O, Holy Night...

Dream...

I had the strangest dream the other night...

You were hosting a "Big Little Christmas" party.
Your girlfriend was the one that I had suggested for you years ago.
Three piece suits were all around.
We danced a lot - body and conversation wise.
An ice cream truck drove into the restaurant as part of the festivities.

It was bizarre...

Taken Under Advisement...

Life's Adventures...

Last night I dressed in a bear costume to present a gift at a retirement party...yup, you read that right.  Of course I hammed it up!

Not quite something that I had on my life checklist but I'm glad that I did it.

Getting Ready....

Falling Snow...

Thank you for the beautiful snow, sweet little angels...

Louise...

It’s been a year since you left us…you are missed very much.

Silly Philly....

The weekend kicked off with a fun sushi dinner and included a trip to Philadelphia where the following happened.... 

I walked out of a building and saw a sea of Santas spread throughout the streets!!

Never a dull moment!

N-Ice Day!

Quiet Morning....

It looked better in person....

Vibrant....

Turkey Lurkey

Thanksgiving Day was a whirlwind but it was worth it to spend time with the whole family.

Even taught the dog to play cards!! 

Cue The Wood Jokes....

Amazing how a tree can grow for decades and then be reduced to a pile of chips in about 5 minutes…. 

I spent the weekend helping out with tree work. I am tired, bruised and sore but it was totally worth it! Bonus was spending time with great people and being disconnected from the rest of the world!! 

The rain that we had Sunday did not help matters much but we soldiered on thru the elements and processed about 60 trees of all shapes and sizes when all was said and done. 

Who knew that I could drag trees to a chipper for two long days and still be able to function the third day!?!?

Maleficent....

I am incredibly giddy about this movie.... 

Maleficent, the witch from Into the Woods and Cruella DeVil 

My triumvirate of misunderstood villains is complete!! 

Mini-Loop...

Since I was local for the weekend, I took the little fox dog along for a hike on Saturday. (4 mile max on the little legs still holds true) 

Zoe reminds us all about “Safety First!” 

It gave me a chance to leaf peep a bit more and say a temporary goodbye to that side of the reservoir. The road and dam will be getting some much needed repairs but it is going to make getting up there for the next year a bit of a struggle. 

After a nice mini loop in the woods, I walked out onto the road and saw this….another stark reminder of how much the landscape will change in the next year too.

Work It!

Time has flown - I just passed another work anniversary.  The job that came to me in the most unexpected networking way.  It's a different career path from what I studied in college but it was meant to be.  

We work hard but they are VERY good to us, it is never dull and I have met some fantastic people.

Just had to say it out into the Universe - Thank you!!

First Snow!

I got to experience my first snow of the season on Sunday! 

I can't resist photographing this little guy every time...

Combine the wonderful (mini-snow) view, red wine, Cards Against Humanity, Pretzel People, songs lyrics that are only our names, great company and music and you have the elements of a great Sunday-Funday! 

Escarpment Trail...

Saturday's six mile hike along the Escarpment Trail gave some great views even though the leaf season is coming to an end... 

So much has changed since I was last on this rock....

Baaaad-maaaaan!

On Repeat....

On repeat since Sunday....my soul = charmed. 

Fraka-kaka-kaka-kaka-kow!

Bring on the weekend!!

Tongue Biter!

I have this bad habit of biting my tongue when I concentrate - especially when hiking. 

I keep thinking that it's only a matter of time before it gets bitten off.

Luckily I hike with people that make sure that I talk and laugh a whole lot.   

It's possible that the universe may have a hidden agenda to protect my tongue from my own self....

Well, at least for this weekend...

 

Monsieur Lazhar...

THE TREE AND THE CHRYSALIS

by Bachir Lazhar

There is nothing to say about an unjust death.
Nothing at all.  As we will now show.

From the branch of an olive tree there hung
a tiny chrysalis the color of emerald.
Tomorrow she'd be a pretty butterfly
freed from her cocoon.
The tree was happy to see his chrysalis grown,
but secretly, he wanted her to stay a few more years.
"As long as she remembers me."

He had shielded her from the wind.
He had saved her from ants.
But tomorrow she would leave
to alone face predators and bad weather.

That night, a fire ravaged the forest
and the chrysalis never became a butterfly.
At dawn, the ashes cold, the tree still stood.
But his heart was charred,
scarred by the flames, scarred by grief.

Ever since, when a bird alights on the olive tree,
the tree tells it about the chrysalis
that never woke up.
He imagines her, wings spread,
flitting across a clear blue sky,
drunk on nectar and freedom,
the discreet witness to our love stories.