Mr. C's Christmas Adventure

It's always in great anticipation that I make my, now, annual Christmas journey to North Carolina to visit with daughter and family.  It's also a pretty long drive from Baja Georgia so I like to take along a recorded book or two to keep me company.

This time I took two:  Nature Girl by Carl Hiaasen, and The Good Husband of Zebra Drive by Alexander McCall Smith, the latest in his #1 Ladies Detective Agency series.

For those of you not familiar with either author, Hiaasen, a writer for the Miami Herald, creates hilarious characters and situations which mostly take place in the wilds of South Florida.  In this particular book, there's a character who had his hand stuck into a stone crab crate by a jealous husband, whereupon he had several fingers pinched off by the giant crab claws.  To complicate matters, in surgery, his fingers were reattached to the wrong stubs as the doctors and nurses were distracted while arguing over who was going to get to keep the crab claws for dinner.

Alexander McCall Smith is a wonderful author with a treasure trove of novels, all well worth your time.  Precious Ramotswe owns and operates the #1 Ladies Detective Agency in Botswana where she encounters all sorts of unusual situations while investigating her clients' troubles.  McCall Smith is one of those rare authors who can delight and entertain you with totally wholesome stories.  No violence.  No cursing.  Just good clean fun.  A real relief from most of what's available today.


My vacation began with a two-day visit to an old friend in Greensboro.  We spent two nights playing music and a day driving up into the mountains and to Hanging Rock State Park.  At Hanging Rock is one of the most beautiful waterfalls I've ever seen.  The falls were enhanced by 5 to 6 foot icicles and was really special.  Unfortunately, being the bonehead I can oft times be, I managed to erase the entire damned memory card so have no photos to show you.  Maybe next time.


Christmas was spent with the family in Charlotte, and what a wonderful time it was.  Daughter and hubby have three girls, a five-year-old and three-year-old twins.  Prime time Santa Claus age.


I was first up Christmas morning and was enjoying a quiet cup of coffee when the house awoke.  Down the stairs they came, ready for action.

Looks like Santa came last night.  Notice Mr. C's stocking.  Some fine cigars and a new lighter.  Mr. C's been a good boy.

Grandpa John shows off his new Snuggie, and blessed and absolved me of my sins while he was at it.

Only in America.  I know it's overkill, but you gotta love it.

The day after Christmas we awoke to this.  Looks like Mr. C is staying over.

An angel makes an angel.

The twins help build a snowman.  We never finished it.

I couldn't stand being cooped up inside on a day like this, so I got out in it.  Here's a little of what I found.

I've got to say that this blogging gig has been a lot of fun, made all the more so by all of you who honor me with your visits.


Thank you, and may the new year bring you all peace and love.