Thanksgiving 2005

We began with a Thursday feast at our house with Kelly's family: Julie and Damon, Mildred and John, and Kelly and Ethan. Also we were joined by friends Pat and Curt, and we all had a grand time. Friday we went to Dallas for TexMex with the Howard side and then went to an engagement party at the Mintons for Jake and Sarah - lots of fun. Saturday we feasted again, this time at the Rummels and met Hayden's girlfriend, Heidi. We drove back early Sunday to avoid the holiday traffic on Interstate 35. Whew!

Lorn & Jon jam at the Rummels

Lorn & Jon jam, originally uploaded by THOS.

Howard men makin' music

The piano man

The piano man, originally uploaded by THOS.

Ready for another piece

Happy 88th for Lorn

Happy 88th for Lorn, originally uploaded by THOS.

And all your days be happy days.....

Buds T & Elizabeth

Buds T & Elizabeth, originally uploaded by THOS.

After lots of turkey and pumpkin pie.

3 Es (and K)

3 Es (&K), originally uploaded by THOS.

Enjoying the company

Etha enjoys the songfest

Etha enjoys the songfest, originally uploaded by THOS.

Singing for her grandmother

Festive feasting

Festive feasting, originally uploaded by THOS.

ANOTHER Thanksgiving meal!

Happy to be here

Happy to be here, originally uploaded by THOS.

Relaxing in the living room

Lorn and Lindsey duet

Lorn and Lindsey duet, originally uploaded by THOS.

Enjoying some show tunes

Kitchy-kitchy-koo

Kitchy-kitchy-koo, originally uploaded by THOS.

Cute couple. Is she looking for cooties?

Cousins

Cousins, originally uploaded by THOS.

They pick up where they left off.

Ethan & Mark measuring up

Ethan & Mark measuring up, originally uploaded by THOS.

Which one is cuter? taller? sneakier? sweeter?

Goalie Elizabeth boots it!

Goalie Elizabeth boots it!, originally uploaded by THOS.

We all watched as Elizabeth put the ball in play.

Happy Couples

Happy Couples, originally uploaded by THOS.

What beautiful young'uns we have!

Caught in the kitchen

Caught in the kitchen, originally uploaded by THOS.

Seems like they can't get enough of each other. And we thought they were doing the dishes.

Sarah joins the dance

Sarah joins the dance, originally uploaded by THOS.

Lowry & A strut their stuff

Lowry & A strut their stuff, originally uploaded by THOS.

Warren explains it

Warren explains it, originally uploaded by THOS.

Super landscaper Warren holds court about rocks and plants for our house.

Pretty A Celebrates

Pretty A celebrates, originally uploaded by THOS.

Beth and Gary always throw a festive party.

Awwww How Sweet

Awww How Sweet, originally uploaded by THOS.

I think they really like each other.

Adoring Sarah

Adoring Sarah, originally uploaded by THOS.

Jake tells us how they met and fell in love seven years ago.

Congratulations!

Congratulations!, originally uploaded by THOS.

Jake and Sarah will marry in November 06!

Serious conversation

Serious conversation, originally uploaded by THOS.

Kelly and Lorn ponder flan or sherbet.

Mark, Kelsey, Etha & Mel eat TexMex

Mark, Kelsey, Etha & Mel eat TexMex, originally uploaded by THOS.

Discussing food groups such as salsa, picante sauce, chipotle and habanero peppers.

Hayden & Heidi

Hayden & Heidi, originally uploaded by THOS.

Hayden brought his girfriend Heidi to the restaurant to meet the extended family.

A and Lindsey at El Fenix

A and Lindsey at El Fenix, originally uploaded by THOS.

The Jon Howards came from New Jersey to Dallas for the Thanksgiving holiday with the family. We met near Edgemere for some TexMex and delightful conversation.

Sunrise

Sunrise 3, originally uploaded by THOS.

Early Thanksgiving morning golden light on the trees and pool.

Time for the game

Time for the game, originally uploaded by THOS.

Curt and Pat joined us for the feast. John is mostly interested in turkey.

Kelly enjoys Thanksgiving

Kelly enjoys Thanksgiving, originally uploaded by THOS.

Ethan's pretty gal

Mildred checks out the terrace

Mildred checks out the terrace, originally uploaded by THOS.

The Vurises came over for a beautiful warm Thanksgiving Day. Mildred wanted to see the waterfall from the west terrace.

House renovation crew

Renovation crew, originally uploaded by THOS.

A enjoys a backyard lunch break with Kelly, Ethan, Neal and Monique.

New west terrace

New west terrace, originally uploaded by THOS.

The terrace west of la Ria is now complete with room for quiet contemplation and a wonderful view of the deer and turkeys in the meadow.

SWGPS leaders

SWGPS leaders, originally uploaded by THOS.

Breakfast with Dr. A and Dr. T at the Southwest Group Psychotherapy Society Institute October 19th in San Antonio. T is the outgoing President and A is the incoming Training and Development Chairwoman.

Europe 2005

We spent three weeks in Europe this summer, ten days with friends in the Loire Valley and then time with Michael in Sweden and Norway. Four couples rented an old stone farm house in Brehemond near Tours from which we bicycled to chateau along the Loire, Vienne and Indre rivers. We had a great time with Curt and Pat, Harry and Beth, and John and Mary Lou exploring the byways and gustatorial delights of south central France.

We then flew Ryanair (the European version of Southwest Airlines) to London Stansted and on to Sweden where Michael picked us up for days of partying and adventure around Stockholm. He planned a four-day Norway trip to Oslo and the fjords with a lovely three days at Balestrand in the Kvikne Hotel on the Sognefjord. Michael had our travels by plane, bus, train and boat planned down to the minute, and we felt well cared for.

Return to Oslo

Return to Oslo, originally uploaded by THOS.

Looking a bit haggard after trying to sleep on a narrow lightly padded board. From here we took the bus from the train station to the airport for our flight back to Stockholm.

Sleeper to Oslo

Sleeper to Oslo, originally uploaded by THOS.

Our three-bunk compartment on the overnight train from Bergen.

Bergen shrimp cocktail

Bergen shrimp cocktail, originally uploaded by THOS.

A really enjoyed this artistic fare.

Bergen dock

Bergen dock, originally uploaded by THOS.

As we arrived they were hosing down the inner harbor where the fish market had been. What a smell! We had dinner at a charming little restaurant down the street.

Harbor at Bergen

Harbor at Bergen, originally uploaded by THOS.

We had three hours here before our sleeper train to Oslo.

Jetcat from Balestrand to Bergen

Jetcat from Balestrand to Bergen, originally uploaded by THOS.

Here is our 22 knot boat for the 4 hour trip down the fjord and into the archipelago on the North Sea.

Computing & knitting

Computing & knitting, originally uploaded by THOS.

Waiting for the boat to Bergen on the west coast. Michael is using his black coffee can antenna to connect through the hotel's WIFI network to the web.

Pensive mood

Pensive mood, originally uploaded by THOS.

Dusk on fjord

Dusk on fjord, originally uploaded by THOS.

Coffee on the veranda

Coffee on the veranda, originally uploaded by THOS.

After dinner we watched the sunset from outside the dining room.

View from St. Olaf's

View from St. Olaf's, originally uploaded by THOS.

Note the rippled glass in this old stave church.

St Olaf Kirche

St Olaf Kirche, originally uploaded by THOS.

A Norwegian stave church in the heart of Balestrand.

Fjord view

Fjord view, originally uploaded by THOS.

One of the sitting rooms in the hotel.

Breakfast

Breakfast, originally uploaded by THOS.

A table overlooking the fjord.

Ferry into Balestrand

Ferry into Balestrand, originally uploaded by THOS.

A local ferry comes into the harbor.

Hotel from hike

Hotel from hike, originally uploaded by THOS.

Our hotel is the white building on the lake front.

Creek crossing

Creek crossing, originally uploaded by THOS.

Log bridge over a snow melt stream.