Oh, my bloggy friends......Merry Christmas to you!

I wish I had that time and the energy to visit each and every 

blog that I cherish....

there are so many of you!

I am honored to have found many women 

who seem to see the world in ways 

that I admire and concur....

So many of you take wonderful images....

I have to admit,

by the time I get around to 

posting or reading blogs

I am weary of my camera.

I have found the iPhone to be the most wonderful of tools.....

This image quickly snapped with said iPhone....

as well as this one.....

When you go to a party and find the food is worth the 

trouble of taking a photo!

don't you love these cute little ornament place card holders?

you simply cannot allow me to sit this close to the cheese.....as you can plainly see....

Oh yes, 

I have friends.....

friends that cook!

and I mean COOK!

I am stuffed better than the turkey this year.

Gratitude.

much gratitude.....

I celebrated a 20 year anniversary this year that reminds me

I am fortunate beyond words....

Thank you all for your words...

I feel privileged to have shared your moments of joy

of fear....

of angst...

of creativity...

of concern...

of patriotism...

and 

most 

importantly,

Love.

of course the greatest of these is love....

thank you.

smiles.

What's your philosophy?

I guess that it speaks to my intelligence 

that I embrace the philosophy of a dog.....

a very specific dog....

a famous one, no less....

that would be..

Snoopy!

He has never failed me....

Even though his owner Charlie Brown 

has his tails of woe (sorry for the pun)

not Snoopy.....

brilliant in all his reactions to life,

this dog is priceless..

He has friends, too.

Like Linus...

I'm with you Linus, ol' pal....

Then there is 

Charlie,

who needs the calm reassurance of his 

canine companion...

Snoopy

fits into any crowd,

regardless of race, religion or breed...

(sorry again)

Snoopy knows his place in the 

grand scheme of things...

On top of his house..

Snoopy is

loyal,

kind,

compassionate,

faithful,

calm in the face of danger,

perhaps, 

he is a 

Boy Scout!

He is also creative...

Ah,

and a leader amongst 

a herd of followers...

A counselor to the troubled....

He is my hero...

Thank you Mr. Schulz,

wherever you are....

smiles

My Notting Hill.....

I am a huge pushover....

and 

so vulnerable to flattery....

and 

hang on any compliment....

and 

completely surprised

to see my blog listed

 on

 Michele's

 My Notting Hill

 granting me a

 Stylish Blogger Award.

Did I say OMG!?

No...

What I actually said,

I wouldn't usually print here....so I won't ...

(I know you are glad)

This award

  requires you to share 7 things about yourself

 and award some recently discovered bloggers. 

(Some of these are not so recently discovered, but I believe you will enjoy them all!)

1. I think....or have assumed that I am/was a Leo.....with recent developments, I am unsure.

But I still act like one, and my sweetie is one too....roar!

2.  I have never had musical training, but love music and will listen to the local classical channel for hours on end, if given the opportunity.

3. I know a bit about art history, architecture and Greek mythology, as I devoured books on 

all of this when I was a adolescent.

4.  I covet camera equipment. Really. I drool when I read about another blogger's newly acquired 

piece of equipment. And, quickly pull it up on B&H photo's site, to see how long it will take 

me to acquire one.... 

5.  I buy junk (or junque ;-)) and sell most of it on Etsy. Some things I simple cannot part with.

I have a soft spot for things; 

that I might have seen in my grandmother's house, are of 1960's vintage, or are

modern in design.

6. I fancy myself a dancer, but dread an upcoming May wedding that will require dancing 

on my part...yipes!

7. I am addicted to Diet Coke, and am constantly shocked to find several empty cans

on my desk....is there a 12-step program for this?

Whew!

I am quite sure that is just about all you want to know about me....

so here are some interesting people that might 

just tweek your fancy.....smiles

 A Field Journal

 Annechovie

 Being Ruby

 Things That Inspire

MartineauVermillion

 Simply Lovely

Seens From the Backs of My Eyelids

Brabourne Farm

The Fifty Factor

Georgianna Lane

Vanishing Threshold

for the love of a house

smiles.....

I meet wonderful people here....

People seem to find a way to complain...

about some of the strangest things...

even other bloggers.

Not me.

I have had the most incredible luck 

in the blogosphere.

I have met women that 

create...

with their words,

with their photos,

with their hands......

good golly!

 there are some talented

people out there.

And sometimes

I stubble upon someone that I take an instant

liking to....

like PJ.

If you haven't seen her 

"Weekly Bleatings"

then you haven't laughed.

no, I mean REALLY laughed.

She is self-deprecating 

in a good way,

I love people that 

can laugh at themselves,

and have the nerve to tell others what they

are sniggling about. 

Suffice to say,

I was very delighted indeed to have her ask me 

about a featured spot on her blog

"Seens from the backs of my eyelids"

Yesterday was that day.

I am truly grateful when anyone

appreciates my work.

I am doubly grateful when that person 

is someone whose work

I admire.

And 

Triply grateful when they have 

the gift of gently used sarcasm

and wit.....

smiles.

A cupa tea...

I am blessed....

I have women in my life that remind 

me how very lucky I am .....

Each week,

one or two of them will come

by my house after work,

or on their way to play,

and we will sit in the 

BAKW

(Big A@# Kitchen Window)
drink something hot,
tea, coffee, hot chocolate

and talk.

We do not discuss politics

(ever)

we do not discuss children

(well, occasionally)

we do not discuss men

(now that's a lie!)

But we are 

regularly

aware of how 

blessed we all are.

To have good health,

friends, family,

food (especially food!)

And now,
I am blessed in a new way...
Bloggy friends.
(hope they don't mind that name)
I am so amazed
at the talent,
the kindness and
the sheer joy of writing...

Thank you Anne!
smiles

Soap Box Friday...

I love Fridays...

I love azaleas.....

I love warm spring breezes....

I am bored with politics...

no, to be more precise...

I am annoyed.

Really.

I am usually able to ignore the rantings and ravings of

so many people that seem to think that they 

have all the answers.

Got news ...

No one person has all the answers.

No one party has all the answers.

No one nation has all the answers.

Well,

here is a thought....

one idea embraced by all the 

religions, and many cultures...

it is known by many names,

such as,

Karma,

the Golden Rule,

"what goes around...."

you get the idea.

I have learned a thing or two....

one thing I have observed

is 

that people,

regardless of origin,

faith, politics, etc...

tend to react in an 

extreme manner when they are scared.

Fear causes all sorts 

of bad behavior.

Behavior that we regret 

in retrospect.

Something I have noticed lately,

is that my friends (and some not so much)

are using the social media outlets

to express feelings of outrage.

Extreme feelings.

Feelings that sound like a riot when I read them.

Who are these people?

When did they develop these extreme views?

Why didn't I notice before?

What's up, Doc?

I don't have the answers.

But I am curious my bloggy friends,

have you noticed this too?

What do you think?

Why is it suddenly so obvious to me?

I would love to get your input,

insight, 

and feelings regarding this phenomenon.

Thank you,

smiles.