Weather shock

In a few short hours, we went from this . . .

To this. Welcome back to NE Ohio!

It is a very GRAND canyon

This was taken as we flew over the Grand Canyon. It was a little hazy that day, but still, it's very impressive from 30,000 feet. One of these days we'll see it from the ground.

Cooking with Jim

Yes, Jim CAN cook! Those of you who have known us for a long time know that for years he professed a lack of a cooking gene. But all those years of boy scout camp outs finally laid that image to rest, especially when we started camping as a family! And now I reap the benefit from all cooking experience, especially at breakfast. Most Saturday (and Sunday) mornings we sleep in, then Jim fires up the cast iron skillet. The actual result varies, but generally involves eggs, bacon or some other meat, onion, bell pepper and sometimes potatoes. Oh, and always cheese! Whatever form it takes, be it scrambled eggs, an omelet or fritata, it's always tasty. Lucky me!

Why poinsettias?

Whose idea was it to pick the poinsettia as the official (or maybe semi-official) flower of the Christmas season? It's actually native to much warmer climates than most of the country has. It doesn't do well in the dry, furnace-heated environment of your typical house. And while it can be drop-dead gorgeous when you first bring one home, it drops its leaves if you just look at it funny. So after a week or two, you end up with a plant that looks like a cross between a flower and a lollipop. But still, every year I succumb and get at least one, just because they do look so good.

Christmas lights in our fair city

Tonight we drove around town, checking out how other people decorated their houses and maybe getting some inspiration for next year. I love doing this. It reminds me of when I was growing up, and we would drive around this neighborhood in Chicago called "Candy Cane Lane," where every house had a huge (probably 6' or taller) lit-up candy cane set up in the front yard, and the houses were completely covered (or so it seemed at the time) with lights.

The Santa in the chair looks eerily real.

There's a cul-de-sac in a nearby development where all the houses on the block get together and decorate the whole block -- I think it's part of their Homeowners Association rules. The sidewalk is covered with lit up archways, and every one (except one notably dark house) is decorated to some degree -- some took it to the max. During the season, traffic is backed up for a couple of blocks and there are crowds on foot. One house even managed to get Santa to take a break from his busy schedule to talk to kids today and tomorrow!

Every year Strongsville sets up a Christmas display in the public square in the center of town. Donations from local businesses, organizations and citizens help fund this annual extravaganza of lights. Depending on the day and weather, it can be quite crowded. Tonight, we had the place to ourselves.

Where Katie and Sean's wedding pictures were taken

Other highlights of our tour:

Our next door neighbors' house:

You knew it would turn out this way . . . part 2

You knew it would turn out this way . . .

This year was supposed to be low-key, Christmas-decor-wise. Since we’re going be celebrating Christmas in warmer climes (it will be warmer, right, Katie?) Jim had me convinced that we didn’t need to put up any Christmas decorations this year: no tree; no angel, snowman, Santa and Christmas tree collections, no village, no outdoor lights. Almost. Then my women’s group needed a place to hold their annual holiday party. I hosted it last year when I chaired the event. Based on that, I knew that all I had to do was clean the house – and decorate! Up went the tree, out came all those holiday collections! Christmas was back in the Groble house! Now if I can just convince him to put up a couple of our spiral trees out front . . .

Christmas trees.

Santas

Snowmen

My angel collection.


The tree