Going on a pixie hunt.....

One thing that we have noticed right away here in Louisiana are the trees. They are huge. They are beautiful. These trees are something that my kids did not experience much of on the East Coast of NC. Near the shore, the trees are short and mostly of the evergreen variety. I planted several trees in our yard just to break up the landscape a bit.

There is a park very close to our house. My girls have decided to call it Pixie Hollow.

And why shouldn't they? This place looks truly enchanted. I was pretty sure I saw a fairy fluttering and hiding in that spanish moss patch right there. Do you see it?

The Big Apple decided that the pixies live in the knotholes of the tree and tried calling for them to come out to play. She didn't catch any, but she has vowed to bring them something next time to perhaps bring them out from hiding...what do fairies like to eat?

I was more curious about this little guy that in catching a pixie. And I think he was just as curious about me. I have never lived in a region of the country where I have seen black squirrels like this. He was so sweet and adorable. And tame and fat too. I am sure he is very well loved at this particular park. Perhaps when the girls go pixie hunting and bring treats for their friends, I will bring a treat for my new little friend.

I suppose I should give him a name. Any suggestions?

My oven came over on the Mayflower....

Well, it might have come over on the Mayflower, but I am sure that if the Pilgrims had actually tried to cook with this oven they would have tossed it overboard before they left the harbor.
I am trying very hard not to complain about my new status as a *cough* renter...but some things I think need to be addressed publically. Like this oven, for instance. It is really really old. Like Dinosaur old. And I need to whine just a bit because if you know me at all, I do like to bake. And this oven barely fits a cookie sheet. I had to purchase new cookie sheets to fit this oven. That is truly a sad circumstance to live with.
Today, Christmas morning, I preheated this archaic beast to 325 to cook the Christmas turkey. I put in my savory bird and closed the oven door. It had a locking feature thing on it, so I thought to myself "Wow! A lock! That could be handy because I have a baby and 2 small curious children!" and I locked the oven door, and went on with preparations with the rest of the Christmas Feast.
About an hour later, I started wondering why my kitchen didn't smell like cooking turkey. So I decided to check on the bird. I opened the oven door and discovered that the oven was stone cold. And so was my turkey.
Come to find out that the oven temp turns itself off when you lock the door. Go figure. And now Christmas dinner will be late, but we now have a new fun story in our collection of Louisiana memories.

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

See ya later, Josiah....

I am broken inside, and my heart aches for my Pastor and his family. Josiah passed away at home. He is really Home for Christmas, whole and healed and skateboarding with Jesus.

Gonna miss you, Jo. Save a spot for me up there, okay?

Picking up the last pieces to the puzzle...

I made it to Louisiana. We found a house. Our household goods have been delivered. Instead of unpacking the kitchen, I unpacked the Christmas Decorations. I figured the kids would rather have Christmas than a homecooked meal anyway.

The husband and I are in Florida right now picking up the last pieces to the puzzle. I mean, the Big Apples. They were staying with my parents for a few days until we could get everything settled. Then we drove down here yesterday and arrived very late at night. The looks on the girls' faces this morning when they saw their daddy for the first time in months....Oh. My. Goodness. It was like Christmas came early. Such hugging and loving and more hugging and endless chatting. It was wonderful.

And the best part of it is...we are going home. We are driving back to Louisiana tomorrow morning. Together.

Together. I just love that word.