Wishing You...

A happy and prosperous new year! (That's Anthony snoozing in front of the fire).  The cats' stockings are still hung up because, even though Santa filled them up on Christmas eve, they're hoping that La Befana, the good Italian witch who delivers gifts to children in Italy on January 6, will drop by with some more goodies for them.  I think it's a safe bet to say that she will.  ;)

Winter Solstice

"So the shortest day came, and the year died,

And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world

Came people singing, dancing,

To drive the dark away.

They lighted candles in the winter trees;

They hung their homes with evergreen;

They burned beseeching fires all night long

To keep the year alive,

And when the new year's sunshine blazed awake

They shouted, reveling.

Through all the frosty ages you can hear them

Echoing behind us - Listen!!

All the long echoes sing the same delight,

This shortest day,

As promise wakens in the sleeping land:

They carol, fest, give thanks,

And dearly love their friends,

And hope for peace.

And so do we, here, now,

This year and every year. Welcome Yule!!"

Susan Cooper, The Shortest Day


This is a re-post from December 22, 2011

What Ruby Bear Told Me

I baked some cookies this morning (white chocolate chunks and macadamia nuts).  Little Ruby must have followed the scent of them to my cottage.  I heard a soft knock on the door and opened it to find her there, her cape billowing in the blustery winds we're having today.  Well, I couldn't turn her away, it was only 31 degrees outside, and the wind made it feel like it was down in the teens.

So, I invited her to come in and sit by the fire and got out my newest Christmas china plate, 

along with the mug that goes with it.  I filled it up with ginger tea for her and sweetened it with honey...a lot of honey.

As she was eating the cookies, she told me that today is National Cookie Day.  She said she likes to keep track of things like that.  After she finished, she thanked me and said she must get on her way as she was catching the scent of almond spice cookies coming from the north.  I told her I hoped she would visit often and bring her relatives...hmmm, maybe I shouldn't have added that part about the relatives! 


Linking with:
Through My Lens
Our World Tuesday

A Christmas Bonfire

Last night Crestline had its annual bonfire in the North Shore parking lot. 

Across the lake the community tree shone above the message of "hope." 

There was a tree with presents... 

and Santa was there so the little ones could tell him their wishes.

This wee one wasn't too sure about the guy in the red suit. 

The fire department was there to keep an eye on the bonfire. 

There were people wearing necklaces of Christmas tree lights...I must get one of those for next year! 

Of course, there were lots of tiny ones running around  

among the grown-ups gathered around the bonfire. There's something very tribal about gathering around a bonfire.  Everyone was well behaved, singing along to the Christmas carols and enjoying the free hot dogs and cocoa... 

while the nearly full moon shone down on all of us. 

Late Autumn Color

Some dogwood leaves through a cedar branch...

And some golden bracken ferns...

A pile of dogwood and cherry leaves on my porch...

And on the forest floor.  Most of the autumn colors are on the ground by now.  I always hate to see autumn leave because of all the beautiful colors she takes with her, but she also takes the worst of the wildfire danger with her, too, so it's not all bad. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful, happy Thanksgiving! 


To see more of what's going on around the world on this Tuesday, click here.

Sunday Sunlight

These photos were taken about a week ago.

Most of the trees have lost their leaves. 

But even now in mid-November I still see a few trees that are holding on to their color. 

It's cloudy today, and supposed to be so for the next three or four days, but with no chance of rain.  The rain "gods" are being very mean to Southern California... 


I'm linking with Shadowshot Sunday

November

This photo sums up November for me... 


To see more of what the world looks like this Tuesday, click here.

A Bit of Everything

We've had a little of almost everything weather-wise here the past few days.  Marine layer fog dripping off the trees at night and early morning, then sun and patchy clouds for the rest of the day. 

No real rain though, darn it.

I think that the only thing truly thriving in this forest is the parasitic mistletoe.  That dark green blob just a little to the right of center and up a bit is a mistletoe plant, sucking the life out of this poor oak tree.  Well, that's an exaggeration, just one plant won't kill a tree but too many of them definitely can. 


To see beautiful skies around the world, click here

Happy Halloween

Today is National Candy Corn Day...who knew it had its own day?  My husband loved candy corn and, sadly for my waistline, I love it too.  Good thing I can only get it once a year! 

I made this little card for a friend, then changed my mind and sent her another one...so, I thought I'd use it to wish you all a Happy Halloween!

Too Much of a Good Thing

Just blue skies around here. 

It gets a little depressing (I know that sounds strange to people who are dealing with too much rain) but too much of a good thing can turn into a bad thing. 

The feral kitties love the sun and warm temperatures, though, so who am I to complain?  (That's little Elizabeth in the photo, sitting on top of the front gate arbor). 


Linking with:  Saturday's Critters
                        Skywatch Friday

Better Late Than Never

Usually I put this up on the first day of October, but like the title says...😉

An Autumn Quote

"Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting, and autumn a mosaic of them all."  Stanley Horowitz

Autumn's Gold

Santa Ana winds have scoured our skies to a beautiful shade of blue. 

Golden leaves look so pretty paired with that deep blue sky, but the same winds that created that sky also made it hard to get a photo because the leaves were dancing around so much.  The winds also increase the fire danger, but, like with most things in life, you have to take the bad with the good. 


Linking with: Through My Lens

Sunday Sunlight

Sunlight shining through, and on, the leaves of an oak tree that's just starting to turn. 

Friday Skies

The trees up here in the San Bernardino mountains are getting some beautiful autumn colors...

Oranges, golds and reds... 

Although some trees are getting their colors a bit at a time! 

I can't believe it's been over a month since I posted here.  Things have been a little crazy at my little cottage because I've been having a lot of work done on her.  New roof (yay, no leaks this winter) and some other things. 

I've done a little decorating for autumn... 

but not too much for Halloween.  I'll probably add in some Halloween things tomorrow. 

I bought a new screen for the fireplace, and the kitties love it. 

It fits flat against the opening so it gives them more room on the hearth.  (That's Chester and Coco on the left and Anthony on the right).  I hope everyone had a great Friday the 13th!


I'm linking with Skywatch Friday  so click the link to see beautiful skies all around the world.

A California Sister

A California Sister recently visited my back garden. 

She graciously posed for photos. 

Turning this way and that... 

So pretty! 


Linking with: Through My Lens