Fade '09

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As another year, (n a decade), sinks into the west, I bring you my fav photo of the year. Feels like I've been sitting on this cupcake forever, but actually just since that previously seen sunset at fav beach in October.

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After leaving the beach lot that evening, I'd stopped at the nearby golf course for a minute to fidget with items on the seat. Looked out the window, n behold! Yet another sunset miracle- the silver lining! The sun was down, but the clouds held the gorgeous, eerie glow against the course vegetation. I associate this vision of wonder with African savanah scenes... n I can hear drums while looking at it.

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Also, I'm reminded of the "Survivor" tv show, because yes, I've survived another year. I'm glad to still live in this non-city place near the Atlantic ocean where I want to be. It often feels like camping out here, too... Where every now n then I'm reminded of the most beautiful pieces of Creation helping me to find serenity n peace in my soul.

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A fleeting moment (year, decade), to be remembered, n shared...

2009 Run-on Tagline

... I gave 2008 a chance... but 2009 is gonna be MY year! ... Ok, the kid who said those things quit in January! NOW WHAT? ... Guess I'll keep working on it... Get on with life... Drive where the road leads... Hope the brakes will work... Enjoy the ocean view... Take another deep breath... Bask in the sunshine ... Feel the warmth ... wow, that same guy got hired back again ... Thank the Angels ... Find a way ... Make sense of this ... Be patient... Wait for the clouds to part... Dive into the surf... Fight to stay awake... Wash the wall again, Danielson, it good for you... Keep an eye open... Play with color more ... Jump thru hoops... Get back out there... Quick, before the year is over ... Rest my head ... Wrap it up ... Remember the good times... Kiss 2009 good-bye ...

(Retire the tagline)

Whew

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The major holiday is done, n now just New Years looms ahead this week for the holiday stressed.

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All the beautiful snow at the beach n around the village has melted, due to a balmy 40F degree day of tropical rains. I swear that was thunder I heard all night, too...

Now just greyish lumps lay in odd spots reminding us of the mountains shoveled in the past week.

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Tonight the puddles are freezing up into black ice to drive on again, just in time for the next projected artic blast heading in by mid-week. The sea ice will be building up more soon, for more frozen pic opportunities.

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I'm so tired- I'd just like to hibernate awhile. I lost sleep Saturday staying up to get to the post office n running errands. A nap is no substitute for a day's rest, n as you get older, the body doesn't let you function well in this zonked state.

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I've no New Years plans, either! Off for the Eve, On (working) for the day again. Think I'll try to work on relaxing n snoozin, so I can feel better.

Got a party lined up? I did that every year until The past eight years or so- now I'm not into bars or gigs, not a big drinker, either! Looks like it'll be Sub-Z weather anyhow, perfect weather to cuddle-up with a hot-water bottle n blankie n watch First Night on the tv.

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Time for shower n snooze before work again...

Have a lovely last week of 2009!

Noel a` la Cape

Wrap

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Suddenly I'm craving candy canes...
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Everyone is too busy for blogging!
Time to wrap up the Holly Day.
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Have a Very Merry !


btw: Original photo
(Did you guess?)

Blizzard '09

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Here's the path to the road I had to shovel today. My t-square says 19 inches. It was even higher almost to the top of Little Trucks tailgate, once I got the plow droppings removed from the road.


Yes, I had to work. Only got stuck on the ice under the snow in my driveway about 20 times. Went thru an entire bucket of sand just to get on the road, of which one lane was plowed. Tho I parked at the end of the drive way at the road, they didn't plow that side close enough.
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Three hours before work was spent just shoveling! Thanks BBM for the assistance, I really appreciate it, n would still be stuck without your help.
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Happy winter!

Light Show

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Before it furiously began Blizzarding this evening, I stopped at the neighborhood decor over-achievers yard on the way back from errands. Every town has one. Yes, these are all from the same yard! It's the same home which had Taz, I posted last year.
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The Trumpeting Angel in this case seems to've effectively replaced the Tasmanian Devil Looney Tune. These folks do a lovely job, n may win the local competition again.
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Over a foot of snow is expected here overnight, n I'm very glad I'm not going to be stuck at work in it! Even tho they planned an earlier production, the delivery drivers have a job I wouldn't want today- It's snowing n drifting to beat the band out there as I write.
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Good thing I stopped for pics today, cause the rest of the week those decs will be covered with deep white stuff...

Chills

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As the Solstice soon approaches, n the Earth's North axis tilts it's furthest from the Sun, the coldest weather has finally arrived. We're experiencing a spell of the Sub-Z's in windchill temps here for Day Off. (Without the wind about 18F, n going lower overnight). Seems cold in the house until you go out for errands, then coming back in, it's warm inside again.
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I was wearing so many layers of warmth I could barely fit behind the steering wheel, or even sit down! I need to lose weight so I can get on more, less tight layers... You forget until forced again, how tough it is to fumble with gloves on for the keyes, pocket items, n putting fuel in the tank.
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I didn't head out 'til after dark again, n decided to try to get some pics, despite the chill. I took a short n brisk walk at the little park in the town's center at the Narrows. I even walked out onto one of the numerous fishing piers over the water where I haven't been for months now. Yes, it was bitterly windy-cold.
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My cam Batteries froze after just a few minutes, so I didn't get many shots before it died. Then I quickly hoofed it back to Little Truck to get the feeling back into my frozen (even with gloves on) hands. Again, I was the only one out there walking for fun, braving the cold.
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A large storm is predicted to form n head to the East coast in a few days- Maybe I'll be able to get some snow pics in next week. When I got home n checked the cam batts, of course they were working again in the warmth.
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Altho I've too much to do, I'm Chillin' out today-
btw- Happy Chonukah!

Belly Work

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Santa has recently been spotted working on his belly-size in front of the village sandwich shoppe, wearing a chef's cap with his red suit. Really, it's a cute three-foot statue they put-up on the edge of the sidewalk in front of their door when they first opened this past summer.

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I've been having a challenging week. A few days ago I got smacked pretty good slipping in a puddle on wet cement at work. Between the bruises on my hip n elbow, n my head-aches from also hitting my head, having a tooth-ache, being further sleep-deprived, n having extra errands to attend to, I'm pooped.

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Work early again tomorrow, n more to do than I got time for. Got the Harry Potter n the Half-Blood Prince Dvd this week, n still haven't seen the end of the movie yet. Seen the first half about three times before sleeping tho- Off I go again now for after work shower n a few more scenes of the film before slumberland hits me again. A few more work days before Day Off again.

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Keep up the good Elf work...

Brrhh!

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My village has a tradition of using plain white lights for the holiday season. Quaint perhaps, but I prefer colored lamps. Luckily, private parties aren't required to follow what town leaders decided for local dec fashion years ago.

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In my opinion, the holiday light displays are the best part of the darkness we endure as the days get shorter on the way to the Winter Solstice.

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Speaking of dark, I suspect it was a partly sunny day before I woke up late n didn't get out the door before the 4pm sundown hour. It will be difficult getting daylight pics this winter! Another zero new clicks today. This pic taken December 1, 2007, is what it would've been like at the gazeebo on the bluffs had I made there today.

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Still no snowfall here. It's getting much colder, n the winds are biting out there. Windchill is reported to be about 3 degrees F now. I'm currently going crazy trying to figure out where I hid last years gloves- clean in a large zip-bag in a clothes container somewhere (got tons). I'm thinking prob under the stuff moved to paint the backroom, cause struck-out on all the easier searches today.

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I have a cheap pair for now, but shoveling n sub-z's will require heavy-duty protection soon. Likely buying new ones will be more time efficient than further digging, but expensive, n I do have good ones. All I need now is more daylight time to work on moving stuff. It always boils down to less sleep, more light. Oh well! Meanwhile, the fingers will be chilly, n I'll keep plugging away at the search.

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At least I got to some of the weather-stripping, which always cuts down on the drafts. Now if I can only get the downstairs folks to keep the main door closed tight, it won't be too chilly in here. Half-way thru December n we're finally getting the cold blast that used to arrive two months sooner-

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Here come the crazy-busy couple of weeks before Xmas. I'm not ready- Hopefully I'll get alot done in the very few Days Off I'll have until then. I have to work on the day, as usual.

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Merry shopping, Elves...

Spirograph

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Thrice altered on Puter, this everyday item I see on errand run reminds me of the Super Spirograph drawing set I had as a teen. Parts of it may still be lurking in ancient boxes from my youth here somewhere.

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I remember not spending many hours of time on my spiro-images with the colored pencils. The part I always hated most was when the tacks came out after several turns of the gears around the guiding rings in different directions, which would always loosen them, because you had to lean a bit against it to get the teeth to mesh n turn the drawing rings.

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Everytime the support-shaper pieces shifted a little bit, the perfection of the image would be ruined, with no way to fix it. Everytime this happened, I stopped in my drawing tracks n gave up on that pic.

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Reading Robin's latest post with an inspirational quote reminded me of my never being satisfied in my artwork, never thinking them perfect, only thought acceptable for now due to the constraints of time. It is so true that an artist is never satisfied.

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Time, the Earth, part of our Spiral Galaxy, the Milky Way, is due to reach a 26 thousand year cycle-mark in 2012 as noted by the ending of the ancient, Meso-American culture of the Maya's calender artwork. (I first heard of this through a university course, "Ancient Meso-American Art" in 1991.) Recently, in a free, crystal sales type, mystical services booket, ( Wisdom, New England Edition, Dec 2009) stumbled upon in my bank's ATM foyer, I discovered some articles that make me feel as tho I know more about the occassion now.

"Understanding The 2012 Phenomenon",

"Interview with John Major Jenkins."

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The alignment of our Sun's orbit in 2012 on the December Winter Solstice in relation to the Dark Rift of our galaxy, along with an orbital wobble of the Earth, makes this astronomical event possible. (I also studied Astronomy in college, which helps).

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Being an artist, all of these subjects in conjunction, all interwining, n the fact I have inexplicably studied all of it, fascinates me.
I have approximately two-years to figure out what this stuff means to me.

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This week I was also implored by a news teaser to read an article about NASA 's recent trouble with Mars gadgets n losing observed data recordings from "Spirit," which is stuck in a trench, n Com from the Orbiter Satellite is down, "Opportunity" is at least operating." (So far unable to locate original article I read) . The point to make on the NASA info is that our scientist's eyes inside our solar system are currently almost blind, due to limited NASA missions recently, n Hubble's location. Cited in the yet unfound article read Dec 5, if not for a European satellite, we would not know at all about an asteroid collision recently on Jupiter!

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Many Media outlets, recently are taking full advantage of "Doomsday" liberties with the subject, injecting fear into the hearts of those easily swayed. The current movie "2012" is an example. After all, we all haven't seen enough disaster films to desensitize ourselves to catastrophic events yet.

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btw- Happy Pearl Harbor Day

Hmmmm, ... Spirographs, imperfection, orbits, time, shifting, wobbles...

I sense a new artwork series coming on...

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Original pic, Did you guess?

Awards n Awards

The Queen of Paradise Valley awarded me the Humane Award on November 15, because of the ESR post "Only Three." Thank you Paige, you are a illuminating beacon in Bloglandville, it's great to read PV-II.

I have searched Bloglandville High n Low, n decided to enrich the blogger, Bubbie, with the humane award for the post, "Ballad of Amanda n Max," and "Amanda n Max Part II" about showing compassion for a stray dog, Max, n his predispositions, n solving a problem without hurting him in any way.

Enjoy your award, dear Bubbie!

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November 26th the exceptional writer n Mountaineer, Thomma Lyn, honored me with the Over The Top Award.

And along with the award come these questions, which must be answered with one word.

(I found that quite difficult at times)

1. Where is your mobile phone? gone

2. Your hair? banana
3. Your mother? speeches
4. Your father? "Whatever"

5. Your favorite food? Chinese
6. Your dream last night? places

7. Your favorite drink? Tea

8. Your dream/goal? rested

9. What room are you in? mine

10. Your hobby? bloggy

11. Your fear? injury

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? older

13. Where were you last night? work

14. Something that you aren’t? perfect

15. Muffins? free

16. Wish list item? sunshine

17. Where did you grow up? MetroWest

18. Last thing you did? cook

19. What are you wearing? flannel

20. Your TV? movies

21. Your Pets? purr

22. Friends? fun

23. Your life? amazing

24. Your mood? wondering

25. Missing Someone? many

26. Vehicle? LittlePU

27. Something you’re not wearing? heels

28. Your favorite store? Micheals

29. Your favorite colour? complimentaries

30. When was the last time you laughed? work

31. Last time you cried? funeral

32. One place that I go to over and over? harbor

33. Facebook? time?

34. Favorite place to eat? table

I’ll pass the award on to:

Lynn

Talon

Paige

G

Joey

Cookie

Who's blogging are all top-notch reads,

(Jannie was already awarded by Thomma Lyn,).

Pass on the award to worthy bloggers, when you have time, n if you want to do it.

Answering the questions is optional . Enjoy!

Wow- my head's getting big with all these accolades...

I'm proud of 5-year-old Bloggy ESR ...

Season Search

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We have slid right into December, n if not for the light displays n store holiday goods, it'd be difficult to tell. Nights have been noticeably colder, n the Sun has been setting much sooner, but daytime temperatures have been strangely warm all week for this season in New England.
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The morning was drenched in heavy rain storms, but later today on Day Off, I openned the windows up n got outside with Mischief before sundown to enjoy mid-60s F outside! The weather's slated to get more icy within the week, but they were wrong about predicting this warmth, so I've adopted a "wait n see" attitude about the weather-stripping chores.
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My deck plants still have some life. There's one Brown-eyed Susan, n one small, red unknown still blooming out there, n the late turnips are still alive tho teeny-weenie. Little Blue Spruce flopped over in the storm again. It really needs repotting in a bigger barrel with better base-wieght.
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I awoke late, n the sun descended too soon. I didn't get many pics, n most in the dark. Holiday shopping hasn't been begun, n choices are limited by bux. Rent week has me waiting another day for errands. While I'm waiting around, I got some soup made finally. Been having connecting difficulties recently, n wasting alot of time just trying to get online. So that's waiting around too.
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My blog reading time's been seriously compromised, n I should really skip more sleep to call n see about my provider n the phone line quality. Now that I'm awake enough to think of course, it's too late to do anything about it!
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Enough waiting already...
(Phew! Finally got online)