Moon

These were taken from my back deck around Thanksgiving. 

My son, who recently returned home from several months in Spain, was attempting to show me how to adjust the camera settings to take pictures at night.  He takes amazingly good pictures and is pretty much self-taught like his mother.

Unlike his mother, however, he actually knows how to use settings other than Auto, something I've struggled with for years.

Once again, I've neglected this blog and haven't been out to take any pictures even though there have been many great photo opportunities, like the Mathews Christmas parade this past Saturday.  And even though we had the first decent snowfall of the season yesterday.  (Nothing stuck in my yard but it was nice watching it come down all day.)

I've been in a physical and mental funk, so to speak, and still haven't gotten back into the swing of things here on the blog.  I suppose I can once again make it a resolution for 2019--along with exercising more, eating better, all the stuff I know I'm supposed to be doing. 

On the plus side, my monster of a Christmas tree is up.  It's over 20 years old and still fighting me every step of the way, but for the time being I claim victory in our ongoing feud. 

Click here and  here and here for pictures and stories from past Christmases.

I hope to get out and take some pictures soon.

Boat

This old lady sits quietly in what might be called the boat graveyard of J&M Marina in Deltaville.

There are plenty of fully functioning, floating boats at this marina, 

but I happen to love this section the best.

And this boat in particular.

This bird was watching my every move.  She evidently likes the boat as much as I do.

The flurry of Thanksgiving is over, and now we're plunged head first into the frenzy of Christmas.  All this comes at the time of year when my energy is zapped, and my desire to do anything or go anywhere sinks to an all-time low.

Never mind.

Basketball officially starts this week with an away game tonight at Northumberland.  I will drive the hour to work in the dark, put in my day there, and race the I Don't Know How Many Miles after work to see the game, then drive the hour or so back home in the dark.  There is another away game on Wednesday and a home game Friday night.  Somewhere in between, I have to take Daughter to town (an hour away) to shop for a dress for the upcoming Holly Ball.  Son is frantically applying to colleges, and I must try to figure out when I am setting up the Monster Tree that, along with all the decorations, must be hauled from the depths of the cold, dark basement.

Anyway, it's going to be a very hectic month. I just want to sleep.

Hope your December is off to a better start.

Shed

This little leaning shed lives on the road leading to Locklies Marina.

After lunch on Saturday I had to stop and get its picture.

It looked a little lonely.

The trees coming up around it seem to give some level of support, however slight.

I love this window.

(It doesn't take much to entertain me.)

It was freezing cold today, at least to me.  I believe I saw 40 degrees on the car's thermometer this morning, and when I left work tonight it didn't feel one bit warmer.

On my way home from work, I stopped in Walmutant--not because I wanted to, but because I had to. Driving out of the parking lot, I glanced towards the Garden Center and was shocked to see Christmas trees all lit up. They've probably been lit up for weeks now but I only noticed tonight because of the darkness.

Didn't I just drag that artificial tree of mine down to the basement?  Is it really that close to Christmas?

Again?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Not that I am rushing Christmas, and if I am I didn't start it, but click here for the story of that Christmas tree  I just put away yesterday.

Here Comes Santa Claus

Look, this festive Christmas scene even 
includes  channel markers.  
(The red one wasn't captured in this shot.)

This nautical Santa Claus is on the right side of the road just before Cobbs Creek Market (now Stanstrings) if you're coming from the Blakes area.

The attention to detail is impressive.

At night, the boat is outlined in white lights;

blue lights on the ground depict the water.

Only in Mathews.

It's really something to behold.

I have to give this homeowner an A+ for creativity.

*****

May your weekend be full of fun and whimsy.

p.s. Click here to read about my parents' latest Christmas antics.