Xmas day was spent with the Gehrings and we provided traditional Xmas pudding complete with old sixpence (I dont mean Jody! ha).
The carol service at church was lovely. This is Caryl and daughter Alison with Jody.

We had a break from tradition when it came to Roast beef and Yorkshire puddings for dinner.

Xmas morning by the tree.

Fort Worth was on the way back from Dallas and is home to the Stockyards which were once at the heart of the cattle ranching industry. There is still a very authentic feel to the place which is now set up for tourists, but they do it very well.

You also find "Billy Bobs Honky Tonk" here which has hosted many famous country singers. On the wall of fame i am placing my hands over those of one of my favourites... Johnny Cash.

This is the view from the top of the Reunion tower in Dallas. We also visited the Kennedy memorial museum, and did lots of shopping!

Daa, da, daa, da, daa, da, da, daa, da........ name that tune!! Here i am on Miss Ellies bed at Southfork Ranch, 'Dallas' of course!!

School was out on 16th of december and Jody arrived in Dallas on her round the world trip. Fresh off the plane from India, here she is sporting the obligatory cowgirl hat......the first step in her transformation from Hippy Chick to Cowgirl Chic! Here is also where 2 blogs collide. follow jodys adventures at http://jodyontheroad.blogspot.com/

Hey. no peeping!

Christmas at Avondale was fun and games as you can see with plenty of emphasis on Rudolph, Santa and Frosty the Snowman..... no mention of the nativity in schools though, which surprised me! Thats all covered at Sunday school.

Our class party was left in the capable hands of my 'homeroom moms' who took care of everything.









'Its all about the food!'

Christmas is coming and the tumbleweeds are getting fat!

In keeping with ancient Texas tradition, i decided to have a tumbleweed xmas tree this year. I went to collect it the other day, freshly harvested from the plains. Apparently you can buy them on line for $35, but i paid the price of getting stuck at a 45 degree angle in a roadside ditch!!

Sprayed gold and decorated with cowboy ornaments i think it it makes an interesting alternative to the traditional tree... like it??