My victorian boot for my 3rd annual swap on CQ4Newbies group.

My crackers for the CQI Christmas cracker swap.

In January, after living in hotels in Midland, Texas and here in Lafayette, we finally found the perfect house to rent. It is actually managed by the grandparents of a good friend of ours who lives across the street from us. It is a lovely yellow house with a huge yard. It is on an island unto itself. There are streets surrounding us on all sides. The ones on the right and left form a "v" so our yard is actually a large triangle. There are plants, shrubs, trees, etc surrounding us all the way around.

These ferns are under our bedroom window along the back patio.

Tommy standing off the patio.

The side of our home, from the patio toward the front. That is an orange tree.

This is along the back of the house toward the patio.

Our fig tree at the back of the yard.

The french doors out the dining room onto the back patio.

The back of the house. We have bay windows in the dining room.

The honeysuckle is covering the fence and gate. The whole area is perfumed by it.

Our plum tree is laden with fruit.

For the first time since we have been married, we actually spent Christmas with my family.


My best friend for 24 years, Allison.

My brother Jeremy, his girlfriend Ashley and her son Lyric.

My mama.

When we were living in Midland, Tx, we got a new child. His name is Zax and he is a long haired chihuahua. He is mine. We were a little worried about how he would get along with Zoe. We didn't have to worry long, they get along wonderfully. They play and fight just like siblings.

Mama, put the camera up, I'm so seepy.

Daddy thinks it is so funny to give Zax a mohawk and hide his ears.

Zax was not happy with mama after I gave him his first bath. Boy is he ticked at me....lol

Believe it or not it actually snows in South Louisiana....January 2009

These were taken at Hotel Acadiana where we were living at the time.

I have actually broken one of my rules....I joined a round robin!!!!!! I am a member of the Fabulous First Timers Round Robin #7 on Crazy Quilting International.

The block to the right is Nicki's block and the first one I get to work on. It is really pretty and blue. I got some pretty blue beads that kinda look like beach glass. I don't know what I am going to do yet, but I sure hope she likes it.

2009 CQ FOR NEWBIES NEEDLE BOOK/PINKEEPER/SCISSOR FOB SWAP
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Merry Christmas to all my dear friends and everyone who finds their way here. I have been MIA for so long now and I do apologize. In the previous post we were living in Midland, Texas. Since the 14th of October, we are in Lafayette, Louisiana. We are living at the hotel Tommy is working at. There is no internet except for wifi and neither of our computers have it. There are absolutely no dial up numbers for aol in our area code.........go figure that one out. So, I am internet deprived ( and going cold turkey is hell!) I miss everyone so much and can't wait to get back online. Hopefully that will be by the middle of January.

Stay safe and warm this holiday season. May God be with you and yours. I hope to see everyone next year.

A quick update on our lives. Tommy has been working nonstop for over two weeks. One of his guys is on vacation (known about before he was hired) and the other one is sick. I must say I admire the one on vacation. This is a 24 year old young man, married with a little boy. He is driving to Disney World in California with his family and his in laws. He definitely has more nerve than I do. They actually got back Sunday, so Tommy is taking Monday and part of Tuesday off so he can help me pack. YEA!!!!!!!

Well, Friday will be Tommy's last day here. We will pack the truck early that afternoon and leave. Tommy has some pics he wants me to take on the way. But we don't want to hit DFW at rush hour either. Our truck has no air conditioning. We will get to the inlaws very early Saturday morning. Sunday I get to go see my family Then Monday night we will drive to Lafayette. It is only about 3.5 to 4 hours from Bossier City depending on traffic.

I am really hoping our room there is bigger than our room here. My main concern is that there is absolutely no grass at all around this hotel. My babies need grass to do their business and play around in. Oh well, they sometimes seem to adjust to new things better than I do.