When life gives you......................

................oranges, squeeze 'em!!!!

My neighbor kindly shared her box of citrus fruits from Florida. Thinking they were all oranges......after all they were on the outside.......I was quite surprised to find 'pink grapefruit' inside some! Yep, they taste like grapefruit and are not 'blood oranges'. So, can you tell me ~ you Florida gals perhaps ~ do grapefruits come disguised as oranges sometimes?

Whatever, they are gorgeous and I had to share the colors before sipping all that beautiful, healthy, fresh squeezed juice this morning.

American Robins

The North Wind doth blow and we shall have snow,

And what will poor robin do then poor thing?

He'll sit in the barn and keep himself warm

and hide his head under his wing, poor thing.

~16th Century British nursery rhyme using

the old English word 'doth'~

The American Robin is a member of the thrush family. "Thrush" means wanderer. Robins are the largest thrushes. This female (grey colored head, wings and tail feathers - male has black) was drinking at my fountain yesterday morning after I melted the ice covering. Robins migrate in large flocks in Autumn and can winter anywhere from Southern Canada to Guatemala. They return to their Summer homes in late Winter and begin to sing in April when they begin to pair. I've seen several robins in the garden and at the park this week. The good news, for those of you in the icy grip of Winter, is that it's already late Winter for Robins so Spring can't be far away!

Male Robin scratching through leaves at the curb.

Also at my fountain yesterday.......several Chickadees

...........and House Finches, this one above is a female. Later, a beautiful Eastern Bluebird arrived and I didn't have the camera handy.......I've been kicking myself ever since!

Edited: Today - Wednesday. Just caught Mr. House Finch visiting for a drink - looks like the slightly warmer day means the fountain needs topping up!

All images at the fountain were taken through the dining room window.

Please remember to feed your backyard birds during this cold weather, and supply fresh water if possible. Birds cannot keep up their body weight to fly and will die if they do not have food and water available.

Dressing for Winter

OOh baby it's cold outside! I love this image from Talbots Winter catalog.......this is exactly the type of sweater and scarf required for the weather we're experiencing since January arrived.......even here down South.

I shared the generous Anthropologie gift card I won last Fall (from artist Erin's beautiful The Painted Garden blog) with my granddaughter during our December New York City trip. At the Anthropologie shop she picked this lovely midnight blue heavy cotton knit jacket ~ here you see her trying it on in the fitting room. It was a keeper, long, warm, not too trendy, and hooded.....................................

.................but she still required that other jacket with the even warmer furry hood for walking about snowy Manhattan! Now it's perfect for here too but we're hoping for a warming trend soon. Jasmin's school bus comes at 6:30 AM and it's way below freezing at that hour.

Seems almost everyone, everywhere is having unusually cold weather with snow in places usually much milder in January. I'm lighting a fire, pulling on my warmest clothes, snuggling up with a throw, a hot drink.....and just enjoying Winter.

I like Trader Joe's Sipping Chocolate ~ Inspired by European Tradition. Real rich chocolate taste and not too sweet. The bonus - NO artificial colors or flavors, no preservatives, inexpensive, and a cute little tin for storing something or other later!

*************

Thank you, each and every one of you, who left a kind comment on my last post regarding the loss of my dear friend Sterling in California. At times like this, the true meaning of friendship - even with those of you I have yet to meet in person - comes through to warm a sorrowful heart. I've passed along your kind condolences to Paula. I'm truly grateful for all the lovely, comforting words you wrote.

Saying goodbye..................

Shedding tears of sorrow.

Yesterday I took a walk in below freezing temperatures. The sky was cloudless and brilliant blue in the midday sunshine. I went to a little park nearby. At one time several homes stood there. Families with children must have enjoyed the nearby creek. Vestiges of the occupants remain, a plant hanger rusting on a large oak, a little shed way back in the wooded area. The houses were taken by the city due to constant flooding from the creek, and the park was created. I only see a dog walker now and then, it's not a popular place as there's a much larger city park within half a mile complete with duck pond, swings, slide, tennis courts and community center. I like to stop here at this somewhat lonely spot when I want to think, be alone, take some pictures, and perhaps shed a tear.

I lost the dearest friend on Friday.........the husband of my best friend from my hometown in England. She and I met in Washington, D.C. when we emigrated, amazed to find we grew up just miles apart. For almost 47 years we have kept in touch even though she moved to the west coast 45 years ago. We were last together in July when we visited their vacation home at Lake Almanor in Northern California, and last Spring we all met up in our hometown in Devon, England for an amazing time.

This wonderful couple were like this mighty oak. Two special loving people, always together, traveling the world to places most of us never see. Brave until the very end, a kind and loving man to his family, friends and strangers. His battle with cancer for so many years made us admire him so much

I will not be posting for a little while. Life feels sad, empty, brittle. I need some time to remember a wonderful man whom I know is now at peace...........................but will be missed so much.

Pink Saturday Guest

A PINK SATURDAY post is hard today ~ my camera hasn't captured anything pink since the store windows in New York. Instead I'm sharing more of what my granddaughter Jasmin sees through the camera lens. Somehow, last week she brought life back to my dried roses, putting the pink back into the now ochre and tan shaded petals. She has 'the eye' and knows how to get all those special effects in just a blink of it! Thanks for being a great 'guest photographer' Jasmin.

So here we are starting another year of Pink Saturdays. This has grown by leaps and bounds, all thanks to dear Beverly at How Sweet the Sound who continues to do a wonderful job hosting this always fun day of the week. Be sure to stop over and see Beverly's list of participants this week....................and have a fabulous day.

Christmas Past

Wrapping and packing snowflakes and stars.

I was late, but just by a day. Twelfth Night and Epiphany passed by but I didn't take down my decorations until yesterday. No excuses other than too cold, too busy, a dental appointment, an H1N1 'flu shot in the arm.

One little star was not hidden away in the big green box. Instead it will remain, perhaps moving from place to place throughout the year, a memory, an inspiration.

Starlight, star bright,

The first star I see tonight;

I wish I may, I wish I might,

Have the wish I wish tonight.

~19th Century English Nursery Rhyme~

*****

A Winter's Tale

A few mornings ago, after the deep freeze arrived here in central North Carolina, I found myself wide awake at 5 AM. After switching on the coffee pot and opening the blinds, I saw the huge white moon still hanging in the darkened sky to the West. Pulling my fleece robe tight around me, and slipping into thick socks, I stepped outside on the porch with a camera and took some shots, this one being the best. A frigid but beautiful clear morning.

Black-capped Chickadee

I sat at the computer for a while and, after the sun came up, it wasn't long before several chickadees and a lone titmouse flew onto the frozen fountain in search of a morning drink. Knowing the temps. were stuck below freezing for the coming days and water would remain solid ice, I boiled a tea kettle and poured on the hot water........for at least on hour or so the birds could drink.

Despite the biting cold, our skies are cloudless and sunny. I love this weather so much. This afternoon I looked skyward at a group of crows chasing a red-tailed hawk across the expanse of brilliant Carolina blue...............but this may change, tonight we may have snow.