The Girls

I haven't written about the girls lately. They are spending a lot of time inside because of the cold, but I let them out for awhile most days. The space seems too small and boring to spend the entire day there. Today they were out for a couple of hours, but when I visited them with their Christmas present of Special K they had retired to their house. Nevertheless, they were very happy with their treat and I left them rumaging around for every last flake. They have put on weight, either from lack of exercise or to stay warm over the winter, and are looking very handsome.

The Approach to Christmas

Last night we decorated the Christmas Tree at David and Thom's. It was a very nice time and everything looks beautiful. I have not been there for the decorating before, and it was a big addition to my holiday. It was fun to be part of the preparations. Dylan thought so, too. He was very interested in the whole proceedings, watching obediently from the couch. He was quite obviously restraining himself a lot of the time with great difficulty, but he managed quite well. He's growing up. My poor boys were home by themselves without a decoration in sight. I will make them some special treats tomorrow, though, as a nod toward celebration for them. Truthfully, I don't think they will notice one way or the other.

I have been quite mindful of the religious aspect of Christmas this year and spent some time arranging the figures in the Nativity set. My therapist said it was an effort to make things "right," with the baby at the center of attention. Then she told me a story about her own son when he was a little boy. He had been told not to touch the nativity set, but he was very enthralled with it. He looked at it from a respectful distance for several days. Then he apparently couldn't stand it anymore. When his mother wasn't looking, he placed all of his toy Fisher-Price people in a semi-circle around the perimeter of the scene, at a respectful distance, without touching the figurines. She discovered them there later. The picture that conjures up in my head is absolutely delightful. It makes me smile just to imagine it.

First Snow

It's beautiful.........need I say more?

Delia, and artwork

This is Delia, the beautiful mare I rode for the first time last week. It was a thrill, a revisitation of the time when I had BJ, who looked a lot like Delia. I used my own old saddle to complete the experience. It seemed to pull me out of the doldrums I've been in since I got the letter from my ertswhile husband's lawyer.

On another note, four of my recent little paintings sold at the gallery opening last night. It will behoove me to take the money straight to the fuel company.

One More

When I said that I had covered subject matter, I realized I hadn't done boats or water. Considering I live on the ocean, you'd think I mught have thought of that first. Anyway, here's the breakwater at night as I saw it from the ferry, coming back from the concert one summer night.