Ending 2012 and Beginning 2013

This blog is to document our December adventures from Texas to Virginia, Kansas, Arkansas, and back to Texas. We decided to take the Fusion and leave the truck camper in Texas for this winter trip.

Happy Holidays from the front entrance to Holiday Island, AR

I promised my new bride that we would continue to spend Christmas as she has always done, which is with her annual winter family gathering, most often in Overland Park, Kansas.   What I was not aware of was that this first Christmas journey would require us going to Virginia first so that she would be able to hood two of her doctoral graduates who had completed their course of studies. 

Administrators on the stage for the December graduation ceremony

Dr. Daisy has been the primary advisor for Eric and Chris for nearly seven years.  It was heartwarming to sit in the stands and observe these robed graduates and their mentor take their places in the arena floor seats, march to the staging platform, and have their degrees announced, while Daisy placed the hood over their shoulders, indicating their Ph.D. completion.

Daisy and her doctoral graduates Chris and Eric.

Daisy hooding Eric, using raised platform

Dr. Chis and Dr. Eric leaving the stage with  Dr. Daisy nearby.

A proud "mom" and her proud chicks

After the ceremony I had the opportunity to meet the wives, children, and parents of these two men.  It was evident the respect and love they all had for this woman who is now my lovely wife.

Daisy and  Nancy, her successor in the administrative role

Currently Dr. Daisy is working with several more students. She has been hired as an adjunct faculty member for a limited period of time to assist them in achieving their doctoral goals.   Most of these candidates are full-time wage earners with family responsibilities.  They are balancing work and education, and I hope there is sufficient time for them to be able to use Daisy’s skills before she is no longer available in this role.

Christmas baking day at Daisy's Cousin Jean's cottage in VA.

While in Blacksburg, we had several of Daisy’s associates meet us at local watering holes before we headed out of town. Mary and Al had been unable to attend our wedding and even came with a wedding gift. Others had attended, and I bet they came to make sure that their friend and colleague was handling retirement and marriage happily.  Cousin Jean brought us gingerbread men and Terry Ellen made cheese straw snacks for the open road. Of course the most important gift from all was making time in their busy schedules to spend with us.

Resturant party with Mary, Al, Susie, Lynn

Donna, Cynthia, Mary and Al

Hotel party with Charlotte, Terry Ellen, Kirk and Jim

Bill with us

We traveled with little people too! Until I got hungry!

We got underway with the threat of snow along our mountainous route.  We put in a long day of travel that day toward Kansas to outdistance the forecast of a winter storm heading our way.  We encountered snow flurries with gusty winds and a few icy patches on the West Virginia roads. After 702 miles (in 12 hours and 15 minutes), we stopped for the night.

Heading west for Kansas from Virginia we are winter bound

We only had 203 miles remaining for the next day.  We stopped and had a lunch at the Cracker Barrel in Columbia with  her high school  friends before arriving in Overland Park, Kansas, and Daisy’s brother Don’s house for our my first holiday gathering of my new wife’s family.

In Missouri we met Jim and Marilyn for a quick lunch stop.

We arrived 23 December and departed 27 December.  It was fun being in a large kitchen with everyone having an assigned task to do in order to place the planned menu on the table at a certain time. That is, all except for me.  The festive selections and their preparers have been taste-proven over time. I am an unknown!  But it was nice to just sit and critique at large along with everyone else. It seems that this is also a time-honored sport during these family gatherings.  Everyone is fair game except for the subject of Maggie’s cookies.  Talk out of line and you get none!

The gravy lady

The annual kitchen crew and its critics

Daisy's niece Ricka and Cliff

Daisy's nephew Daniel and Heather

Daisy's sister Mary Lee and Rick

Daisy's niece Ann, the bread baker

Daisy's niece Laura and Don

and of course there is sister-in-aw Maggie

Christmas feast starts with the veggies with the meat and potatoes to follow

A Christmas tradition in Daisy’s family is to share presents that are not expensive but well-tailored for the recipient.  After this, the meal preparations began in full swing.  I already have some ideas in mind for what I can add to supplement 2013 Christmas repast.

Its time to open presents

There are presents for all...now what is it?

This year we all went to share a special church service on Christmas Eve. Frank and Lindsey were the key focus in that Lindsey is now the music director at their church and responsible for the music offerings for the various services from jazz to traditional.   Her skills in planning and production were evident in the very moving musical aspects of the service.

Daisy's nephew Frank and his wife Lindsey at Christmas service

After an overnight stop in Holiday Island, we returned to southern Texas and 80 degree temperatures just before a festive New Year's Eve Party and dance.  Party goers were encouraged to wear costumes  for the gala affair.  We had all kinds of attire from sexy gowns and tuxes to cowboy boots and Stetson hats.

We chose island sarongs for the NYE dance.

On New Year's Day we dined in the park with friends Mike and Julia. For good luck I brought Hoppin' John, which is a  spicy mixture of blackeyed peas, ham, and mixed greens, served over rice. Julia is a traditional Texas country girl and she served up corn bread and cabbage topped with blackeyed peas as her version of a good luck meal.

New Year's fixins with Mike and Julia

Spicy Pigsfeet with Hoppin' John and blackeyed peas with cabbage for good luck

I am looking forward to being with this new part of my family next season.  The emotional and spiritual highs I encountered made up for the downs of wet and cold temperatures.   Sweaters and fuzzy slippers helped us keep our bodies warm to match our spirits.

And... the Hokies even won their bowl game this year!

More to come later.....