from the weekend...

We had an excellent weekend.  And it really helped to get us in the Christmas spirit.  Greenville and surrounding areas have so much to do.  Saturday night was the annual Christmas Parade downtown.  It had been gloomy and raining that day, so we didn't think we'd get to go, but it cleared up just in time.  Before the parade started there was a great group of carolers singing and counting down to the lighting of the christmas tree.  Stella loved the parade and danced a little as some of the bands went by and she would wave to everyone and say "Merry Christmas".  There was a group of dogs that walked that we could pet and that was a big hit.  She did not, however, like the big fire engine's horns.  She would cover her ears and come right up by my leg for a little safety.  Sunday evening we went to a place called Hollywild.  Apparently it is up and running all year as a rescue and habitat for animals both normal and a little exotic. But for the season it has an amazing amout of christmas lights and light display up that you drive through and see.  And as you drive through there is christmas music playing everywhere.  It was so cool.  At one point you come to an open area where there are a lot of different animals just roaming around.  They come right up to your car and eat crackers from you.  There were zebras out there, tons of deer, llamas, and cows.  The cows were humongous and one came right to our window for some food.  Stella wanted no part of that and was adamant about making sure her window was NOT rolled down.   And she quickly handed her crackers over to me as if somehow even having them in her hand meant the cow would get to her.  Randy, on the other hand, had fun feeding the big guy.  After that portion of the hollywild trip there was a place to park and get out where they had a bonfire and hot cocoa and bottles available to feed goats.  Stella really liked feeding them as they were slightly smaller than she was and were behind a fence.  Inside this place there were so many cool animals, camels, hairy cows, reindeer and some others I don't even know the name of.  Stella also saw Santa here and asked him for an Elmo and Abby Cadabby (from Sesame Street)  It was a very nice weekend.  Now if I can just get motivated to put the tree up and decorate the house...