It's finished!

Check out that chimney. Rather Whoville-ish, no?

Our first married Christmas

I got art. Ned got a Pizza Den t-shirt and a grill. As we share our first Christmas with joint checking, we learn the value of the phrase, "It's the thought that counts."

Christmas in Valdosta

Ned was in the shower, not as eager for Santa as the rest of us. Meanwhile, we lined up for the traditional Christmas morning photo at the end of the hall, with a version of our sister, affectionately known as "Super Sarah."

Valdosta Eats

Sadly, it was closed for lunch. But we're checking again tomorrow.

The gingerbread house continues

Coke Zero celebrates Christmas

I love this stuff! So much so that I shamelessly had Ned photograph me in front of the Winn Dixie holiday display.

The gingerbread house begins

Look for construction updates throughout the holiday. Here's where we started.

Merry Christmas, Georgeanna and Will!

The UPS truck was out working late last night in our neighborhood. Ned and I speculated which lucky neighbors might be getting packages, only to hear a knock on our door! A fabulous wedding gift arrived to us, courtesy of our friends Georgeanna and Will -- a bay leaf wreath, which we've added to our dinner table. Thanks, y'all!

Our beautiful Christmas tree

When I was a kid, my dad used to take off his glasses and watch the Christmas tree. He said it was prettier that way, with the lights all large and fuzzy. I imagine this photo of our tree must be like what he sees without his glasses.

Dec. 18 birthdays

Today my grandpa would have been 86. Wow. Here's a photo of us on the night of my ballet recital. You can tell it was a special occasion because he's wearing tan pants, not his usual navy work pants.

Today Ned's grandmother is 93. We called her with birthday greetings.

There's a lot to be said for minimalist living.

What are we ever going to do with all this stuff? If you've ever wondered what it looks like when lives collide, this is it.

the porch


the dining room


The porch again, because I just can't get over it.


The bedroom. There's a bed under all that mess somewhere.


the office

Here are the before shots. When we finish unpacking, in five years or so (at this rate), we'll share some after shots.

Delta Diners

Here we are, feeling considerably better last night than this morning.

Vicksburg Visitors

We look forward to hosting many visitors when we finally settle in together in Vicksburg. Be warned, however, that -- excepting the bare feet comment -- these rules will apply to houseguests. We're taking a lesson from Nikki's West in Birmingham.

At long last...

comments enabled.

Thanks to Amy for encouragement.

Roy Blount is so funny!

Enjoy this video, filmed at the Sunday session for this October's Southern Foodways Symposium. For more info on the SFA, the great place where I work, visit www.southernfoodways.com.

One last early morning departure

Said "goodbye" to Ned when he departed Oxford at 6:30 a.m. this morning. That was it--our last weekend goodbye. Next weekend I move to Vicksburg, and we'll commence married life in the same house seven days a week. Wish us luck.

Today's news

Newk's has holiday cups!

Lunchtime Shopping

I've made a decision: Ned and I are having a consumable Christmas. What's that? It means that we realize all our friends and family have too much stuff! So what you'll get from us is something to read, eat, enjoy, etc. -- but it will be consumable and, unless you keep the wrapping it comes in, it won't be a gift that lingers around your home after the holidays. So really, it's like two gifts in one.

The items on my Christmas list aren't all consumable, however. I was shopping online for art at lunch today. Here's an artist -- a Marianist monk -- who is represented by a gallery that Ned and I used to visit in Nashville. I love his stuff. I mostly love his images of the Holy Family, but they must be out...holiday shoppers have snapped them all up. This one's nice, though. See more at http://www.theartscompany.com/theartscompanybrothermelreligious

Why can't I find these in Oxford?

I've been craving these, and another helping of Jimmy's creamed corn, since Saturday!

Working now, but wishing we were still at the beach.

So.........um............eh........wtf?

Though he may actually lead the Rebels to victory, he will ALWAYS creep me out.

O Christmas Tree

Sunday night was Christmas tree night. Mary Beth is missing all her best ornaments (she accidentally left them in Valdosta and Oxford), but we still have more than enough.

Thanksgiving Fun

We had a wonderful time in Jackson this past weekend. We played with a baby (which we then got to return), stuffed ourselves silly with good food (including green cookies, thanks to Jessica & Marvin), watched a lot of football (Go Irish!), and generally relaxed. Also, I made a pecan pie that would make Martha Stewart look like an amateur. Well, not really. But it was good, thanks to a nice frozen pie crust!


Key to a good pie? Pecans from Valdosta (check out the label!)


Mmmm...pie....



While Ned smiles, the baby plays with a hanger. Later, Ned plays with Madeleine's toys.

Big decision for today...

Yikes! Advent starts soon. We still don't have an Advent wreath. I've been shopping online, and here are the images of our finalists. I'm trying not to be overly obsessed about this decision, but there's a lot of pressure here. This is the wreath that we'll use FOREVER and EVER, the wreath that'll witness our off-key Christmas singing, and the wreath that our kids will fight over once we're long gone...this is an important purchase...

Home again, home again

Turtle Bay and Hawaii were beautiful. But it's good to be home. And even the Irish won on Saturday, to make our return that much sweeter...

Looking forward to a family Thanksgiving. We'll all pile together in Jackson for three days of Corona and football. Good times.

Thursday in Hawaii

Ned had the afternoon off. Yay! First we went to the Pali Lookout (pics 1 & 2), and then to Diamond Head (pics 3 & 4, plus next post). Ended the day with fabulous Greek food at a marina...

Diamond Head

This afternoon, we walked to the summit of Diamond Head, the volcanic crater on Oahu. Those stairs were killer! Thank goodness for treats at the bottom of our climb...Aleve and Hawaii Shave Ice.

Hawaii on Wednesday

Ned worked all day. I spent the morning by the pool, and the afternoon at the Audobon Nature Center, the Triple Crown Surf Competition, and shopping. Purchases were kept to a minimum: some Hawaii shave ice and a cultured pearl necklace. We ended the night with a luau at the hotel with all of Ned's work friends. It was great fun. I continue to be amazed by the places I hear Van Morrison unexpectedly (bluesman Ben Peyton, a friend, plays a lot of VM; so did the Hawaiian band last night).



Orchids grow out of the side of trees here. They're beautiful.



Don't be fooled: botanical gardens can be dangerous.



Me at the waterfall (while Ned worked, poor fella.)



Hawaii shave ice. I love it.



Behind us is the bay where i saw turtles yesterday morning.