Christmas 2025

Another wonderful Christmas is in the books. I was a little slow to decorate this year (I trimmed the tree in shifts), did a lot more last-minute shopping, and only made a few Christmas goodies, but it all worked out. 

We started the season with what has become a Christmas tradition. Brittany, the boys, and I shopped the local Comanche stores on Black Friday and ended up at Star Beau’s for lunch. The boys each got a pre-Christmas gift that day. 

I was fortunate to celebrate a Christmas get-together with my Bible Study group, the retired teachers, my wellness group, and my Yee-Haw friends. 

We were able to attend the boys' Christmas programs, a live nativity scene at Lingleville Baptist, and the last year of Faces of Christmas at our church. 

Getting together with my family on Christmas Eve has become a cherished tradition, which includes Will, Brittany, and the boys. 

We got a ping pong table for the Beahms, and I’d forgotten how fun it is to play ping pong. 

The Beahms came over Christmas afternoon, and Will cooked us delicious steaks for dinner. We had a great day together!

Yacht Rock

Well, apparently, I've been living under a rock, or more appropriately, a yacht, when it comes to music. 

Last night, for the first time, I was introduced to a genre of music I didn't know existed- Yacht Rock. Well, actually, I was familiar with it, but only under its original name, soft rock. 

If you were born in the 1900s ( as the kids like to say), you probably remember the music of the mid-seventies into the mid-eighties. 

I learned there is an actual channel, 311, on Sirius radio that plays Yacht Rock. 

Probably one of the best examples of this style of music is Christopher Cross, one of my all-time favorites.  Remembering actual albums I owned, Little River Band and even Dan Fogelberg are included on the list. 

Artists like Steely Dan, Hall & Oats, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Seals & Croft, and Toto are also considered Yacht Rock. 

The term Yacht Rock was coined in 2005 by comedian J.D. Ryznar in a “mockumentary” about the soft rock of the previous era. The term was a play on the Southern California music industry and the lifestyles of the rich and famous.

It looks like I was only twenty years behind when it comes to the term, but I’ve got my radio preset on 311! 

Emergency Coke Float

Well, a real crisis was averted on Wednesday afternoon. Due to circumstances beyond our control, my youngest grandson and I could not go to Dairy Queen for his weekly treat. (His brothers were competing in UIL and we weren’t sure exactly when they would need to be picked up.)

So Mimi to the rescue. Taking inventory of the available resources, I proposed making a Coke float. The little one agreed, since it’s one of his DQ favorites, along with the vanilla shake. 

We scanned the garage refrigerator for Coke and found a lone Holiday Creamy Vanilla Coke hiding behind two Sprites. (I was to learn later why it was hiding.) 

I knew there were ice cream sandwiches in the kitchen fridge. Using the skill of a surgeon, I carefully cut off the outer chocolate cookie, leaving the pure vanilla goodness for the float.

To make it even more special, the pièce de résistance, was a fancy glass from his mother’s collection. Dropping the ice cream in the glass, followed by the creamy Coke made the perfect dessert. Adding a spoon and a straw and the boy was in sugary heaven. 

Later when I texted my daughter a picture of the masterpiece, she responded, “That’s not my last Creamy Vanilla Coke, is it?” 

Guilty as charged. She responded, “Good thing, I love that kid!”

Me too, me too!

I Can See Clearly Now

 Well you know you are officially old when you get your cataracts removed. Over the last several weeks I’ve been involved in the cataract removal process. 

I can honestly say it’s been quite seamless as my ophthalmologist has worked hand in glove with the eye center and surgery center. I’ve only had to drive to Ft. Worth for the consultation, the measurements, and twice for the actual procedure. 

All my follow-ups have been in Stephenville at my regular eye doctor’s office. I’ve really appreciated that. 

I am fortunate that we were able to get multifocal lenses that allow me not to have to wear glasses for either close-up or far-away distances. 

It’s pretty remarkable how clear everything is now. I don’t think I realized how bad it had gotten over this last year. I was requiring a lot more light, and it felt like my glasses were always smudged. 

I have to give a shout-out to Chuck, who has been my driver and helped me stay on top of my eye drops. He’s done a great job!

The only real drawback is that now I can see what I really look like. It has been somewhat shocking to see the extra lines and eye bags, but I am adjusting to my new normal. That and of course everything that needs a good cleaning!

Your Brain on Art- Day 31

 Well it looks like we are at the end of our journey. Hopefully you’ve been inspired to include an aesthetic mindset in your life. 

What does this actually look like? Well it can be as simple as picking up a bouquet of flowers from the grocery store this week to display in your kitchen. 

It could be purchasing a fancy, good smelling soap for your daily shower. I recommend checking out TJ Maxx for some good prices and unique selections. 

Doing something as simple as humming can activate the vagus nerve and  create a more peaceful feeling. 

Taking a morning walk outside is a great way to include nature in your day. 

Realizing that art is more than just a hobby, but a way of life, opens the door to incorporating it throughout your day.

Listening to music while washing the dishes, or dancing to a favorite song from your youth all are fun ways to enhance the brain. 

The authors of Your Brain on Art remind us, “The world, and its beauty, are there waiting for you.”

Hope you found some inspiration over the last thirty-one days. 

Your Brain on Art- Day 30

 I recently came across an art form that I’d never heard of before. It’s called slow drawing and is defined as, “A mindful art practice that emphasizes the process over the final product, using slow, precise movements.”

It allows you to pay closer attention to what you are drawing without the distractions that often come along. Because the focus is not on the end result you can enjoy the moment more without your inner critic weighing in. 

The process is slow and deliberate. Moving your pen or pencil more slowly makes each mark more precise. It doesn’t require anything more than a piece of paper and your favorite writing instrument. 

The most important thing to remember is not to overthink the process. Just enjoy the moment without judgment.

The benefits of slow drawing are reduced stress, mindfulness, and improved focus. 

A good resource for slow drawing is mindfulartstudio.com. Search Creating Slow Drawing Patterns for ideas. Of course, you can certainly draw from memory or copy something that has caught your eye. 

The idea is to explore another form of drawing that might not feel so intimidating.

Have you ever heard of slow drawing?

Your Brain on Art- Day 29

 Sometimes we think that in order for our brain to benefit from the arts we must be actually creating art. However, just viewing art has a benefit of its own. 

In an article from Medium, A Visit to the Art Museum Makes You Healthier, and We Can Prove It! , “Even a short visit to a museum to spend time in the galleries looking at works of art and letting your mind engage with the artists’ ideas and stories or the colors and textures in the artworks can have a healing effect on your brain.”

We are fortunate to have the Kimbell Art Museum in our own backyard in Fort Worth. I’ve visited several times over the years and have enjoyed each visit. I’ve viewed Egyptian art, Renoir, and Monet to name a few. 

A print of the Two Sisters by Renoir hung in my home as a child. When I was fortunate enough to view it in person at the Kimbell, I was overwhelmed by its beauty. The colors were so vibrant they almost took my breath away. 

Sometimes you can find art displayed in the most unexpected places. When I lived in Frisco they displayed art inside city hall. Chuck used to participate in an On My Own art competition at his work. They displayed  the art at North Park Mall. 

We used to love visiting the Cottonwood Art Festival in Richardson every spring. My daughter started collecting pieces from one particular artist each year we visited. 

One cognitive benefit to viewing art, includes analysis. This requires you to, “interpret complex visuals, challenge your perceptions, and construct meaning,” which improve critical thinking and problem-solving. 

Interestingly, looking at colorful art pieces can boost our well-being. I can certainly attest to that with my reaction to Renoir’s vibrant colors. 

According to Dr. Shivani Khetan, a certified expressive arts therapist, “Colorful artwork can trigger the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward, leading to feelings of happiness and well-being.”

Believe it or not, viewing art online provides the same benefit as viewing it in a gallery. In fact, you can take virtual tours of famous art museums from around the world. 

Just setting aside  a few moments to viewing art can reduce stress and calm anxiety. 

Khetan teaches, “Engaging with art should be part of a balanced approach to well-being that includes other aspects like physical health, social connections, and emotional well-being.”

Where have you observed art?