Christmas in Delhi

For the second year running, we spent Christmas in India, with our friends the Chalmers.

New Year's in Utah

We decided to not spend New Year's Eve at the cabin, "due to my not wanting to deal with the cold", but to visit on New Year's day.  This also allowed us to get out of the inversion in the valley and see some blue sky and breath some clean crisp air.

Getting Ready!

 Yesterday was my birthday and while I was out Allison, Rob and girls dropped off some cards and my birthday present: a 12 pack of diet coke (what else could it be).  The card above is from Livi and Allison challenged me to figure out what it meant.  I assumed a birthday candle - wrong.  Livi told her mom it was a quilting pin because whenever she comes over to Grandma's house, that is what she finds on the floor. Totally unkind and untrue (?)

Marching To Government House

There was another march today, which came down from Petchaburi Rd into Asoke, along Sukhumvit and on to Government House.  I caught up with it between Nana and Asoke, capturing most of these photos at the top of my road. 

Tis The Season:

 The Christmas Season is here and with just a week to go, I am finally getting into the spirit of things.  Last night, following Ana's Christmas recital program we drove to the local park to take pictures.   I wanted to roll down the window, but Roger insisted that I actually do the work of getting out of the car and into the cold. 

Pretty Polly

One of the things I love about Bangkok is the street theatre - there is always something going on.  Yesterday when I went to pay for my bread, I realised that there was a parrot in the queue ahead of me!   The owner spoke some English so told me about his pet, whose translated name means good luck.

Unlike the multi-lingual cockatoo that lives on out street with his English owner, this parrot has had its wings clipped so he will not fly away.  Rocky on the other hand, has a long chain secured to his leg.  His owner takes him to the park to fly and at home he lives on the balcony, secured there but still able to fly around to the length of his chain.  

I'm glad I don't have to wash those tee-shirts!

Our First Big Storm:

The U.S. is experiencing all the joys of winter early this year.  The northeast is seeing massive snow storms and my favorite of all, "ice storms", which we experienced both in New York and Texas.  Airports have seen delays or closures and there is more to come.  Often what starts here in the west sweeps across the central states and causes major problems in the highly populated areas back east. 

I think I am just repeating the same photos I posted last year at this time, but it is Winter once again - coming all too soon for my liking.  While Roger shovels the 13" plus off our driveway, I stay inside finishing up my quilt projects.  I don't think Roger considers that quite a fair exchange, but....