The year past....

This past year has been one of travel...projects...surprises...family...fun...what have I forgotten? Oh, yes, food....sunsets at both the east and west coasts....Disney....turning older than dirt. But most of all, the love of my cherished family and many friends.
I lost a dear friend this year and that brings home the importance to cherish each day as well as those we hold dear.
HaPpY NeW YeAr, dear blogging friends! I wish you blessings as well as fun in the coming year!

Goodbye CA-Hello Home!

We spent the last three days with our oldest son in San Francisco. He showed us wonderful scenery, great restaurants and even met his new lady love. What a wonderful way to end our visit to California.
But I must admit, I am yearning to arrive home and see my kitties and sleep in my own bed.
There is no place like home....and my derrière is sore from sitting so long in airplanes!

PS In the last picture, you will see our (licked) clean plate from dessert last night...the best pecan tart with caramel ice cream!
Now back to reality and the need to count calories!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

We celebrated with our family on Christmas eve-so wonderful to spend time with our sons (plus one girlfriend and one grand puppy).
Family means so much this special time of the year...the love we feel for these two men is overwhelming at times like this.
Showing a few of my gifts-how cute is this charm bracelet?! And I recieved not one but two Wee Forrest Folk-one is still on Santa's sleigh.
May your Christmas be filled with laughter, fun, and love!
Make sure you have a few goofy moments! Hugs!

Another Day of a Most Excellent Adventure....

We traveled to the Grove Park Inn in Asheville one day during our adventure. The Inn has a gingerbread competition every year so we were able to see most of the entries....except for the winner. The picture of the winning entry left me wanting more but there were so many on display, I found myself enchanted. I now have something new on my bucket list....to make my own gingerbread house.
Our family spent a week at the Grove Park Inn way back when the boys were young (unbelievable to find so many years have passed) so it was fun to see the wonderful Inn again. We had a delicious breakfast there next to the windows where we could enjoy a view of the mountains. After our tour of the gingerbread houses, we visited the shops and an art gallery on the grounds. I came away lusting for many things. Another terrific day!

We found these adorable, mouse sized miniature shops at the Biltmore as well as at the Grove Park Inn. We each now own three to remind us of our adventure.

New (Already Cherished) Christmas Ornaments

I love ornaments...especially those made of glass. I bought several last week and am showing off a few. The second one is hand blown and has a partridge in a pear tree inside the glass. The workmanship is amazing! The egg ornament is especially dear to me...love the mice!
The sayings on the last two are sweet...and true.
Good thing I had to come home...my tree would topple from the over abundance of wonderful ornaments!

A Most Excellent Adventure-Day One

Oh, so lucky to have great friends...
I was able to travel to Asheville, NC this past week to visit one such friend.
We drove up to have tea at the Biltmore Inn (as well as a glass of the bubbly) before taking a candlelight tour of the Biltmore Mansion. Pictures were forbidden inside but I was able to capture a picture of one of the dozens of beautiful decorated trees (I am so naughty!). It was a wowser experience! The moon was full and the lights were magical.