Art, quiet walks and Barrel of Monkeys

The world today doesn't make sense,

so why should I paint pictures that do?

- Pablo Picasso

So Christmas has come and gone for another year.
As much as I love the season,
I'm relieved.

I miss the old Christmases.

The ones we had

when I was younger.

Much younger. :-)

When everyone was still here

and the whole house smelled like cinnamon and cookies

and there were sparkly Christmas balls hanging everywhere.

When mom would let us decorate the windows

with thick, fake snow in a can

and we'd make paper snowflake decorations for the tree.

And we had been good all year,

so we just knew we'd be getting

that Spirograph set on Christmas morning,

along with Barrel of Monkeys

and Shaker Maker

and Trouble

and Monopoly!

And then dad would remind us
how poor they were when he was younger
and how all they ever got for Christmas
was an orange and, if they were lucky,
a thick pair of socks
hand made by my grandmother. 

And we secretly thanked GOD
we weren't born in that era and that we were getting
more than just oranges and socks. 

So yeah, things are different now...

We spent some time with family and friends,
spent some time enjoying wine
and chocolates
and music...
and there's always time for books.

I got a few good ones for Christmas...

Then just the other night, I went for a nice walk
in the town nearby...

After the hustle & bustle of Christmas,
it was such a nice, quiet walk.
Hardly any cars on the road.

As much as I love people,

I can only take them in small doses.

Especially the annoying ones. (wink wink)

The holiday "hubbub" is too much for me after a while

and I always look forward to my alone time again.

I was trying to get the reflection of the lights on the water

in this photo, but you can hardly see it in the distance.

Still - it's pretty.

We usually have lots of snow by this time of year,

but this year, it's been mild

and we got more rain than snow!

Not that I mind.

I've lived in the Maritimes long enough

to know that the snow WILL come - eventually.

Sometimes later than sooner,

but it'll get here.

Here's a photo of last year!

Dec 30, 2013!

Some would say it's prettier than grass,

but I'm not so sure...

I kinda like driving

on nice clean roads for a change.

Thank you all for taking the time

to be here with me.

xx