Winter weather

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Winter has arrived... for a few days. The wind is actually howling outside, the trees are creaking and rubbing together making an ungodly noise. We are warm inside with the fireplace going to help the heat pump that seems to be in hyper drive trying to keep this place warm. The cats are draped about the furniture and the dogs are peacefully stretched out in their kennels with the doors still open. We'll close them when we retire.
Earlier today the dogs were 'sharing' the egg pan. Belle had control and Penny helplessly looked on until Belle tired and gave up the pan.

The evenings have brought some great sunsets. This was another night, but is representative of most lately. Today brought sun and rain and sleet and snow squalls all while we were heading to Caines 4th birthday party. I find it so amazing whenever I see him and he talks to me using his big raspy voice and his big words. He's very smart and a loving child...

Mac is sprawled in one of the recliners. He's huge, very fluffy, blue-eyed and often cross-eyed! My nephew Matt calls him the Buick..he's about the same size...

I have no more mini horses, I gave the last 2 away to the same people who took the first 2, so they are all together again, and are doing really well. Horses are communal animals anyway, and I am glad they are with the people who have them. they're well cared for and enjoyed. Gotta say I do miss them being in the field though.

Changes..change is good, sometimes hard to do and tough to make the adjustments, but overall, a good thing.

I'm watching a stink bug walk across the chair rail behind my computer..

some things never change.

Parking lot eggs

It is now 2012.
We are back from our Christmas in the Keys, and I am happy to come home and so are the dogs. Bob would rather be in the Keys IF the winds would stay down so he could fish! I love the Keys, love my wonderful friends and the fast paced life and get together's that are almost daily. People in the Keys are living life to the fullest, and although I do love that, I have to say I missed my nest. Lonny is our good friend who graciously allowed us and the dogs to feel very comfortable and at home in his cozy Big Pine Key house that has an awesome view of the Key Deer refuge and a canal in the back yard.Thank you so much Lon.
The water and sky seem bluer( is that a word?) in the Keys...

Belle rode very well, but was awfully nosy, and although the wind would make her head-out-the-window time short, she was frequently testing the air for familiar scents.

Penny sleeps very nicely in the truck. She is a great rider...just feed her and give her water and a walk occasionally, and shes a happy pup.

The scenery is so different that I have to keep looking...no books for me, I might miss something like this bougainvillea tree...so pretty !

Bahia Honda State Park is so beautiful and picturesque, we always take the time to go there and this time it was only once. We were married at the beach there in 1998...wow, time flies.

The winds blew the whole time we were there, about 15-25 knots, enough to keep a small craft warning up and keep Bob from going out in the boat to fish. This hawk was on a speed limit sign, facing the 15 knot winds. Seemed appropriate to me.

I did get to the pool almost every day for water aerobics with my friends, here's Diane our illustrious leader setting up the boom box to get started. The pool water was 87 degrees.

The beach was very busy,as is normal for what the locals call 'hell week' due to the traffic and over crowded hotels,restaurants and areas like this beach at Bahia Honda. Even with the jelly fish alert, people crowded the sand and beach houses.

Our friend Jim and his lady Carol are cooking up Christmas night snacks and dinner.Jim was our best man at our wedding and was Bob's partner in tile in the Keys early on. Still good friends .

We played our first Bacchi games at friends Linda and Glenn Cummins on Big Pine. They have a get together every Thursday for Bacchi, food and drinks. Here is Bob(R) and Jim middle and one of the Bacchi crew.

Here's Glenn on his usual perch at his bar under their stilt house. Notice the sign in back of him? Full-fledged BAH...yes they are transplanted Yankees!

This is Lonny alias Santa Lon taken on the Conch Train tour of the Christmas lights in Key West.Us Northerners think Christmas would be dull and spiritless in the Keys, but the absolute opposite is the truth.

We arrived home on Friday afternoon, and started the opening of mail, and the usual stuff going along with any vacation return. We were hungry for dinner, but lacked the energy to do anything, so our neighbors Melissa and daughter Sam joined us for a quick dinner at Carl's, a local spot, and then we stopped at the little market for eggs, bread and milk..staples we were out of... Now on the way home at various stops, we found 3 cents and a dime and I found a silver fairy charm, smooshed from a tire, but still cute. I took it all as lucky signs, after all we needed money and luck is always helpful when traveling.I figured the fairy would help us get what we need, and sure enough...at the local market after buying our bread, milk and a dozen eggs, we stopped in the parking lot to keep from hitting a grocery bag like the one we just got our groceries in. Bob stopped and picked it up and guess what it held. A dozen eggs! We weren't sure if they were whole or not, although the egg box seemed pretty good, and when we got home, I salvaged 10 of those large brown fresh eggs, and put them up for tomorrows breakfast. The fairy was working.

At home on New Years Day after a great evening at the neighbors playing games, polka for the guys, dominoes(Mexican train style) for others, I awoke to sunshine and 50+ degrees, Guinea fowl in the yard as well as bees working the Camellia tree!

A dandelion is blooming!

Then I noticed that there are clumps of daffodils exploding from the ground everywhere!

Are you sure it's the first of January???

This bottle tree of mine is going to grow in 2012.

It's going to be a great New Year. I am an optimist. I haven't made New Years resolutions, I have decided on actions for 2012. I plan to exercise more and eat healthy which should result in weight loss, that will ease the pain I have in my back, hips, and knees.

I will hug more people and tell them how much I love them.(is that possible? I am a hugger)

I will reward myself with simple pleasures, and love my wonderful husband more.

I will make more time for my grandson, and the kids and my family and friends. I will be gentler with my little guy at school, and be positive in all my actions with the kids, letting them know how great they are.

In 2012 I wish for all my family, co-workers and friends.....

Parking Lot Eggs!

Giving Thanks

The day begins with breakfast, and then running the dogs. Belle blends beautifully with the leaves, and the creek is running with all the rain we have had.But today is sunny and the mercury is creeping up to the mid 60's. Perfect.

Hard to believe that I still have flowers on Thanksgiving day. This is a winter blooming Camellia

and it is loaded with honey bees.
The roses have such pretty new growth..to trim or not to trim...

We headed to the Lake, Smith Mountain Lake, to our friends Ruth and Bob Eaken. They were instrumental in our coming here in the first place, as they are also Keys residents. They have a lovely place right on the water, and the day was picture perfect and so was the food. We were joined by Candy and Tony LaPerna, some other lake friends and long time friends of the Eakens.

Candy broke her foot, and has been hobbling about on cast and crutches, so Ruth opted to host although technically it was Candy's year.

Some Lake 'effects' from the back porch of the Eaken's.

The loons made their appearance and a few fish leaped out and gave the fisherman the raspberry.

You can tell the shadows are long, and the winter sun is low and thick.

The little titmice are quite tame and weren't put off by my presence.

The living room has this awesome view framed by a bank of windows from peak to floor.

The weeping willow holds its golden leaves.


Last minute warming, wine and early Christmas gifts..Candy rests her wounded paw.

Annie, the Eaken's yellow Lab, loved the attention and the company and showed off her toy. Shes very well mannered and a real social girl.

Cheers!

Thank you Ruth and Bob, and Candy and Tony for a lovely Thanksgiving !

Time is flying by,actually.

The frost has come. Mornings are cold and windshields need scraping.

The last of my roses have bloomed and been cut.

The last of the tomatoes are picked and the vines pulled for mulch. Miss them already.

Caines visit last weekend was fun and tiring. He is easily amused at 3 1/2, and he still loves his wonder horse 'Tex'.

Bath time with nice fragrant bubbles and lots of cups and things to pour and repour. He was in bed at about 7:30 and asleep by 8 pm. Worn out from all the fresh air, belly full, warm bath and a sippy cup of milk. Life is good.

Granpa helps get him dressed in the morning..

Riding with Grandma..one of his favorite things to do..

Caine and Pop-pop watching the dogs swim in the little pond...

Helping to get hay down for the horses...could take a long time doing it this way..

Ok, this works much better..pretty heavy for a little guy, but his heart is in it!

A busy weekend, and it sure sped by...

He is growing so fast, and talks so plainly now. Actually is one of his new words he seems to use alot. He picks me flowers and tells me stories and loves his books. Love the little guy.