Hearts of Fire

Last night I had a dream where I was surrounded by bluebirds ~ it was lovely.

I'm trying to stay warm-hearted despite the sudden plunge in temperatures - this lovely, but currently cold, metal heart was a recent Birthday gift from a great friend.

So, I hurried outside with my tea kettle full of hot water to defrost the birdbaths this morning ~ our coldest day this Winter. Plenty of feathered friends still around so food and water is important for their health and safety. No sooner had I melted the ice on one bath in the front garden, when a pair of blue jays arrived to drink, followed by the sweet tiny chickadees and then a red-bellied woodpecker.

My angel girls were cold but this one still chatted with a bird friend ~ and at least the sun was out.


This fairy seems intent on looking and waiting for the first Spring bulbs to emerge from this pot.

And, thankfully, we have a cord of great oak firewood, delivered last month, so we are enjoying cold evenings by a blazing hearth.




I saw these snug homes in a shop yesterday - such elegance for the sweet birds who must be struggling now to stay warm through the long, cold nights.

Today I'm scattering healthy bird and squirrel treats - the vegetable peelings from soup preparation, some grapes and apple cores, and I tucked in a few almonds and peanuts as a surprise!

January Work Out

Walking home from the grocery store carrying bags of these brought strange looks. What is still the norm in England, at least in small towns and villages, is frowned upon here ~ seems only homeless persons walk the streets carrying plastic bags.

What better way to start the year ~ some exercise in the crisp and sunny January air, then making healthy Russian vegetable soup!

We would have gone by bicycle except we don't have any. Perhaps if we move to a French village we can pedal to the market like this.

Well that was yesterday......................today has been so cold, a few snow flakes whirled around in the strong wind this morning. My exercise consisted of taking down the decorations and making numerous stair climbs to the attic to store them away.
Do you have a fitness plan for January? Have you tossed the last of the holiday sweet treats to the birds and wildlife? I did that this evening and in no time had cardinals, wrens, sparrows, woodpeckers and of course numerous squirrels..............all feeding frantically to weather the very cold night ahead.
My heart goes out to those who truly are homeless in this Winter weather.

Welcoming 2008

There's no need to hang around cold New York City with one million shivering people on New Year's Eve!

Bob and I purchased buttons to enjoy the First Night celebration in much warmer downtown Raleigh - a tradition we have followed for the past fifteen years or more. Kicked off by a People's Procession complete with long dragon, tall stick people, children wearing silly hats they've created earlier in the afternoon at the museum workshops, dancers and marching bands............downtown is the place to be.

Attending the various music venues along the route, entrance guaranteed by that fancy button, was fun. We heard jazz, Celtic, rock, concluding with a magnificent church pipe organ concert given by a friend, so awesome it made me think I was in an English cathedral.

The lowering, by crane, of the huge copper Raleigh Acorn - the symbol for our "City of Oaks", followed by a fireworks display, is done early at 7 PM for kids (of all ages including us!) and repeated at midnight for the true revelers. We then stopped for a quick meal before hurrying home to pop the champagne cork at midnight.

The acorn being lowered at the countdown - Bob getting ready to rub it for good luck.

And me..............touching the smooth copper and making my New Year wishes.

"Happy New Year to you all from Raleigh, North Carolina."

On New Year's Eve...............

Did you dance the night away?

Did you join in when they sang Auld Lang Syne?

Did you see the fireworks light up the heavens?

.............and did you clink champagne flutes..........kiss, and say "Happy New Year" to a dear and special one?

Raleigh, North Carolina ~12:01 AM New Year's Day 2008

Be ready to embrace this brand new year and make it your best one ever.
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HAPPY NEW YEAR

The clock strikes twelve and a NEW YEAR arrives, just like that!!!

Best wishes for good health, much happiness, and prosperity for you and yours. My sincere hopes are that this will be the best year yet for each one of us.

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The song "Auld Lang Syne" is sung at the stroke of midnight in almost every English-speaking country in the world to bring in the New Year. At least partially written by Robert Burns in the 1700's, it was first published in 1796 after his death. An old Scottish tune, "Auld Lang Syne" literally means "old long ago" or simply, "the good old days".

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Auld Lang Syne

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

and days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne

We'll take a cup of kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

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Sing out tonight......with family and friends.

My thanks to each one of you who have joined in this great blogging journey. You have shared so much of your lives, interests, hopes and dreams this past year. To me it's amazing that so many of us have so much in common. No matter where we live and how young or old we are, we have bonded. For me, and hopefully for you, the journey will continue in 2008.

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Journaling 2008

I do not make New Year resolutions because I never keep them!

However, this coming year I plan to make time to keep a proper hand written journal. I feel my blog is my journal too ~ I print each post and keep in a binder ~ however I want to take a few minutes each day to write a few thoughts down the old fashioned way.

I found this beautiful vintage looking journal when picking out books I wanted to receive for Christmas. It's look inspired me ~ sized like an old accounts ledger, each page displays three days ~ with narrow lines which suit my hand. There is a satin ribbon to mark the page.

At the bottom of each page is a quote - the first one being..............

We are always beginning anew ~ anonymous.

For each season of the year there is a collage and a beautiful quotation.

This is the one for Winter from Thoreau......... Do you make resolutions? Do you keep them?

Are you planning journaling this coming year?

If so, do you have a beautiful book ready to be filled with daily thoughts?

Winter Morning Light

This morning I woke late - the watery sun was already shining across the room lighting my lovely print of a Welsh stone farmhouse in Winter. Titled 'Pembrokeshire Cottage', it shows a typical cottage in that area of Wales and was painted by British watercolourist John Blockley. It is signed and numbered - 71/550. I wonder if others who purchased this print are still looking and enjoying, I hope so.

................................On a trip home 'across the pond' in the mid-80's, I visited John in his studio in Stow On The Wold, Gloucestershire, one of England's prettiest Cotswold villages. What lovely memories when one stops and really looks at a painting you have brought home from a special place.

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