Sunday was St Nicholas Day.  What did you do to celebrate?  

 

Patty and I spent the day decorating the neighborhood.  Well, not all of it.  We started with the haybale turkey, and turned it into a snowman, using our best graffiti skills.  We still need to secure the hat with rebar.  Then we set up the folk art snowmen that we made several years ago.  They look so good on the hill near the entrance.  Only thing missing is the snow.  Maybe later this week.

 

Then we found the wreaths and put them on the gate.  Wow!!!  They look good too with their fresh, new bows.  Next to do are the wreaths at the entrance, and folk art on the signposts.  It is really more than a one day job, but we're having fun.  Watch for future developments. 

 

What a gorgeous day it was to be outside.  Kinda cold to start, but it was really pleasant in the sun.  I wanted to continue on Monday, but it was really too cold.  Maybe today, when it warms up a bit.  It's only 24 degrees now, but the sun is going to be out.  

 

 

HAPPY CHRISTMAS YA'LL!!!

 

Today, December 7th, 2020 is the 79th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, "a date which will live in infamy."

 

In 1994, President Bill Clinton established December 7th as Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.  It is not a federal holiday, but a day of remembrance.

 

In our family, we honor those who died, and those who survived.  Those who survived suffered in a very real way, never forgetting that day.  I imagine every person alive on that day remembers where they were when they heard THAT news.  Daddy was 22 years old, and Momma was almost 18. They never talked about it, but it influenced their lives in innumerable ways. 

 

I read in Wikipedia that:   On Pearl Harbor Day, the American flag should be flown at half-staff until sunset to honor those who died as a result of the attack on U.S. military forces in Hawaii.  

 

I also read: The tradition of flying the flag at half-mast began in the 17th century.   Most English-speaking countries use the term half-mast in all instances. In the United States, this refers officially only to flags flown on ships, with half-staff used on land.  

 

If you're interested in flag etiquette, go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-mast?wprov=sfti1   and read about half-mast and half-staff, and how to raise and lower your flag to and from those positions.

 

I thought you'd like to know that.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I took this picture at 2:30 in the afternoon yesterday.  Wow!!!  That is some fog and rain.  We stayed inside and cooked all day.

 

Our friends were going to go home to Miami yesterday, but wisely decided to wait until the weather is a little nicer.  I guess they'll leave today.  That would be a VERY long day in the car with three little boys.  It's a 12 hour drive at best.  This would have made it miserable for everybody.  So glad they decided to stay another day.

 

Other friends left on Thursday and drove home to Tampa, FL.  They had nice weather all the way.  Good thing they didn't plan to go on Friday.  

 

Sure will miss our fair weather friends.  We love the winters here, but not everybody does.  We'll just have to send them pics of the snow.

 

HAPPY DECEMBER!!!

 

Yesterday we walked the loop about noon, and when we got down to the creek, this is what we saw in the holding pond.  ICE still.  

 

Interesting patterns, and cool picture.  It didn't feel that cold; (we both were wearing shorts) but there was still ice hanging around.  Looking forward to our next snow.  Maybe we'll get more.

 

HAPPY DECEMBER YA'LL!!!

 

Oh yeah.  I forgot to show you the finished gingerbread men.  We shared a bunch with our friends, and ended up with about 16 for us:  PLENTY!!!

 

Besides, it's fun to share.  And we can make some more!!!!  It is SO fun.

 

HAPPY BAKING!!!

 

 

This is what we do for fun on winter days:  make gingerbread men cookies.  Jon rolls out the dough and cuts it with a cookie cutter, and I get to decorate them with m&ms and Ghirardelli chocolate chips.  We have a glass of wine and make it a party.

 

Let me know what you do this time of year, and we can share it here.  There are so many stories out there.

 

HAPPY DECEMBER!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

And this is what I am most thankful for today.  

 

Our comfortable home, Jon, and Gizmo.  Our happy little family.  Even though we miss our peeps.

 

Gotta get the turkey started.  Even though it's just us this year, we will still enjoy cooking our Thanksgiving feast:  turkey and chestnut dressing, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes and broccoli casserole.  Not sure which part I like best:  the cooking or the feasting.  Or maybe the wine for lunch...  

 

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

 

 

 

This is what I've been most thankful for my whole life.  

 

Betsy, Julie, Momma, Me, and Linda.  

 

I know the photo is kinda old, December, 2003, and we've all changed since then, but it's still the best way I know to show you my beautiful mother and sisters.  We live too far apart these days, and don't get to see each other nearly enough, but I am so thankful that we will always be BEST FRIENDS.

 

I hope you ALL have a 

 

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

 

 

 

We were on our west facing deck a couple days ago, thinking how beautiful this fall has been.  It's well into November and the colors are still bright.  

 

As we were sitting there, the clouds parted just in time to light up the hills, and let us see the sunset.  Wish you were here.

 

HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!!!

 

Nancy and I went for a walk in the woods on Sunday.  What a beautiful sight.  Everywhere we looked, something caught our attention.  The Maple and Beech and Oak  trees are bursting with color, and the creek is running.  We stopped often with mouths agape, enjoying the sights and sounds.  It felt like therapy after a long stressful week.

 

It reminded me of a word I read in a magazine:  SHINRIN-YOKU.  It is a Japanese word that translates to 'forest bathing.'

 

Forest bathing is just one of many Nature Therapies, including garden therapy, and ocean therapy.  They are exercises and activities that improve our health by being  immersed in Nature.  These therapies can restore our mental and physical health, and extend our lives.  If you'd like to read more about Nature Therapy, go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_therapy?wprov=sfti1   The article is very interesting.

 

We are so fortunate to live here in Five Forks.  All we have to do is step outside and we are in the forest.  We have safe roads on which to walk, and the Creekside Trail is beautiful in all four seasons.  

 

I hope you are getting out into nature every day, and breathing the fresh air.  Think of it as therapy.  It's free, and we don't even need to go anywhere to get it.

 

 

HAPPY NOVEMBER!!!