Frosty sunset complete with music

This YouTube selection is for your listening pleasure only.

It's Sarah McLaghlan's I'll Be Home For Christmas, one of the beautiful offerings on her Wintersong CD.

I play this CD a lot during the holidays.

These photos of a frosty sunset were taken last year during the week between Christmas and New Year at the farm where we used to live, outside of Chesapeake City, Maryland.

This was our view from our home on the hill, looking over the pond and towards another horse farm adjacent to the one we lived and where my husband worked for years.

In case you hadn't noticed, I miss it there a little bit. I certainly miss the view, I'll tell you that. But time goes on, and life situations change.

And we aren't doing too badly.

Keep safe, my friends. And warm.

And before I go, I can't resist another vintage puppy picture of my friend, George.

Until tomorrow, then. . .

A little song, a little dance

First off, the title of this post has absolutely nothing to do with this post. I've just had that song running in my head for a little while and had to get rid of it!

The sunset through the trees this evening was barely caught by me. I'd come home from work at 4:30 this afternoon to find my husband sitting on the porch. I kissed him hello but was sidetracked by the sunset, so I ran to get the camera. It's too early for the sun to be setting!

The picture above and the one of George, below, were both taken the other evening during a walk around the property. This is in the front of the house.

I read so many wonderful blogs and wish I could visit them all every single day. If you're interested in reading, Mental Pause Mama is hosting a book club and the first book is Twilight. Visit her site to find out more. I've just finished it and didn't think I'd like it when I first saw it advertised. Not at all. Bunch of vampires and weirdness is what I thought. But I loved it! It was beautiful.

This weekend, my friends Jeff and Karen are coming out. You've seen Karen (and daughter Adrienne) on my blog before. They've been my friends since I was about 18 and they were just getting together back then. I'm glad they're coming, but my husband is quite sure he isn't up to any company. I think we can be quiet enough to keep him content, and besides ~ it's not only him they're coming out to see. It's been difficult, but I'd rather not complain. So 'nuff said for now.

I saw a fun little meme on Willow's blog. Have you been there yet? It's magical and so well-written. I'm considering myself tagged, as she said. So here goes:

CLOTHES SHOP

I love browsing for clothing and always have. To see beautiful things makes me feel a little better. I usually always shop alone.

FURNITURE SHOP

I have enough furniture and got several pieces from Ethan Allen. The rest is a mish mash that seems to work. I'd really rather accessory shop for decorative items. I love decorating.

SWEETS

I like sweets, there's no doubt about it. When I'm sad or upset, I seem to crave them more. At the hospital recently, I ate lots of M&M peanuts from the vending machines. This was bad.

CITY

The closest big city is either Philadelphia or Baltimore. I'm between both. The city is fun to visit, but I prefer my country home. I have a son who lives in NYC and I LOVE visiting there!

DRINK

Why, yes I do. I love a good glass of wine. Bass Ale is my favorite beer, if I'm so inclined or crabs or pizza are on the menu. But whatever you have is fine.

MUSIC

I love listening to music. Current faves are Jack Johnson and Ray LaMontagne, among others.

TV

I used to watch a lot more TV, before I began blogging. I do watch Survivor every Thursday night with my husband because it's one of his favorite shows. He also likes Dancing with the Stars (don't tell him I told you!!) but he can't remember the name of it, so he calls it The Survivor Dancing Show. He liked that show called America's Greatest Dog but called it The Survivor Dog Show.

FILM

I adore movies. From old to new, I love watching them. I'll always go to the movies with a friend, if they ask. Can't wait to see Twilight later this month. And I'm looking forward to the Secret Life of Bees.

COFFEE

Can't live without it. The aroma is a panacea for my soul. That link there is for Rich.

Feel free to consider yourselves tagged as you read this post. I'd like to see your answers, too.

Well, until tomorrow, my friends . . .

Channeling Springsteen

My husband takes the pup on walks during the day, but it's my job to take the little fella when I get home from work. Now that it's staying lighter just a little bit longer, it's getting easier, but still it's full-on dark by the time I arrive home when the walk is done. Today, I needed to stay just a little bit longer at work, and then there was one quick stop to make on the way home, putting me a full half hour off my regular gettin' home time. The pup knows the walk is comin', and he's more than ready to get it started. So I quickly get changed, then bundled up (because it's suddenly freaking freezing here), get out the door and am stunned with the sight of such a gorgeous sky.

I knew it was going to be dark really soon, and I headed towards the woods on the far side of the pond. I could see through the trees to the other side where that awesome sky was beckoning. I hesitated for just a moment, then decided to keep going despite the fact that darkness was approaching quickly. The trail through this side is twisty and covered with obstacles in some sections, but I could still see fairly well and make my way to the other side. It's pretty when I get to the other side. It's not on the farm we live, but it's another horse farm and I've always walked this path. I head up the fencerow, planning on making a left about a hundred fifty yards up and I'm starting to think that damn, it's really getting dark. I pick up my pace.

The trail coming up is really wide in the beginning, and then narrows at a small creek. When I made that left and turned in onto the trail, I was surprised at how dark it was in that woods. I chided myself on how I should have known better than to walk in the woods in the dark. And then I almost started to get worried, because there was no way I could go back the way I came, and then this song came into my head and it made me feel better. I kept walking.

Do you know that Bruce Springsteen song, "Out in the Street"? I think it's from The River album. I loved that album. Anyway, it was back before he was a mega-star, but he was famous enough to be able to point to a model on a magazine cover and say "yeah, I want to meet that one" and suddenly, he's marrying Julianne Phillips. Anyway, everybody that knew me back then, knew that I had a HUGE crush on Bruce, and the song goes that when he's "out in the street, I walk the way I wanna walk ". When that song first came out, I changed the words to fit my own needs and they're: "When I'm Out in the Woods . . . da dum da dum dum . . . I walk the way I wanna walk . . . " "When I'm out in the Woods . . . well, I never feel alone . . . " you get the picture.

So I'm singing this song in my head, and I'm able to just keep going, knowing I'm gonna make it to the other side, without turning my ankle in the dark, or walking into a tree, or having a branch poke me in the eye. I can hear the E Street Band playing in my head. And finally, I could see some light through the trees and could see where I was going just a little bit better. I just kept singing my song in my head and finally made it to the other side and I was just able to see my way home.

Anyway, thanks for channeling, Bruce, and getting me through a tough spot. You know, you missed out on me all those years ago, and I've since forgiven you for marrying Julianne.