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.

Quote of the Week

Remembrance of things past is not necessarily the remembrance of things as they were. - Marcel Proust

As we change over the years, our memories adapt to those changes.  The actual events remain the same, it is just how we remember them that is different.  The human memory is an interesting thing.  You can compare the memories of two people who shared the same experience, and come away with two different versions of the event.

For more on the subject of memory, check out this article on Making Sense of Memory.                                                           

Turkey Day Review

For Thanksgiving dinner we would wait

Then we sat and ate and ate

Thankful we are to be gathered here

At this joyous time of year

Said Uncle Fred

Would you please pass the bread

When all was done

Someone said how about one

More piece of pumpkin pie

No thanks, I think I'd die 

A Thanksgiving Friday Flash 55

What's in a Name?

Photo Credit:  Heather Ingram

There was such a lovely full moon the other night, I just had to write about the it and what the full moons are called.  Did you know that each one has it's own name?  I had often heard my Mom speak of the Harvest Moon - you've heard that one popularized in song, and the Hunter's Moon.

I never knew which was which, though, so I thought I'd find out and share that with you.

The Harvest Moon is the full moon nearest the Autumnal Equinox. Although it usually occurs in September, about every four years or so it falls in October, and the latest the Harvest Moon can occur is October 7.  Most full moons rise around 50 minutes later each night, but the Harvest Moon is only 20-30 minutes later.  This would allow the farmers more light to gather their harvest, hence the name, Harvest Moon.  When the Harvest Moon falls on the Autumnal Equinox, it is called a Super Harvest Moon.  This occurred this year, and was the first one since 1991.

The Hunter's Moon is the first full moon after the Harvest Moon.  This full moon is named such because it's light allows hunters to track their prey.  In the days of old, this was necessary to put aside food for winter when the snows came, and the birds and animals were less plentiful.

November's moon is often called the Beaver Moon because this was the time to set beaver traps, ensuring a good supply of furs for winter.  Again, this dates back to the days of trappers and mountain men. 

December's moon is known by several names, the Cold Moon or the Long Night Moon.   It is aptly named as Cold Moon for the winter's cold temperatures, and Long Night Moon for long stretch of darkness over the winter night.  This moon is also visible for a long period of time each night.  It's high trajectory is due to the fact it is opposite a low sun.

Full moons are always lovely to behold, and now we know a bit more about that big glowing orb that casts it's light upon our darkened earth.  Talon, a fellow blogger, captured the beauty of the full moon this past weekend.