Packing up Christmas . . . . and the loss of a blog friend.

 I have to admit the 'taking down' is taking much longer than planned!

Perhaps if I'd had warm, sunny weather I could have been outside

removing lights, garland etc., and the decorated Christmas tree

 in the gazebo. Instead, I spent much of my time at the windows

 taking numerous photos of the many beautiful birds at the feeders,

 flying in non-stop during this miserable weather. 

They included a first, 6 Eastern bluebirds at one time, definitely a family. 

I'll post some photos another time.

Most of the indoor holiday decor is down and packed away now.

I did edit a little as I have just too many things for this time in my life.  

I love decorating however one needs to stay within somewhat 

smaller bounds as lifting, reaching, hanging, moving etc. become

 more difficult, even painful at times! 

A box will be going to favorite charity shop this coming week. . . .their

 sales benefit domestic animals (spaying, neutering etc.) which makes me

 feel I'm helping somewhat.

This year I found that putting everything onto the bed made wrapping and

 packing so much easier - this photo was when I was just starting - there

 was another load yet to come! 

Thankfully Bob carries the boxes back up the stairs and places them

 in the far reaches of the storage attic.

Next year, hopefully, we plan to do it all over again of course.

I feel here that I should pay tribute to a wonderful lady whom some of you

 may have known from her longtime blog Scene Through My Eyes, and

 her great book Are We Walking To Alaska?

 I learned from the recent post shared by her daughter - link below - that

 JoAnn Dunlap Bayne of Bellingham, Washington, sadly passed away in

 November from what I believe was quite a long illness. 

We had tried to meet up with her in Bellingham a couple of years ago but

 sadly she was unable to make it.

JoAnn wrote great posts with awesome photos of nature's beauty, flowers, 

farms, wild birds and her much-loved barns scattered throughout the

 scenic Pacific Northwest countryside.

Comments are still open on her blog however do not seem to be published.

JoAnn was a long time friend and sweet blogger and I know will be missed.

http://scenethroughmyeyes.blogspot.com/2020/12/the-turning-of-seasons.html

The Window Seat -

Crossing the Rocky Mountains - August 2018

I still prefer the window seat in order get a view when the clouds allow. . . . . . and

 of course to take photos of the often wild and awesome scenery below.
These days, on long haul flights, especially over night, I often take an aisle seat 
which makes it easier to get out if seat mates are sleeping.

Our trip planned for this week was somewhat questionable when
Hurricane Florence paid us a visit, but thankfully it looks like we'll make it. 
Planning to meet up with two very special long time blogging friends - and
many of you already know these lovely ladies - in one of our favorite cities
 on a beautiful island.
Western Canada we'll soon be on our way!
More later!

Signs of the summer home. . . . . . . . .

We recently gained a new store in town. 

I've seen bloggers from across the country mention Hobby Lobby Arts & Crafts

 over the past years but I'd never visited one.

A few days ago I was looking for some summer greenery for the dining room 

 and had heard this store had a great selection of faux florals etc.

My two vintage iron containers needed something green and airy which wouldn't

 require direct light or constant watering, but would add a touch of color. . . . so

faux was the way to go for a little summer oomph!

I found two small ferns in tiny pots which I've transferred to larger white china pots

 I already had. I bought one spray of the trailing greenery which 

 is quite pretty - cut it up and divided it between the two pots. I quite like the cool

 feel of this look with the two inverted antique Victorian flower baskets. . . . . . but

I may move them around later as they do take up a lot of space and will need to

 be moved when we eat here.

Hobby Lobby is quite a place - especially if you're into crafting and signs!

They do have a huge amount of merchandise and I only skimmed the surface,

 but I did notice signs. . . . . . . . . . more signs than I've ever seen. . . . 

and several caught my eye.

This simple quote I would love to look at often - I may have to go back for this one.

Being a world traveler, off to often new and unexpected places, 

I agree that coming home is more than special.

I love this short quote on bold painted wood.

I thought of my blog friend Donna which I saw this pillow - her blog titled GATHER is one

of my favorites.  Donna, you need this!

. . . . . and there were a few lovely framed prints that caught my eye - such as this

 one of the dilapidated farmhouse and barn. If I had somewhere to hang it I would

 definitely have brought this home. Perhaps can make a space for it, just thinking!

The Back Page - my thanks, and my 'WORD' - - - - - - -

Fiona is back in the news. . . . . . .and I just have to show you those other

 'wish list' gifts which actually arrived at the cottage on Christmas Eve. 

For those of you who questioned whether 'my Santa' was named Bob - yes,

 he definitely was!

Thank you Santa Bob, you were extremely generous. I may just do 

the 'wish list' via the blog again next Christmas as it seems to work for

those gift shopping challenged men out there - perhaps you have

one also!

Having recently acquainted you with fab Fiona HERE, and recalling memories

 of my amazing personal experience with Antarctic penguins a few years ago,

 I added this book to my list.

What a delightful true story - I'm about halfway through and loving 

reading about young Englishman Tom Michell's 1975 arrival in

 Buenos Aires, Argentina to teach in a prestigious boarding school. . . . .

then rescuing and adopting a penguin whom he named Juan Salvador.

The story is absurd and wonderful - a classic in the making.

The other books I will tell you about another time - they are waiting

in the wings and I'm anxious to read both.

Yes, the plum colored chunky, very cozy Lou & Grey tunic sweater arrived too.

 I love that it's long, tunic length, so can be worn over just leggings with tall

 or short boots  - perfect comfort and ladylike, important at this advanced age!

BTW, have you tried the new light fleece-lined tights or leggings? 

I bought a pair and find them really great - a good alternative to more restrictive

 skinny pants - totally opaque and lightweight, not too thick, and so soft. 

Mine are by Simply Vera Wang at Kohl's. 

 On the left on my dresser, Dior's beautiful fragrance, Escale à Portofino. 

 It too was on my list, and is now hard to find - most stores have discontinued

 stocking it - but great retailer Nordstrom came through as always, found

 Santa Bob a bottle and shipped it in time. It's a large one and I will have to make

 it last a long time just in case it eventually becomes irreplaceable. 

My first bottle, found on a cruise ship, became my favorite fragrance immediately.

*************

I'm making this my 2015 wrap-up, yes the 'back page'.

I'm so ready for this new year - who knows what it will bring 

for each of us. My biggest hope is for good health for myself

and my loved ones. Hope for a chance to travel somewhere new,

 but hopefully have lots of time at home to do things I enjoy.

I hold great hope for the world to become a more peaceful and 

better place. . . . . .for its people, the animals - wild and domestic - Nature's 

wild and beautiful landscapes, the environment, and especially the oceans.

So, perhaps not unexpected, my 'word' for 2016 has to be HOPE.

Thank you for following my blog through yet another busy year. 

You helped make 2015 a very special time by reading my words,

 complimenting me on my photography, enjoying my travels from your

 'armchair', and then leaving such generous, often funny, always greatly

 appreciated, comments. By doing all that and often more, you then gave

 me the opportunity to 'follow' you, the best friends anyone could ever have.

Coming up soon will be the start of my 8th year of blogging. Yes, I plan to

 continue, using my blog as my creative outlet and my personal journal. 

Although some are quitting their blogs, or moving to other social media

 platforms, I only blog! I love blogging, I love you, I don't want to change a thing.

So, hope to see you here for a long time, you will always be welcomed.

Thankful for so much . . . . . .

Today we are celebrating Thanksgiving as always, but this year I'm 

taking a break from cooking the huge meal and we will be eating out.

Tomorrow, still stuffed from the traditional holiday delicacies, we'll head 

to the North Carolina coast for the weekend. With pleasant weather 

expected, we'll dress warmly and walk the beach, stroll the old boardwalk,

eat fresh from the ocean seafood, and join in the annual start 

to the busy Christmas season - beach style. 

I love this delicate china, in a rich brown transferware pattern named 

Petunia, from Johnson Brothers. Beside petunias there are fuchsia, dianthus, 

and sprigs of other dainty British garden flowers.

From what I've discerned online, Petunia was perhaps one of their first patterns 

and produced around 1885. At present, there seem to be very few pieces 

available to collectors here in the USA. The four Johnson brothers 

bought their grandfather's business, the famous Meakin china factory in 

Stoke-On-Trent, England, in 1882, and launched themselves into the dinnerware 

business, producing sturdy whiteware with glaze as fine as that on good porcelains. 

Following WWI, the company also began producing dinnerware that was a solid color 

throughout so that chips didn't show as badly. Business boomed to such an extent 

that by 1900, an additional five factories opened in England and brother Robert Johnson 

moved to the USA to handle the trans-Atlantic sales.

Johnson Brothers china company joined the Wedgwood Group in 1968 and, 

sadly, by 2003 all manufacturing operations were moved to China.

I own just two pieces of Petunia, one a dinner plate, the other a side plate.

In fact I've never really made an effort to collect brown transferware, my little stash

consists mostly of some antique blue, grey and black patterns. 

So, if you enjoy the lovely brown designs you must take a look HERE where

 blog friend Loi, at the beautiful blog Tone On Tone, is displaying his fabulous collection

of transferware - including an unusual shaped platter in the Petunia pattern.

 Loi is a Washington, DC antiques dealer, shop owner, designer, 

gardener, grower of topiaries, and photographer extraordinaire. 

I can honestly say I have never not fallen in love with anything Loi has shared 

on his wonderful blog. 

If you've not visited Tone On Tone yet, do so soon. I promise you will love it.

So dear friends, whether eating your holiday meal on priceless antiques, 

your every day china, or even paper plates, enjoy and be thankful.