A Bethlehem Star shines over Dublin/Pleasanton/San Ramon

This is the abbreviated story of Del's Bethlehem Star. See slideshow at right for full story.

It all began with Del's dream and a lot of PVC pipe. My brother Ron is captured here "aiding and abetting" the plan.

Del's vision is taking shape.

Del and Ron painted it black to make it less reflective.

If you noticed your electricity hiccup Thanksgiving weekend, this could have been why. The star has 205 10-watt C-9's. Thank goodness it'll be on a timer.

The crew: Art Amon and sons (& daughter's boyfriend), neighbor Gus, and Chris & Laura Flanders. My brother Ron photographed the event.

A modern day barn-raising, I mean star-raising!

Hoisting it up. So far so good . . .

Oops! PVC is way more flexible than we thought. This was the darkest moment of the day where we began to doubt and to pray really hard!

Well, it's up, but with one broken piece and quite the curve and a floppy top.

Chris Flanders to the rescue.

Finally looking stable from top to bottom.

It was all worth it in the end.

Now Dublin, San Ramon, and Pleasanton CA have a Bethlehem

Star shining in the West to help celebrate Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

Gicle'e discovers the inkjet printer

Gicle'e can't quite figure it out . . .

Thanksgiving at the Morissette's

My brother Ron came down for the Thanksgiving weekend and we decided to just let it be the three of us for Thanksgiving Dinner. Of course, that didn't keep Del from smoking a whole turkey and throwing mulitple slabs of ribs on the smoker!

The meat plus sweet potato fries, new red potatoes and asparagus made for a nice Thanksgiving meal and the company was great. :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

These two turkeys have something to be thankful for, and so do I. Actually, I have a lot of things. A wonderful husband and step-kids, my brother Ron joining us for Thanksgiving, my other brother Ken sending his Thanksgiving greetings, a great bunch of friends, a diverse family, a fun yet profound church and pastor, nice neighbors, a good job and smart people to work with, two new darling kitties, the Christmas season and all the beautiful moments and craft opportunities that holds. In other words, too many blessings to count! I hope this finds you also counting your blessings and sharing Thanksgiving with family and friends.

Ashley and Gicle'e

Ashley and Gicle'e discover the bathtub and suds. Ashley's trying to keep cool about the whole thing, but Gicle'e can't resist checking it all out.

Perhaps Gicle'e was weaned too young? I'm amazed that Ashley patiently lets her attempt to nurse. They are both fixed females and are not sisters though they are the same age.

An Autumn Walk in Dublin, CA

Beautiful fall colors. Amazing what you can find under a freeway overpass . . . In honor of my brother Ken. Boo!!

Swallow's nests.

Gicle'e Playing

OK. So, this is my first video ever and of course, it's sideways (you wouldn't expect it to be right on my first try, would you)?! It does show you a glimpse of why there's suddenly so much more laughter in this household. If you look closely, you can see Ashley in the background looking on.

A friend of mine sent me this. I can't get over how much this looks like my two kitties. :)