Past Christmas's

For the past few years we decorate the Xmas tree in New Orleans Mardi Gras Style. This tree went up in my moms house. Since my daughter went to College and now lives there it was a way of bringing a bit of her home to ours for her yearly Xmas visits. She collected all the beads during the parades and would give them to me for our tree. I love how easy it is to drape beaded necklaces on the branches. So much easier than draping garland. We were lucky to finally find wonderful Fleur De Lis ornaments at Hobby Lobby after years of looking for them. This year we are going to New Orleans for Xmas so the ornaments were packed up and passed on to my daughter. We will not be decorating this year. I am looking forward to spending the holidays in a different location.

It is snowing today. Our first snow of the fall. It feels more like winter now. It made me think about the first couple years of my house. I actually had garland and bows. I don't bother to do this anymore. Sadly I don't bother putting up a tree either. My house is to small and why bother for one person. I do put up the tree at my moms with the exception of this year.

Morning Walks

On my morning walk, I decided to go up around the square to see if there were any pretty Christmas Windows. I came across these two windows in one of the antique stores. I was pretty impressed since usually they are just filled with miss matched junk. Possibly a new employee who has a bit of window dressing experience. Whatever the reason, I really enjoyed the window display.

This window display was my favorite. I really liked the Tea Merchant sign hanging up.

As I came around the corner off the square this is the beautiful sunrise. I love early mornings. I seem to be the only one awake and it is as if those displays of beauty are just for me to see. The colors of the sky are the reason I take my camera in the mornings now. I cant tell you how many beautiful sunrises I missed photographing because I had no camera. Doesn't this sky look like it is on fire?

This was the view right next to the sky of fire. Such a contrast. As the mornings get colder I will be walking a bit less. I have my limits to freezing my face off. I am looking forward to walking some morning when we are having a light snow. (As long as I don't slip and fall on my bum. I am simply to old for that any more. I don't bounce well and it hurts!!)

Fall Clouds

I have been enjoying the fall sky in my early morning walks. One of these days when I figure out how to use my Photoshop program I hope to use them as backgrounds in future prints.

Fall in Central Park

Fall color in Central Park. The sky particularly beautiful this morning. I get a bit frustrated because it is so hard to really capture the colors of the clouds.

My little town has one of the lovely Carnegie Library's built with money donated from Andrew Carnegie. It has recently been restored and added on to. Across the street from the library is Central Park. The park has many beautiful trees, a fountain and large gazebo. It hosts many weddings and events through out the year. At the front of the park stands a bronze of Marlin Perkins. He was the man who hosted "Wild Kingdom" many years ago. When I was a child I would watch his adventures every Sunday night just before the Wonderful World of Disney would come on. Marlin Perkins birth place home is only a couple blocks from the park (and currently for sale).

Fall Color

The fall color was exceptionally beautiful this year. On my morning walks, I could not resist snapping the beauty I see. I walk very early and it is usually still dark but with time change the end of my walk when the sun starts coming up and the light hits the courthouse in a certain way. I love when the clouds turn pink and the sky is the color of turquoise. It is hard not to marvel and be full of gratitude. Sometimes I feel like the sky has painted itself just for me to see.