January in the Garden

No, this is not me doing the laundry - it's too pretty a day for mundane chores and I've come down with cold - so instead I took a walk in the garden for an extra dose of vitamin D.

You can't even see it, but this was the five minute snow flurry one morning last week! I rushed to the front porch, the tiny flakes whirled in the wind and then were gone ~ was it really a dream, a wish.......no, it snowed just long enough to taunt and tease here in the South.

Today bright sunshine and temperatures in the 70's brings back our Carolina Blue sky making a walk through the Winter garden pleasant. This squirrel's nest high in an oak tree hangs on for dear life - they look so flimsy but will soon hold a new generation of those pesky, but cute, little devils who invade the garden year round.

The ice has melted in the fountain which has become a favorite bird bath ~ this female finch enjoyed a drink and a warm rest in the sun.

Color can be rare in the January garden.................unless you have berry bearing shrubs such as hollies and Pyracantha, at their loveliest when the sun shines, and before the hungry birds devour them.

The Jasmine keeps its green leaves and continues to climb slowly in the sunshine on the front porch.

Light Up Your Life

These candlesticks are faux mercury glass. They are beautiful and inexpensive right now in the sales ~ I found mine at Kohl's and Pottery Barn.

Candles in front of a mirror are lovely, on a chilly Winter night their light is multiplied in a dark corner of the room. I try to burn unscented candles most of the time, however if using scented my preference is Illuminations 'Fresh Air' ~ even fabulous when not burning as it perfumes a room with such a clean smell.

This pair of tapers I found on sale this week ~ I just love them for the dining room table. They appear as being made of wood ~ white birch comes to mind ~ and complement the woven natural straw balls in the urn. I like the contrast of the natural elements with the cloudy vintage crystals dangling from the candlesticks.

This marbleized ball candle is burning down slowly and neatly. Today I picked a single camellia from the garden ~ such an amazing flower opening it's ruffled petals despite below freezing temperatures. But then again........................Nature is full of wonderful surprises.

The mantel always seems somewhat bare once the Christmas decorations have been removed. We are waiting for more snow, not a lot but enough to make a snowball, perhaps a snow person ~ only had a very brief flurry one morning last week. Those of you still digging out, please send some South, although with temperatures expected in the sixties this coming week I guess it wouldn't last long!

~~The clock ticks, the message is clear~~

To all friends on the West Coast, our thoughts are with you during the terrible storms ~ we pray you and your loved ones are safe, and that you will soon have power restored to your homes. This also goes to friends in SE Australia where there is major flooding at this time ~ and to parts of England and other European countries where the Winter weather is severe.

The Forgotten

s I sat dreaming over my new journal entry, I looked up and noticed......................

.....................these!!

Don't you always find some holiday decorations you forgot to pack away? These simple balls are so pretty though - Martha (yes, that Martha!) did have some lovely colors/textures at good old K-Mart this season. In fact......................I went back this week and found a box of the little textured ones on sale ~ they will be packed away for next year.

I decided to look around to see what else I may have forgotten, and of course found these - the last lonely Belgian chocolates languishing in my carnival glass sweet dish. When nobody was looking, I quietly opened the small one and enjoyed - that huge one is still waiting to be picked but I promise it won't be by me!

On the other hand, don't they say a piece of dark chocolate each day is a health benefit?

Oh sweet sleeping putti, I cannot bring myself to pack you away, especially as your bird friend is still resting on your hip. I did remove your Christmas finery and am allowing you to snooze a bit longer in the dining room. Perhaps you can stay here until Spring when I'll move you to the front porch - maybe you'll awaken as the trees turn green again - just a few more months.

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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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Awards Ceremony...and we're all winners!

Seems I've been gathering awards over the holidays - this NICE MATTERS AWARD was generously bestowed on me by both Heidi at Celebrate the Seasons in Holland, and her niece Mandie at Army Wife is My Life here in North Carolina - thank you both so much. They are part of a very special family - I admire them all so much.







This wild and colorful BODACIOUS BLOG award....................








..................................along with the following YOUR BLOG IS A TREASURE award both came from sweet Rhondi at Rose Colored Glasses , a very lovely blog. Thank you Rhondi - I'm grateful for all the nice comments you leave me.

I'm in a quandary as to whom I should pass these fun awards along to...........there are just so many deserving people, many of whom have already received them I'm sure. I will however pass them all along to very special Deena at Nestled in the Singing Woods , a new friend who is fighting cancer at this very moment. Please visit her wonderful blogs where she shares not only her recent surgery and her road to recovery, but also her lovely wildlife photos and art. Please pray for her and wish her back to good health in the coming year.

Italians seem to know

Time to take time. Be tranquil and enjoy the simple things. Almond Cantuccini...........dip them in your favorite latte bowl. Sit down, reflect, relax, the busy time has passed by.

Let's have a coffee........................or Cantuccini con Vin Santo.............the classic way, dipping the little biscotti into the sweet dessert wine of the Chianti region of Italy.

Tasselled linen table runner purchased from a small shop built into the ancient walls of Cortona, Tuscany.

The prettily wrapped Panforte from beautiful Siena..............a traditional Italian dessert containing fruits and nuts. A small wedge is served with coffee or dessert wine after a meal, or enjoyed with coffee at breakfast.

Christmas Day

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Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King".
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Joy to the world the Lord is come, let earth receive her King.

Christmas Eve

It came upon the midnight clear,

That glorious song of old,

From angels bending near the earth,

To touch their harps of gold.

"Peace on the earth, goodwill to men,

From heaven's all gracious King",

The world in solemn stillness lay

To hear the angels sing.

Angels from the realms of glory..........................