Favorite Photos of 2011

Today I am sick as a dog, not up to writing much, but since I was looking at photos from Home in Douglas, I thought I would share my favorites of the year, my first in blogland!

The view from our front yard, my first blog photo!

Our sweet Gwinnie, RIP.

Beans

Phoebe and Miguel

Phoebe at her art opening at the Juneau City Museum.

The Mendenhall Glacier from Brotherhood Bridge.

Taken last fall on a hike to Nugget Falls at the Glacier.

Getting ready to make a pie!

Home made bread.

An icon prayer shrine.

Phoebe, 6 years old, with newborn Miguel in 1992.

My friend Jeanie and me in Spokane.

Charles' San Damiano Cross at the Cathedral in Juneau.

My friends Mary, Nancy and Jeanie all visited Juneau at once!  A wonderful day!

Miguel and Phoebe in the kitchen.

The Shrine of St. Therese.

At the Betty McDonald Farm on Vashon Island - a dream trip come true!

This is my favorite photo of the year!

Flowers at the Hot Bite at Auke Bay.

The Flume Trail.

A lovely Douglas garden.

The Douglas Community Garden in our lower yard.

Mini berry pies for July Fourth.

Caldito!  Comfort food...

Family portrait taken the day Miguel left for Kentucky.  He had a print made and framed for me for Christmas!

Charles and me in front of the new Pieta statue at the Shrine.

At our friends Jim and Martha's house - more chins than the Hong Kong phone book!

The 2011-2012 Jesuit Volunteers

Just playing around - a bowl of cherry.

Another at the Betty McDonald Farm...

And another, which made the travel section of the L.A. Times!  Thanks to my friend Anne Hurley who wrote the article that this photo accompanied - it was such a fun trip!

Grandmother Bear at the Glacier.  She is 24 years old.

My attempt at flower arranging.

Coffee, biscuits and a good book!

A warm fire.

Fall colors at the Glacier.

"Just take the picture, already!"  A walk with Phoebe.

Breakfast with my brother Phil in Portland.

My big brothers Marc and Phil.

I love ravens and crows!

Beans and our new puppy, Frida!

Happy New Year everyone!  I look forward to a fun year of blogging in 2012.  Thanks for following me, and thanks for your support!

Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

As the last of the Advent candles burn down...

And the lights of the Christmas tree glow...

and the Christmas Deer guard the gifts...

which wait under the tree...

and the Christmas books stand ready,

And Rudolph gets ready for his midnight run...

I want to wish all of my friends and family a happy and peaceful Christmas!

Merry Christmas from Home in Douglas!

Decking the Halls!

We have a Christmas Open House every year, on the Sunday before Christmas.  We moved into our house in December of 1997, and decided to have a housewarming party as an incentive to get the boxes unpacked and the house put together.  

We invited everyone we knew, I made a giant pot of posole, and asked folks to bring finger food to share.  We had a wonderful time!  

The next year, our friends asked if we were going to have our Christmas party again, so it became a tradition.  It is the biggest social event of our year, and a wonderful opportunity to see our Juneau friends and acquaintances.  

Every year it seems to get bigger - but it IS an open house, so from 3 - 8 p.m., we have a house full of friends, great food and lots of fun.

To be honest, the part that I dread is cleaning the house before the party.  In years past, it always seemed as if someone in the family would say: "I HATE getting ready for this party!  You get so crabby!"  

With that in mind, I try to enjoy the preparation for the party, especially decorating the house for Christmas.   

 This year, with one kid away at college, and the other working, it was up to me and Charles to prepare.  I set my standards a little lower, figuring that there won't be any white-gloved inspectors coming.

I always fret about the condition of the house - the peeling paint on the exterior, the worn floors inside that desperately need refinishing...etc.  

But, I remind myself that our friends are coming to see US, not my housekeeping skills or Charles' handyman efforts.  

This year, we are putting our tree up on Saturday the 17th and putting the lights, but not the decorations on the tree, because decorating the tree together is a family tradition and Miguel doesn't get home from school until the morning of the 18th.

But, the other decorations are done, so I thought I would share some photos that I took today!

I love my snowman display!

Phoebe on Santa's lap as a two year old, and Miguel, a five year old angel...

a be-jingled front door...

and finally, Beans and Frida sitting on the couch with the Christmas throw...

It is going to be a wonderful party on Sunday!  I can't wait!