Farewell to the Fall and to November

 

 Click on image to enlarge calendar photo for November 2012.

Click on image to enlarge calendar dates for November 2012.

THANKSGIVING  2012.........

 

 

 My Thanksgiving Cactus is blooming, and what can that mean?..........

 Well, since the Feast of St. Gregory, the Wonder Worker is past, that can't be it............

 Of course, since that is Sisi's Birthday, she thinks November 17th was grand.....

 But my cactus is actually heralding that Today--November 26th, is Thanksgiving Day--a time to give thanks for all we have been given.  This year, I feel blessed to have my health, my family......

And, of course, my wonderful husband--Dwight................

 We are thankful to be invited to share the Thanksgiving meal with neighbor and friends....

 Including our exhuberant hostess........

 We are also thankful that she checks the directions when cooking..........

 We are also delighted to be able to share the meal with Karen's Mom who is both witty and wise....

 And a whole group of totally delightful folks.............

Let us give thanks............(photos courtesy of Karen)

 Dwight is thankful for all the delicious desserts......

 This year, we are all thankful for Grandpa "D" and all his hysterical bon mots............

 Winston is thankful for his life of constant luxury......

 Mei Toy is thankful for her cute little sweater to keep her warm after being shorn at the groomers....

Topaz is grateful for plenty of camouflage to hide from the others.........

 Winston is also thankful for his very own cushion near the heater.....

 This lovely little bird is thankful for some fresh water...

 And we are thankful for his lovely song......

 We are very thankful for our lovely city and our precious country that we have such high hopes for after the inspiring recent elections......

AND WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR YOU, GENTLE READERS AND WE TRULY HOPE YOU ALSO HAD A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING 2012!!

ALL LORETTO REUNION 2012

 

 In honor of the accomplishments of the Sisters of Loretto in Santa Fe, alumni of Loretto Academy have arranged a Reunion for ALL girls who ever attended Loretto Academy..........

 The first event is a cocktail party at Hotel Loretto that now sits on the old school site.  Here Exilda welcomes friends and former classmates........

 Another classmate, Bobbie was also highly responsible for the planning of the event.......

 Tina was the only classmate from the group that graduated in 1967--which would have been my class had I remained at Loretto...........

 There were sumptuous eats.............

 And camaraderie among old friends--these ladies from our table came all the way from St. Louis.....

 Jane enjoys mixing with those friends from her "era"........

 The largest contingent seemed to be from those girls who graduated in the mid 1950s--they have seemed to retain the fondest memories of all...........

 The "teacher" in Tina is making a very strong point--I can't remember what it was...........

 The next day, the Loretto Girls are meeting for Sunday Mass at the Cathedral to be followed by a breakfast......

Marguerite and her Mamma, Pita--both Loretto grads, visit with friends after Mass..............

 And the Class of '67 has picked up one more participant..........

 There was a breakfast to follow, that I didn't attend.  But, these girls did--all cousins from the Ortiz family............

 A few weeks later, a special mass was con celebrated to honor the Sisters of Loretto and ALL their schools........

 Even though it was a weekday, the Cathedral was packed because today also included former students from St. Francis School--which was always very dear to me.........

 Among the celebrants, was Father Jerome--with a hero's return amongst his former parishioners.........like Angie............

 Gracie seems shocked to see me in church..........

 And Bobbie was enjoying the day.............

 Those lovely C. de Baca sisters..........

 Angie was always Santa Fe's "It" girl in high school--and she remains so today..........

 The participants enjoy a reception in Crispin Hall.........

So, a big "Thank You" to the Sisters of Loretto from the Catholic Community of Santa Fe.  The education they provided enriched the lives of generations of Santa Fesanos.  THANK YOU!

ELECTION IN SANTA FE 2012

 

 As one of the most important elections of all time approaches, folks across our country are preparing to vote and anxiously await the outcome.....

 Including right here in my hometown of Santa Fe, New Mexico!  On Election Day itself, I am serving as part of the election poll workers crew for Precinct 10--a long day: 6:00am to 8:00pm.....

 Afterwards, we meet up with like-minded friends to watch the returns, eat good steaks, and enjoy the camaraderie.............

 Oh, and enjoy some sorely "needed" libation!  "HERE'S TO THE BLUE STATES!"..........

 At last the winner is announced and I take the first truly deep breath since the first debate!  Hooray for our President!

 "Take that you dirty dealing, tax avoiding, elitist 1 percenters!!!"

They're dancing in the streets in Times Square and here in Santa Fe too!

 

 "The people have spoken!"  Unfortunately, the people have also DRUNKEN and as you can see Marguerite is just a bit tipsy and she soon gets quite rambunctious and belligerent and I have to back her up in a few skirmishes with rowdy Republicans............(Joke)..........

Our President won our precinct, our city, our state and our
COUNTRY!!  And I couldn't be prouder!!!