The kids came over to decorate the tree tonight. We had a good time together and the tree looks great! Yep, that's a bed sheet covering the window behind the tree. The guys haven't finished the new windows on the inside so I haven't bought shades or drapes yet. I went out before Thanksgiving and got matching sheets to hang over all the windows : )

Do you see what I see? Yep, it's snow in Pasadena! It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!!! The snow fell steady for a long time Wednesday evening. Doesn't it look pretty on my nice new front porch? We went to pick out the flagstone to go on the concrete columns earlier this week. Hopefully, the porches will be finished next week.

Well I messed up that last post! I hit the "Publish Post" before I was ready (oops)! I hope anyone reading it "gets it" : )

On Saturday, we had a large crew of men here pouring concrete for our new porches. Look what a beautiful day it was...not a cloud in that lovely blue sky!







This picture was made on Monday. It started raining on Sunday and it hasn't stopped yet. The plan was to pour the front walks and the driveway on Monday...that hasn't happened and probably won't for several more days since rain is predicted to last here through Thursday.


But just look at the difference!


This is how the back of the house looked when we returned home after Hurricane Ike.

I had a really fun Halloween as the Cat in the Hat. Most of the children loved the costume but there were a few little ones who wouldn't come near me...not even for the candy (I do look pretty sinister, huh?)! The kids and grandkids came over and Becky was in town. We watched Young Frankenstein after the little ones had left and we laughed hard and out loud (great idea, Becky). It had been too long since I'd seen that movie.

The Texans are about to play the Minnesota Vikings. Joe, Trey, Donna and I went to the game last Sunday where the Texans romped all over the Bengals (of Cincinnati)...and we met and got an autograph from Bum Phillips (head coach of the Oilers back in the "Love Ya Blue" days)! It was the first time Joe and I had ever been to Reliant Stadium. We sat way up in the "nose bleed" section and even those seats were good! I'm going to watch the game now.

It's later, the game is over and the Texans lost : ( Oh well, maybe next week...

It's been a crazy week for us! We found out that the insurance adjuster that came out a couple of weeks ago quit and took our entire file with him...so, a new adjuster had to come out and start all over. He was here yesterday. Also, Joe and I both have been sick with an awful "tummy thing" so we didn't get to go to Emily's birthday party today or to ranch to plant our wildflowers : (
The "up side" is that I've almost finished the latest Oprah Book Club Selection, I've watched most of my favorite movies again and I've had time to bug my family (via email) about viewing my blog and pictures : )

We went to the ranch for the first time since returning after the storm. It was a beautiful weekend. Joe worked really hard getting the yard cleaned up and the ground prepared so we can plant our Wildseed Farms flower seed next weekend. We fed the cattle and then we took our traditional ride to the Piney Pasture to watch a beautiful sun set. That's my pet longhorn, Rosie watching me through the well cover and posing for a close-up. For those of you who don't know, Rosie was my anniversary present from Joe five years ago. Isn't she cute? Rosie is really sweet and docile but she isn't what I'd call a cuddly pet : )