December nights . . . . .

Last evening brought an unexpected surprise. 

Following the damp day, the temperature plummeted into the 30's

around dusk.

A pleasant visit from granddaughter Jasmin included her artwork

on the kitchen blackboard. . . . . . . . and, no sooner had she finished,

when I noticed through the window SNOWFLAKES falling, big fluffy

 ones! They lasted only about 15 minutes but enough to mark the

 calendar "First Snow" of this winter!

 

Notice Fiona the penguin is now wearing her red muffler!

Definitely ready for winter.

We finished our decorating for the holidays by putting out

the flood lights. We have white fairy lights along the porch railings

and the arbor, but on the dark nights the floods give the cottage a

warm appearance from the street which our neighbors seem

 to enjoy. 

Captured just before the sky turns really dark, you get to see

our tall oak trees. . . . . and, although leaves have been falling 

for several weeks, there are still plenty more to keep us raking 

and blowing for a while longer!

Are you hoping for a White Christmas? 

I'd love just an inch or two of light powder covering the ground and

dusting the trees and shrubs. 

Then I'll be taking bird photos again - be patient with me - you

know how I love them in the snow!

Antarctic memories and FIONA!

Three years ago, at this time, with Christmas celebrations over, Boxing Day a memory,

and winter settled upon us here in the southeast, I was busy packing up to leave on

 the trip of a lifetime to ANTARCTICA to celebrate the 50 year friendship with my 

dear friend Paula. She had visited twice previously and this time invited me as her

 very grateful guest. Fortunately her bravery rubbed off on me and I had no

 qualms despite the distance, remoteness, and sailing on a small expedition

 ship - I was raring to go 'to the ends of the earth' also!

Antarctica, and the entire Southern Ocean, is the most amazing place on this 

planet. Go HERE and HERE to look back at some of the places we visited in 2013. 

Fiona came for Christmas - and is staying!

I was surprised when a large box was delivered and left on the front porch early

 evening a few days before Christmas. Nothing was ordered. Nothing was 

expected. Something exciting was up though!

You may recall my recent post about a fabulous shop we discovered when at 

the coast in late November. 

BAROUKE Exotic Woods Etc.

Perhaps you remember me falling in love with Fiona, a sweet carved wooden
 penguin - go read the story for the details. Seeing Fiona on display, I recalled
 my time among literally a million or more penguins on the Antarctic 
expedition - and one particular young penguin on South Georgia Island
 (Paula and I named her Georgia) who followed us about, chewed on our rubber
 wellies, and became our little friend for several hours whilst ashore.

I kicked myself for not buying Fiona while at Barouke - click on my sidebar - that

 day in Wilmington, and shared that fact in my subsequent post where I wrote

 about the great shop, its fabulous offerings, and its lovely owner Jannett.

I realized later that Fiona could almost be Georgia, without her fluffy 

juvenile coat, all grown up, and that I should have brought her home.

Imagine my surprise and joy when on opening the unexpected box,

wrapped so beautifully and tucked into a bed of white foam (snow?) was

Fiona, along with a lovely Christmas card from Jannett and her husband.

What kind, thoughtful, very generous people - I was overwhelmed!

So, you must admit this is a lovely story - but this is only part of it.

Deeper down in the large box were other new winged friends - yes Fiona traveled 

with companions! There will be another story as soon as they calm down, dry off, and 

allow me to photograph them.

They have been testing the waters in our garden (we had a lot of rain after they arrived)

and their boots are still waterlogged LOL!!!