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A bracing walk in George Bush Park with my nephew and sister.  It was really chilly.  Definitely needed the hat and gloves.

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And so that it that.  365 photos taken in 2014.  This is only the second time I've done this challenge and to be honest I think it will be the last one.  Some days I found it really difficult to find anything interesting to take a photo of.
Back to blogging my every day life.
Thanks for all your comments this year.

Galveston

I was going to write a post all about going to Galveston with my sister but I thought I'd just "Borrow" her post instead!!

Many years ago, more than I care to remember, my mum had 7" (45 rpm) vinyl record of Galveston by Glen Campbell.  I loved it and played it on an almost continual loop (remember when you could leave the arm up on a record player and the record would play on repeat?).

I probably drove my parents mad.

  Never in my wild imagination did I ever expect to visit Galveston, Texas.

 Galveston, oh Galveston, I still hear your sea winds blowin',

I still see her dark eyes glowin'.

She was 21 when I left Galveston.

Galveston, oh Galveston, I still hear your sea waves crashing'

While I watch the cannons flashing.

I clean my gun and dream of Galveston.

I still see her standing by the water,

Standing there lookin' out to sea.

And is she waiting there for me?

On the beach where we used to run.

Galveston, oh Galveston, I am so afraid of dying

Before I dry the tears she's crying.

Before I watch your sea birds flying in the sun

At Galveston, at Galveston.

Galveston, I'll be back in the summertime and will be bringing my bathers.

And there you have it.

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Today we took a trip to Galveston. First stop was the Aquarium.  After paying $10 to get into the zoo it was a bit of shock to have to pay $25 each.  Needless to say we didn't do any of the other attractions at Moody Gardens.  My nephew didn't want to to to the fair ground on the pier as it was too windy so Ruth and I had a photo or two taken and we headed home.  Next time we go we'll stay over night and take our time checking out the rest of the town.

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Checking out the shark cage!!

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Spent the day at Blue Bell Creameries in Brenham eating too much ice cream with family.  We managed to squeeze in a tub before the tour AND a tub afterwards!!  Oops  :0)

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Even on holiday a girl's chores are never done!!

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Ruth, my nephew H and I went to the cinema to see Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb whilst the bigger boys went shooting.  When we got to the Palladium my nephew said "Wow it's like a palace".  He's not wrong.  The place is massive.

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We're all going to the zoo tomorrow ......................

Actually we've already been.

What a great trip.  Here's a few of my favourite bits.

Giraffes...................

 and more giraffes....................

 an Anteater.  The strangest animal I've ever seen...........................

 a Clouded Leopard.  Soooo cute but definitely not pet material...................

 a cute wee Meercat...................

and the weirdest animals in the zoo today!!

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Today we took a trip to the zoo in Houston.  No sunshine but it was still about 70 degrees.  When was the last time we went out on Boxing day without a coat?

I got to feed the giraffes again.  That's twice in 6 months.  My nephew fed them for the first time too and he did such a great job the keeper gave him extra lettuce to feed them.  I got blown on twice and I'm sure I came home with Giraffe bogies in my hair!!

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A great day with family.  Merry Christmas everyone.

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Christmas Eve.  We always have to leave a wee snack for Santa and a carrot or two for his reindeer.  My nephew did an grand job getting everything ready.  He even baked the cakes!

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Ran into Santa's reindeer whilst out shopping at the mall.  The big jolly fella was busy so we didn't say hello.

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We took a trip to the Space Center today.  Got to fool around a little after the serious photos were taken!!

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I knew I had two left feet!!  Another trip to a boot shop and still no boots I like.

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Yey.  Our visitors have  arrived.

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Ruth and I took a few hours off and went for a manicure and pedicure.  It was shellac time so I had to wear the lovely tin foil fingers for a while.
 

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Ruth and I took H for a walk around the neighbourhood to see all the lights.  I thought these were the best.
Oh silly me.  They would be the ones outside our house :0)

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Last Line dancing of the year and it was BrIlLiAnT ♥♥♥  totally love it.  I'm hoping Santa will bring me a right foot to swap with one of my two left feet!!

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Yet another catch up due to being busy this past week.

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Candles.  You can never have too many candles.

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Girls night out.  I had a great time with a lovely bunch of ladies from the Expat group.  Food, wine chatting and dancing.  What more could you ask for?

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Helped out with the Expat kids Christmas party and met Santa and Mrs Claus.

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Two brilliant hours of line dancing followed by the ironing.  There is a pattern forming here I think!!

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I helped my friend with her OU interviews, said goodbye to the Librarians at Seven Lakes High School then came home and caught up with Project Life and December Daily.

Christmas Club Part 2

Once again a huge thank you to Sian for organising the Christmas Club.

Start with "At Christmas we".................... and make it your own.  Blog it, scrapbook it, make a list out of it.  It's up to you.

At Christmas we always had Chinese for tea on Christmas Eve as the turkey was in the oven!!

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I tweaked my back today, folding shirts so had to do the present wrapping standing up.  I have to say it was so much easier than sitting on the floor getting a dead leg!!!

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I love making new friends.  We all had coffee before going line dancing.  What a great way to spend a Wednesday :0)

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Don't think we'll be keeping up with the neighbours!!

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After a great morning of line dancing it was back to the daily chores.

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Another week gone and another catch up needed.

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A sneak peek at the tree.  Can't show you the whole thing as it's a surprise for my nephew when he arrives on the 18th.

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John and I stopped for coffee this afternoon.  The locals obviously can't understand his accent as this is not the first time he's been called "Joel" !!

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Stocking up on wine for Christmas.  Unfortunately, as we had friends over last night, we put a big dent in the collection!!

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We took a trip to Cavenders Boot City today as I'm on the look out for a new pair of boots.

Overwhelmed would be the word to describe it.  There was just so many to choose from but unfortunately none of them "spoke to me" so I'll have to keep looking.

Christmas Club Part 1

Thanks go to Sian for organising this little club as a bit of fun in the run up to the Big Day.  Start with

At Christmas we...............

and write about it, scrap it, make a list, blog it.... It's up to you.

At Christmas we always went around to Nana’s on Christmas Eve.  If I remember correctly we either opened our presents then or got them and took them home, either way presents were involved.  We all sat around and chatted and the adults had a drink (or possibly two).  

Nana always made the same toast.  “Here’s to temperance” to which the reply was always “Perish the thought”.  I didn’t know what it meant at the time but the grown-ups always laughed!! 

School photos

What a difference 6 years can make.  The Teenager has gone from a cute wee 12 years old boy to an almost 18 years old man.  I'm not sure I like how fast the time is going.

First year at Milnes High School

Senior year at Seven Lakes High School

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Had a text from the Teenager at 9.20 this morning saying he thought he needed to go to the doctor as he had a shooting pain across his heart and his chest was sore.  I got a call from the nurse who thought I should take him to the ER.  I picked him up and headed round to the nearest one.  They had him in and hooked up to an EKG machine before we could blink.

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That also did an x-ray and took some blood.  He was not happy about the latter but did really well.  They ended up having to do both arms but he managed it in the end.

The Dr put it down as pleurisy which can give all the symptoms he had.  At least it's nothing serious and he's now fine.  The Dr told him to stay off school for the rest of the day.  You can imagine - he was not happy about that!!  :0)

Winter photographic scavenger hunt

I came across this link via Alison at Life in the Slow Lane.  

Joy at Daisy Row and Eileen at In my playroom have put together another amazing list of things to find between 1 December 20 14 and 21 March 2015.

Here is the list:

1. Reflection in water
2. Someone wearing a funny hat
3. Ornate door knocker
4. Breakfast
5. Something that is over 100 years old
6. Winter weather
7. Someone dressed for the season
8. A fish
9. Festive lights
10. A letter shape in nature or in an object
11. Polka dots
12. Silhouette
13. Stained glass window
14. Partly built new building
15. Bunting
16. A collection (of anything)
17. Texture
18. Shadow
19. Street musicians
20. Nativity scene - compulsory and can't be substituted

 If you find any of the above hard to get you may substitute one or both of the subjects below, except No. 20 which is compulsory.  Bearing in mind that you may be living in the southern hemisphere, you may also substitute summer weather for winter weather.

Alternative A - new life
Alternative B -  a decorated tree

If you'd like to join in pop over and see Joy or Eileen.  I'm sure they'd love to see you.

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Today I had to buy some new baubles for the tree.  My "Less is More" approach is definitely "Less" over here!!

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It's the first of December and as I don't have any Advent lights like I used to (wrong voltage for Texas) I put a wreath on the front door instead.  I'm thinking it looks pretty cool.

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I'm having a bit of a catch up as I just didn't seem to get time to post anything over the last few days!!

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Thanksgiving dinner.  No green veg but plenty of fresh sweet corn, roast tatties and cauliflower cheese.  Yummy  :0)

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It's the day after Thanksgiving so it must be time to meet this golly fella

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A quick walk around the neighbourhood to check out the competition.  When in Texas and all that.

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Yet another tidy up in the craft room.  Need to make extra room for when my sister Ruth arrives in 18 days time (not that I'm counting).  We have to have somewhere to do our December Daily.