Monday..blue,mellow yellow

My home town:
Pensacola, Florida
the Cradle of Naval Aviation..
Mustin Beach O'Club..
where many a Navy  Officer's romance begins..

Remember the Movie "An Officer and A Gentleman"
starring Richard Gere and Debra Winger?

The Navy deeply regrets NOT allowing the filming to take place here..
the world famous U.S.Navy's Blue Angels..

Seafood..
None better than that of Joe Patti.
a family tradition..





Beaches..
the BEST in the entire world..
sugary white sands..
gently lapping emerald /turquoise waters...




Ahhhhh..
memories..
and now.. back to reality..
here in Denver , snow is gently  falling..
signaling the beginning of the holly jolly Christmas season..
are you dreaming of a white Christmas ?
I know I am...

Please join Sally for Blue Monday..
and Drowsy monkey for MellowYellow Monday..

Black Friday

First..
I am NOT being a party pooper!
Thanksgiving seems to have been trampled by  the media promoting the shopping frenzy called Black Friday!
To me Thanksgiving has traditionally always been about family gathering together , sharing the bounty of foods lovingly prepared in remembrance of the pilgrims celebrating having survived their first year in America.

Sitting together at the table, remembering those no longer with us, praying to our Maker for blessings bestowed..

..full tummies watching football games,
or napping as the dishwasher hums..
quietly addressing Christmas cards..
instead, from the ending of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade,

Christmas has music permeated the house...
Blaring T V commercials constantly brainwashed us with Black Friday this..
and that..
and the latest on who's opening the earliest..

not to mention the morning paper weighed at least 5 pounds with all the additional ads..
all for BLACK FRIDAY!
I for one am not forgetting Thanksgiving..
The TV was turned off  early..
the computer was not turned on past 10 am..
The bed beckoned, my unfinished book calling my name..
the furbabies were ready and waiting..
what a blissful nite's sleep..
am up early today..
determined to bask in memory of Thanksgiving..
will enjoy the leftovers..

again savoring the delicious recipes..
thankful... and blessed..not subjecting myself to bodily harm..
either on the roadways..
or in the stores..
by sleep deprived,
coffee fueled maniacs..
seeking  frantically  the advertised  BEST good deal of the hour!!!.
My mantra has been..
NO SHOPPING  for UN-neccessary,
UN-needed ,
purchased with worthless plastic,
prices jacked up to support the __ % off,
because it is supposedly ON SALE!..
STUFF!
Today is my...

sorry.. I prefer  being safe at home..
getting my decorations together  in preparation  for trimming the tree NEXT weekend...


Knowing I am READY..
(well almost, still have some wrapping  to do..)
MY shopping was already done  :

For the LOVE of Chocolate!

So.. You are a Chocolate Lover?..
Really and Truly?
Boy do I have something for YOU!
Chocolate Martinis you say? check!


Tempting huh? Ultimate Decadence...check!


My friend Annie is having a giveaway!
yep! it involves CHOCOLATE!
Not just any old Chocolate.
But..DOVE CHOCOLATE!
There's all sorts of concoctions,,
delightfully packaged ..

and just in time for the gifting season!
Nuts and candies..


Chardonnay Wine Brittle!

Mini Meeces?

and something for me..a non-chocolate lover!
Spiced Sipping White Chocolate

or maybe this Coconut Chocolate Chip Smoothie?

so..head on over to Annie's..
check out all the Chocolate goodies..
you'll be glad you did!
and tell her Loui♥ sent you!

Monday..Blue,Mellow Yellow and Mosaic

The Whale... 
If you read a recent front page story of the  San Francisco Chronicle, you would have read about a female humpback whale who had become entangled in a spider web of crab traps and lines. She was weighted down by hundreds of pounds of traps that caused her to struggle to stay afloat. She also had hundreds of yards of line rope wrapped around her body, her tail, her torso, a line tugging in her mouth. A fisherman spotted her just east of the  Farallon Islands (outside the Golden Gate ) and radioed an environmental group for help. Within a few hours, the rescue team arrived and determined that she was so bad off, the only way to save her was to dive in and untangle her. They worked for hours with curved knives and eventually freed her. When she was free, the divers say she swam in what seemed like joyous circles. She then came back to each and every diver, one at a time, and nudged them, pushed them gently around as she was thanking them. Some said it was the most incredibly beautiful experience of their lives. The guy who cut the rope out of her mouth said her eyes were following him the whole time, and he will never be the same.
May you, and all those you love, be so blessed and fortunate to be surrounded by people who will help you get untangled from the things that are binding you.  And, may you always know the joy of giving and receiving gratitude.  I pass this on to you, my friends, in the same spirit.

             *~*~*~*

What started out to be a normal Monday..
Blue skies..
tolerable temperatures..
quickly became this..
swirling , blowing snow..
big, wet, floppy flakes..
the wind tossed Yellow Delicious Apples..
from overhanging limbs of the neighbor's tree..
leaving me yet another several hundred apples to deal with!
nope.. too mushy and acidic for applesauce..
now my roses are finished..
the trees are bare..
leaves still need to be raked..
before the snow returns again..
But.. I am mellow as considering my blessings:
.*.am fortunate to have good health
which enables me to rake the leaves..
dispose of the apples..
and if need be, to shovel the snow.
*.my eyesight is good..
to appreciate the beauty of blue skies..
the warmth of bright winter sun..
or the wickedness of a sudden storm..
the delicate beauty of falling snow..
*.I live in a country where being neighborly is a way of life.
we share the bounties of Nature..
and the freedoms to worship the religion of our choice..
May you each enjoy the bounty of this holiday season..
and be thankful for all our blessings!
                      *~*~*~*
Please join our gracious hostesses..
Smiling Sally at Blue Monday
Mary at Mosaic Monday
Drowsy Monkey at Mellow Yellow Monday
  

"Artistic" Tilting of Blog Photos

Regarding
TILTED/SLANTED PHOTOS?
Many of us who Blog..
and enjoy pictorial blogs..
have difficulty with craning our necks..
this way..
\ \\\\\\\\\
and that..
////////////
to better see a photo..
or an important element of said photo..
so please..
whomever started this FAD,
CRAZE,
or  LAZINESS..
it is NOT cute,
Nor eye-catching..
JUST STOP IT!
and post the photo STRAIGHT ^ up!
ps.. couldn't post examples because no permission granted!

Its a GIVEAWAY!

woohoo!!...it's POTTERY BARN giveaway time!

My friend Mary at Urban Farmgirl is doing just that

Yes! A $50.00 Gift certificate!

Perfect for early holiday shopping!

Hurry on over, follow the rules and tell Mary I sent you!

Good Luck!!!

Wednesday, White,Watery, Outdoors.Wordless

The big news here today was SNOW!
Started late afternoon, first as rain, 
then hail, and finally fluffy wet snow.
no real accumulation,
just on the grassy areas..
and enough to create chaos during rush hour.

Was falling pretty heavy there for awhile..

And yes, It was indeed beautiful!

Looking out my front door at rush hour traffic in the background.

Slick sidewalks  beneath the remaining colorful leaves..

I've heard of "Frost on the Pumpkin"..but Snow on the Jack O Lantern?

Instead of this..

This is where I'd much rather be!!


Please join these sites for more fun and interesting Wednesday events!..
Outdoor Wednesday
White Wednesday
Watery Wednesday
Wordless Wednesday

Monday, Blue, Mellow Yellow, Mosaic

What a super week I've had!!
Thursday was my birthday!
65th! Still cannot believe it!
YAY..all those SENIOR discounts!!



(My dear sister of the Sea and heart, Margo, made these for me!)
I really don't  feel a day over...
well I don't feel OLD..
you know..ANCIENT!
Yes.. I do have several problems..
arthritis for one..
that limits me at times in WHAT tasks I can perform..
My painting has gone by the wayside..
because my hands would cramp while holding the brushes..
BUT..my Nikon and Kodak have continued the journey..
of capturing my world and releasing my creativity from within..
Because the weather here was so awesome..

I've stayed away from the computer..

finding reasons to be outdoors.. 

savoring the awesome beauty  of Autumn..
my last roses are open ..
fragrant..
beautiful..
I drink in the aroma..

After photographing the roses..
I wander along the banks of Cherry Creek..
delighting in the beautiful blue sky..
the yellow Aspens and Cottonwoods leaves bright in the afternoon sun..

I discover a milkweed pod..

bursting open.. ready to propel the silken seeds..

sending them soaring on the soft breeze..

I ,soaking the warmth, rejuvenate my soul..

I'm at peace..

am one with my God..

so thankful to be alive..

and living..

and the recipient of such bountiful blessings..

smiling..

I return home.. 

My neighbor's apple tree..
provides such lovely blossoms and aroma in the spring..
produces an over-abundance of Golden Delicious apples in the fall..
and when ripe..the birds come pecking..and squawking..
at the squirrels..
and each other..
apples begin to rain...

MANY which fall into my yard!
I pick them up and toss into a pile..
where squirrels and crows/ravens enjoy..
this is excellent exercise for me..
and when that is done..
I retire to the patio with book in hand..
a glass of ever present Iced Tea..
and lose myself for a couple of hours between the pages..
and recall the wonder of a Golden Autumn Afternoon

Hope your week/weekend was equally delightful!
Please join these lovely hostesses for more fun!
Smiling Sally Blue Monday
Drowsy Monkey Mellow Yellow Monday
Mary Mosaic Monday