mom in March (here).
I've been fascinated with India and Hinduism ever since I took a world religions course. I know I won't get to see much in such a short time, but I do get to go here, which thrills me to pieces.

Enough stalling...back to the cable!

More Holidays

Well, even though it is Girl's 14th birthday (squeeeeeeee!!!) I will finish up the holiday postings....

We went to my cousin's house to visit with my cute second cousins, shown here with the Cutest Nephew

Christmas Eve meant going to church here and then to Jelly and Dude's house for supper. Much fun ensued with Karaoke compliments of my brother's crazy friend. Nothing like having friends who don't have children to pick the LOUDEST presents possible.

Christmas Day was a whirlwind of wrapping paper and food.

Brunch at Gran's with presents and cousins,

aunts and uncles,

and then we loaded up for the two hour trip north to El Dorado, Arkansas and Gran and D's

other house.

Christmas with D and my stepfamily.

It must have been all the excitement of the day to allow the Grumpy Guy and Boy to pack the roof rack THUS:

Do you note any problem?

Look closer:

So with much groaning, laughter, cussing, and repacking,

we were ready to leave early Boxing Day (or December 26th, for you non-Anglophiles...)

It was a long drive home-11 hours- but worth it, getting home and able to sleep in our "own widdle beds".......

Yet another holiday season successfully survived!!!!

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

We interrupt the narrative of Christmas to celebrate the VICTORY of the LSU TIGERS over Ohio State in the BCS Championship game!!

Dude, the brother, and I spoke briefly before the game and we were both pumped. I got a little nervous at the beginning of the game, fearing that the Tigers had not brought their "A" game. But happily, my fears were put to rest.....

Congratulations, Tigers!! Well Done. Very Well Done. You made every born or bred Louisianian proud.

Even more exciting was the release of the Final AP Football poll of the year.

It's gonna be a GREAT 2008 football season for the SEC. Can't wait until September!!!!!

The LSU flag flies proudly at Maison Cou Rouge!!!

Finally- a New Post

Well, it's been a while-first we headed out to Louisiana for Christmas, then had a quiet week in between, and a wonderful, lovely, New Year's Eve at home. The kids are finally back at school, and I have mountains and mountains of laundry to wash and tons of bills to sort through. So, to get back into the swing of things, I give you lots and lots of pictures from the last three weeks......

I'll spread the pics over the next few days, but here we go with the trip out to LA, Santa Supper at the Shreveport Club, and Aunt Debo's birthday lunch.

Happy New Year to All!!

Radar detector? Check. Ipod feed? Check. Navigation system on? Check. Off we go.

One of the primary reasons to buy a hybrid automobile (ha ha) is that we have a 110 "wall" outlet..(grey cable) which means that teens can play xbox for 500 miles!!

Blessed peace for 500 +miles

"Telly" the penguin (thank you Monty Python! "There's a penguin on the telly.")....the official Maison Cou Rouge car mascot!

Thank heavens the price of dual led dvd screens has come down- these are portable, not built in. Perfect for Halo 3 on the road.

Going to Louisiana means hunting, and so our favorite wonder lab, Chip, must go with us. It gave her a chance to visit with her mom, Cecile, and her sister, Georgia at my brother's! Thank heavens for the Mariner's roof rack.

Friday meant the traditional Shreveport Club Supper with Santa. Gran was a little dismayed to find so many of her grandchildren grown up --we had only TWO official "kids" to meet Santa!

Family pics at Gran's Shreveport house before dinner- we DO clean up nicely, don't we?

The Gang's all HERE!

Cutest Kid Nephew hugging Santa

Beautiful Niece with Uncle Grumpy Guy


Christmas Cousins

Very Silly Moments alway are welcome

Cutest Nephew at his mom's birthday lunch

Girl rarely likes having her picture taken ..even for Aunt Debo!

Catching Up

Just popping in to let everyone know that we have been off in the land of my birth, that fabulous land of mystery, the United States' very own little Banana Republic, the great state of Louisiana. Christmas was wonderful, the hunting not great, but still lots of fun. Pictures to come, but I wanted to wish everyone a very very HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!