Lotus with Flying Horse

A last nod to the holidays. The further I get behind, the faster I go. I'm going to jump on that Mobil horse for 2011, not to go fast so much as to have a good seat as another year speeds along.

Squiggly Tree

Been trying to snap a pic of this tree for years, but there is so much traffic and not much room to put a tripod. Got there early yesterday morning, but the lights were not on, so went back in the evening in the wind and rain and took what I could get. Maybe tomorrow . . . .

Christmas Cormorant

Does the clever title drive the blog or is the picture the real reason? A beautiful, calm, cold winter day.

Cute Prop

Loved seeing this at the Pittock Mansion during a tour of the place all decorated for Christmas! Loved it because I did so little cooking and baking and cleaning this Christmas, I surely saved lots of dish soap as well as time spent prepping and cleaning. Nonetheless, I should stress the small amount of cleaning done around here lately in general. AAAAGGGGHHH - It's a mess! Turns out it doesn't matter how much or little you entertain, you still make a big mess.

Merry Movies

These stars surround the little movie theater in downtown St. Johns. Tomorow we will partake of the honorable Christmas pastime of a movie in the afternoon. Perhaps True Grit.

Lorna's Lights

Every morning I see Lorna's little house all lit up. I sit in the right corner of the blue couch with my coffee and gaze at her lights and watch the sky lighten up.

Hot Toddy and Twigs

Wishing you many ways to take care of yourself like some warmth for the inside and for the outside.

Glitter and Warmth

Staying away from the malls; finding the holiday spirit in friend's and fancy.

Done Sweeping

We split and chop and sweep. We carry and stack again. We burn and dream of mornings like this.

Pins on the Wire

Early pink morning with forgotten clothespins waiting out the winter.

Wheelbarrow

Little of the red and a little of the green. Had a break in our heavy rains yesterday and we mucked out the chicken coop and redesigned their roost and nest box - turns out 5 is too many hens. Now that wheelbarrow is filled with scrumptious straw and chicken poop - I mean scrumptious if you are a plant.

Concert Season

Tuxedo as work clothes: this time of year Eric seems to always need another clean white shirt.

Back to Back Boards

Seems like I operated better in my kitchen with a number of the same oft used items: measuring spoons and cups mostly, but I manage to keep three small chopping boards going at the same time, too.

Savory Kitchen

The savory cheesecake turned out tasty even though my stomach fell as I watched it fall.

Garlic and Rosemary

Decided to make a double batch: two cheesecakes, so twice as many of everything. Stressful, but fun.

3 dc, 4 minutes on low heat

Multi-tasking my way through the holidays. Crocheting yet another dishcloth while waiting for the chocolate walnut tort topping to cool for 30 minutes before going on to the next step. Then it's back to 3 dc in the 4th ch . . . something like that!

Warning

The sign tells you to hold your stomach in, keep a smile on your face, and act like you love going to the gym. If you don't, you have to start right over again. Also, it wouldn't hurt to hold the camera straight.

Maple Wreath

Is Nature getting into a holiday spirit by making a wreath?  Continued strange weather: These leaves have already been covered once with snow a couple weeks ago and now they look like October. Same with our yard; we had a very light snow one day, and today I raked leaves off my lawn.

All I want to be is a Christmas Tree!

This fern seems to be flocked and ready for some very small ornaments; a little red bow next to the greenery would do just fine.

Green Machine

Fading light and a neighbor's pride and joy.

Fly Away

Away with November and welcome to December. It takes a month before I am acclimated. This morning outside with no hat or gloves even though it's as cold as anything all week. You just get used to it. A great flock of robins settled into the walnut trees; I guess it no longer surprises me to see any bird at any time. Aren't robins supposed to go south?