You Really Have to Be Here!

Christmas in Collierville is magical and words and pictures cannot describe it adequately.  I wish everyone could ride through the Square at night and marvel at its wonderful white lights everywhere.  We used to have our parade around the Square and it was the most beautfiul Norman Rockwell event.  Politics moved it to Byhalia Road about 10 years ago and I have boycotted it since.  They have added more lights every year to the trees and light poles on the square and it just keeps getting better.  Tonight they are having an outdoor movie showing of "The Polar Express."  There is a new yoghurt place on the square, Zolo's, that is the perfect finish for any night of riding around town to look at lights.  For years, we have had luminiaries in the neighborhood and all houses had single white lights in each window but lately those traditions have yielded to some creative Clark Griswolds.  That is the only sad thing I can think of about our neighborhood.  Last night we went downtown to the Cannon Center to hear Handel's "Messiah."  It is a not-to-be missed opportunity.  There will be performances of the "Nutcracker" at Collierville High School next weekend that will be special as well.  I remember when Camille was in the Harrel Theater version and I had to see it 11 times--I never tire of that music, however.  I wonder how many times Lindsay had to see it as well. 

Gator Bowl Bound

From the Taj to Bumble

Amazingly six weeks in India passed by quickly (thanks to an awesome football team and Dan Mullen) and Camille was back in Bumble for Thanksgiving. We had a whirlwind week of eating and shopping and basketball and football and I even watched movies. Time flies when she's gone and moves even faster when she's here. The Egg Bowl victory was the highlight of the weekend, I think. We ridid go out and manage to shop on Black Friday only to find out we were not given the full discount so had to make another trip to the mall to straighten it all out. That is the big advantage to the mall nearby in our beloved Bumbletown. We forgot to make Chex Mix so have something to anticipate in three weeks.

Popovers

One of our favorite experiments is popovers. We fell in love with them at the long-lost Vidalia Cafe and Charles. We continue to try to find the perfect popover recipe to serve with Strawberry butter---this recipe was from Paulette's but we didn't follow directions exactly so they were a little doughy on the inside--but we are a work in progress.

Boardwalking in Bumble

Today was the first chance we've had since Camille came home to take our walk on the boardwalk. We needed to burn up some calories before the big dinner today. Dean reminded us to get some umbrellas out of the trunk because it might rain. We thought him crazy but we dutifully got them out anyway. I was using them as batons and doing my impression of the Sonic Boom Drum Major. Our walk on the boardwalk was interesting because it was nothing but fathers and rug rats who'd been shooed out of their houses this morning we presumed. When we got to the riverside we noticed a new path going off in another direction we'd had never been so we followed it around the ledge of a high riverbank. Casper thought it was delightful and I took every step very carefully. We took the picture and headed back to the car when it began pouring rain. Dean and Cap were so far ahead that they didn't get to take advantage of the umbrellas I had in my possession but it proved he is right more often than wrong.

A Little Color in The Neighborhood

Bumble Street View

A very dry fall meant very little color in the Woods but finally in the last couple of days, some color has emerged but it has been nothing like the brilliance of color we had last fall.