Mike and I went out to the edge of town so he could play with his
Christmas present.  He bought himself a fancy shmancy digital
camera that has so many buttons I probably couldn’t work it with the
instruction book in my hand.  Mine may be digital but all I do is
point and shoot.  Whatever comes out is either planned or
lucky.  Sometimes both.



Case in point.

I
wanted a picture that would show how monochromatic it gets here in
Winter.  Sometimes when I’m out walking in the woods, all of the
green is covered up with snow and it’s like I’ve stepped into a black
and white movie.



I know this isn’t a perfect picture and it would never make it against
a professional photographers work but I like it.  So then Mike and
I were talking about how so many pictures in Winter look blue, ethereal
almost.  Well it was getting on towards late afternoon and sure
enough it started to get blue.  So I took this…..













I like this, it shows how blue it really was.  And because its so
vertical.  The road, the trees.  I think way to much about my
pictures. 

Shall we digress?

Okay here goes.



I hope everyone had a good Christmas. I hope you were able, even if
only for a little while, to remember how lucky you are in your
life.  Everytime I start to feel sorry for myself I remember what
my dad used to say when I was a little girl.



” I felt bad because I had no shoes until I met the man that had no feet.”



My honey Bear and I decided to not get each other anything for
Christmas this year.  We have each other and really everything
else that we need.  So this year our money that we would have
spent on each other went here
instead.  Because lets face it….we have SO much more than even
on a good day these people will ever have.  Also, we knew the kids
would get us something and so would our friends.  Sure enough we
ended up with 6 bottles of excellant vintage wine.  3 German (2 whites and 1 red), 2
Italian (both red) and 1 French also a red.  Man I LOVE our friends.  Also the kids
box arrived and was full of goodies, like  wonderful chocolates
and  a great dvd, and other equally diverse and entertaining
things, like the “Big Little Book Of Playboy Party Jokes”.  
No they aren’t all really dirty.  For instance here’s one…..

We’ve heard of a new low in community standing: A man whose credit
rating is so bad even his cash isn’t accepted.   
(insert groan here)

or this on the workplace….

“Who,” raged the angry boss. “told you that just because I’ve kissed
you a few times you could loaf around the office and not work?” 

“The company attorney.” answered his personal assistant. 



So now I’ve digressed so much that my writing muse has flown out the
window in horror.  I would say I’ll write more later but I’ve
noticed that my blogging has slipped to every couple of weeks no matter
my intentions.  So maybe if I quit saying that I’ll get back into
the groove.  Thanks for all the really wonderful cards.  You
guys are the absolute best there is to offer. 



tiny edit, since Goose asked.

Neither picture has been re-touched in anyway.  So no, it’s not
black and white, it really is that monchromatic.  Also for your
viewing pleasure, if you click on the image it will get bigger. 
See why I love Goose, she makes me feel so talented and special. 
Thanks Girl.

Thisis the scarf that Kat made for me.  The picture does not dojustice to the beautiful colors.  Neither do I.  I must loveyou guys considering I would take a picture of myself when I have acold and feel like crap.  Not to mention the whole no makeup thinggoing on there.  We just won’t mention that at all.  Howincredibly soft and warm this scarf is, that I will mention and I willalso say THANK YOU KAT, one more time.  And no she didn’t send mea matching hat.  I asked for a long thin scarf and some ofthe German ladies I know have some really interesting ways to wrap ascarf.  This is one of them.  I don’t wear it like thisthough because I have a black hat I wear.

I like this picture better, ha, hah!  I wonder why?

Onto Christmas cards.  I got really cracked up when I realized thatevery card we have gotten so far is from a xangan.  How fun! I really liked the one goose sent because I have a “thing” aboutnutcracker teeth.  (They’re scary)   But this little guyisn’t scary.  He’s smart!  You gotta admire that in asquirrel.  But I’m wondering how he buttoned his pants?

I’m not surprised that we didn’t get cards from my 3sisters.  All 3 are in the middle of moving or helping someonemove.  Aunt C.J just moved from California to Kansas.  Aunt Lis in the process of moving from Illinois to N.W. Arkansas and Aunty Nis helping her daughter in law move from Arizona to N.W.Arkansas.  So since they are all in transit they areforgiven.  I have no such excuse and warn everyone now that if Ihave your address and sent you a card you will probably get it justbefore the new year.  I say this because I mailed them yesterdayand since they have to come from the Army post in Germany to eitherCanada or the States all of them will more than likely belate.   However the cards I sent have drawings of real placesin Germany and I’ve been to them all so I thought that made them extraspecial.  (for me anyway) I have no idea how “special” they willbe to you who get them.  By the way a little warning now.  Ihave always described my handwriting as a third grade scrawl.  Butthey come from a friend and from the heart so just get a translator ifyou can’t decipher the message.

On to Stuttgart………………..

Remember the head cold I mentioned?……

Kind of appropriate don’t you think?

I love art.  Some may not think this IS art and Iadmit to looking at some sculptures or paintings and thinking or evensaying “what the hell?”  But this was just cool.  I would putthis in my front yard.  And grass would never even cover thepedestal and ivy would never come near those big bronze eyes.  Iguess I’m just weird that way.