The Final Hours....

This is it! The last day of the calendar year as we know it. Last chance to pen your thoughts and date it 2009, for tomorrow is the start of a new year. A better year!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! Poor Bandit here putting up with our silliness! We had a beautiful white Christmas here in NJ but non-stop evening rain left no trace of it the following day.

This is my view this morning...big, fluffy snowflakes falling as I blog away....makes me want to go out and catch it, taste it. Like most of you, I'll start 2010 with newly determined resolutions...be more patient, kind, helpful, productive. And, the old adage...exercise more, eat healthier, lose that extra ten pounds...you know the drill! But, most importantly, make time for 'myself ' and appreciate the little things in life. Say 'I love you' more often, or better yet, show it(!) and create more laugh lines...those are wrinkles I won't mind living with ;)

So hang up your new calendar...of course you know mine has photos of beautiful gardens...flip to that first page and fill in those boxes with fun activities and special dates (I hope there will be LOTS!) and start your New Year smiling. I even have Spring Fling (Buffalo, NY) penciled in for June ;)

A party with neighbors is on my calendar tonight. Our tradition of a late dinner, champagne when the Big Ball drops followed by decadent desserts...uh-oh, already one resolution gone to the wayside...diet starts tomorrow! And every year, I'm teased for falling asleep on the couch so better make time for a nap later...

Let the countdown begin...tick-tock, tick-tock...

Hope your evening plans include a little sparkle and glitter!

...and in the wise words of Prince...party like it's 1999 ;)

Happy New Year, Friends!! See you on the flip side!!

Merry Christmas!

I love this version of Winter Wonderland...have a listen and enjoy!

It's here! It's Christmas Eve...can you believe it?!! Another special Holiday for us to pause and give thanks for our incredible blessings of richness in love, family, friends, and good health. And remind ourselves that the true meaning of this celebration lies right here in this word~CHRISTmas...

Our tree is up but it has been a challenge to keep it looking nice! Lacey and Bandit are having a good ol' time knocking off ornaments and even ripping up packages! I bought a Poinsettia Rose for the first time. Amazing what hybridizing can do...remember when they were so silly looking with one stem and one bloom per pot? This 8" pot contains a dozen blooms!

I snapped this just as a gust of wind blew through the branches

Who knew there are over 100 varieties of poinsettias? You're either gonna love or hate my unusual choice here. I always go for the soft pink/cream marbled variety but this year, it's all about the red, Baby! Thanks to Mr. Subjunctive, I recently learned that poinsettias are actually from the Euphorbiaceae family since they produce that milky sap. And what most people consider to be the flowers are actually bracts (modified leaves)... ... it's these tiny clusters in the center that's the flowers! Wrapping will be my main project today, along with a last minute grocery run but raise your hand if you're still heading out to buy presents! Gift cards were the way to go this year (teens are soo picky!) but I'm still hunting for stocking stuffers....

With roads safe for travelling and temps in the 30's to prevent too quick a melt, looks like we'll have a White Christmas after all....

Wishing all you GOOD PEOPLE a blessed and beautiful Christmas. Find peace and joy among your loved ones and spend the long weekend relaxing, chilling, vegging, sleepin' in, eating, drinking, laughing, loving and just plain be merry...that's an order! :)

Baby, it's cold out!

Good Morning friends! The weatherman was correct, for a change, and the anticipated big storm arrived after 1pm yesterday and continued throughout the night. Evening plans were cancelled so I spent many hours knitting by the fire and watching The Wizard of Oz with the girls :)

This is the view we woke up to.
Wonder what Lacey's thinking....
Our second snowfall this year but the temps, while BRrr today, haven't been too horrendous...

...at least I didn't freeze my fingers off while snapping photos of the garden.

Our steep road gets plowed often, which is great! but our mailbox, more often than not, will end up getting knocked down! Bandit's walk was quite an adventure...poor baby could barely see where he was going. And he looks 'dirty' compared to the pristine snow...lol! About 10 inches accumulated...nice and fluffy, too...at least easy to shovel.

Guess I better sign off and get out there!

Have a great Sunday!

Honest Scrap...

My sweet friend, France, has thoughtfully tagged me for an Honest Scrap Award. Since I did a similar meme a few months back...and happily didn't lose my friendly readers...I'll take another chance and share more nonsense about yours truly. So, here goes...

1) Lucky me, as a military brat, I attended 10 different schools before graduating as a junior. A move was actually in the works for my senior year...no kidding! So night classes and after-school work credits earned me an early diploma~two weeks before our move to Florida! Not fond is the memory of transferring schools three times during 6th grade. As a kid, you don't have much say in the matter and all the changes either force you to be a social pariah or overly friendly. I guess I chose the later as I still keep in touch with friends I made in the 3rd grade...while living in Hawaii.

2) Just call me Jack. Specifically, Jack of All Trades ;) Some of my past stints include, but not limited to: legal secretary, bookkeeper, nanny, realtor, medical transcriptionist, florist...etc, etc. Too many interests/skills...none of which earns me a decent living! Currently, I'm a data entry temp and a ZUMBA instructor...weird combo, I know! And, yes, I'm still trying to figure out what to be when I grow up...for I won't ever grow old...teehee!

3) I'm such a cry baby! A touching commercial, an ad for UNICEF, SPCA...pass me the tissues! Relentless teasing is what I get from the gang. In a movie theatre, any emotional scenes (sad or happy!) and I'll feel 3 pairs of eyes staring at me in the dark...snickering! Oh.... 4)...I love Snickers! My favorite form of sugary junk! Pay Day and Almond Joy tie for second. Basically, anything with nuts!

5) I once stowed away in a bookmobile! (A library on wheels...is there still such a thing?) I'd plan my whole schedule around its visits. So, out of eyesight and totally engrossed in my book, (probably a Harlequin Romance ~ remember those?), I hadn't realized it was closing time until I felt the wheels turning! Imagine the surprised look when the driver opened the door to a hysterical, screaming 14-yr. old. That was a hard one to explain to the parents...

6) I have a 'thing' for re-reading favorite books! It doesn't bother me that the pages are well worn and creased. I fall in love with a new passage every time. Same goes with watching favorite movies...over and over. Wasting my time you say? Nah...life's too short, do what you know and love ;)

7) I always mess up when re-telling a joke....always!

8) I cannot...to save my life...whistle! I'm not talking about a tune here, but your basic, pursing of the lips and making some kind, any kind, of noise...nope, just can't do it! Nothing comes out but hot air! And if you're one of those that can use two fingers to create that loud, ear-piercing call, I soo admire you! Go ahead...let's hear it!

9) I watch the Superbowl purely for the commercials! Who's playing...? Teams' stats...? Who cares! I'll root for the side with the cuter quarterback and if I like the color of the uniforms...lol! So this is one of my favorite commercials. Cute huh? And I will happily host the party because I love food...which leads to...

10) I eat when I'm happy. I eat when I'm sad. I eat when I'm nervous, excited, bored, heartbroken. I eat when I'm NOT hungry! I need to find a new all-consuming bad habit...any suggestions? (Please don't say blogging...lol!)

Though fun to share with you more 'honest crap' (say Honest Scrap 3x fast!), I'll refrain from passing along this meme. Many of you would rather NOT be tagged anyway so I'll respect that and just move on...

Thanks again, dear France, I send you a hug and this special cloud-encased heart...which my camera was two seconds shy of capturing in perfect form...you see it, don't you?

Have a great weekend everyone! Stay warm!

Wordless Wednesday

Yes, from my California trip...what I would give to be on this beach right now!

Thanks everyone for your visits on the T-Giving post. I'm sooo over turkey by now~at least 'til Xmas dinner...lol! Now begins the mad rush of shopping! shopping! shopping! Like my gardening chores of late, I'll be procrastinating yet again...hate the crowds!

And, sadly, it seems I've hit a dead end on Blog Street~pretty quiet in the garden so not much to report but I'll continue reading your posts, and hopefully, I'll muster up some creativity and get another one up soon...thanks for checking in, guys!

Okay, sorry...not so wordless after all ;)

Happy Thanksgiving!

May your stuffing be tasty

May your turkey be plump,

May your potatoes and gravy

Have nary a lump

May your yams be delicious

And your pies take the prize,

And may your Thanksgiving dinner

Stay off your thighs!

........anonymous

It's the perfect day to thank each and every one of you for your friendship. I sooo appreciate the time you take to visit me here. Sending each of you a bouquet and....

Wishing you all the Happiest of Thanksgiving!

Love,

Lynn

November is.....

....walks in weather that's no longer warm and mild ....bittersweet berries growing wild....leaves crunching under my feet in shades of red and gold~such a colorful treat
....cornfields~brown and brittle, before the last tractor mow
soon to be fields blanketed with white powdery snow

....chlorophyll doing their thing~or should I say 'not' ....and squirrels doing their thing~adding nuts to the pot ....lawn mowers put away~not to be seen

husbands now relaxing in front of the big screen

....enjoying silhouettes of trees and cloud striations ....saying goodbye to southbound migrations

(Hey! One dude's out of formation!)

....hello to a fuller moonand large family gatherings coming soon

....beautiful tablescapes with a Thanksgiving theme

a slice of pie to go with my whole can of whipped cream :^)

....quiet evenings in front of a fire

a pastime that I will never, ever tire

....blanket over my legs, kitty by my side, book in my lap

closing my eyes and mastering the art of a good nap....

Saying Goodbye...Part 2

The amazing weather this past Sunday had me doing back flips! Well...ok, lopsided cartwheels were more like it! A beautiful, sunny, and WARM day...perfect for gardening. So, naturally, I spent it hiking, biking and goofing off with friends....lol!A 'must' re-visit to the gorge...with views much different then 2 weeks ago, but, FALL's magic was still seen and felt. The trees along the banks are mostly bare now but beautiful, nonetheless.

Hey, what's this guy doing here? A scavenger hunt, I'm thinking, started by someone with a sense of whimsical. Whatever the reason, it made my eyes go a-hunting a little more closely and several treasures were found.Look at this...I would have totally missed this secret door! Must be where the gnomes and fairies hide in inclement weather....thinking of you, Frances :)

When I came across this beautiful oak tree, the song "Tie a Yellow Ribbon..." started playing in my head, and there it stayed, all day...annoying everyone within earshot! This was my favorite find of the day! Of course, I had to climb a split-rail fence and sneak into someone's yard...good thing I didn't see the 'Beware of Dog' sign 'til after....yikes! But isn't this sweet? And romantic....

Capping off the perfect day...

Make it a great one, y'all!