Saturday; lots more photos, grandpuppy! - Yr 1, Day 180

Myrtle Beach, SC

For Shabbat, we returned to Chabad.  The services were a bit better than last time (more singing and the rabbi gave a little sermon) but I still did not feel warmly welcomed by the women, as they sat around me, talking to each other in Hebrew.  We were invited to a Chanukkah party that evening (complete with Israeli dancing) but declined because we were pretty certain all or most conversation would be in Hebrew and we'd continue to feel left out (besides which, I think dancing is still a very risky activity for me as it's too easy to accidentally twist my body).  The original plans had been a toss up between going to a fancy restaurant, a comedy club or a dualing piano bar.  What did we do? .... we stayed home and watched some shows on Netflix.  It's ok, as neither of us was really in the mood to go outside.  The weather was miserable and raining.  We saw some clips of the comedian on Youtube and felt he was just "ok" but not worth the trip or price.  The piano bar would mean the added expense of a taxi (about $50) because who goes to a bar and doesn't drink - and we won't drink and drive!  Plus most of the place is outdoors (at least the walk from the parking lot to the bar) and neither of us wanted to walk in the cold rain.  So Mitch shelled more pecans (we still have about 10 lbs left) and I sat on the recliner.

Today is another yucky day weatherwise, and it promises to be this way at least until Thursday, with Wednesday bringing thunderstorms (but 70 degrees!).

So Mitch finally uploaded the rest of his photos and I present them below.  First is the photo at Whales of me next to the other old model Ford:

Next is an updated photo of our menorah on the 5th night of Chanukkah.  I decorated it with some dreidels and gelt (chocolate "money" used for betting in the game of dreidel) so it's a bit more festive.

Here's a photo Mitch took of me fishing:

And now the rest of Brookgreen Gardens, Nights of a Thousand Candles:

As I mentioned, it is a sculpture garden.  Here is a photo of a sculpture of a man sitting on a bench reading the newspaper.  Mitch enjoyed reading over his shoulder.

There was a little museum on the grounds which included indoor and outdoor model trains.  This first one was outside showing an actual town.  The blue lights behind it represent the lake.

The train went around mountains and towns and an amusement park:

There was also an amusement park display built from an erector set:

 And a real sleigh that was used in the 1800's (unfortunately, more of me and less of the sleigh in the photo)

And the rest of the gardens:

Reflection of the tree in the lake.  Really awesome in person!

The Christmas tree - 60,000 lights

Last but not least, we are going to have a grandpuppy!  Her name is Ellie and she is a 7 week old corgi.  Jess and Griffin got to visit her for the first time yesterday and will be bringing her home on 12/29.  Here are a few photos.  Sadly I won't get to meet her in person until we're back that way again, which may not be until the late spring.

Is this happy or what?!