Stonington, Connecticut - 2011

We were back in Stonington for Christmas and New Year's this holiday. Last year when we were there, we had heavy snowfall. This time, it was quite cold, but by the time we left, the sun was out forcefully, making for a balmy 55-degree departure. That wasn't to last. This week, Stonington weather is in the teens, but we're back in California, hoping for some rain and snow to fall. Come one, precipitation!

I've never had a photo of seaweed on this site, so here it is--a first

Happy President's Day

Or happy President's Night. I couldn't post this until I got home from Seattle. Hope your long weekend was forthright and full of integrity, like two of our greatest presidents.

Vancouver, WA's Water Resources Education Center - Second Saturday (tomorrow)

Tomorrow is one of the Second Saturdays at the City of Vancouver’s Water Resources Education Center. From 1 to 3 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month, kids can explore a water or nature theme and make a project or two to take home.

February 14th's project is "For the Love of Trees," as in: celebrate Valentine’s Day by exploring our love for and appreciation of trees. Make creations that remind us how wonderful trees are and all that they do for us. Find out how they benefit animals and our urban environment.


The Water Center is located at 4600 SE Columbia Way. Open during the week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and admission is free. Youth need to be accompanied by an adult. You can check their Web site for more information but I'm telling you--it needs to be updated. Tell them I said so. The only reason I know about this event is I'm on an email list. Try calling 360-487-7115 on the good ol' fashioned telephone for holiday and event schedules.

Photo from the Columbia River - A Photographic Journey's Water Resources Edu. Ctr. page.

Nutcracker Mouse Decor

One of the fabulous trees we saw at Vancouver, WA's Festival of Trees, held by the Vancouver Rotary Foundation at the end of November. This Fest. has everything you need for Christmas fun: Photos with Santa, a Festival of Gifts with local stores represented, a community tree lighting in Esther Short Park, a carnival, gingerbread dioramas (favorite: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory chocolate-river scene, made entirely out of gingerbread and candy), schoo choral groups from around Clark County, dozens of beautifully decorated trees, and a talking tree that chuckles when children tickle its branches.

I know I sound like a booster, but I brought my parents and my six-year-old to this event and everyone was pleased, even Santa when he watched my son whip out a catalog to show what he wanted this year (very efficient kid). Here's the Nutcracker Ballet tree. I usually don't go for white trees, but this one was pretty nice and it's the only photo that didn't turn out blurry because excited six-year-olds at Christmas Festivals tend to take blurry photos. Usually the blurry photos are my fault.

Christmas in Suburbia

People seriously decorate for the holidays in the Northwest. It gets dark around 4:30, so it's understandable and makes the winter a lot more cheery. Thank you, decorators.

Big Lots Christmas is Upon Us!

I actually took these BEFORE Halloween at our local Big Lots! store. I couldn't bring myself to post them here until after Thanksgiving (of course, that didn't stop me from posting them elsewhere to make a point about commercialism, capitalism and Christmasism). It has been noted that these resemble the lot of aluminum trees in "A Charlie Brown Christmas" that causes Charlie Brown to become so depressed that he buys a raggedy little tree that needs a little love, further alienating him from his antagonistic peers. Get down to Big Lots! before they're all bought up!

White House Gains New Tenants

What a fine gift to America. Congratulations President Elect Obama and family. Enjoy your new digs.



source: VisitingDC.com

Boo! Scary!

Happy Halloween. Enjoy go-go dancing in your scary tree costumes tonight.