Chillin' in da Keys!

Four years ago, Barry started a new tradition of going someplace warm and tropical for his birthday on December 3rd. It started with the British Virgin Islands for his 50th, and the past two years, we've enjoyed trips to the Florida Keys. This year we spent a week on Conch Key (including a day trip to Key West) and had a wonderful time. Please visit our Conch Key website for pictures and a trip report.

Happy Holidays to all!

Thanksgiving on Logos

Barry and I spent the long Thanksgiving weekend on our boat, and what a range of temperatures we experienced. Here we are on Thanksgiving Day, about to eat the feast I'd prepared at home. The temperature was in the mid-70s. Ahhhhhh....nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina on an unseasonably warm Thanksgiving!

Are our plates full enough?

A cold front came through Thursday night bringing high winds and much cooler air. Friday was overcast, chilly (high of 51) and very windy, making it feel even colder, so we holed up inside Logos all day with a space heater, doing interior projects. In this photo, I am stitching up a hanging mesh bag for fruit.

Saturday wasn't a lot warmer, but the winds were down some, and the sun was out, so we ventured out for a chilly sail on the Neuse. From our clothing in the pictures below, you can see that it was not quite the tropical sailing weather we favor! We had to keep taking turns at the helm to let the other warm up behind the dodger. At the helm, the wind hit us full-force.

Fall Beauty

I snapped these photos over the past few days in our wooded yard. Our leaves are late in turning and falling this year due to the warm autumn and drought, but the trees did not disappoint; in fact, this year's show may have been one of the most brilliant in the eight autumns we've owned this property. Every view seemed more beautiful than the last, especially with the sun shining through the leaves, dappling the shade and sunlight all around.

Although leaf cleanup is a long and tedious job that seems to stretch for months, these bright scenes make the work worth it. If only this wondrous time could stretch a bit longer -- but its very brevity makes it all the sweeter. The photos don't even do it justice since you have to see the full 360-degree view to really understand the beauty of these woods, but I hope you'll enjoy them.

Front yard View down driveway from house

View from side yard back towards house

Back patio/pond

East side yard West side yard (septic field) Pansies I planted yesterday on front portico Maple leaves