Sixteen Years of Blogging!

Today, in 2007, I became a blogger and it changed my life! It made me see more clearly the corners and colors of the world close-up, often through a lens.......and gave me the wonderful chance to write down my thoughts. . . . . . . and get to know you. Thank you for always stopping by to encourage me to keep blogging. I love to read your generous comments and, when possible, meet you in the real world. Knowing each one of you, and being gifted with your friendship, whether in person or online, has been a very special part of my life which I will always treasure. This year I will be traveling again, perhaps not to such as exotic faraway locations as before, but I still hope to bring you stories and images from some special places. Hope so much you'll continue to come along with me.

Today I just want to thank every one of you, my friends who are my 'blog family', who visit here from around the world, share your lives, ideas and tips, support me when I'm feeling down, and have stuck with me for so long. All I can say is thank you so much, I hope I can continue to take photos, post them, and add, words and stories you will enjoy.

No new photos today but a few from those last 16 years which have flown  

  by so fast . . . . . . . . 

Around the house. . . . . . . .

. . . . . . and garden

Wildlife (really wild!) on African safaris. . . . . . . . .

Wonderful women met on my travels . . . . . . . .

Coastline and mountain solitude . . . . . . . . 

. . . . . . . I'll hopefully continue to go places, meeting special people, and writing

 about it here for someone who may take time to read my posts in the future.

If not, just know I've enjoyed it all, even when just being here at home.

YOU have made it all so special. Thank you with love.

We're having a heatwave!

 

Cut the first little bunch of flowers from my garden yesterday - it really is looking

 and feeling rather like Spring around here. 

Living in North Carolina we are not having the winter weather conditions currently keeping much of the USA under wraps right now!  We are at the opposite end of the spectrum, no chill, no snow or ice, no way below freezing temperatures. . . . . . . and are experiencing a most likely record breaking spell of hot weather. February rarely hits 80F and higher days as it has done this week. Nights staying so warm that leaving the windows open, or even turning on the air conditioning as we did last night, was the only way to cool off and get some comfortable sleep . . . . . . . . plus hunting for a pair of summer-weight PJ's and kicking off the duvet!!!

Stay warm and safe if you are dealing with severe weather conditions now and through the weekend . . . . . . and of course we have cooler weather returning soon!

Late Winter Walks and Nature's Gifts -

 

Spring is still far off, but little teasers, perhaps more like tiny treasures, 

appear daily in the garden. The early morning sun brings a new light to

 the tall leafless trees behind the house, while the akebia vine clambers up

 the walls of the old potting shed, lively and bright with green leaves shooting

every which way like stars.

A walk in the park to breathe fresh air. 

Pleasant. Colorful. Serene. Placid.

There are no water fowl right now - although the Canada geese probably

 come and go having become a constant in the landscape. The turtles and

 fish were in deeper water away from the pond's edge. Dogs were being

 walked. Perfect catkins dangled, golden in late afternoon sun.

Bundled up in boots and cashmere 'woolies' as it was still chilly, I loved

 the day and seeing Nature busily at work.

Wishing you happy late Winter walks.