On New Year's Day, Dr. Jim and Carolyn Glenn (and their three dogs) returned from a two-week Christmas holiday in northern New Mexico, where their son, Brian, his wife, Kerri, and grandkids Kolby (10) and Halli (6) joined them at their mountain cabin south of Angel Fire. Kolby learned to ski and Halli gave it a good try. Jim and Carolyn retired in January of 2006 to Blanco County after 34 years of dentistry in Austin. They live next to Carolyn's sister and her husband, Sandra and Lea Hyman. Sandra is a volunteer at the Blanco Library (and loved by everyone)!

On Saturday, December 29th, Judy and Bobby Brewer finished up their Christmas with the rest of their family. Glenn came up from Corpus Christi. Steve, Debbie, and Deven came from San Antonio. Scott, Stacy, and "Gus" came from Taft. "Gus" surprised us by walking into the house! He turned 1 year old on January 4, 2008. As usual, we had a great time and took our traditional picture with a Christmas bow on our heads. Happy new year to everyone from the Brewers!

Marilyn and Lawrence Mikes had three teens for the week after Christmas. Their grandkids Shelby and Travis Burt and Shelby’s friend Megan, of Seguin were here to visit family & friends. On Sunday, Debbie and Bobby Burt of Seguin came for the Byars Christmas. Marilyn & Lawrence hosted the gathering. Joining the Burts were Marvin Haas of Spring Branch, Patty and Johnnie Haas of San Antonio, Jeanette and David Leese of Van Vleck, Tammy Leese of Houston, David, Lisa, Makanna, Jackson and Kadin Leese visiting from Italy and Nell Krueger of Blanco. After lunch, they had a gift exchange and time to visit. As Aunt Pearl would say “a good time was had by all.”

On the afternoon of New Year’s Eve, Sam McDougall, Jennifer McIntire, and CA Rust III enjoyed a Bar-B-Q picnic in the Lockhart State Park. On New Year’s Day, Sam and Jenn joined Nurse Roberta Webster, Mike and Lacy Moraign, and Cicero Rust at CA’s home for lunch, featuring blackeyed peas, cornhead, and sweet potato pie.

Residents of Live Oak Medical Center enjoyed an afternoon party last Monday for an early New Year’s Eve. Their pictures were taken wearing party hats, and then everyone blew their horns as Activity Director Pauline Walker led a toast to the New Year 2008 with champagne punch and ginger ale punch. Chips and dips and chocolate cupcakes were also served by volunteer Doris Collins and Pauline. The celebration ended with the singing of Auld Lang Syne by everyone.

Charles Willgren and his mother Cordelia Willgren returned last Saturday from a nearly two week trip to Fort Collins, Colorado, for Christmas and New Year’s. They spent the holidays with Amanda Griffith and Charles’s sister Caroline, discovering some excellent restaurants and stores in the area and having a good time in the northern Colorado town. Snow fell twice but that didn’t stop Coloradans from going about their business, nor did temperatures in the teens. It reached down to -7 degrees one night. Charles Willgren’s grandparents Johnnie and Gunnar Willgren, aunt Wanda, and their dachshund Junior popped in on Tuesday afternoon for a quick visit on their trip to Horseshoe Bay.