Meredith has arrived

Meredith has arrived and it is so nice to have someone to do things with. So far we have shopped, eaten with friends and swam.  She is excited to be in the sunshine instead of in the dark winter of England.

Nativity Scene's from South America

I am collecting quite a wonderful collection of Nativity scenes from South America.  They are all so cultural.  The Brazilian Nativity has cactus plants, the Argentina Nativity has Llama's and the one from Columbia is carved from the native wood.

John's trip to Bariloche, Argentina - November 2006

John recently went on a plant visit and stayed in Bariloche, Argentina. This city is called the Aspen of South America.  I fell in love with these two pictures.

Margaret's view of Rio

Wendy & Gary's daughter Margaret went hang gliding over Rio!

This is a picture she took.  Absolutely stunning.

Brazilian IDOL Chaos

We walked to see the HUGE crowd at Brazilian Idol.

Yesterday was registration and today are the auditions.

I talked with one of the promoters and he said it was year #2 and things were really going well.  It was chaos.

My rugs

My new hobby, rug making, brings me such joy.  Here are some I have made.  I am working on two new ones and will post them when finished.

November 11, 2006

We are having the most glorious weather.  A cold front moved in and it has dipped down in the low 50's.  All of you know how I love this!  I was not ready to go through the heat yet.

The sun is out but the wind makes it wonderfully comfortable. 

 

Mary and Joe tried something last weekend that the Fore Family tried to get us to try - a Brazilian hot dog.  We just haven't taken the plunge yet.  It was the Fore's favorite thing.

First of all the hot dogs are CLEMSON orange.  I haven't been able to buy them in the stores for that reason.  A Brazilian hotdog is a hotdog in a bun topped with mayonnaise, a huge helping of mashed potatoes, corn, salsa & shoestring potatoes.  I know many of you immediately see why John hasn't tried it but I am usually more adventuresome.  I think it is the orange color.  Mary and Joe split it because it was so big and it was just enough.

I'll let you know if I ever try one.

 

Today we went for our usual Saturday walk and there were many more people than usual on the streets.  We were unable to get past the Tennis Club walking and finally we realized why:

South American Idol was doing Auditions at the Tennis Club.  What a mess.  I would have loved to watch it all.  I guess it will be in the newspaper.

 

John will spend next week in Argentina on a plant tour.  He is excited.  A co-worker from the Wichita Falls Plant is coming down to go with him.  The dollar is much better in Argentina than here so I gave John permission to find me something for Christmas.  We have been looking for a nativity scene but haven't found the perfect one yet. 

 

Christmas is picking up around here.  The stores and malls are decorated.  I think the cold weather has made it more fun for me.  I got out my tree.  I hope to decorate it this week. 

It will get me into the spirit I hope.  It is very hard celebrating such a wonderful day without your whole family.

 

I bought my first Brazilian shoes and they are very comfortable.  I was really surprised when I tried them on.  I feel like I am on stilts because they are platform shoes.  I know many of you can't imagine me in platform shoes.  This should make you smile. 

 

We would appreciate your prayers from some friends that we met here.  Wietze and Jeannie Devries have moved back to the states.  They were here for around two years I think.  Wietze is undergoing treatment for cancer in California.  Please pray for the treatment and also for their son Robert who is away from them in Georgia.  Also, please pray for John Basel's (Meredith's husband) safety and for our son, Ben, for some big decisions he needs to make.