Last Saturday, the night before and no resolve

Last Saturday afternoon at my sister and brother-in-law's home in Jefferson County, Florida (the very northern part in the "panhandle.")  My sister was occupied with Christmas errands when I arrived, so I sat on the front steps and just listened to the quiet.  The loveliest thing - camellias bloom in December and these were in their full glory.

I don't see Moby all that often, but thankfully, he likes me.  He is a good, fierce guard dog, when needed.  He wandered around the house and his tail started wagging when he heard my voice.  His birthday is Christmas Day, so I brought him a special treat for his birthday, as well as Christmas.  That's kitty Pete in the driveway - just going over to inspect my car.

My sister calls these "Auxiliary Stockings" - the knitted ones hanging on the mantel are too fragile for all the heavier things we like to put in them.  I had fun labeling them and even more fun putting things in them.  I had a lovely time with my family and it was fun seeing the excitement of the little ones that Christmas had come.

Thinking of my blog friends on the drive home, I pulled over to take a photo of the cotton, all wrapped up in big bales.  The white spots you see on the side of the road, are pieces of cotton that drifted away - you see a lot of that in southern Georgia.  The bales will be picked up at some point and will end up in our clothing and other linens.  

And speaking of blog friends, Grannie Annie turned this photo that I posted in November into a "digital painting" - posted on facebook.  I was delighted to see it and I love it.  Thanks for doing that, Annie!  (Posted here with permission.)

Happy New Year, my friends (a little early.)  I'll be around at your blogs the next couple of days.  I hope you have a lovely weekend.  Any resolutions?  None for me.  I'll end with my three favorite resolution quotes: 

- I do think New Year's resolutions can't technically be expected to begin on New Year's Day, don't you? Since, because it's an extension of New Year's Eve, smokers are already on a smoking roll and cannot be expected to stop abruptly on the stroke of midnight with so much nicotine in the system. Also dieting on New Year's Day isn't a good idea as you can't eat rationally but really need to be free to consume whatever is necessary, moment by moment, in order to ease your hangover. I think it would be much more sensible if resolutions began generally on January the second. ~Helen Fielding, Bridget Jones's Diary

- Good resolutions are simply checks that men draw on a bank where they have no account. ~Oscar Wilde

- Drop the last year into the silent limbo of the past. Let it go, for it was imperfect, and thank God that it can go. ~Brooks Atkinson

'Tis the season

Holiday scenes...

The first signs of the impending season were these "book trees" spotted in a shop window in Thomasville, Georgia on November 25.  I love the reflection of downtown in the window.

Three tired women met at our church in the evening in early December to decorate the Chrismon tree.  "Chrismon" is a combination of the words "Christ" and "monogram," and means "symbols of Christ." Chrismons are gold and white, representing majesty and purity.  I was not keen on spending my evening doing this, but ended up enjoying the company of two fellow church members as we chatted and worked on the tree, sharing memories.

And here's the whole thing - all done.  The tree might be listing a bit to the left.  Hmm...

My sister and I have a silly game, in which we text each other crazy things the other might receive for Christmas.  I could not get her to tell me anything she wanted, so I told her this poodle was going to look cute on her dresser.  :)  Not to worry - she's got two really good things from me under the tree.

I already shared my tree at home here, but this a closeup of some of favorite ornaments, including Dorothy's red shoe (purchased at the Smithsonian Museum of American History in Washington, DC), and a beloved ornament of my late parents' depicting the Atlanta Braves World Series Championship in 1995. 

This plane is the new addition to my tree - purchased at the same shop that had the ceramic poodle.  :)  I liked it and think it is a cute addition.

I hope your holidays are wonderful, my friends!  See you for a last post of 2016 next week.  This is my 1601st post - just realized.

Favorite tree, hands and looking out

It was a gloomy-ish weather day when I went to the tour of homes in Madison, Georgia several days ago.  Friend Barb couldn't go with me, as usual, so off I went.  I took a few photos - mostly quirky ones.  I think that little structure might have been a cover for a well at one time.  And I adore Ginkgo trees, with their fan-shaped leaves - especially when the leaves turn yellow in the fall.

Love the hand prints in the brick walkway of someone's home.  I wonder where those hands might be now and what they are doing.

This home was wonderful - full of furniture and things from all the countries they have lived in.  But the back yard held these four chairs just looking out at nature.  I imagined the family just sitting and chatting in the evening.

This flame colored tree caught my fancy, but the Ginkgo is still my favorite.

I hope the world is being kind to you today, my friend.  Have a wonderful weekend.

In the mist, cheerful and colorful

Four unrelated good things this week - going from gray to colorful:

The skyline of midtown Atlanta was lovely and mystical looking, as viewed from the parking deck of Georgia Public Broadcasting on volunteer night.  We had needed rain so badly and it was welcome when it came.

More gloomy sky, but loved the cheery scarecrow wearing Santa's hat.  Madison, Georgia, last Saturday.

It took all week, but I got my little tree up.  It's sitting on a draped crate so that it will have more presence.  :)  I decorated it a little at a time and finally finished yesterday.  Richie Bear was purchased at Rich's department store, in the mid-1980s, when it was still open.  And the cardboard Santa to the right was given to me by my kindergarten teacher, way back when.  

Coworker Bobby salvaged peppers and green tomatoes from his garden last night, since the temperature was dropping into the 20s (fahrenheit).  It's cold here in the south today.  I chose two red peppers that he swears won't be hot.  :)  It was astounding to see these garden baskets on this wintry day.

I hope your weekend is full of good things!