Winter Is Still Pretty

It's early days so we still think the snow is pretty

And it is when you're indoors. Okay, I did open the door to get this shot.

Our first hoar frost. I always wanted to say that.

This is how Harry celebrates winter; sleeping on the artificial village pretty well makes his day. Mine, not so much.

Four Months and Counting Until Gardening Time

The cats are dying to get out on the deck and try out the snow but I suspect I'd have to wade out to bring them back inside.
Sorry fellas.
Here we are with summer and winter shots of the deck. The huge summer umbrella is neatly wrapped until it can find a reason to unfurl, like a summer day.

I Remember Summer

A giant finger poked a hole in the heavens and the stuffing is falling out. It's snowing hard.

This is a perfect time to look over the garden pictures from last summer.

The outside of my house resembles an army barracks. See for yourself.

I love puzzles and this was just one more to solve--how to make the place look more like, well, a house.

If I had a substantial amount of money then I could alter its appearance. On the other hand if I had a substantial amount of money I probably wouldn't have bought the place At all.

Anyway.

I was looking for the perfect contrast pictures--you now the kind. Perfect pristine lawn, no weeds, wheel barrow out of sight, no sign of litter boxes still drying in the sun, that sort of thing.

Apparently that kind of picture doesn't exist in my world so here we are three years later.
First, the house in its number-under-the-chin beginnings.

Here is the same vantage point taken last summer.




The barracks look is still there but the eye is diverted from the ugly sight.

Just think what I could have accomplished if I'd joined the army.

Tis The Season Of Kitschiness

I like over-the-top Christmas decorating and you can bet the farm I'm not a pop- the- tree- open- like- an- umbrella kind of person.

My tree is a zillion years old and probably made of the same stuff toilet brushes are made of but we remain faithful every year.

The Santas guard the stairs and as I wander down in the morning the hem of my robe tumbles them to the bottom. Consider that morning exercise, re-positioning them.

The cats take charge of re-arranging the village. They also like to chew the artificial snow although they are beginning to see that it isn't that flavorful.
This is the village before the daily re-arranging.

Horse is always a good sport although the season is lost on him. Personally I think he prefers St. Pat's Day.
Anyway, for those of us there who belong to the school of too much, hang together people; the pop-up people are slowly encroaching on our territory.

A Canadian / Thai Open House

Steve and Aw have been in their apartment for a month now and already they have more friends than the rest of us so it seemed right to have an Open House to commemorate the new place and Christmas.

Aw is a Buddhist and Christmas celebrations are a new concept to her. However Thais are extremely sociable and family-oriented and she quickly figured it all out
These people string up colored lights,chop down a tree to use for a week, run around looking worried while they shop and eat huge amounts of food, then so be it.

She opted for serving what she knows and it was a treat for all of us. I peeked in the kitchen and her fingers were flying.

The big round coffee table was loaded with delicacies we couldn't name but were indescribably good and when the room thinned out she called us to sample a multi-course dinner she had miraculously assembled.

This is the presentation before we demolished it. A hint of fresh ginger here, there a chili paste that waters your eyes. Not everything was spicy; just a nice sampling of mild and pungent.
Watching her cut vegetables is an art in itself; you swear it can't be done but she deftly slices away and a mound of exquisitely sliced green onions and red peppers appear.


Aw, you've enriched our lives--and our palates.

The first Storm

Usually the first major snowstorm of the winter leaves everything looking sparkling and hopeful.

Not this time.This time, it's cold and bleak. A good day to read Dickens.

It does look a little better from the front window.



But we know we will get get some of those Christmas card perfect fat snowflakes before winter is done.