The Garretts and Peggilu shared their Christmas trip, which was very memorable! Bob and Marguerite Garrett with Peggilu Watkins and daughter Ruth Watkins spent Christmas week visiting both sons in Arlington and Waco. On Monday, Dec. 22, they traveled to Arlington to visit Bob and Janie Garrett, Bob and Marguerite's first son. Bob is a professor at DBU and Janie is a Spanish teacher at Fort Worth Country Day School.

They were treated with a "Founder of the Feasts" Dinner Party honoring Robert I Garrett, MD, the founder of many feasts. The feast was prepared by Elisabeth "Eli" Garrett, Bob and Janie's youngest daughter. She was visiting from New York City where she works for a UN non-government organization. Eli prepared a truly gourmet dinner with six courses as a present to Granddad for, she said, all the wonderful meals he has hosted for our family and taught us to appreciate fine food!

Appetizer: Bacon and Parsley Stuffed Baby Portabella Mushrooms; Salad: Mixed Greens Salad with Pomegranate, Crumbled Chevre and Spice-Toasted Pecans in an Orange Vinaigrette; Intermezzo: Sweet Potato Gnocchi Sautéed in Brown Butter and Fresh Sage; Palate Cleanser: Lemon Thyme Sorbet; Plat Principal: Herb-Roasted Lamb with Mint Sauce and Sautéed Green Beans; Dessert: Poached Pears drizzled with a Caramel Spice Sauce.

On Tuesday they were treated to the Ice Sculpture display at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine. It is an amazing display of life size sculptures made with more than 5,000 pounds of ice and is kept at 9 degrees. They experienced a Candy House, a pond with an ice bridge to walk over surrounded by ice animals, a real ice slide, and the nativity scene. It was truly amazing! On Wednesday they ate lunch at Rebecca "Becca" and Richie Finn's home in Mansfield. Bob and Janie's daughter, Becca is expecting the first great-grandchild in January.

A f - ter lunch they traveled to Waco to spend Christmas day with Bob and Marguerite's youngest son, David Garrett and his new wife Ruth Garrett and her two sons Anthony and Brett. David is the chair of the communicative disorders department at Baylor University. Ruth owns Dreamscape Spa. It was such a special Christmas to help start new traditions for David's new family. On Friday, they traveled to Lake Belton to see "Nature in Lights" and enjoyed five miles of various beautiful and fun lighted displays in the Belton Lake Outdoor Recreation Area. It was amazing.

Sad news came from Jody Tinkle, through Dolly Hudgins in Colorado from Will Hudgins in Massachusetts about the death of Jack Buckhannan before Christmas. He was the music director and conductor for the Texas Ballet Theater, and was in his sixth season having spent 10 years with Houston Ballet as assistant conductor and principal pianist. There is an article about him at www.texasballettheater.org. A memorial service will be scheduled for late January. Watch their website for the date.

The Annual Bean Supper for the Lufkin Dance Club will be Friday, Jan. 9, at the SPJST Hall from 7 to 10:30 p.m. The five couples that are cooking the beans are: the Billy Beavers, Tucker Weems, Gus Schultz, Doyle Oliver, and Robert Powers. Music will be by Silver Eagles.

Martha Carswell has been released by her doctor to do anything but drive for several more weeks. Ray Carswell is still chauffeuring her. The Carswells and Sarah Austin enjoyed eating out for New Year's Eve. Jim Carswell is in rehab after a second surgery on his other lung. He has been in the hospital since Thanksgiving. This is good news that he will be coming home soon.

On Dec. 31, Ministering Wings, a ministry of New Life Church on the Rock, which reaches out to all motorcycle riders, brought in the New Year by riding to Nacogdoches for a late evening meal at IHOP. They rode back to Lufkin just in time to bring in the New Year 2009 with great fellowship with great people who like to ride motorcycles. They will meet at 7 p.m Friday, Jan. 9, at Casa Ole for fellowship and dinner and a short business meeting. On Saturday, Jan. 10, they will meet at New Life Church on the Rock, 3811 Hwy 103W at 9:30 a.m. for their surprise ride. Everyone is welcome to their meetings and rides. They invite people who love God and people to join them. If you have any questions, contact Kenny Standridge at 936-676-4584.

Happy Birthday: Laura Gerhardt, Earlon Williams, Janet Taylor, Billie Cardwell, Paige Perry, Terri Rich, John Haney.

Happy Anniversary: Connie and John Porter, Mary and Sam Griffin, Marie and Mack Carnes, Gail and John Courtney, Charlie Mae and David Dolben.

Joel and Margaret Dillahunty had some corn ground into meal and brought us some. We had cornbread with our black-eyed peas and cabbage for New Year's Day.

I need help with my Birthday and Anniversary names. I updated my records and I have 1,357 different birthday and anniversary people. Please help me keep it updated. I am already called the "obituary lady".

Hope that your new year started off good. I am about "bowled" out!!!!

Catch you around town. Janice Ann: roweja@suddenlink. net