.....and so as the year 2013 winds down

time to share some fun things from December

no, this photo was not taken in Florida

nor this one either, jeez

makes me glad to be here though

did I say it was 78 and sunny today

even though I do miss building things in the snow

(I grew up in Michigan)

 great tree at a bookstore

not sure where this one came from but I adore it

here's how to tell if it's cold out

when the cows get up on the cars

this is Ray Troll

amazing artist - have you seen his work?

http://www.trollart.com/       the guy is crazy, crazy and fun

and don't forget

but December is not all about the holidays

this is an amazing house

in the high desert of California

it has every other board covered with mirror

colored led lights at night change color

how cool is that?

check out

http://twistedsifter.com/2013/11/transparent-wood-glass-led-cabin-in-the-desert/

for great photos and explanations

here's looking at you

THIS is salt and pepper

I thought it was cool........

"She and I were one person, there were no secrets.

Sometimes she was that person, sometimes I was that person,

Sometimes it took both of us to constitute that person"

-Mark Twain

(super funny....)

 what - I like what a Pope is saying???

I do.

a friend sent some good ideas for the new year

and more blogging

I am an optimist

nothing to do with winter - just eye candy

 ****************

I want to thank you, my gentle readers

for being loyal supports of this blog in 2013

 there have been over 30,000 hits on this blog since I started in 2007

- from almost every country in the world

Happy Everything

2014

PS

Christmas Eve in Florida

80 degrees and sunny

so of course we all went to the beach

and had a picnic

grandpa and I made the fruit salad tree

I saw a picture on the internet

ours did not turn out quite like the picture....still

 it was a hit with the eating crowd

they did not take long to defoliate it

(our star was a little too big - you think)

E made egg-rolls - they were so good

that only 2 were left by the time I could get a photo

but thankfully there was a whole other layer

after lunch - kayaking

(always remember to sit down in the boat)

A and E coming back in

all the girls - E and L in the double 

Em in the single

E and L heading out

 landlubbers

the sun was making a wonderful sparkle on the water

by the last ride of the day

everyone was in a hurry for 

presents

the kids opened their presents from us on Christmas Eve

some took it very seriously

others took a more rapid and direct approach

he got the Santa thing this year

when we would see him he would make sure we knew that -

Santa was coming

the room filed with the obligatory paper

she was still not too sure about all this

 until

 she opened the hello kitty doll

 then it was love at first sight

I get the present thing now yaya....

NEXT MORNING

 Santa came early to the kids house

I was not there for that - just the aftermath

they were waiting anxiously for this to charge

(how did he get that down the chimney?)

we did make it in time for another great family meal though

Christmas Brunch

my daughter is an awesome cook - she made

crepes with 3 kinds of fresh fruit sauce

 a savory crepe sauce

bacon, scrambled eggs and fried potatoes

whipped cream and coconut oil whipped cream

we were one happy and well fed Christmas family

and we wish you and yours - Happy Everything!

xxoo