Christmas #1

We had Christmas with The Writer's children this weekend.  The family with three 

little boys was missing because they were snowed in in the North Carolina mountains.  You can imagine, they were three very unhappy little boys.

The adults were disappointed, too, because they didn't get to play with any of the new toys under the tree!

This is a group that thrives on competition.  This is the game of Spoons.  You play by passing cards to your neighbor until someone collects four of a kind and grabs a spoon. Then everyone else grabs for a spoon and the person left without one is out.  Everyone brings a wrapped present and when you are out you select and open a gift.  You might be surprised and delighted by your gift but you can't get too attached because the next person out is allowed to steal your gift or select an unopened one.

The Writer is known for his, shall we say unique, gifts.  This year's was ...

... a pink flamingo umbrella!

Even the dog had to get a look at that.

The guys played Corn Hole.  Bags of corn are thrown at a target with a hole for them to fall through.  It was called bean bag when I was a kid but now that it's newly discovered and adults play it, it's called Corn Hole.  

The blocks piled on the left are a game called Jenga.  You stack them all up in a tower and then each person tries to remove an individual block without toppling the whole thing and scattering the players. They hurt if they hit a foot or shin.

The ladies admired the view and kept warm by the fire.  It was rainy and unusually cold for December, about 45 degrees.  The days before it had been in the 70s.   

Hilton Head Island is, of course, surrounded by water and ferries used leave for the mainland from here.m One of the old ferries is sitting at the end of that long dock.

The restaurant used to feed ferry travelers and fishermen, and at night it was a juke joint where black jazz musicians played, liquor flowed, and gambling and other illegal activities took place in the back room.  

Other guests included five dogs.  Five BIG dogs.  

In the picture of Aaron unwrapping the flamingo above there is a nose just above the table. That's Indy, a Texas cattle dog.  

On the right is Bob the Border Collie getting a hug and below a Labradoodle named Dexter.

Briggs, a German Wire-Haired Pointer, is a huge puppy.  He got into lots of mischief and scuffles and picked on all the other dogs.  I expect he will learn some manners soon.

The fifth dog is a lab/Great Dane combo named Kenzie who also loved my lap. 

When the door bell rang for pizza delivery, it was barking bedlam!

Rosie was invited but declined to attend.