Christmas with Nancy

Friday December 31, 2010
I'm a bit late with this report, partly because I was waiting for my photographer to make photos of the event available to me. Unfortunately, he got so caught up in the festivities he completely forgot to photograph anything. Anyway, his daughter, Nancy, came to visit us at our home in Weatherford, Texas to exchange Christmas gifts and go out to lunch. This arrangement was made because she was flying to Albuquerque, New Mexico on December 24th to spend Christmas with her maternal Aunt Alice and family.

We went to Tokyo Steak House on I20. This is a hibachi type restaurant with very funny chefs and ours didn't disappoint us. He was adroit with many tricks in his chefs hat and we clapped and laughed as he presented each one. The food is always delicious here and we thoroughly enjoyed dining with Nancy.

When we returned home, we opened gifts and visited until it was time for Nancy to make the trip back to Irving, Texas where she lives. She was hopeful not to get stuck in after work traffic.

This is all I have to say for now.

Mimi & Tony Bunton Christmas Party, Family Christmas

Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Doug and I drove to Dallas, Texas on Sunday, December 19, 2010 to the home of Mimi and Tony Bunton for their annual Christmas soirée. I've not seen so many people coming and going all day. They are that couple who attracts many friends. Their home was beautifully decorated and the food and conversation was excellent and plentiful on both counts.

Mimi is an educator so as would be expected, her artistic flair for decorating was well represented. We met when she became a member of Classic Elegance Red Hatters, a chapter of the Red Hat Society that I founded eight years ago. Gosh, I do miss seeing her and others, but the round trip of 130 miles makes it rare that we get to see each other. We have promised to get together for lunch in the near future to catch up on our lives.

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Saturday, December 25, 2010 (Click on the photos to make them larger)




Merry Christmas! We had at least 20 people here for Christmas dinner and the opening of gifts. It's been a while since this family has had small children in our midst and this added to the fun and festivity. Big Landon had a grand time once he got over being awakened from his nap when they arrived. Of course, the twins, Ashton and Landon, and cousin Ethan mostly slept, but everyone had a turn at holding one or more of the newborns. The twins are almost two months old and Ethan is not quite one month old so look out next year when they will all be a year old!



We had a wonderful dinner with various family members contributing their specialties. You just can't beat a Honey Baked Ham with Kelley's delicious green bean casserole, Lynne's salad, corn on the cob, mashed potatoes, baked cinnamon apples, Hawaiian Rolls, chocolate mint cookies, double layer pumpkin pie and my last minute recipe for Hot Mulled Apple Cider (see later).


Then it was time for opening gifts and what fun this was. Son Russ is seen holding his gift, a metal roadrunner to add to his collection for his fence posts and Uncle Wesley is contemplating opening his gift. A remote controlled helicopter was hovering around the living room at one point. Joshua practices his skills at photography with his mother, Joni's camera. Following these prints are closeups of various family members; Samantha Singer, Lynne Render, Kelley Cromwell, Wesley Cason, Larry Henry, Mommy Jennifer with one of the twins, Michael & Tiffany, Drew & Cat, young Wesley Cromwell, Syd & Joni Singer with Joshua.

In case any of you are wondering if Doug really exists, I found this photo of him just to let you know he is for real. My darling prince is always behind the camera at all these events. Is this a good looking family or what? I am so thankful and proud of each and every one.

Here is the recipe for "Grammy's Hot Mulled Apple Cider".

1 quart apple cider
1 liter pomegranate Seven-Up
4 cinnamon sticks
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1 apple, cored and quartered
ground cinnamon

In a slow cooker, combine cider, pomegranate 7/Up, cinnamon sticks and nutmeg. Heat on low for 1 hour. Before serving float apple slices on top lightly sprinkled with cinnamon.

Makes 20 servings

This is all I have to say for now.

UCC Luncheon

Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Doug and I drove to Dallas, Texas on December 16th to take part in a Christmas luncheon with some friends of mine that I've known for over 30 years. They all worked at University Computing Company on Stemmons Freeway and I was the bartender at The Oaks Restaurant and Supper Club. A lot of these people came to lunch almost every day and this was back in the day when people routinely had a couple of drinks with lunch. Sometimes more and forgot to go back to work. It really was a fun time in those days. Some of them were even written about in my memoir "The Cherokee Advantage" but I didn't identify them by last name. They know who they are!


The luncheon takes place at Dunston's Steak House on Harry Hines Boulevard and is spearheaded by Nancy Long. She does a grand job of keeping tabs on everyone and whats happening in our lives. There have been some deaths, divorces, marriages and remarriages as is normal with any fairly large group of people. Nancy is always quick to get the information out to all of us. I was one of those whose husband died and I remarried.

Doug is so good to adopt my friends and I believe this to be reciprocal as he is well received at these events each year. Most of us don't see each other until the annual Christmas luncheon but it's such a jovial group. Everyone seems genuinely happy to reconnect and reminisce about "the good ole days" when we were all so young and full of vitality. Thanks, Nancy for keeping us together. And, thanks, Doug for taking all the photos. I need to remember to take a shot of you at one of these events!

Merry Christmas everyone!

This is all I have to say for now.

Ethan Born, TOTS, Red Hat Christmas Party

Friday, December 17, 2010
Ethan Spears was born on December 3rd, exactly one month after his cousins, Ashton and Landon were born. He weighed 7 lbs. 7 oz. and came with a full head of black hair. We visited Ethan, Andrew and Cat in the hospital and he slept the whole time we were there. Both grandmothers, Bert and Kelley (Mimi) as well as big brother, also named Landon, were there to welcome Ethan into the family. One more great grandson for us! Mimi has a new camera and gets instructions on operation of it from Andrew.

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December 3, 2010 Doug and I attended the TOTS (Theater Off the Square) production of "If it's Monday, It Must Be Christmas" and it as well acted and quite funny. This is one play where the audience is invited to interact with the thespians and the results were excellent. The play is a Christmas whodunit about a missing payroll and a missing department store Santa. The gumshoe detective is just brilliant in his role. Naturally, I just had to get my photo made with Santa!

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Wednesday, December 8, 2010 the Wild West Women of Weatherford Red Hatters held their annual Christmas luncheon at La Playa Maya Mexican Restaurant in Weatherford, Texas. We were all decked out in our holiday finery and a stunning assortment of red hats. Chapter Queen of Gaudy Gabigail read a fun poem, "A Red Hat Christmas" and we played Chinese Take Away for gifts. Everyone had a grand Red Hat time and the group decided to provide items to Freedom House for their Christmas store where children may shop for presents for their families. Isn't this a lovely looking group of ladies!
I had Doug take my picture before I left for the luncheon, knowing that I would be taking the pictures and wouldn't be in any of them so, I'm bringing up the rear!
This is all I have to say for now.