Two Close Calls

Both of my teams - The Cardinals and the Seahawks - had close wins yesterday. The Cardinals score was a bit closer - 19-13  over the San Francisco 49er's than the Seahawks win over the Pittsburgh Steelers - 39-30. Both games were not decided until the final minutes. The Seahawks have crept back into the playoff picture with their win even though it is obvious (to me, anyway) that they are not the powerhouse team that we saw the last two years. On the other hand, the Cardinals will be real tough to beat from here on out this year. It's a real exciting year in football.

The outside lights are installed - completely - at our house. This first year in our house and the first year in many that we have had lights to this extent will be enjoyed at least through December and into early January. Below are the final shots of the display:

and this close shot of the main part that shows the small deer drinking from a water hole:

I don't know yet how much electricity they will use, but it could be a determining factor in how far we go next year with our lights. I'm still trying to determine the best way to control them - timer or sensor. Right now, we are leaving them on all night until I figure out that solution to the timing. Whatever is decided needs to happen soon.

There is no word yet on what Bowl game Austin and his WMU team will be playing this year. I guess the final standings within the Conference need to be determined first which will be in another week or so following the playoffs. We'll pass along that news as soon as we get some to report...

More Outside Lights

I spent most of my day working on the outside lights for the house while Josie worked her first day back from the Thanksgiving holiday. The lights are about completed for the outside - there are just a couple more bushes to be decorated and that should finish up that task. This is a shot of the current status:

It's looking pretty good. Tonight, we will take a final shot.

I only had a couple hours to watch some of the key football games on TV in the late afternoon. There were some very good games and a few key rivalries that are always fun to watch, regardless of their significance in the national rankings. We get to enjoy the Conference championships now, and watch for all the Bowl match-ups. The only one we are anxious to hear about is the WMU Bowl that Austin will attend. We'll soon know.

Our goal today - aside from watching the Cardinals and Seahawks games - is to finish up the outside lights and to decorate our tree. Josie will continue to decorate the inside and will probably go right up to Christmas Day before finishing all that activity. Then, we get to take it all down again for another year. It is fun to do though, and really helps to get into the true Christmas spirit...

Huge Upset

Austin's WMU team played nationally ranked (#24) Toledo yesterday in the final MAC Conference game of the year. Toledo was heavily favored to win the Western Conference of the MAC (with whom WMU was tied), and to go on to win the MAC title. Western Michigan won the game in grand style, 35-30. That win certainly improves their Bowl position and they will find out where they will play in a meeting this Sunday. We are excited to find out where and when they play, and are super excited for Austin who gets to play in his second consecutive post season Bowl Game.

The biggest part of our day yesterday was taken up with getting out our Christmas decorations and putting up our tree. I strung the lights outside and didn't fall once from the ladder. I had hoped to get more of the outside lights done, but will try to finish those today. This is what it looks like so far:

Josie concentrated on the inside while I worked on the lights outside. We did get the tree set up and this is the first shot of our new, undecorated tree:

The inside of our house will eventually look like a Christmas store. I didn't realize how many decorations we had in storage until yesterday. This is one example of the "neat" decorations that Josie has placed around so far:

This is easily the best time of the year and the time when Josie is happiest. This month is a renewal of the kind of Christmas holiday that we are used to having and probably is the single most significant event that we have missed over the years that we have been traveling. Living in the fifth wheel had many advantages, but one of them was not being able to decorate and enjoy the Christmas holiday to the extent we are now able to enjoy. The next 30 days will certainly be filled with lots of Christmas joy...

Thanksgiving Day

It was a very good day weather-wise. It only went to 66 but it didn't rain. It would have been a terrific day if it had gone over 70 degrees. Our dinner was wonderful and we enjoyed having all of our local family and very good friends Cot and Lois. The football games were good - for the most part. There was way, way too much food and everybody took some home with them to enjoy leftovers at least for today, I took several shots of everybody and these two represent the best ones with everybody at the dinner table.

 Brian took this first one:

and I took this one so we could get Brian in the shot:

We hope everybody had as nice a Thanksgiving as we had.

There is a big football game today in Toledo, OH. Austin's WMU team takes on the MAC Conference leading Toledo Rockets in their final game of the year. Toledo is nationally ranked, and heavily favored to win. This game will also have a bearing on what Bowl game is offered to Austin's team. They had a very good year that could have been excellent if their schedule didn't include two top ranked teams early in the year. No matter what, we're proud of Austin and his team. Go Broncos!

Today is crank-up-for-Christmas day at our house. We will skip all the "Black Friday"  hype and begin putting up Christmas inside and outside the house. So, we put away Thanksgiving for another year. If all goes well, I'll have pictures of our Christmas decorations in tomorrow's entry...

Tom is Ready

I had wanted to get a shot of our turkey this morning but Josie had other plans for him and he will be sitting in a bag this morning until it is time for his final trip - to the oven. I will get a shot of him before the door closes on him.

We got most of the other items either done or near done last night - the eggs were boiled for the deviled eggs to be made this morning, the beans were prepared and the cranberry sauce and dips were done the night before. We are almost ready for our guests. I still need to get some ice for our cooler and I think that is it. Everything else is either being brought by our guests or will be done while the turkey cooks.

There are three football games on TV today, so there will be no down time from the games. One of them - between the Panthers and the Cowboys - should be a bell ringer. The undefeated Panthers hope to go to 11-0, but the Cowboys have new energy with their quarterback - Tony Romo - returning from injury, and need to win-out to make the playoffs.

It looks like the weather will cooperate - mostly - as there will be no rain, but it will be cool at around 65-67. Have a great day everybody...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING !!!

Looking Good for Thanksgiving

More preparations, including shopping for last minute items yesterday, have us about ready for Thanksgiving. Except for food preparation that is. Some of the items for dinner were done last night - like cranberry sauce and dips - so it won't be overwhelming tonight or tomorrow morning. We are, basically, ready to go.

The forecast I saw last night for Thanksgiving was the best I've seen all week. It has the rain and most of the clouds going through north of us. If we can only do something about the temperature which is still being forecast as 65-67. I guess we could do worse.

We don't especially care too much about eating and watching our weight at this time of the year, but I am not happy with where I am starting out. I have gained about 20 pounds since my surgeries a couple months ago and was hoping to get a chance to lose some of those pounds before the holiday season began. It was tough maintaining control of my weight while I was instructed not to do much of any activity during my healing process. There were no restrictions on eating. I guess I will be faced with another situation like we had a couple years ago when we lost all that weight. We'll have to start the new year with another strict diet like that one.

In the meantime, we're looking forward to turkey and all the fixin's tomorrow...

Improving Forecast

One thing about an early weather forecast is - it will probably change. Thank goodness it is improving as we get closer to Thanksgiving. Now, the forecast is for clouds, but no rain and a high of 67 degrees. It's still not an ideal forecast, but it sure beats the initial one that included rain and cool temperatures. It will most likely change again, but, hopefully, not get worse. It is always nice to be able to have a choice of sitting inside for conversation and to watch TV, or outside to enjoy conversation and Arizona fresh air. Our fingers are crossed.

The meal is about finalized and we are almost ready for the big day. We do have much to be thankful for, especially after watching the current news with all the terrorist activity across the ocean. We are truly blessed to be living where we are in America.

The countdown continues with only two days remaining before Turkey Day. Yum...