Hoppin' John, a Southern Tradition

It's a Southern Tradition that if you eat Black-eyed peas on rice
on the first day of the New Year (Called Hoppin' John), you'll have
good luck all year through. My cute Katie and Mike put together
a Hoppin' John Party and invited the Thompson Crew.
Here we are together...



Eliza, showing you what it's all about.



Savanna and I, she's telling me a good one.



Steve Tate, and Warren Shuman with Cute Mike near the Big Pot (say a tearful good-bye
to my old kitchen)



Doug and I (I sure do love that man), isn't he cute!



Katie and Brent



Playing Ultimate Craphead



Who is the Ultimate Craphead? I didn't hear you Chris.



Another loser, but just for one round. She's a winner in my book, especially
since she's carrying #12 grandchild. Way to go Katie!!

There's a Hole in the Backyard!!

After a very long time planning, revising, and then crossing our fingers
we have it all right, we've begun our remodel. No!, it's not a swimming
pool.



Careful opening the back door, you just might fall in.


Too bad that the day after I took Truman back to New York, two bulldozer
came to begin digging this hole. He would have been totally in heaven.

Bring in the New Year

Several Years ago we started a tradition of bringing in the the New Year with
Doug's UFOs. He learned this from his Uncle Bob who lived in San Diego.
We've been enjoying this lost art for quite awhile. This year was
especially cold so it worked very well.

Here we are all together. My niece Mallory was here this year to help us.



Katie and I huddling by the door to stay warm.



Brent lighting the UFO.



Mike lighting another, there is never just one.



Away she goes.. Up the wild blue yonder.



Happy New Year, until next year.