December already!

So, it is already the 2nd of December and here we are getting ready for the end of the year and the beginning of 2008! My how time flies when you are alive! I bet if I was dead, I wouldn't even know or CARE what year or month it was. ANYWAY...a bit more serious here, November passed and with it Thanksgiving. Below are pictures from the backyard from Thanks giving as well as from inside the house.

The winter flowers are doing well and the bees are still about. These are snapdragons and the bees are really busy here!



I really do not know the name of this, but when in college we referred to them as "wild camellias", in that they are like wild roses with few petals and full of pollen. In any event, here is our rendition of the flower.


But inside the house there were also flowers! Cathy bought two bouquets from Costco (where else to shop you may ask?)and David arranged them in this styrofoam "pumpkin" we bought. They were a GREAT center piece for the serving table!


Also, after Thanks giving I had to return Duain to Santa Cruz. What a beautiful day it was and there for my picture snapping enjoyment was:


Lastly, not all are pretty pictures of flowers. This year we erected a flagpole in the front yard. Cathy and I thought it would be nice to fly our American Flag and honor our fathers, who both served in the US Armed Forces. I had a nice piece of granite and called a friend, Mark. His children had attended Howard School where I taught previously, and they, the family, make memorial stones. After a few proofs and ideas, we had he and his wife execute a memorial for our fathers. So to both of our fathers, we dedicated our flag pole and our flags that we fly.