Christmas is coming and the geese are getting fat. Please do put a penny in an old man's hat.

If not a penny, a half penny will do. If not a half penny, God bless you.

By the time you read this it will be approximately two weeks until Christmas. Have you finished your Christmas shopping? I always have a hard time shopping for the immediate family members. Will they like what I choose for them? And then the other problem is that what I would like to give them is never within my budget.

High on my list every year are two items that always seem to hit the spot. How about some Valley citrus fruit and some delicious tamales. Both of those items represent our wonderful Rio Grande Valley. And what could be better? Plus, in our family we have Christmas traditions. Christmas Eve means we all sit down together and a chosen one reads aloud Dickens Christmas Carol, or we all watch the movie. Then one - and only one gift - can be opened early on Christmas Eve. Dinner on Christmas Eve is always tamales and homemade chili.

In a previous story, probably last year, I made a mistake. I encouraged you to visit the Gelman stained glass museum and suggested you plan to spend plenty of time viewing the seventy-four stained glass windows all taken from churches in the northern Mid-West and Northern United States. Be prepared. There are not seventy-four beautiful stained-glass windows, there are a total of one hundred seventy-four windows. Allow at least two hours. Hopefully you will all be able to identify what scripture from the Bible is depicted in each window.

We have a multitude of first-class museums scattered across the Rio Grande Valley. Most of these fabulous museums tell the story of the history of the Rio Grande Valley from the pirates who raided the ships off the coast of South Padre to the cannibalistic Indians who made life miserable for the settlers from Europe who wanted to find a new home in this vast, fertile country in which we live. You can find plenty to entertain your guests that may be visiting our magical Rio Grande Valley not just in museums but at the Beach, a drive by of Space X or the flavors of nearby Mexico.

Have a BLESSED AND MERRY CHRISTMAS as you celebrate Christ's birthday.