Goliad Christmas Parade

Tonight was the annual Goliad Christmas Parade. Fred made it home in time to go with us and I was happy. I don't think I would have managed my camera, Michael and Jake all at the same time! Being dark I knew I needed the tripod but there was just no way I could do the tripod with Michael and Jake. This was also Jakes first parade. Jake did fairly well socializing with everyone before the parade. He is learning to sit before being petted and did a great job. When the police cars and fire trucks went by with their sirens going Jake freaked out a bit. I was prepared and knew he was going too...He didn't care for the Goliad Highschool band either. After doing plenty of parades with Julie (horse) I knew what to expect and with Fred there was able to concentrate on Jake 100%. Jake did great and I was proud of him.

Now for the photos...I used the night setting on my camera as I didn't really have time or enough free hands to play with the settings...I knew they were going to be blurry but you know I actually think they came out pretty neat looking....We enjoyed ourselves and got there early enough to walk around the square and check out the local arts and craft vendors. We were able to visit with different friends we saw and Jake was swarmed by the kids and did really well.

Waiting for the Parade to start. Michael just loves sausage on a stick.

Michael watching for the parade. I used the flash plus the night shot setting on this photo...I thought it was pretty cool...anticipation and lots of movement.

Michael sitting in his chair playing with his light spinner.

The lights of Goliads main street.

A tractor and float that were in the parade.

Horse and wagon...I just love the blurry effect and all the lights.

LOL, my feet and the back of Jakes head. I thought of you Colleen when I took this photo and your summer feet shot...about the only photo you'll ever see of me unless someone takes the camera away from me!!

I had plenty of photos but decided not to bore you to death...LOL....

Uh OH!

It seems I have a problem...

In the past year we have acquired some new furniture...specifically 3 new recliner chairs. As I was looking around the house this evening I realized I had a BIG problem!!

Where am I going to put the Christmas tree?

The last recliner we brought home was one that Fred had won and we were actually going to give it away. But then I did a bunch of rearranging and managed to fit it in my computer/scrap room...but I honestly don't have a clue as to where or how I'm going to fit our Christmas tree into the picture, LOL....

I wished all my friends and family lived a bit closer as I could really use some help here!!

I know if I ask Fred for his opinion, and him being a MAN, he's going to tell me forget the Christmas tree. So I won't receive any help from that side!!

I wonder if he'd mind if I disassembled the television stand and moved the television out of the living room, LOL...it's an idea!!

Australian Christmas and Misc.

I sent some digital layouts in that Helen had done for us and some that I did and had them printed off. Instead of doing 12x12 I had them done 10x10 and then used color cardstock for a matting. They came out really nice and I'm so excited to have them in my scrapbook.

Thank you Helen!

We also recieved a Christmas (a bit early) package from Helen and her family yesterday!! We loved it and have been enjoying the music, LOL....I did a little video so everyone could listen to what jingle bells sounds like in Austrailia...As Helen said Jingle bells will never be the same again, LOL.

Dashing through the bush, in a rusty Holden ute, Kicking up the dust, esky in the boot.

Kelpie by my side, singing Christmas songs, It's summertime and I am in my singlet, shorts, and thongs.

Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingles all the way!

Christmas in Australia on a scorching summer's day, Hey!

Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!

Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden ute.

That is the chorus and first verse if you want to read the rest of the song go check out this url Helen sent me...

http://users.bigpond.net.au/bwi28/c/jinglebells.html

I love my Aussie friend and I am so thankful for her....She brings a lot of laughter into my life!

Have you ever had one of those MORNINGS!!

Have you ever had one of those MORNINGS where you just want to go back to bed and skip the rest of the day?

I'd like to do that, LOL....

It started at 5am when my dear Husband got up and was making such a racket that he woke me up, grrr...so much for sleeping until 6:30am. Then I let the dogs out and could see it froze outside last night. We didn't have a freeze warning so I didn't cover my plants up, they look okay but I'll no more in a few days when they start wilting and dying.

Jake had an appt. at the Vet to be neutered and we were at the Vets at 8am. Michael was upset about leaving Jake and after we left kept asking me if Jake was ready to come home yet. Poor thing still remembers taking Ebony in and Not bringing her home, he was so afraid the same thing was going to happen to Jake. I was worried too as sometimes Collies have adverse effects to certain drugs. We went and got breakfast and then I told Michael we'd go to the park to eat and play. Well they had the park closed for Christmas as they have a light display and the only time you can enter the park is from 6pm to 10pm. Now how stupid is that, it is S. Texas and normally warm enough to go play at the park and they have it closed during the day. Needless to say Michael was upset as he loves to play at the park.

We also stopped at the Elementary school that is close to us this morning. I wanted to find out if Michael was eligible to go there even though we live in a different county and school district. This school is only 5 miles from us versus Golaid which is 18 miles and would be 1.5 hour bus ride for Michael morning and night. Well I was told that Michael could not go there but had to go to Goliad, UGH!! I was so disappointed as I've heard this is a really good rural elementary school! They told me I could fill out transfer papers and transfer Michael to that school district. Fred and I discussed this and we decided that we wanted Michael to stay with the friends he makes in Elementary and not have to move to a different school district when he starts middle school and make new friends all over again. I was thinking that the kids from the 3 different counties that are in this area attended this elementary then when they entered 6th grade they all went to their different school districts, but I was wrong, boohoo...just another disappointment added to my Morning.

We headed home and had to stop for road construction and wait 15 minutes before we could go and then just before I reached the driveway we had a phone call from the vet, ugh! The first thing out of the vet assistants mouth was that Jake was okay, LOL...She knows me well and knew I was worried as to why they were calling me. It seems that Jake's blood count was low and he was anemic and they couldn't do the surgery! I'm really glad they did the blood work as I would have had to do a lot of explaining if Jake had died in surgery. So we had to turn right back around and go get him, Michael was happy. Jake is on meds and will go back in 2 weeks for more blood work. If he's okay then the vet will attempt to do the surgery.

On our way home I took a different route so we wouldn't hit the road construction...By this time I had to pee really really bad...But when we got down the highway a bit they had it closed off due to some very LARGE oil rig they were moving into a ranch...By this time I am looking to the side of the road for a Darn bush to pee behind, LOL....We ended up having to wait 20 minutes before they'd let us go through, ugh!! It was a mad dash to the house and here I am....feeling much better...but ready to go back to bed and just skipping the rest of the day!! Now if I could just convince Michael!! Fred called and he is headed to Laredo, sigh!! Hopefully it won't be for long but you just never know!

We did have one Positive thing this morning...it seems my dear friend Helen has sent us a Christmas package early and here it sits. I haven't opened it yet as I was thinking of putting it under the tree and not opening it until Christmas, LOL...I know Helen wants us to open it as she has sent us some music...but I thought I'd tease her for awhile and love the anticipation!! I'm thinking of waiting until after our nap this afternoon and then maybe starting the evening off on a good note!!

Believe

I was able to add some memory to my computer this weekend and my digi program is working better than before...Above you can see a digi layout I did tonight.

Helen thank you for your inspiration and the gentle KICKS in the behind you gave me!! LOL!

4th and Final chapter to Mama Cow and the lost calf

Today our story ends. I have been observing and watching Mama Cow for the past two days. She has been hanging out with the calves but her calf was no where to be seen. So on that sad note we end our Saga. Mama cow did not find her calf and he/she is assumed dead from no food and exposure to the elements. Sad but it does happen....especially when stupid people raise cows!!

The End

Black Friday ~ Fun ~ Fun ~ Fun ~

I was up at 3am, actually I was up at 10pm after going to bed at 7pm and unable to sleep...a very late night and early early morning. Fred finally got up at 3:30am and at 4am when we were supposed to be at JcPenny's we left the house...then after two stops to find an open convenience store because the Pokey Little Puppy had to have a soda we finally hit JcPenny at 4:38am....But as I told Fred this was supposed to be fun and stress free...so I counted to 1 billion and stayed calm, LOL...

We went to JcPenny first...full of people but the lines at the check out were moving fast and no problems...then on to Kohls....after arriving there and seeing the check out line was all the way around the store...it was time for breakfast.

We had decided if we didn't find what we were after no big deal, there was nothing on our list that we couldn't live without...after breakfast we headed back to Kohl's and the line was still looong...but I decided to brave it...with Michael napping on my shoulder, Fred carrying our items I entered the line...I told Fred to go find us a cart and then he could walk around the store and look while I waited....Men don't wait in long lines very well....I had fun in line talking to the other ladies and watching one lady continually stepping out of line to shop as she kept seeing things she missed, LOL...She was crazy and had two carts just plumb full!! She was oohing and ahhing a Christmas wreath I had but as I had taken the last one she was out of luck!! I'm nice but not nice enough to give up my stuff, LOL...Michael woke up and took off with Daddy....Not a good idea!! We ended up with light up transformer shoes in the cart, Not on our list mind you!! Michael who has shown no interest in the transformer items even after watching the movie twice seemed to be in a transformer mood today....ugh!!

After Kohl's we headed to Walmart. I was stunned as there was not to many people there, in years past it was normally so packed you had problems breathing but not today. We found our items quickly and took a walk around the store to just have a look see...Saw nothing but rude obnoxious people...Even the cashier was nasty until I smiled at her and said Good Morning and asked if she was ready for a nap yet...Then it was like total and complete transformation!! Guess she needed a friendly smile...after seeing some of the customers in there I really couldn't blame her...One lady ran into a another ladies behind with a shopping cart and never said sorry or excuse me...she just kept going!! Another lady stood in the middle of an aisle blocking the whole aisle...I was trying to get through one way and a guy was trying to get through the other way. I said excuse me ma'am can I get through...nothing....a little louder I said MA'AM we'd like to get through, again nothing. I finally nudged her in the back side and said Ma'am we are trying to get through...she finally moved enough for me to squeeze through...The guy rolled his eyes and thanked me....It was like HELLO people there are other's around you, WAKE UP!! PAY ATTENTION!!

After Walmart we headed to our local Super Grocery store as they had Michael's Santa gifts....I was able to get a 4MP HP camera for $20 with the exchange of an old 35mm camera that I no longer used...Michael has asked Santa for a camera but I have gotten him the $20 kids cameras before and they are just not kid friendly and he has them broken in a matter of days due to the cheap plastic they make them out of...So now he will have a HP camera and I hope this is easier for him to use...He's going to be so excited...I also decided to go with a $20 HotWheels race track...he's been building race tracks out of old boards and thought maybe he'd really enjoy a track that fit his HotWheel cars...so we have Michael's gifts!! YES!! Of course Fred had to keep Michael busy in the store while I got the items, paid for them and ran them out to the toolbox in Fred's truck. They are still in the toolbox as I am waiting for Michael to go to sleep so I can bring them in and hide them, LOL...Go to sleep Michael, Go to sleep!!

We then went to Walmart and I picked up a Digital photo Key chain for $9.99. This way I can carry some of my photos with me to show off. It wasn't anything fancy but it will work. Fred really liked it once I showed him the photos I put on it...

The we headed to Hastings, Fred wanted to rent some movies...and then we headed home...We were home by 10:30am...We were able to get everything on our list plus a few extras...and all in all not a bad experience!! My Mother thinks we are crazy for venturing out but I love the excitement and thrill of it all...Fred is a shopper so it's something fun we can do together, aren't we romantic, LOL...