Christmas, around the corner

Frosty Morning

  It is December 21st and days away from Christmas.  Crazy busy and crazy season.  Trying to remember the reason for this season.  Trying to find the peace and contentment.  Between working full time, as most are, and prepping for Christmas, the shopping and so forth, I feel like I finally found a piece of "ahhhhh".

The Tree is Trimmed

Friday nights are our "date night".  With Friday being clean the house in the morning, then rush to work, to finish out the week of undone work.

I had the thought of going to Madonna Inn for dinner, since we have unused gift certificates.  But I called to make reservations, and not surprised, they did not have an opening until 8.  A bit late for us.  So I cleaned the house, went to work and closed up and went home.  We still decided to go for a cocktail at the bar, as they also serve from the steak house and the cafe.  We happened on 2 empty chairs, perfect for spectator watching.  Enjoyed some margaritas and local sausage and steak salad.

Then, what I was waiting for, the band started up.  They have a great dance floor, where you will always see older couples floating around the floor, from an era gone by.  We paid our tab, and thanks to a few dance classes we had years ago, twirled around the floor to a couple of numbers.

The Inn is magical at Christmas.  A perfect time to go, if you have never gone, it is an icon of our city.

It was the perfect end to a week, a perfect beginning of "ahhh" Christmas.  

December Friday Ahhh...

Thank you, my love, for a perfect evening.

30 Days of Thanksgiving | Day 30

Last Entry...was out for the evening

November was a good month, a very full month

A month of Thankfulness

 Thankful that some days were so full that I missed my entries

Thankful that I was blessed with another month

Thankful for my family

Thankful for my friends

Thankful for the beauty that surrounds us every day

Thankful for another breath, another day

See you throughout December

Please keep in touch, somehow, with me

I would love to hear from you

Ciao! novembre!

30 Days of Thanksgiving | Day 29

Pismo Beach at Sunset in Winter

the photo above taken with my iPhone 3, yes....3  had to get it, it was so beautiful

I am thankful for a walk at the beach before dinner

an honest conversation :/

a meltdown (really)

and an understanding husband

thankful and graced

day 29 down and out

30 Days of Thanksgiving | Day 28

Wednesday, and oops...missed yesterday.  Like I said, November is winding down.  A busy week at the office and misc. appointments through the week.

So, before this gets skipped again, I will  check this off.

I am thankful for...

the rain that has set in

The colors in the vineyards that surround our area, a bit later than the previous years but a colorful palette

a change of seasons

socks and boots

warm beds

hot showers

family and friends that check in on you

fresh eggs

sitting on the couch my hubby and dozing off together after a tiring day

And another day of blessings and thanks, just look around.  What you see?  I'd love to know.

30 Days of Thanksgiving | Day 26

Monday....Monday

reminds of an old song

Sunset Sorbet

I seem to be losing steam as the the month comes to the end

Or is it that the "Thanksgiving" holiday is passed and everyone has jumped feet first into Christmas?  I am lagging, not quite ready, maybe by the end of the week

Still, I am   thankful for...

the pink sky as I left the grocery store after work, it was only there long enough to load the groceries in the car and grab a shot on the phone, then it was gone

sit time

a good start in going through years of file boxes to ready for shredding

the change of weather and another chance of rain coming this week, we are so dry

Holiday Preview

and my friend this it for the day....tomorrow

30 Days of Thanksgiving | Day 25

Sunday...I think I have hit the end of the week

Time to reflect on thankfulness...not that there isn't many things to be thankful for...I am just plain tired

Japanese Glass Net Balls

Thankful for the time to put away my fall decorations, even though they are my favorite ... time to make room for Christmas

Thankful for help in going through boxes and boxes of files for shredding

Thankful for a call to come pick persimmons

Thankful for table time and conversation with our son, and laughs about some of the content of the files we came across

Thankful for phone conversation with our daughter to share the day

Thankful that I have a hot shower and clean bed waiting for me...I am ready

Thankful for another day, another week, another breath

30 Days of Thanksgiving | Day 24

Vineyard in the Evening Fall

Saturday, what a week, could I cram any more into it?

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday....

Back home from So Cal, safe and sound

Moon Shot after shooting plane night trails

I am thankful for a full and wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends

My sister and brother in law who traveled from Oregon, who made sacrifices in their own ways to be with family....I am thankful, I love you!

Walking in the Mist in Morro Bay

My Oldest sister, Claudia, btw...I miss you terribly...one of her oldest and best friends hosted the whole Campbell gang (and I mean gang) at their home...I am thankful, Thank you Peggy & Bob, I love you!

My mom, who is 85 yrs young...and runs circles around me!  I am thankful...I love you, MOM!!!

My Beautiful Mother

For my ever loving sisters, who NEVER age!!!!  Chris and Cyn, I am thankful and I love you!!

Christine & Cynthia....

Smile????

And John, of course, you too ;)

Judy, our adopted sister...I am thankful for such a full family!

And spending time with our daughter and son #2.....I am thankful and blessed...Love you!!!!!!

Angela and Les

Able to connect with our son on Thanksgiving,  I am blessed...Love you!

My husband, I am thankful...he truly loves me unconditionally....how did I deserve  this? LOVE YOU!!!!!

Terry and Val Kill More

New experiences,  I am thankful

A drive by hug from my Nephew, Adam, who took the time from cleaning up from Turkey Day to come by, I am Thankful....Love you, AD!!

Home, I am thankful

30 Days of Thanksgiving | Day 23

Friday and the week is over, a busy but wonderful week

Low Lying Fog

I am thankful for the great times and therefore the great memories generated

A great Thanksgiving feast with family and dear friends

Time spent with our daughter :D and son #2

A tour of the ship on which he serves us and his country, Thankful for all our service personnel and there duty to country

Thankful for a new adventure in shooting, a falconer and the 2 hawks he is training, it was incredible!

Me & Callie

Callie, Harris Hawk

Val Kill More, Red Tail Hawk

Let Me Hunt

Great food adventures, Slaters 50/50 in San Diego

Time to turn in and shut down

I am so very thankful

30 Days of Thanksgiving | Day 22

Happy Thanksgiving!

30 Days of Thanksgiving | Day 21

Wednesday, day done...feels like Friday

Fall in the Vineyard

Tomorrow is a day celebration with family and friends

I am thankful...

Tonight I am thankful for a bed to rest...

I am thankful for the corny jokes that Dr. Laura invites on her show the day before Thanksgiving

30 Days of Thanksgiving | Day 20

And day 20 is done...

Fall in Red and Green

Tuesday comes to a close.

I am blessed and thankful

Thankful that our business remains open through hard times

Thankful that we have good & faithful employees

Thankful that I have a home to go to every night

Thankful that I have a faithful companion

Thankful for our families, each and every one of them

Thankful that I can come here and remember all that we have

Thankful for the music my ears can hear and my soul can feel

Thankful for so many good people in my life

Funny how some years I have struggled to list even one thing and this year it comes in abundance.  For that I am thankful.

30 Days of Thanksgiving | Day 19

Monday....Monday

Thankful for a new day and a new week

Sunny, clear, chilly

Thankful for days that don't stay the same

the dust has been rinsed off and many things are sparkling clean and shiny

I have been going through my water/dew drop photos 

prompted by my brother in law, who seems to be as fascinated by them as I am, pleases me!

Here is a sample of what he chose...

Now the hardest part for me is how to market and display.  My mind races, and turns and twist at so many thoughts.  

Thankful for eyes to see these tiny worlds within a drop of water. (With the help of my macro lens and glasses ;)  )

Thankful for the palette of colors that surround us

And thankful for a job...that I need to get to...

Until tomorrow

30 Days of Thanksgiving | Day 18

Sunday

Today stayed wet.  I don't mind it, really.  Not the downpour, soak your bones, but an on & off light rain, interrupted by a break in the clouds.

This time of year, everywhere you look, you see changes.

And if  you really take the time to look, nature's beauty resting and renewing.

The vineyards look like a patchwork quilt, the different varieties grown next to each other, offer a different color as the relinquish themselves for the winter.

Truly something to the thankful for.

"Wine is light, held together by water"

Galileo

Under the Vines after the Rain

"It has become quite a common proverb that "in wine there is truth"

In Vino Vertias

-Pliny the Elder, Historia Natualis, 75AD

After a Costco run, I couldn't resist the break in the rain and decided to stop in a local vineyard to see what I could find.  Not disappointed.

Still on the Vine after Harvest

Thankful for weekends, a time of renewal as well

Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, 
with fewer tensions and more tolerance. -  Benjamin Franklin

The Passion of Color on the Vines

This month is flying by....I am thankful for anyone who takes time to read my ramblings and enjoy the images.

You??

30 Days of Thanksgiving | Day 17

Much to be thankful for

A full day of visiting with a dear sister and husband...

A short walk in the rain in Morro Bay...

Morro Bay on a Stormy Day

A trip to the Gallery in Marina Square to share where I showcase some of my work...

A show around the SLOMOA to view the exhibits on display before they change out next week...

A burger....

A coffee at Starbucks on Lower Higuera...

A nap....

A trip to Edna Valley Vineyard to pick up some wine for Thanksgiving...

Edna Valley Vineyard

Dinner around the table with family...

A day to truly be thankful for....

30 Days of Thanksgiving | Day 16

16 Days into November, this month...year is evaporating quickly

Today is drizzly, rain is good...I am thankful

Love the light and the sun, but the rain washes away the dust and the green will once again appear...I am thankful

Sometimes life is pretty straight forward and you know where you are headed as in this staircase image...

I am thankful for finding my way

Stairway to Knowledge

And sometimes the way gets a bit distorted...

Spiraling Stairs

Sometimes you have to just stop and reconfigure to get going again

I am thankful for growth

It's all a matter of perspective

I am thankful

30 Days of Thanksgiving | Day 15

Ok, I will get this out today.....I will, I will

But, it will be later.....

With thankfulness for many things...

One being able to attend the CA Photo Fest this year with my daughter, Angela.

Fremont Zoom Blur

Thankful for fun editing programs

Thankful for safe arrival of my sister and brother in law

Thankful for arrival of rain

Thankful for clouds

Neon Wave

And with that, time to go visit!