Winter in Virginia

Now after several days of temperatures hanging around zero at night and highs only 20 mid-day, naturally the big lake is frozen and all ponds as well.

I can see the fish swimming under the ice...just hope it is deep enough for them to survive.

The birds crowd the feeders and are so pretty all fluffed to stay warm. Looks like the Hawk is hungry as well and very adapted in catching his prey. He stands for long periods of time blending in with the split-rail fence posts near the feeders but the other bird hide until he is gone. He know3s where they hide in the evergreen tree and at times attempts to go in after a lunch. This morning, I put out extra food for all...except the squirrels.

Decided to take them the left over gravy which I heavily peppered with sunflower, thistle and regular bird seeds. Sort of like suet. Took it out and hung on branches that are too small to support weight of a squirrel.

We are staying close to home and enjoying a warm fire, hot meals, nature watching with hot tea in hand.... and putting the house back together after the ordeal of having wood floors resurfaced. They are beautiful.

KEEP WARM~
Time to share the Sint Maarten Photos~

"Checking the Tires" in Africa

No, this photo circulating on the Internet isn't one from our trip.

It did bring to mind the early morning balloon ride we did over Serengeti when in Tanzania, Africa.

One of the thousands of highlights of our three weeks there was the Ballooning over Serengeti.

...we were up before dawn as that is ideal time for balloons lift off ~

dawn brings the air flows of early morning...

We had coffee...naturally...rode about 40 minutes to the floor of the wild and wonderful Serengeti Valley...still in darkness...got out of the vehicle to find only open terrine...grassy fields.... (of course)
and if we need to "check the tires" (which is what the call it should you have to tinkle while on a Safari).

Well...
Guess who couldn't face a couple of hours in a balloon WITHOUT checking the tires... just thinking I couldn't go made the urge to go even stronger. The only lights out there came from the headlights of the vehicles~ The lights were focuses on the balloons being filled with hot air. Behing us was pitch black. We were the cheese in the rat trap, I thought.

Diane went with me to the edge of darkness at the back tire of our vehicle~

We looked around, peering into the darkness.. .was there something big out there just ready to jump out of the grass?

BUT little did Diane's presence halt the fear~

I tell you, it didn't take long to check that tire, pull up safari pants and run, zipping as we rejoin safty of the group. WHEW!

Afterwards I felt that I had really walked on the edge...but it was worth it to be comfortable.
Africa is something everyone should experience.

I must share more with my own photos later.

June

2009 Black Tie and Boots Inaugural Ball

What to wear? What to wear?

To attend any one of the Inaugural Balls is to "see and be seen." Dresses are always out of this world as well as the "beautiful people."

Celeb's here and there~being personal and willing to hop in photos with you.

Fun, fun, fun. Totally worth the price of admission.

What is that price of admission?

Tickets are $500 - $1000 each and limos going for $2000 for the 10 hours needed to addend a Ball and of course, are being transported in to accommodate the huge demand.

One of our daughters is attending the Black Tie and Boot Ball while the others will be attending others.

The Black Tie and Boots Inaugural Ball is a Texas State Society of Washington shindig. The guys wear Tux with black western boots....the ladies, a formal gown.

They will have six stages with entertainment by those you want to see ...entertaining from 7 PM to 2 Am.

All I want is PHOTOS~

What a great time this will be.

Dress Registry Prevents Gown Duplicates at Inaugural Ball

A dress registry website launched on December 1, 2008 called DressRegistry.com, provides women with a platform to upload photos of their special-event gowns in the hopes that they might avoid wearing a duplicate. Over 100 dresses have already been registered for the balls following Barack Obama's presidential inauguration.

This might be fun to check out.

Of course, the designers drawings reflect how we would really look in these dresses, right?

June

Temperatures Plunge ~ Chilly Inauguration Expected

Today in Washington suburbs it is 8 degrees this morning....and our expected high for today is 20.

With the inauguration on the immediate horizon, we have finalized plans. We will stay at home~ TV, hot tea in front of flickering fireplace is more appealing to us.
We've done inaugurations this before and actually wasn't worth the freezing weather for a brief glimpse of the motorcade which is about all we can expect January 20th. We have taken the children down to stand on chunks of snow/ice for hours just wasn't worth the discomfort.

This time, Obama will be in a new ultra secure mobile.
Maybe they will post a photo of him on the window so folks can see him as the glass is reported to be eight inches thick.
If anything, it would be nice if we will have a nice snow as Washington is so beautiful dressed in white.

Men ~ The Stronger Sex~

Today at lunch one of the guys with us was a Surgeon. We talked about pain thresholds.
He said putting people in order of who complains of pain more,
men complain more than any category. Next is "women who have never had children" and last came as a surprise...
he said "nurses" ranked number three.
What? He wasn't kidding.

Sitting on Suitcases Surprise

With first morning coffee in hand, I stepped over unpacked suitcases to answer the door.
To our surprise, it is workman here to refinish our wood floors on main level. WHAT?

We had told them we would return from our trip on that date
which translated to them as we wanted the work STARTED that day. I wondered why did didn't set a start date with me. To him, that was the start date.

SO~ from this we should remember we are living in this multi-culture world and be more specific, especially when planning such a major event. . English language has subtle differences that are understood by other English as a first language people and maybe not be others.

Let them in or send them away? Let them in~ why not?

The best part is that now the floors are totally beautiful and will season and harden until Monday when the house will be put back together. We walk gingerly in sock feet today on the main level and me, looking and thinking of totally changes in furniture placement.
One thing always leads to another. Right?

~ There's a Reason

There comes a point in your life when you realize:

Who matters,

Who never did,

Who won't anymore...

And who always will.

So, don't worry about people from your past,

there's a reason why they didn't make it

to your future.