December 15, 2009

Blind Pass,Captiva,Florida

After the dredging............

Some random shots taken at Blind Pass.
On the Captiva side.


Taken two weeks ago.................

A front was working it's way south................. On a cold and rainy day,a lone shore bird..............

Pecking through the shells................

Now that the Pass is open,the fishermen are back...................

And aren't they glad it's open?!
Here's hoping your hook is alway baited..............
For more of Outdoor Wednesday,click here.....................
For more of Watery Wednesday,click here..................
For more of Waterside Wednesday,click here..................

December 14, 2009

More Of A Vanilla-Style Christmas................

I love creche's.
To me,they represent all that is Christmas.
My mother always had one.
It was always surrounded by cotton batting.
You know the kind....
Flecked with red and green glitter.
(Didn't all of our mothers have that as part of their Christmas decor?)
I have been fortunate enough to inherit the plaster figurines,from her original manger scene.
The original stable is long gone.
To be replaced with a new and more modern style.............
When Michael,the Elder,and Erich,the Younger,were just mere men-cubs,they decided to add their own touch to the original figures.
You might notice R2D2 and Obi-Wan(blessing the Baby Jesus with his light saber).
Out of the photo is Luke SkyWalker and Han Solo.It just wouldn't be Christmas without them,now would it?
Also included is a flocker reindeer that Erich,the Younger, bought with his own money to add to the collection.
How sweet is that?
It has remained part of our manger scene to this day...........
The carved wooden animals were part of my Uncle Dewey's collection,which I added.
He was the coolest uncle.
(Someday,I shall do a post just about him.All kids should have an uncle like him.)
When my mother passed away,and I acquired them,I knew just where they were going.
This next creche was given to me as a present from a co-worker,many years ago.
Her husband is a minister,and they made a trip to the Holy Land.Knowing how much I loved creches,she brought this one back as a present for me.
I find it elegant in it's simplicity.
And the newest addition to our Christmas tree!
In last week-end's visit to Sanibel Island
(for Luminaria,which was kinda/sorta rainy....
Oh crap!It rained like H-E-double hockey-sticks!But it was still loads of fun and laughs.),
I found this in a shop and just knew I had to have it!
It screams Florida Christmas,doesn't it?
Not to mention the Pink Flamingo ornaments I bought......

December 03, 2009

It's Beginning To Look Alot Like Christmas............

The garland has been hung.
The lights have been strung.
It's Christmas!!!!
Much as we try to tone down......
Simplify.......
Be a little more tasteful
and elegant......
Some things .....
absolutely,
positively
must stay the same!
All ,of which,are pure elegance to me.
Neiman Marcus could never have anything as special as these........

The pinecone ornament made by Michael,The Elder,in kindergarten.........


His first attempt at wood carving............ because he knew his Mom loves carved wooden Santas.......
and he was gonna give it a try.....
Paper chains made in kindergarten.......
With their name handwritten on them.....
(as if we didn't know who made them.Ya gotta love it!)

Macaroni ornaments made in pre-school.......
by Erich,The Younger.......



New this year,are.....
seashells
spray painted silver.............

Instructions given here........


Not new,but incredibly special........

Antique family ornaments.

Over 100 years young.....

Too delicate to be hung on the tree,where the" killa katz" might harm them.......

Now,displayed in an apothecary jar,on the kitchen bar..........



and in the guest bathroom,
the cutest Santa,
EVAH!!!

From the front.....


From the rear...........

Appropriate for a bathroom,don't you think?
Even Santa needs to wipe..........


Stay tuned for more ............