Happy New Year - Welcome 2011!

Photo credit: Mike Gifford

As 2010 prepares to slip away, what can we say to celebrate its passing?  Was it a stellar year filled with exotic getaways, and a new adventure around every corner?  No, it was a year with the normal ups and downs, some good times and some not so good times.  It was a year filled with friendship, love, laughter, and shared moments of both joy and sorrow.  Here's a little bit about what went on in my world in 2010.

Early this year, we were touched with sadness by the loss of several friends due to illness.  My best friend and her husband lost his father to a long battle with ALS, and another friend and fellow wine society member, passed away unexpectedly. 

My cat, Rosie, has experienced several bouts of diabetes this year.  The "fix" that controls it for him is Fancy Feast canned cat food.  No insulin shots is a good thing.  I'm thinking I should buy stock in Fancy Feast.

In spite of the busy year, we had a wonderfully relaxing vacation in Florida, our favorite vacation spot.  Great weather, great food and just chilling out together - could it get any better?

This winter, we had the most amazing gift of a white Christmas.  Yes, a white Christmas in the South.  It was truly beautiful.

I also celebrated my first anniversary in the blogosphere by sharing some of the things I'd learned over the year.  This has been a very positive and eye-opening experience for me.  I've met some really great people through blogging, and I would like to thank everyone who comes by my little hole in the wall to read what I have to say.  Every visit and every comment means a lot, and helps keep me motivated to continue along my journey.

As we move forward into the New Year, I wish each of you a great year, and many blessings for 2011.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Lightly Falling Snow

White Christmas 2010

Lightly falling snow

Dusts the ground like

Powdered sugar doughnuts

Leaving sweet traces

On little faces

Wrapped up in pretty colors

Bright blue mittens

And shiny red boots

Children's happy cries

And their mother's sighs

Remembering the days long ago

Of lightly falling snow

This was our White Christmas.  It began snowing at 11:15 Christmas morning.  We had 6 inches on the ground the morning after Christmas.  What a beautiful Christmas present.

Written for One Shot Wednesday

Quote of the Week

To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe.

- Anatole France

When you dream, dream big!

Our goals, or that which we wish to accomplish in our lives, begin as a dream that we plan for and work at, and most of all believe in our ability to reach.  Never stop believing in yourself.

Quote of the Week

I heard the bells on Christmas Day.
Their old familiar carols play.
And wild and sweet the words repeat.
Of peace on earth goodwill to men.
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Merry Christmas from our house to yours! 

I will be taking a short blogging break over Christmas, and will return next week.

A Winter's Day

Snow covered pines bend low
Softly whispering their secrets
The icy carpet beneath
Bears the tracks of birds and squirrels
Scurrying frantically hither and yon
Seeking sustenance and shelter
Against the bitter cold
Hunkering down until the sun
Shall warm away winter's evidence
And return to them nature's bounty
That they may feast once more

Written for Friday Flash 55

Quote of the Week

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

What we've done and what we've yet to do pales in comparison to who we are inside.  Our beliefs and values temper our life experiences and shape the person that we become.

Sledding Down Memory Lane

Many years ago there lived a little girl, and this little girl loved the snow, but she lived in the South where really good snows were rare.  Still, the little girl anxiously awaited the first snowfall (back then she didn’t mind the cold so much).  She would stare out the window at the field next door and study the sky and how it looked where it met the ground, and how the dried grasses waved with the wind.  She just knew snowflakes were about to fall.  Sure enough, one or two at a time, then more and more until it was really snowing.  She was so happy!  She would watch as it started sticking, piling up until everything was white.

Photo courtesy of Magpie Tales

 When the snow was deep enough and packed down on the roads around her house, her Daddy would take her sledding.  Not just any sledding, mind you, this was special.  You see, her Daddy made some chains for his lawn mower and fashioned a hitch of sorts for her sled.  The little girl donned her snow clothes, boots and mittens, and out into her winter wonderland they went.  Her Daddy pulled her everywhere, up and down the hills, and all around the neighborhood.  Such fun they had!  He would slow up and then start again, making the sled jerk, and off she slid into the snow, laughing.  The first time was an accident, but it was so much fun, she did it over and over again.

She’s been grown for some time now, but those long ago memories are sweet reminders of how special her childhood really was. 

Written for Magpie Tales #44

Quote of the Week

Shall we dance?

The more chance there is of stubbing your toe, the more chance you have of stepping into success.  

- Author Unknown








Through risk comes success, so don't be afraid of stubbing your toe.  In fact, by taking risks you come away with more opportunities to succeed.  Remember, it is only failure if you fail to get up. 

A Christmas Wish

Little Tommy stands and stares at all the Christmas toys under the tree in the store window.  Then he looks up at the first star to appear in the cold night sky.  Maybe if I wish hard enough, he thought, Santa will remember me and bring me a toy truck, and maybe even a puppy.

What do you mean I'm not a puppy?

This is our cat, Sophie, who licks and wags her tail like a puppy.  Yes, seriously, nothing within tail's reach is safe.

Written for Friday Flash 55

Sunset and a Pizza

Last month I posted about our wonderful get away to Florida.  Here is another little trip down our vacation memory lane. 

One of the great things about our condo and it's location is that it was right across the street from John's Pass.  This is a hub-bub of activity with many great restaurants and shops, not to mention cruise boats, and other water sport rentals.  John's Pass has had several face lifts over the years we've been going to Madeira, but one thing remains the same.  That is DeLosa's Pizza!  They say it's the pizza that made John's Pass famous.

They have an extensive menu, but our favorite is, of course, their pizza.  You can get it by the slice, a whole pie, eat in, take out, whatever you like.  Since we were within walking distance, we got one to go, and enjoyed what would be our most beautiful dining experience.

The sunset that night was absolutely spectacular!  It was the perfect accompaniment for our pizza.  The colors were so brilliant that it almost looked like lava flowing down from the sky to sizzle in the cool water.  These pictures were taken from our balcony.