Terri's sister Karen and niece Kiley flew in on Sunday night the 23rd. We picked them up at the airport and they spent the night with us that night. On Monday morning Terri and Kiley baked a few cookies for Santa before we left to go to Eastman. We met Terri's brother, Robert, in Warner Robins. Karen and Kiley went to spend Christmas in Columbus with Robert's family while we went on to see my family in Eastman. We met Robert's family for lunch in Newnan on Friday the 28th, and brought Karen and Kiley home for one more night with us before they had to fly home to Oklahoma City on Saturday morning.
Karen dumped her pictures on my laptop before she left. Here they are.
I'll upload some of the Eastman pictures later, whenever I find time.
Happy New Year!
Monday, December 31, 2007
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Killing trees for Christmas
We carried out our annual tradition of cutting the tree down last night. For years I have wanted to get an artificial tree so we wouldn't have to buy a new one each year. And for years Terri has said no, in deference to a tradition we started when Jonathon was very young of going to a Christmas tree farm and cutting one down. Terri was actually, for some strange reason, willing to buy an artificial one this year, but when I saw the price tag of the ones she liked, I became a big fan of tradition.
So last night Terri, Catherine and I loaded up in the car and headed over to Browns Christmas Tree Farm, located on US 19/41 between Griffin and Hampton, GA. It was a cold night, and I could find neither my coat nor gloves. We wanted to get a rather tall tree, since we have a two story living room to put it in. We assumed our usual roles. Terri went from tree to tree asking Catherine, "How about this one?" Catherine gave her a yes or no, and then they would move on and look for more.
When they finally found the one they wanted it is my job to execute the poor tree. The farm provides a "knee board" to kneel on while you cut the tree. That would be great, but the lower branches are so wide that you really can't reach the trunk with the saw if you kneel, so you have to pretty much lay on your side or your belly and saw. Neither my side nor belly fit on that board, so I got a bit dirty. Thanks to the drought the ground wasn't wet though, and I was able to just brush myself off and go about my business.
After dragging the tree back to the front of the lot, I was given the tag to go inside and pay for it, while workers put it in a machine to shake all the dead pine needles (and hopefully insect eggs) out of it. I was never so glad to pay for anything in my life. It was so much warmer paying inside that shed than it was sawing outside that shed. By the time I came out the tree had been wrapped and the trunk drilled for our stand. The workers tied it to the top of my Saturn Vue and we headed home.
As soon as we pulled into the driveway, I got a phone call from my old college friend John Waters. John and his wife Cynthia serve at First Baptist Church of Statesboro, GA. They were on their way to Atlanta for some Georgia Baptist Convention business, and were planning to meet us for dinner. We unloaded the tree and got it in some warm water, then headed off to Red Lobster for some great food and fellowship. I had worked up quite an appetite being a one-tree-lumberjack. We capped the night off with great food and fellowship.
It was a nice family night, but I sure do miss having Jonathon here to help cut down and carry the tree. Well---- cutting down and carrying the tree don't really have anything to do with it. I just miss having him here for our Christmas traditions. We all do. He is supposed to fly in on the evening of December 20. We can't wait to see him.
So last night Terri, Catherine and I loaded up in the car and headed over to Browns Christmas Tree Farm, located on US 19/41 between Griffin and Hampton, GA. It was a cold night, and I could find neither my coat nor gloves. We wanted to get a rather tall tree, since we have a two story living room to put it in. We assumed our usual roles. Terri went from tree to tree asking Catherine, "How about this one?" Catherine gave her a yes or no, and then they would move on and look for more.
When they finally found the one they wanted it is my job to execute the poor tree. The farm provides a "knee board" to kneel on while you cut the tree. That would be great, but the lower branches are so wide that you really can't reach the trunk with the saw if you kneel, so you have to pretty much lay on your side or your belly and saw. Neither my side nor belly fit on that board, so I got a bit dirty. Thanks to the drought the ground wasn't wet though, and I was able to just brush myself off and go about my business.
After dragging the tree back to the front of the lot, I was given the tag to go inside and pay for it, while workers put it in a machine to shake all the dead pine needles (and hopefully insect eggs) out of it. I was never so glad to pay for anything in my life. It was so much warmer paying inside that shed than it was sawing outside that shed. By the time I came out the tree had been wrapped and the trunk drilled for our stand. The workers tied it to the top of my Saturn Vue and we headed home.
As soon as we pulled into the driveway, I got a phone call from my old college friend John Waters. John and his wife Cynthia serve at First Baptist Church of Statesboro, GA. They were on their way to Atlanta for some Georgia Baptist Convention business, and were planning to meet us for dinner. We unloaded the tree and got it in some warm water, then headed off to Red Lobster for some great food and fellowship. I had worked up quite an appetite being a one-tree-lumberjack. We capped the night off with great food and fellowship.
It was a nice family night, but I sure do miss having Jonathon here to help cut down and carry the tree. Well---- cutting down and carrying the tree don't really have anything to do with it. I just miss having him here for our Christmas traditions. We all do. He is supposed to fly in on the evening of December 20. We can't wait to see him.
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