Holiday

Although we have made it a point not to get all caught up in the Christmas Commercialism we are still enjoying our Christmas season.  We started off by going to the Pensacola Lighthouse to see them light it up.  Tom even made a video of him walking all 117 steps up into the lighthouse.  There was no way I would have been able to do that, scared of heights to start with and I probably would have passed out.  The rest of the place was very nicely decorated and the Associatition had a nice turn out.  Coffee, hot chocolate and cookies were available and "The Grinch" was showing for the kids to watch.  Was comfortable outside and everyone enjoyed themselves.  Next we went to Historic Downtown Pensacola.  Walked around looking at all the homes restored many from as far back as 1790's.  The Mole Hole Gift shop was a joy, we took quite a few pictures and even made a video of Tom demostrating how to play the wooden frog insturments.  We then went to the Jingle Jazz @ Seville Quarters and had a great time listening to Christmas songs done in a jazzy style.  Miss Tomato the lead singer did a fantastic job and I even got Tom out on the dance floor when she sang "At Last" one of my all time favorite songs.  We plan to go to Downtown on Palafox and the Government district to see all the decorations this weekend and finsh the year there when they do the Pensacola Pelican Drop.  Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  CHEERS !!!

This time of year.

This time of year is my favorite part of the year.  Temps are starting to cool off both during the day and at night.  No longer do we have to have the air conditioner running 24 hours / 7 days a week, so there's less noise throughout the house.  I prefer it to be around 65 degrees but my husband and son would like for it to be about 45-50 degrees.  I would end up wearing sweats all the time which would be okay because they are quite comfortable.  Nice thing about it being cooler too is COMFORT FOODS.  We love making homemade soups, stews, cassserols, we just love cooking in general and of course eating goes right along with that. Its also when most people start thinking about the holidays.  For us, its not so much as gift getting and giving but spending time with each other.  My son lives at home with us still but my daughter is in college and stays up at Troy most of the year, so its nice to have her there for a week or two.  She's all bubbly and full of life and it rubs off on us.  I actually look forward to going to the mall with her and shopping, which I tend avoid most of the time. Leaves are changing now too and my cats enjoy chasing them accross the yard when the wind blows.  Past couple of years we went to friends and had a bonfire, roasted hot dogs and marshmellows, look forward to doing that again.  Watching movies cuddled up on the couch with my husband or just listening to soothing music, of course he won't let me put on Christmas music on until after Thanksgiving, but that's fine with me.  Haven't decided if I'm going to go to the Atmore Poarch Creek Indian Pow Wow this year, farther now that we moved to Pensacola and weather or not my daughter will need to head back up to Troy before then.  I do plan to pick her up and go to the football game on Nov. 19th - that should be fun.  I have learned not to get my hopes up to high during the holidays, they don't go off perfect so its best not to expect them to.  Just simple and relaxed is all I can hope for.  So I'll just sit outside on the front porch and take in a deep breath of Fall.