Tuesday, December 30, 2014

CHRISTMAS 2014...CHECK

By:
Gypsy Rhapsody
 
Christmas 2014...Check
I'm not trying to be glib...just stating the facts.
Christmas 2014 was filled to overflowing with love and joy and children happy and children screaming and parents happy and parents screaming. 
...and every minute was perfect.
Dave and Vannie are trying to get off to Lafayette today, and
they need to pack up the computer...so I've got to be quick.
Don't want 2015 to get here, and I'm still on 2014...you know what I mean butterbean...!!!
Here goes...Enjoy.

Our first visitor in Bernice...Pearl, Dave's mom.
96...and still lovin' life!!!

 

One of V and D's favorite parties in December...
Minor Patton (BHS grad) has a big shindig in Farmerville at Oakwood Plantation.
V's niece and hubby (Amy and John Pesnell) always pick them up for the party.

Road from Farmerville to Bernice.
V and D kept it hot going back and forth to see Pearl.

Just one little hiccup...
Dave had to go back to Dallas for a little procedure.
All turned out good.

They stayed with Cousin Janet while in Dallas, and
helped her put up her Christmas tree.
They really enjoyed the visit.

They got back from Dallas just in time to for Dave to sing with Vannie's cousin's choir
at the New Chapel Hill Baptist Church in West Monroe.
Cousin Greg Green...
Dave is peeking out just behind the podium on the first row.

Another Pearl excursion
Jonesboro, LA to see the lights
This was the Methodist Church.  

Don't you just love this picture.
Those big old store windows...awesome.
 
My place was smellin' good.
Aunt Aunean's Christmas nut loaf bread

Vannie put Dave to work gluing sequins on a stocking.
While she was baking, he was gluing.

Vannie had a few sewing projects...hats and scarves for
Cooper, Vincent, Madeline, Hailey, and Ben.
Whew...made we tired just watching her.

Pearl's Christmas Tea
Specialty food/drinks include her
famous spiced tea
and
Christmas Trash...V said it was delish.!!!
 
Sweet Felicia
Felicia is Pearl's sitter, friend, and bottle washer.
She has truly been a blessing to the family.

Tea Guests...
They were singing Christmas Carols.
 

The Pianist

Watch out, Dave...
He is trying to get the mistletoe out of that tree to take to the cabin.

Task complete!!!!

Another Pearl excursion
Eldorado, AR to the more lights
The is the courthouse. 

Wow...the old Mobile Oil flying horse.
V and D remembered this as kids many moons ago.

Another Pearl excursion...
Fellowship Church outside of Dubach, LA
Met up with old friends...Fran and Richard Roberson (formerly from Lafayette)
and Linda Kay Albritton Smith
 

Another great smell...
Vannie is cooking fudge.

I think there was enough fudge to feed the whole town of Bernice.
Lots of calories...!!! Just saying...

The Austin Group arrives.
Sweet Madeline visiting me while waiting for the cabin to open.
Notice that cool Christmas cookie in her hand.
V and D made those...swirls and all!!!

Emilie, Roy and Vincent cracking nuts sent to V and D from Roy's parents.
 
THE CABIN
Always an exciting time in the Harris' family.
Renting a cabin on Lake Darbonne
for the Christmas celebrations has been a tradition for many years...
 
The Lafayette Group arrives.
Ashley, Diane, Cooper
 
 
First Celebration
The Farmerville Group

This is scary...The 96 year old talking on her cell phone during the party.

T-Pop and Vincent making gingerbread houses.

Emilie gets in the action.

How many cars does a little guy need?

Oh my goodness...Dave's brother, Roger.
He created a gingerbread outhouse.
LOL
 

Second Celebration...The Bernice Group
Vincent, Madeline, Cooper, Hailey, Ben, Lacy
 
Third Celebration...Christmas Morning
Santa brought the princess all kinds of "princess stuff" AND
a basketball goal.

Cooper got an electric hotwheel.
 
Vincent...more cars, trucks, etc.
 

Sweet little ones

Then it gets REAL...!!!!

Cooper also got a phone.
V said he could do more stuff on his phone than she could.

Bye...Bye...cabin..until next year.

Last visitors.
Brad and Julie Honeycutt
Brad is Vannie's great nephew.
They live in Missouri. 

Their daughter, Hailey.

Last project of 2014
Teaching Stephanie (David's niece) how to knit Granny Dishrags

 
...and away they go...
First stop in Winnfield, LA to have  an anniversary lunch with
friends, Claudia and Orville Steen.
Both their anniversaries are July 1.
They do the celebrations whenever they can get together.
 
Happy New Year, Folks...

 
 
 
 


Tuesday, December 16, 2014

ALL DOLLED UP FOR CHRISTMAS...and feeling blessed.

By
Gypsy Rhapsody
 
Girls just like to have fun...AND
get all dolled up once in a while.
I feel pretty...oh, so pretty...
 
Feeling special, too.
 

Here I am in my favorite spot for the month of December...
Behind the Clubhouse in Bernice, LA
 
My sweet little Christmas tree...fits perfectly right on that shelf.
 
The 47 year old angel topper
She graced the top of Vannie and Dave's first Christmas tree.
Just a blown-out egg and some wrapping paper...
Luke 2:10...And the angel said to them, "Fear not for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people."

A special hand painted ornament by one of V and D's neighbors
on Maplewood Street in Lafayette, LA
Artist...Mona Flynn
John 3:16...For God so loved the world, that he gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
 
Grandson Cooper's first Christmas...
And
Grandson Vincent's first experience with Santa.
Psalm 127:3a...Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord.

 
A hand made nativity from Mississippi Mud
Vannie had bought this many years ago
at the Canton Flea Market in Canton, Miss. (not Texas)
Luke 3:16...And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
 

Several nostalgic things here...The red runner was made by
Vannie's mom in about 1963.  Vannie's Dad had given her a
new Singer sewing machine that would do those fancy stitches.
Vannie still uses that machine to this day.
The Raggedy Ann doll was made by Vannie's niece, Susan Heard Honeycutt.
Snoopy, Bird, and lamb were some of Ashley and Emilie's toys.
 
This beautiful plate was a gift from Jan and Chester Baudoin, Lafayette, LA.
They brought it to V and D from Italy.
Matthew 2:10...Whey they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

 
Dave said he thought this candle was a bingo prize...and
the holly came off a bush in the front of the clubhouse.
John 1:9...The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
 
Remember "Happy Things"...it was a company that did home parties.
Vannie said she thought this was a "Happy Things" creation.
Sure makes me happy.
Luke 2:11...For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:4...Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased.

 
Sweet


Going out on the town...


Merry Christmas to all
 
"Look for Christ and you will find Him.  And with Him, everything else."
"The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God."
C.S. Lewis
 
Feeling Blessed
 
...and to all a good night.