Jamie Danford

December Daily: Day 26 ~ Afterglow...

I can't stop smiling.  (And yawning.)

Holy mistletoe... that was the BEST Christmas!!!  

The last two days have been a whirlwind of laughing, eating, drinking, lots more laughing, presents, family and friends.  

I really needed this to be a relaxing, fun holiday... so when Big Dave's mom agreed to bring the BAMA gang to the DHU, I was thrilled!  This is the first time I've hosted Christmas at our house, and it turned out to be one big party.  I love those people!

Christmas day was almost perfect... Poor Big Dave had to work, which put a damper on it a little, but Uncle Mike and Uncle Ricky kept us laughing at their crazy stories from growing up in Phenix City, while Nana and I got dinner ready, and the cousins lounged around watching Christmas movies and playing with my grandkitty, Mazy.  

We opened our presents on Christmas Eve, since Big Dave had to work, and  I got spoiled rotten.  As usual, my mother in law outdid herself by hooking me up with a gorgeous set of wine glasses (she knows me too well)

and my niece, Taylor gave me the matching decanter.  I promptly put them to good use...

 And being my official BAMA-wear provider, Nana also gave me a new ROLL TIDE shirt, which my darling daughter immediately stole...

And speaking of my precious cherub, she made out like a bandit.  Of course there's no way to outdo last year's Mustang, but I think she's pretty stoked about her new t.v...

...and her PADDLEBOARD!!!!

(I've gotta get a better pic!) My little beach bunny LOVES paddleboarding, so the Board Loft on Tybee served as Santa's workshop this year.  

And of course, not only did we celebrate Christmas, but also Big Dave's birthday.  Whew!  When did my badass boy get to be 47?!?!??!  

 

So we made sure he got spoiled too.

It was SUCH a great holiday!  

Hmmm... I think I need a turkey sandwich!

 

 

 

 

 

December Daily: Day 23 ~ A Kitten For Christmas!!

My kid is picky. I mean like SUPER picky.  Especially when it comes to who she chooses to date.  Is there another word that's even pickier than picky? Yeah, well that's her.  

So when she started dating Matt I figured he must be pretty darned special.  And over the last three months, he's made my girl smile... alot.  But goodness gracious, he took the smiles to a whole new level today when they exchanged their Christmas presents.

There were blood, sweat and tears poured in the choosing of presents... concert tickets, assorted apparel, favorite treats, and a few randoms, but then Matt told her that he had one last present waiting in the car.

He ran outside, and came back with this...

 

... the cutest little tuxedo (black/white) kitten...

...Complete with a big red bow...

(And yes, he'd called us for permission.)

(I guess this is what happens when your kid dates a dude who's mom is a vet, eh?  Oh my Lordy, we're gonna have fifty two thousand animals! )

All I know is that when she smiles, and I see those dimples, my heart sings. What a sweet memory for her... I guess picky pays off.

Meowy Christmas!

 

December Daily: Day 22 ~ It's a Savannah Thang...

Okay, let's have a show of hands... How many people have memories of going to Carey Hilliards that go back several decades?

Go on, raise your hand... 

I know I do.

When I was a wee tiny tater tot, my family would pile into the station wagon and head on over to Carey Hilliards whenever family came to town.  Sometimes we'd get it for a special occasion by ourselves, but mostly it was when Pappy Dick or Grandma Edith or Aunt Margaret came to visit.  

And now that I'm a big ol' grown up who doesn't cook, their fried shrimp, brunswick stew, and onion rings are a trusted (and majorly unhealthy) staple on the Dhuland dinner table.  

 

Do folks who weren't raised here eat at Carey Hilliards?  I don't know... I'm not sure I'd eat there if it weren't filled with so many yummy memories.  It's kind of a grease bucket... but dammit, it's OUR grease bucket.  Right Savannah?

So I guess you know what we had for dinner tonight. Haha!

It was good to the last drop!

Ho HO Ho!

December Daily: Day 21 ~ An Early Present for MEEEE!

Merry merry MERRY Christmas to me!  

In the six years that we've lived in our old fixer upper, one of the things that has pained me the most is our door situation.  We need all three exterior doors replaced, but it's so confusing and blah because, like everything else around here, they're old and have to be custom fit.  

But the process has finally begun... which brings me to my Christmas present from Big Dave...

>>>>>>>William!!!

Not only is he pretty darned easy on the eyes,  he's an uber talented carpenter, and he's going to make my door dreams come true.  He came over today to get measurements, assess the situation, and accompany us to Home Depot to pick out the first door to be installed, which will happen later this week.  (YEEK!)

Thank you Big Dave!!

I'm giddy. 

GIDDY I say!

Merry MERRY MERRY!!!!!

December Daily: Day 20 ~ I Drank it All...

Ooopsie.

I found this recipe for some Christmassy sangria, and wanted to try it before the actual event to make sure it was worth a darn....

I meant to take a pic of my beautiful berry filled glass of deliciousness... but I drank it all.  Which is kinda why I didn't post a December Daily last night.  

It was goooooood. However, next time I'm gonna up the pinot and lower the sugar because it was a wee bit too sweet for my taste.  Oh... and even though the cranberries are pretty, I think I'll swap 'em out for some blueberries or raspberries... something with a little less crunch. 

Yep, it was good stuff.  

I drank it all.

Feelin' pretty darned merry and bright!

December Daily: Day 18 ~ GINGERbread...

(Sorry, I couldn't resist.)

So on this, the 18th day of December, the teens decided to explore their architectural skills.

Uh, I mean, they built a gingerbread house...

Uh, I mean they sort of built a gingerbread house...

Well... it's a gingerbread something...

Maybe this isn't the time to mention that Matt's been offered a full scholarship to the University of Mississippi for engineering... nope, not gonna bring that up.

We will just claim artisic license on this one.

At least there was enough icing leftover for this to happen...

Oh you knew it was comin'... 

Chuckle.  Merry Christmas!!

December Daily: Day 17 ~ Deckin' those Halls...

Sigh... 

My little house looks so cute with all it's garland and bows...

Awwww.... ain't she presh?

Merry Merry!!

December Daily: Day 16 ~ Busy Busy!

Eeeeeeek! I almost forgot to post AGAIN! I'm in bed with a cat wrapped around my neck, so posting from my phone, which means no pics. This one will be a shorty because I'm sooooo ready to go night night. Today was one of those run around town days that I love. Seriously, I get a mega kick out of playing Santa. I hit Kohls, Habersham Beverage (oh you know you want likka for Christmas), the post office (nightmare), Homegoods and Publix. Got everything home and wrapped up tight under the tree. Yes! Tomorrow's list includes Dickie's barbecue (hoping I can still order a turkey!) and Bass Pro... Maybe Big Lots for more lights for the yard too. Can you believe we've only got one more week until Christmas!?? Jingle bells, jingle bells!

December Daily: Day 15 ~ Redneck Family Bonding Time...

Uh oh... I was having so much fun with my little fam yesterday that I forgot to post a daily.  My bad. 

I didn't take pics, but yesterday's redneck family bonding time was pretty much a repeat of last Sunday, so I'll throw those pics on here instead. 

We take our firepit time pretty seriously in the DHU...

And when Big Dave comes home from his hunting trips, he likes to build us a nice big fire, pour a rockin' toddy, and relax... 

 

This family loves a fire... heck, every once in a rare occasion, if the stars are in alignment, it'll even draw the wee one from her lair... sometimes...

Clearly you can see that she gets her backyard fashion sense from her mother. Why wear women's clothing when there's some perfectly good man sweats around?  Makes me proud. 

One hour usually turns into four or five when we're hanging out at the pit. (Might be the toddies?) Indeed, it is a magical vortex that leaves you full of marshmallows, and a quite a bit tipsy. It's what makes the cold weather, and shorter days bearable.

(A Pomeranian in the lap helps too...)

 

And in a couple of weeks, the pit will come in very handy Christmas tree disposal.  Woosh!

Merry Christmas!! 

 

 

 

 

December Daily: Day 13 ~ Fa la La la FOOTBALL...

Sure, this isn't very Christmassy, but I've just gotta say a big WOOHOO and CONGRATULATIONS to the BC football team for their smokin' hot win over GAC in the state championship game today!

In case you don't know, Benedictine is the 'brother' school to Lizzy's all girls high school, SVA.  And although I don't know a lot of the boys on the football team, I do know their moms, and I know these ladies are over the frickin' moon right now about their boy's win in the Georgia Dome this afternoon.  

I also know that my kiddo and her friends are pretty happy about the win too...

 

In fact, Lizzy braved the road trip after five days of the FLU to be with her boyfriend as his school took the championship.  

And now they're driving back to Savannah... yep.  4+ hours up this morning and 4+ hours back tonight.  I'll be glad when she's safe at home, that's FOR SURE.

But in the meantime, I'm happy that she's happy... and feeling much better.  Man, I hate it when my baby girl feels bad!  Blech.  It's like a kick in the tummy for me.  Clearly, however, she is feeling better today...

 

Now... to get all that make up work finished by Monday.  EEEK!!

Chuckle.  Yep... FA la la La LA !