Joyeux Noel a la mode "Texan"

Many years ago a salesclerk talked me into purchasing a Christmas cassette tape with Christmas songs sung by Gene Autry, ( an oldtime cowboy singer to you young'uns). Over the years my kids have listened to this tape over and over. and one of their favorite songs was "Merry Texas Christmas You All". It rivals Bobby Helm's "Hooray for Captain Santa Claus" as one of their all time holiday favorites. It was sung frequently on the way to Grandpa and Grandma Young's Christmas Eve celebration. This year we were able to actually experience a Texas Christmas as we spent Christmas in Frisco, Texas (outside Dallas) with our son Dan and his family


So, what is a Texas Christmas? Well now, here's the low-down.


After gathering up some belongings and rounding up the gang (me, Dad and Ross), we boarded our plane for Texas. By the way, Ross is fixin' to get hitched as he propsed to a sweet gal named Shannon Chen, a couple of days before we headed on over to Texas. Shannon hails from Taipai, Taiwan, where she's a stayin' a spell with her kinfolk, until Ross joins her next week to meet the whole clan. Yep! It's official. Engagement ring and all.


Any who, we arrived in Texas Tuesday evening . Sami was awaitin' at the corral for us. She has grown a couple of inches since our last visit, and little baby Emily has sprouted knee high to a grasshopper.
We settled in all cozy-like at Dan's place, sittin' round the Christmas tree and reminiscing about the good ole days. "Course, you all just want to hear about the Texas Christmas part.

Well, Christmas Eve with the girls all decked out in their Chrismas finery,we mosied on over to Candice's sister's (Dawn's) house for some grub. A Christmas Eve meal is just a tad different from those California vittles. Yep, the star of the meal was meat, lots of meat (beef, pork and turkey) along with them real spicy jalapeno beans. There was plenty of food on hand and lots of family, so we just had ourselves a downright good time. Those Texans know how to par-tee!


After all the sociability, it was time to head back to the Bowns' homestead to get in a wink of sleep before Santa Dude was to come. Sami was so excited she could barely hold her horses. Christmas morning is a lot like any 'ole Christmas in California, openin' all them presents. Sami and Emily must have been pretty good all year 'cause they made a haul. Sami wished upon a Texas Lone Star, and got one of those new-fangled Ninetendo DS from Santa. Emily, well, she got those boots she's had a hankerin' fer.
















Next it was chow time again. We enjoyed a mighty fine breakfast with Candice's folks and Candice's sausage casserole was downright delicious. I reckon that Santa Dude really liked us folks because he stopped in for a visit with more presents for the little ones.

Sami had a right good talk with Santa and promised to be good next year, but Emily wanted to high tail it out of there. Candice took lil' Em's place on Santa's lap. That Texas Santa (Candice's brother, Dan), is a right friendly fellow.

One of Santa's elves even had a Christmas present for Ross, a Christmas kissin' ball for him and Shannon. Since Shannon was many miles away, Dan and Candice tested it out for them. Yep, it works!















Yes siree, those Texans are real friendly folk and they know how to show a body a good time. At the day's end, we had to get back into the Texas routine 'cause next morning was the round-up. Keepin' up with the cattle is all in a day's work. Those Texas cows are mighty different lookin' with them big horns on their heads. Real different from California milk cows.


Well, that wraps up our Texas Christmas and in the words of Gene Autry:


"There's not much snow down Texas way, but we sure mean it when we say,
May your days be merry and bright
May your hearts be happy and light,
MERRY TEXAS CHRISTMAS, YOU ALL!"

PS: All Texas families have a dog!

Un Jour de Grace

Almost every year at least one of my students asks, "How do the French celebrate Thanksgiving?. Do they have pumpkin pie?" Of course the French don't celebrate Thanksgiving, but they should. Every country should have a day to stop and count blessings. This could be a global event more powerful than global warming.

Here is my gratitude list along with some photos of the California part of our family that helped celebrate the day with us.


Time for family

Happy memories

Abundance of food

New opportunities

Kind friends

Seasons of the year

Grandchildren

Internet connections

Very patient husband

Independence and health

Never ending love of God

Gospel of Jesus Christ

le parquet

Over a month ago, I invited several people to read my blog. Since then I haven't posted anything. No real reason. Just very busy with teaching. I keep thinking there is a way to streamline my job, where I don't bring so much home, but there are always tests, projects, or writing practices to sort through. I haven't determined a way to assess students without assessments!

Another reason I haven't posted could be that I have felt we have been in a routine. No excitement here. Then I realized we did have a "house-changing"event. For about 6 months I have been wanting to put hard woood floors in the family room and hallway, but didn't mention it to Dad for a couple of reasons. I wasn't sure how the room would look and most of all, I didn't know if he would want wood floors. So I just pondered it for awhile. Then I casually mentionned to him that I think wood floors might be nice, because the carpet was getting worn, and I had to shampoo it more often. Well, of all things coincidental, he had been pondering the same issue for the past few months, most specifically, pondering on Wednesdays when he vaccums. The following Tuesday was a holiday, (our engagement anniversary) so we went to the local flooring store just to see what was available. By the next week, we were invaded by some Russians who did an excellent job of laying our new floor. It is great! Here are the "before" and "after" pictures.

BEFORE

AFTER
I am thinking of convincing Dad to cook. Maybe I could get a kitchen up-grade out of it!

(PS: For those unfamiliar with our home, the abstract is one Ross did in college. )

La Vie Quotidienne, "Oak Park", California

As you know, Dad has been taking photography classes. This weekend CRC sponsored a photography event entitled, "A Day in the Life of Oak Park". Oak Park is an area in Sacramento that has been considered an undesirable place to live for many years, but in the last few years there have been attempts to change the neighborhood environment. I believe this event was in part to help people see the change that has been taking place, along with practicing their photography skills. Students from the local junior colleges, high school, and elementary schools were asked to participate. Everyone was given a T-shirt to identify themselves. Here is Dad in his T-shirt, with camera, ready to go. Dad took lots of pictures. I asked him to pick out a few for the blog. Below, a church tower in Oak Park. The sky is beautiful. It was a great day for a photo shoot. This is an interesting gate. If Dad were writing the blog, he would talk about composition,etc. of which I know nothing about.
An empty parking lot, without its customers. This does make a statement about life in Oak Park.
This is my favorite of a stained glass window in a church. On Saturday evening, one or two photographs were selected from all of the participants in the event and presented in a slide show. This was one of the ones of Dad's that was selected. It has a painterly quality. It would look great on a canvas. (Do you think, Ross?)
Friday was the photo taking event and Saturday a seminar was held at CRC. He heard a lecture from the man who has been a photographer for many of the Presidents, since Gerald Ford (an old guy like us), who talked about his experiences and famous photographs.
All in all, Dad had a great time. He came home safely, with all of his equipment, however, you might want to ask him sometime to tell you the story about the two guys who invited him to step around the corner.

Le club francais, un pique-nique

Last week the MTHS French club had a traditional French picnic. Here are a few of my favorite students enjoying the event. This year's French club has gotten off to a good start. About 21 students in all came. (Of course they come when there is food.) What makes a traditional French "pique-nique"? Well, sparkling cider, croissants, and CHEESE of course. Most of the students tasted Camembert, Brie and Goat cheese from France. They all prefer American cheese however.
One of my students came into class the next day with a piece of cheese left-over from the picnic. He was not one of the students at the picnic, so I don't know how he got the cheese, but he wanted to know which kind it was before he ate it. Where has that cheese been?

Tour de "Elk Grove"

Twice a year Elk Grove draws huge crowds to its large park. In July, the Park is home to the "Strauss Festival", complete with orchestra, dancers, and fireworks. It is quite beautiful.
The other event is Elk Grove's Harvest Festival which takes place in October. The first year that we had the Harvest Festival it was quite small, but in the past few years it has become a well-known event. A prize is given every year for the largest pumpkin entered. I had hoped to take a picture of it, but the battery in my camera died before I got the chance. I believe the winning pumpkin came from Canada and weighed about 1500 pounds.
One other event which takes place during the Harvest Festival is the "Great Pumpkin Race". We missed the race last year, but this year we were able to make it over in time to watch. The contestants hollow out their giant pumpkins and turn them into boats. The first "pumpkin boat" to paddle across the pond and back wins 500 dollars. Don't think it is possible? Take a look.
There were six contestants. One immediately tipped over as the whistle blew, so five boats were in the race. Below is the man who won the race.
Some people like to draw attention to themselves like the clown in the boat below.
We also had a pirate show up. Argh! as Jack would say.
Dad and I wish we could have taken some grandchildren along. But alas, they all live too far away. I hope they at least enjoy the pictures.

La benediction d'Ella

The Blessing of Ella.

Last Sunday Dad and I got up at 4 am and caught a flight to Burbank, California in order to attend Ella's blessing. We arrived about an hour before their church began. Robert's parents had flown in on Friday night before and everyone was getting themselves ready for church. Here is Ella in the dressing gown Andrea made for her. She is taking in all of the action.Jack and Grandpa Bowns both wore red ties for the occasion. Here Jack is giving Ella some assistance.
Pretty good looking family. This was taken after the blessing. Robert gave a good blessing, and Ella squawked a bit during it, but the job was done. She is officially Ella Fewkes.
The traditional family shot after the blessing. Jack didn't want to face the camera so I told him to look at the camera and say "puzzle" (Puzzles are his favorite thing to do.), and he did. Everyone had a good chuckle which is why we all look so happy.
It was a quick trip, but rewarding. We had a great time seeing Andrea and family again and we always enjoy visiting with Robert's parents. What a good way to spend a week-end!