December 31st - What a Year!

The year has taken me from Boston to Texas. Here's to a wonderful 2011!

December 30th - Rugby

My job is giving me a whole new wardrobe. Thanks for the rugby shirt, North Dakota!

December 29th - Hope

One of my favorite pictures hanging on my wall.

December 28th - Rima for Radio Host

This billboard has amused all of us in the office ever since it went up in late October (right in time for Election Day). I've been meaning to take a picture of it for a while, and today ended up being the day. (As you probably can tell, it was cold and drizzly today in Austin.)

December 27th - Books for Christmas

Unlike this kid, I was happy to receive several books for Christmas.

December 26th - Winter Blooms

One of the perks of a Texas winter is that flowers still bloom. When I visit home, my mom usually picks a few narcissus from the backyard and puts them in a vase for my bedroom.

December 25th - Merry Christmas!

The sign says it all. (Photo contributed by my wonderful and talented mom)

December 24th - Red Velvet Fudge

Today Mom and I tackled two big cooking projects: monkey bread and red velvet fudge. Monkey bread is a family tradition so we've made it together before. The red velvet fudge, however, was a new recipe so it took the two of us (well, mostly Mom) to figure it out. Our final verdict: it's very pretty but not quite as tasty as Mom's fudge.

P.S. The best part of the process was cleaning out the pan with milk and making red velvet hot chocolate. Yum!

December 23rd - Home for the Holidays

There really is no place like it. :)

December 22nd - My bags are packed, I'm ready to go

Sammy's very excited to be heading to Henderson tomorrow - even if he's not going there in a jet plane.

December 21st - Christmas Cards

My refrigerator is very festive.

December 20th - Full Moon

Apparently it's the first full moon total eclipse on winter solstice in 400 years.

December 19th - Christmas #1 Complete

Since Paul and Esther will be spending Christmas with her family in West Virginia, we celebrated our Christmas with them this weekend. Yesterday we went to see The Nutcracker and drove down to Galveston for dinner, and today we opened presents. The box above served as a basket for our used wrapping paper, but Mom was the only one who made her shot.

December 18th - The Little Tree That Could

A metaphor for life.

(Located near Paul and Esther's apartment)

December 17th - Happy birthday!

Happy belated birthday to Esther! (And an early happy birthday to Jesus!)

December 16th - Public Service Announcement

December 15th - Presents of red

This evening I wrapped presents that two special people will open this weekend.

December 14th - A few of my favorite things

Sammy's favorite (or should I say, least favorite) ornaments. He has slowly but surely cleared off the bottom third of my tree.

December 13th - The tree

I call this "Sammy's view."

December 12th - She's Crafty

'Tis the season for crafts (placed strategically atop the DVD player to avoid a cat-astrophe).

December 11th - Christmas Baking

I began my Christmas baking this afternoon. Yum!

December 10th - Splish, splash

My car took a much-needed bath!

December 9th - Christmas Pig & Red Robin

Keeping my apartment holiday bright!

December 8th - Morning Visitor

I was the first person in the office this morning and was greeted by one of the vultures that often perch outside our office windows. He kindly posed for this picture and then hoped over to another window.

December 7th - Ho, Ho, Ho

This festive guy greeted me on my way into work this morning.

December 6th - More Birds

Another trip to Wal-Mart, another battle with the birds.

December 5th - Cat Nap

Love Actually on TV + Sammy on my lap = Perfect end to the weekend :)

December 4th - Museum Fix

As a former museum person, I have to get my museum fix every few months. Today I drove down to the UT campus to visit the Blanton Museum of Art and see the Turner to Monet exhibit. The paintings in the exhibit were beautiful, and as usual, I amused myself by creating stories about the people in the paintings. After I left the museum, I decided to walk around campus and take a few pictures. It was nice to be back on campus and have time to look around.

December 3rd - Rudolph?

I support a lot of craziness during the holidays, but I'm giving a big thumbs down to dressing your car as a reindeer (especially the red-nosed variety).

December 2nd - Too. Many. Birds.

All the birds in the state of Texas live at the Wal-Mart near me. Don't park your car there for too long, or you'll be dive-bombed!

December 1st - Red Cup Goodness

Christmastime means cookies, carols, and yummy peppermint hot chocolate from Starbucks!

November 30th - Holly and Jolly

Decorating my apartment for Christmas is fun!

November 29th - Like Mother, Like Daughter

I realize more and more each day that I am my mother's daughter. Even while decorating my tree, I know that I am more like her than not. Growing up, our tree was decorated with ornaments passed down through the generations, ornaments collected from our travels, and of course, ornaments created by my brother and me in pre-school (milk cartons, popsicle sticks, and globs of Elmer's glue seemed to be the main ingredients). There was no "theme" tree for us - our tree was about our family and our life together.

Flash forward to today: my tree is decorated with my travel ornaments (I began collecting on my trip to Europe a few years ago), S'mores, and skates/skaters. There's no real theme - just ornaments that represent where I've been, what I like, and who I am.

(Yes, I realize this is my third tree-related picture in a row. The Christmas tree is a big deal - just ask my mom.)

November 28th - Sammy's Tree

A footnote to yesterday's picture . . . Sammy is still in awe of the Christmas tree.

November 27th - Changing of the Holidays

The Christmas tree is up. Thank you, Mom and Dad, for giving me your old tree!

(What you can't see in this picture is that Sammy is hiding underneath the branches. I wonder how long it will be until I get my 3 o'clock wake-up call from a falling tree.)

November 26th - Mii

I carried a watermelon.

November 25th - Happy Thanksgiving!

The Thanksgiving table at my apartment.

November 24th - The Domain's Christmas Tree

After getting out of work at noon today, Mom and I went to see a movie (Burlesque, which was very good) and then came back to the apartment to wait for Esther. The three of us then went to dinner at The Domain and took in the big Christmas tree in front of Macy's. Even though the weather was mild as we walked around after dinner, we're all preparing for the major cold front that is supposed to come in before the game tomorrow. Bundle up and hook 'em, Horns!

November 23rd - O, Christmas Tree

More Christmas decorations from work.

November 22nd - Pilgrims' Progress

Two of my few Thanksgiving decorations: Pilgrims (from Plymouth, no less)

November 21st - At Bethany

I discovered this little spot on the way out of church this afternoon and thought it would make a nice picture of the day.

November 20th - Harry Potter

I went to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 1) this afternoon. It was wonderful, but wow - what a cliffhanger! (I'm glad I've read the books so I know how things turn out.) It's hard to believe that I've been watching the movies (and reading the books) for almost 10 years now.

P.S. Texas won! Light the tower orange!

November 19th - Deck the Windows

I was greeted with this sight on my way into work this morning. The Christmas season has arrived!

November 18th - Breezy

This wavy guy has been outside my apartment complex the last few weeks - I guess he's trying to grab the attention of passing motorists.

November 17th - One Flew Over the Moon

November 16th - Shoes in a row

So, how many people live here?

(And yes, I do feel like I'm running out of creative ideas. Only 135 more days to go!)

November 15th - Freeze

The Thanksgiving turkey is in the freezer.

November 14th - Granddad with his grandkitty

A match made in heaven.

November 13th - The Tower

At least UT is saving money on orange lights this year.

November 12th - Fall Color

I saw some of the first fall color around Austin this afternoon - right next to a Christmas wreath. I'm definitely not in New England anymore.