A Merry Christmas to all!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

The Day After

The sun came out the day after the ice storm. It was spectacular. I like the way this series came out. Here are a few of my favorites. Hard to believe there is still green grass under there.

Ice Storm

An ice storm started last night and continued through the day today. All my pictures look like they are black and white, but that's what it looked like outside too.

Snow!

Finally! Snow! Big, fat, lazy flakes falling all day long. It's so beautiful in December . . . and so NOT in February.

"I never eat December snowflakes, I always wait until January."

- Lucy Van Pelt

Morning

Views like this are one of the (few) advantages of getting up early to take my daughter to work.

Oops!

There goes the Christmas budget . . .

Perspective

I've been thinking a lot about perspectives. How I look at things, what I think I know, how to know when I'm only looking at a piece of the picture. How two people can look at the same situation and see two completely different things. Focusing on the details, seeing the big picture. There are just so many ways to see.

The Holiday Season Has Begun!

Ok, so I didn't take this picture. The grinch is busy and I couldn't schedule photo time with him.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas signals the start of the holiday season to me. Next up will be A Charlie Brown Christmas and then It's a Wonderful Life. Every year, it's a tradition.

These three programs can always make me feel like I did when I was a kid at Christmastime. I love the excitement and anticipation. I lost that for a few years. The holidays became a big, long list of things to do. I was exhausted and didn't enjoy it at all. I think it's because I never took the time to watch Christmas shows. But the feeling is back. I've made a conscious effort to make Christmas fun for myself again. A party is a party, not a mandatory performance. Gifts are thoughtful and fun, not an obligatory piece of crap. And sitting in a dark room looking at a lit tree is NOT a waste of time!

Happy Holidays!

Thanksgiving

For my parents, who don't always understand me, but love me anyway,
For my husband and daughter, who love me in spite of all of the craziness I put them through,
For my sister, who can make me laugh until I cry,
For the very best friends in the entire world,
For my home and health,
I give thanks!

Breakfast

I got to have breakfast with my daughter today. That never happens. She leaves for school as I'm getting up for work. On the weekends, it's just about time for lunch when she makes an appearance.

After her doctor appointment, we played hooky and went to Panera. It was nice to just sit and talk and enjoy ourselves.

Gator

It's fun to go down to the piers and watch the fishermen unload their catch.

It's not often you see a gator (or is it a croc?) in New England. It must have been a heck of a day on the ocean to come back with a catch that size.

The River

This river is close to my house. I saw my first eagle today. Where was my camera when the eagle flew over? In my #^$%ing car. Where was the eagle when I got my camera? Probably in a @^#%ing tree nearby. Ah well, maybe next time.

Frost Moon

Fog

It's been a warm, wet fall. Lots of fog, lots of rain. The sounds and smells of the sea travel in on the fog. A mile from the coast I can still hear the foghorns. The seagulls have been pushed inland, too. Although I can't see them through the thick weather, I can hear crying as they circle above. The biggest treat is the salty smell. When I close my eyes, I'm at the beach.

My journey begins.

I hope this will be a place to collect my thoughts,

still my mind and be a little creative.

Starting is the most difficult place for me, so I'm using my photographs to help the words come.

All of the photos are taken by me, unless otherwise noted.

A New Project

Blogs are fascinating. As you read the same ones day after day, you begin to feel like you're reading emails from friends.

Very odd.

Like when you're out and you see someone who looks familiar. So you greet her with a big smile and a "How are you?" - only to realize (from the look on her face) that you don't really know her. She's the cashier you see every time you go to CVS.

Anyway, here's my entry into the world . . .