The PurdyCool gang finally reached the Taylor homestead and settled down for a few days. Of course, we didn't just sit around watching Papa and Holly rake and bag the leaves. We always enjoy visiting the local restaurants....or as the PurdyCool girls call them....the "hole-in-the-wall" places. (To them, anything that's not a chain restaurant, however elegant or casual, is a "hole-in-the-wall.") We really enjoyed our lunch at Joe's Italian Grill Restaurant at 1615 W. Church St. The garlic rolls are excellent, as were all of our meals. Taylor's shrimp and ravioli is pictured here:

Dec. 17 marked Wendy and Stephen's 21st wedding anniversary and included a trip to NRG Stadium in Houston to watch the Mighty Refugio Bobcats play in the Class 2A, Div. I State Football Championship.

Wendy lived in Refugio for seven years during her childhood and considers it one of her hometowns. Sadly, the Bobcats suffered a huge loss, but the girls enjoyed their first live, in-person football game, and we all enjoyed visiting the home of the Houston Texans.

On Dec. 18, we elected to attend a symposium on "Beyond PowerPoint: Presenting Fictional History Using Video and Audio Components to Impact Your Audience:"

Oh...also known as "The Force Awakens." Actually, we hadn't planned to see the movie on opening weekend, but due to circumstances beyond our control, we found ourselves at the theater at 9 a.m. Friday morning. We even sat in those crazy "D-Box" seats. It was like riding "Star Tours" for two hours. We loved the movie, but Taylor and Wendy were a little bit sad....

If you saw the movie...you know why. If you didn't...WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU??

Saturday, we headed out to Livingston Trade Days for some last-minute Christmas shopping. Of course, the pumpkin funnel cake was just an extra perk...

Trade Days takes place at Pedigo Park each month. If you are interested in visiting in the future, here's an upcoming schedule...

by Wendy Purdy

PurdyCool.com