Winter

This is my black and white version of a tree seen somewhere on the Sunshine Coast on an overcast day.
Yesterday I watered and fed the house plants.  I have 4 orchids in bloom and many african violets.  The orange trees are surviving and some growing new little leaves.  When our climate switches temperature zones I am going to be ready!
Sunday, we went to a matinee showing of the King's speech.  What a refreshingly fine movie, after all the crap that makes it big at the box office!  Then out to dinner at the 15 50.  Was a good day.  Last nite's roast beef turned out superb and the crepes for lunch today were also very good.  But for all the good eating, I am managing to drop a bit of the weight I regained over the great eating season.  There is no more cake, shortbread or pudding in the house!  Have to make do with fruit now!  This should make it easier to drop those pounds off.
We have had a skiff of snow and were to get about 4 inches but that does not seem to be happening.  The temperatures are to warm up in two days.  So, we are slowly getting through the winter.  The garden needs cleaning up.  There are leaves everywhere from the winds we have had.  Last time I looked some of the early bulbs had their little noses up. I guess this cold snap will make them wait a while.

the birds

A hood ornament from one of the cars on the New Year's day run.  It was a nice drive, but I did not get to see much of it.  Have to navigate, and read the instructions.  I enjoyed this one more than I have for a long time.  There was a good turn out.

This is a robin that has been in our backyard for a few weeks now.  It is bigger than most robins and chasing them all away.  It has splotches of white all over it, as though it has been accidentally into white paint.  There are many other birds in the back garden as Andy is feeding them. Juncos, sparrows, titmouses, alaska robins, towhees, little downey woodpeckers, finches.
While out on my walk today to the lottery ticket store, it began to snow lightly.  Now we have a skiff of snow on the ground.  We have been having light freezing over nite and up to 6 or 8 during the day, with some rain and some sun.  Its been a good start to this year.
I have been doing a lot of cooking lately, it seems.  The roast beef turned out very good tonite.  Tomorrow for lunch he suggested crepes with apple sauce and blueberry chutney.  Well.. aren't we grand?  Its going to be yummy. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

All the best to you and your loved ones in the coming year.  I hope you have a wonderful, warm and happy Christmas.
It was a warmish, rainy day.  I put out the humming bird food.(This is a photo from 2 years ago, Feb.)  Made the Christmas pudding with rum sauce.  We are fortunate and thankful to have good health, happiness, friends and live in a paradise.
I hope for Peace in the trouble spots of our world.  I believe this starts within the heart and mind of every individual.  I hope for a more even distribution of the wealth of the world.  With the world economy in a shambles, now would be a good time to consider starting from a clean slate, with a view to using only what we need, and having enough for everyone.  It IS possible.  We have the capability to get to the moon and space.  Google has the ability to look up my driveway and into my windows.  Surely we can use this computing power to organize our distribution of food, medical attention, and help in catastrophic climatic spots, as well as settling political unrest and injustice.  Peace!