And so it begins.
Monthly Archives: December 2014
My Blog, 2014 in review: Big thanks to you all.
As this year draws to a close, I would like to thank all of you who have kept me company on my blog journey in 2014. I consider each and every one of you, not only as followers and commenters, but as friends. It’s been so great sharing my life, my celebrations and my photos with you; after all, what is a blog without the encouragement of other people? I’m so grateful for all your visits, likes and comments, and it’s also been fascinating to read what you’ve all been up to this year. I feel privileged to have been able to share in your travels, your joys and sometimes your sorrows too. I wish you all an absolutely splendid 2015, filled with good health, great experiences and most of all, lots of love and caring.
An extra special vote of thanks goes to my five top commenters:
http://sherrimatthewsblog.com/
https://abitofwiggleroom.wordpress.com/
https://dragoneystory.wordpress.com/
https://gusgus64.wordpress.com/
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 48,000 times in 2014. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 18 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.
Travel Theme: I’m a minimalist at the beach.
Most of the time I’m a really sociable person, but when I go to the beach, I do love somewhere quiet and uncluttered. A few bicycles are just fine, as long as their riders are nowhere to be seen.
Ah yes, this is just perfect……..one dead tree and no live people!
I’m quite willing to share my paddling space with one gull, but that’s about as generous as I get.
Of course, one must always be prepared for an unexpected interruption of such paradisical minimalism. A jogger might suddenly appear, whilst at the same time, a head pops up for air from the hitherto unpopulated sand.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my minimalist beach pics for Ailsa’s Travel Theme.
Silent Sunday: Utopia
Delicious ‘Warmth’ for the WPC
Last Christmas, our daughter bought us this beautiful casserole dish, and of course I had to try it out, even though the weather was really warm here in Florida. Some of you in colder climes might appreciate a plate of spicy hot chicken, onion, garlic and red pepper stew.
Footnote:
After the indulgence of the past couple of days, I’m not even thinking about food today, apart from looking at this photo. Well, maybe just a bit of fruit for lunch. 🙂
Floral Friday Fotos: Prelude to a Christmas Feast
I hope you all had as wonderful a Christmas Day feast as I had.
The buffet tables were laden with every delicious food one could possibly think of. There was excellent live piano and saxophone music, playing everything from Chopin, to the Blues and very lively Rock ‘n’ Roll, with even a few Christmas melodies thrown into the mix. People were dancing in the aisles and there was such a happy vibe. That was only lunch, and in the evening, we went to visit more friends for another party and yet more food and drink. There were ten desserts on offer, and this morning it’s off to the gym, for tonight we have an ‘Italian Evening’ dinner, which also promises to be quite calorific. Who was it who said, “Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we diet?” 😕
Wishing you much joy this festive season
“I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach.” ~ Charles Dickens ‘A Christmas Carol’
Christmas is a time for loving and sharing. I wish you all a blessed and joyous celebration, this festive season. Thanks so much for all your visits to my blog this past year. It wouldn’t have been nearly as much fun without you.
A ‘Golden’ Glow for Ailsa’s Travel Theme.
Here’s my entry for Ailsa’s Travel Theme. I have many ‘Golden’ photos, but here are just three. After the storm one afternoon in New England, came the golden light of the late afternoon sun. The rainbows were just an added bonus.
Here’s the entrance to the magnificent ‘Temple of Isis’, which now stands on the island of Egilica. It was originally constructed in Philae, but was moved in the 1970’s after it had become submerged during the construction of the Aswan High Dam. Even with modern technology and machines, it took nine years for this massive project to be completed. Can you imagine the original building of this, without the machinery we have today?
This golden equestrian statue of General William Tecumseh Sherman, sitting astride his horse, with ‘Victory’ in front, her one hand holding a palm frond, and the other pointing the way forward, stands in the Manhattan’s Grand Army Plaza.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my photos for Ailsa’s ‘Golden’ theme. To see more entries, click here,
Only 1.5 days to Christmas!
Just a few random pics
It’s almost Christmas, and the weather here in Florida is so warm. I think the Santa on my piano must be very overheated in his gorgeous fur-trimmed outfit.
The Anhinga has taken to sitting up in the next door neighbour’s tree. Maybe he can spot the fish more easily from this vantage point.
Hubby is getting on well with the house renovations, and is absolutely thrilled with this contraption he found on the internet. It enables him to hoist the ceiling boards and put them in place, all by himself.
Our daughter in South Africa sent us these exquisite tulips for our anniversary. What a lovely surprise it was to find the box outside the front door.
Paula asked to see how my lighthouse painting is coming on. Not a lot of progress since the last time you saw it; just a few grasses, a tiny window and the rocks more built up. The teacher was too busy finishing off two of the others’ paintings for them, and showing them how to sign their names. I still have some clouds to put in and a few gulls, but have to wait until January 7th for the next class.
I’m taking this opportunity to wish you all a wonderful Christmas holiday time and New Year. I’ll probably do a few posts in the next couple of weeks, but not every day as is my usual wont. Don’t eat too much, and have a very special time with family and friends. Hugs to you all.
Silent Sunday
anotherdayinparadise 
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