Thoughts on New Year's Eve

Another year is almost over. Where did the time go? For me and my family, it was a year of special challenges, but as 2008 comes to an end, we are all still here, and we have a roofs over our heads and plenty to eat, and much love from family and friends. I wish everyone the same "riches" and hope the new year be a good one for all.

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky.

The flying cloud, the frosty light;

The year is dying in the night;

Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,

Ring, happy bells, across the snow:

The year is going, let him go;

Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind,

For those that here we see no more,

Ring out the feud of rich and poor,

Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,

And ancient forms of party strife;

Ring in the nobler modes of life,

With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the want, the care, the sin,

The faithless coldness of the times;

Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes,

But ring the fuller minstrel in.

- Alfred Lord Tennyson, Ring Out, Wild Bells

Best wishes for 2009.

Joanie

Merry Christmas to you!

Joanie

Florida bound

For a number of years on Dec 1 we have gone to Florida for two months, except this year we had to delay a week for medical reasons. We are leaving tomorrow morning, via the Autotrain from Lorton, VA to Sanford, FL. This is what my poinsettia shrub looked like last year when we arrived at our Florida house. A hard freeze last January killed it back to the ground, but I was told that it had grown back. Am eager to see if it is blooming again. Also, we both looking forward to a break from the unseasonably cold weather we've had so far this year.

Heading south.

Joanie

After a brief absence

When you are a senior citizen, things happen that change your daily routines and your future plans. The past few weeks have been a challenging time for us, but we're learning to adjust to new doctors medicines, and routines. Usually Cliff and I go to Florida the 1st of December and stay a couple of months, but this year our departure has been delayed. We now have reservations for this coming Sunday, Dec 7, to travel via the autotrain from Lorton, VA to Sanford, FL, and are hoping that nothing else happens to delay our trip.



As a result of the delay, this year I was able to go to my garden club's December meeting and holiday party which I've missed in previous years, and it was delightful. One of our members graciously hosted the event at her historic home here in town:


Here are a couple views of the interior of this majestic old house. The hostess had every room decorated with beautiful greens and ornaments. Here is the dining room:

and the front hall:

And of course, being the garden club, we brought floral entries for judging:

Joanie