Welcome to my neighborhood

Here are a few shots of my front yard. When I bought the house, I painted the front door black. There isn't much siding, but what siding I have needed painting. My niece Hillary and her new husband Tim painted it for me one day while they were in town for my parents' anniversary party! I'm so glad. I have so many things that I need to do to the house, and not enough energy to tackle them all without some help. The front of the house looks so much better now. They also helped me add some topsoil to my front yard (it had some sunken patches), and they helped me plant grass seed which has successfully sprouted!

I want my yard to look as good as the neighbor's across the street. See the bird perched atop my brick mailbox? Life is good in the neighborhood!

Healthwise, I have been really dragging in the two months since I finished radiation. I hear it takes time to bounce back, but I really didn't think it would be this bad. I'm hoping I can get up off the sofa more and enjoy every day of this life the Lord has given me.

Visitors from Tasmania

When I moved to Tasmania in 1987, so did another Texan, Sandy Hatch. She got married a year later to Warren Graetz and she has lived in Tasmania ever since. We were both back in Texas at the same time, so she came to Houston and stayed with me a week while I was undergoing radiation treatment. She was a great encouragement and help. 

One weekend, Sandy and I traveled to Whitehouse to visit my family. 

The top photo of Sandy and Warren was taken at MD Anderson, on the skybridge. The other was taken while having dinner with the family of my brother James. (Interestingly, Sandy and James traveled together on the same Continental Singers summer tour in the 80s). 

So glad I was able to visit this dear friend, who has already returned to Australia.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care

I'm home for Christmas this year, and was left in charge of decorating. So I got new stockings for the three humans in the house (couldn't find any cute dog stockings or else I would have gotten some). We have camouflage for my dad, red sparkly ruche stocking for my mom, and a satin-frill topped high-heel boot for me. 

My decorating style can be summed up in two words: Hobby Lobby.

She's heeeeere!

Mimi arrives at DFW Cargo Terminal on Friday, November 14, 2014, at 7:30 p.m. 

 We are quite happy now!

 Inseparable!

Life is good!

Mistletoe and Magic

I didn't plan to be home for the holidays, but since I am, I plan to soak in all the holiday spirit I possibly can. I took my mom to a local annual event called "Mistletoe and Magic," where local booths are set up to sell clothing, gifts, furniture and food.

We didn't buy a thing, but we enjoyed strolling around. My mom was quite taken with this therapy dog. My mom is a huge dog lover.

Soon we were crowded out of the dog area (by other dog lovers).

Here's my mom!

The guy in the kilt is apparently the dog's master. I think the kilt went with the theme of the event, because the man spoke like an east Texan, not a Scot.

When the other folks left, we went back for another visit with the doggy. 

My mom wanted to take it home. Is two dogs in the house not enough? (Mimi wasn't home yet, but was to arrive the next day.)

Here's my mom in front of one of the beautiful Christmas trees. She can walk, but long bouts of walking cause back pain so I pushed her through the event. (She broke her back two years ago, and pain still persists. But she still gets out!)

We asked a stranger to take our photo together in front of the tree. I knew I should have asked her to make more than one photo…to make sure we had our eyes open. But we just got one photo together.

Here's another tree scene. I like how the deer head is covered in cream-colored canvas.

 Deer garland.

It was a mighty cold and dreary day. A cute little coffee cart was set up in the parking lot.

On the way back home, we drove through some old neighborhoods to see the changing colors of the leaves. It was a nice little outing!

Thailand Neighborhood

I'm in Thailand (surprise, surprise) for the third time since November. I'll be back here again in July. I rarely have free time when I am here, but I found some time this trip to stroll through a typical low economic neighborhood in northern Thailand's city of Chiang Mai. Have a look.

Random altars can be seen all over town, even in old neighborhoods. Most Thais are Buddhists.

Something about this place reminds me of other neighborhoods I've seen before, maybe some in Mexico or even in places in Texas.

 Rustic outdoor cafe.

 One very smelly canal runs through the neighborhood.

 A man breaks open a coconut.

I was walking through the neighborhood when I came upon this humongous brick stupa. It looks pretty old, but maybe it is just not well taken care of. It seemed out of place in the neighborhood.

Just when I thought I was in the middle of nowhere, I saw this coffee shop … right across the street from the stupa. I guess I wasn't in as remote a place as I imagined!

Then I came out and there was a main road. You'll see that Chiang Mai has mountains around the city.

Transportation, old and new!

Crossed the line

I had a goal in mind when I was in the U.S. over the Christmas holidays.

I almost forgot about it in the rush of the holidays, but then a few days before I returned overseas, I borrowed my parents' car. My dad reached into his pocket and pulled out some change. He knew I didn't need the 53 cents, but he wanted to pay for this momentous occasion, to be a part of it.

I drove to town, pulled into the drive-up window at McDonalds, rolled down the window, and said these words for the very first time:

"I want a senior coffee."

Because, you see, I am now old enough to get a senior discount at McDonalds!

I have looked forward to this day ever since a decade or so ago when I discovered my dad could get McDonalds senior coffees for 27 cents (in another city where the price is lower).

People younger than me will not understand why it is such a good thing to get older. People my age and older totally get it though. It is an honor to say I lived long enough to be a senior.

At least by the standards of McDonalds.

It is a proud moment.

The friendlies

While in the U.S. for vacation in December and early January, I got to see lots of friends, and here I'll introduce you to a few of them. Above is my childhood friend from Pecos, Kim. We were in the same grade in school, involved in many of the same activities, attended the same church and we both worked summers at the sulphur mine during college. When I was about 10, she helped save me from going under at a church swimming party, and in high school I paid her back for her kindness by hitting her in the head with a handbell and leaving a scar over her eyebrow. She is always a great encouragement to me despite the bodily damage I did to her, and I am so happy to have her as one of my lifelong friends.

I met Bruce when I was 16-years-old and my brother brought his HPU college roommate (Bruce) to a Pecos High School football game. I met Cindy two years later when we were both freshman at HPU. My brother and Bruce pretty much did everything together during college, and Cindy and I pretty much did everything together during college (with a group of other girls our age). And we ALL ran in the same social circle(s). Some years after college, Bruce and Cindy got married, and now they just live an hour away from my parents. I've probably done a better job of keeping up with Cindy than anyone else I know (especially before Facebook came along to make it easier for me to locate friends). These are lovely people with hearts of gold, and it's always great to see them and continue our long and beautiful friendship.

I love this lady. Meet Mrs. L, my parents' next-door neighbor. I'm sure we've lost count of how many times she has come to the rescue when we needed help (especially feeding the dogs -- INCLUDING MIMI that one time in 06-07 when she visited the U.S. -- and letting them out in the backyard when my parents were not home). She is SO NICE and humble, and I love her beautiful accent; she is originally from The Netherlands. I could visit with his 80-something lady every day. She is so very interesting. 

My mom had surgery just a few days before I got home from the hospital. The Pairs, who are in the same Sunday School class as my parents, came to visit one day. They are so kind and thoughtful -- and humorous too -- and we are always happy to be able to visit with them! I got to see them at church during my visit too.

The Richardsons are also in my parents' Sunday School class and we were thrilled to have a visit from them while I was home. Like the Pairs, they also check on my parents regularly, and are often sitting with my dad in the waiting room when my mom has surgery. Please stop and say a prayer for Martha who will be having knee replacement surgery on Tuesday (tomorrow)!

Christine and Evelyn also came for a visit while I was in the U.S. My mom met Christine, a physical therapist, after her knee replacement surgery several years ago; they have subsequently become friends. They don't live too far from us. East Texans may recognize the little blonde from local furniture commercials that she stars in.

Evelyn and Koko the poodle are apparently having afternoon tea while the adults visit. Koko, please just go ahead and wipe that festive look off your face. (She cheered up considerably when the red-colored party decorations were removed from around her neck.)

I regret not getting photos of the Dodsons and Wades whom I also visited while I was back. Fortunately, none of them look a day older than the last time I saw them, so as long as they keep up their youthful appearance, I'll get photos of them the next time around.

I was also glad to run into old friends and acquaintances at my parents' church while I was back.

There are so many others I'd love to catch up with. Right now the plan is for me to return to the U.S. for several months in the summer of 2015, so hopefully I can catch up with many of the rest of my American friends at that time. 

Australian friends, not sure when I'll get to catch up with you (sigh). 

Family

While in the U.S., my family and I (all of us who were in the same city that day) all went to an evening church service the first Sunday in January and had our photo taken together!

Now and then

Then: Early 1960s

Now: Christmas Day 2013

(About fifty years later)

All things considered, we have a lot to be thankful for over the last half century!

Traveling in style

And they say my dog is spoiled! Look at this precious poodle being pushed around the house. My parents and their dog had a little fun to work off their Thanksgiving meal a few days ago.

If this was my dog, she would have most certainly gotten on the walker by herself. But this well-behaved poodle would never do such a thing. My dad put her up to it (literally).

Once upon a time

Here's a photo of me a month shy of my 6th birthday, sitting on rocking outdoor chairs with my younger cousin Wanda. She looks so cute! I have never seen this picture before, not until Wanda sent it to my parents last week. So now the cat's out of the bag -- I was young once. This was taken in December, so obviously it's not very cold in the Houston area in winter. I bet we didn't even need different clothes for summer and winter. Thanks for sharing the photo Wanda! 'Cause I don't think I knew what I looked like as a five year old, and I'm glad to find out. :-)

Oh happy day!

Eighty years ago this evening in a small town a few hours west of Houston, a cute little baby boy was born. (I wasn't there of course, but I've seen pictures.) He, the youngest, made his family of five complete. 

Eighty years flies by too fast if you ask me. I'm sure to him it seems like just yesterday that he was walking through a creek full of alligators on his way home from school. 

The homeland celebrates

Happy 4th of July to my American friends and family.

58 years ago, something wonderful happened

Happy 58th Anniversary to my parents! They were married on July 1, 1955 at the First Baptist Church in Rosenberg, Texas. I am blessed beyond measure to have them as my parents and to share the journey of life with them. It's fun to be in my family. 

Photo in their backyard by me. But not taken this year. Obvs.