Author Archives: treerabold

365 Days of Photos – Day 347

Each year we have a Christmas party for the girls before they head home to visit with their families over the holiday. One of the girls will be leaving early this year for her family visit…so we celebrated Christmas a bit early.

Last year we started a “Christmas cookie baking” tradition with our friends Corey and Billy.

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Robyn and Sonya supervise Corey

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Billy, trying to decide which tool to use for smashing peppermint

Today we combined the events….cookie baking and decorating

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Sonya, cookie decorator 

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Robyn, cookie decorator

as well as, Christmas party.

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Robyn, Sonya and Billie enjoying gifts from their friend Ron

 

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Sonya, Robyn, Corey and Billie

 

It was a full day of celebration!

My Friend Tom

Several years ago my friend Tom died…I still miss him.

Today his wife (Thanet) attended our Christmas party at work and participated in the white elephant gift exchange. I was first to select a gift and I happened to pick the gift Thanet brought.

Inside the gift bag was a monkey puppet.IMG_9261.JPG

First I was excited because I got a monkey puppet (Yes…I am a bit unusual!). Then, Thanet told me the monkey had belonged to Tom.

Tom volunteered as a clown at the local children’s hospital. When one of the other clowns retired she gave her “clown tools” to the other clowns. Tom got the monkey puppet.

I decided to name my new monkey puppet after my friend Tom (still deciding on a middle name)

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Before Thanet left the office I asked if she was sure she wanted to give “Tom” away. She said that Tom (the monkey and her husband) had brought smiles to many faces and she thought  Tom (the monkey) and I could bring smiles to many more. I think Tom (the monkey) and I have big shoes to fill.

I love my friend Thanet and miss my friend Tom.

365 Days of Photos – Day 343

Have you ever driven down a familiar street and suddenly notice something that you have never noticed before?

This is certainly a strange experience…especially when the thing you notice has obviously been around a long time.

Today I was driving through a part of town that I am not terribly familiar with but I do drive through the area once or twice a week. I noticed two old brick smoke stacks that appeared to be sitting in the middle of a wooded area.DSC_0710.JPG

I turned off the first street that appeared to go in the right direction then turned several more times before pulling down a dead end street and finding myself within 100 yards of an old abandoned factory. DSC_0704.JPG

I always feel an urge to explore places like this and at some point I may go back and snoop around a bit. But as for today I had to get back to work. So I took a few photos and found my way back to the main street.DSC_0719.JPG

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365 Days of Photos – Day 341

There is a small lake near Tina’s Dad’s house in west Texas. Apparently it is quite popular to Canadians…well Canadian geese.

We stopped by the lake before leaving Brownfield Friday. It is hard to describe the massive number of Canadian geese hanging out at this lake. It is not a big lake. Its a small lake in the middle of a small town.DSC_0819.JPG

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I do not know much about Canadian geese but it appeared they were hanging out in cliques. Large groups would fly off while other groups watched from the shore.

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A short time later, another group would fly off. DSC_0839.JPG

The few ducks hanging out at the lake appeared a bit out of place.DSC_0775.JPG