Here's To A Brilliant New Year!

Your Destination

Understanding All of It

"You must understand the whole of life, not just one little part of it.  That is why you must read, that is why you must look at the skies, that is why you must sing, and dance, and write poetry, and suffer, and understand, for all that is life." 

A Good Day

Winter Goddess

 Model Sasha Pivovarova in Vivienne Westwood, photographed by Mario Testino for British Vogue, December 2007.

A Comfortable Place To Be

"Bed is the best place for reading, thinking, or doing nothing." -Doris Lessing

Merry Christmas Everyone

May you feel cozy and warm and be content with all the joy of the season!

T'was The Night Before Christmas

"O Holy Night the stars are brightly shining..."

Jingu Bells 2013 Our Annual Family Christmas Gathering

This past Saturday Dec. 21st our family gathered to celebrate Christmas together. We are thankful for the many gifts of the season among which the most special gift of being with family! Here's a little slide show of our Jingu Bells 2013.

This slideshow design customized with Smilebox

It's Almost Here!

Well Acquainted With The Night

"I have been well acquainted
with the night.
I have walked out in rain-
and back in rain.
I have outwalked the
 furthest city light." - Robert Frost

Sometimes

The Night

"I often think that the night is more alive and more richly colored than the day." -Vincent Van Gogh

Feelings for the Holidays

A Lovely Christmas Feeling

"1959 - The Famous "City of Paris" Department Store Christmas Tree - Photo by Gordon Peters of the San Francisco Chronicle - The store was located where the current Nieman-Marcus store is today. The stained glass ceiling was saved and installed in the new building... but the original was magnificent!" -from Facebook "Lost in San Francisco" page

It's Beginning To Look Alot Like Christmas

I Believe

Under The Mistletoe

"sitting under the mistletoe (Pale green, fairy mistletoe),
One last candle burning low, All the sleepy dancers gone,
Just one candle burning on,
Shadows lurking everywhere:
Some one came, and kissed me there." - Walter de la Mare, Mistletoe

Come On In

 Step into Christmas
Let’s join together
We can watch the snow fall forever and ever
Eat, drink and be merry
Come along with me
Step into Christmas
The admission’s free— Elton John, Step Into Christmas

I Believe This

Fa La La La La

On The First Day of Christmas

My true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree...

During This Season Don't Forget to

Happy Birthday to My Sister Jocelyn

Happy Birthday to my most wonderful sister Jocelyn.  I wish you everything joyous and good in life. You deserve the best there is. 

This free slideshow created with Smilebox

It's That Magical Time Of Year

Christmas in a Cup

INGREDIENTS:

3 tablespoons cocoa powder 1 1/2 tablespoons white sugar 1 1/2 cups milk

2 tablespoons milk 1 tablespoon cornstarch

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Mix the cocoa powder and sugar together in a small saucepan. Stir the 1 1/2 cups milk into the saucepan until the sugar has dissolved. Place over low heat; slowly bring the mixture to a low simmer.
2.	Whisk 2 tablespoons of milk together with the cornstarch in a small cup; slowly whisk the cornstarch slurry into the cocoa mixture. Continue cooking, whisking continually, until the hot chocolate reaches a pudding-like thickness, 2 to 3 minutes.

Between The Holiday Rush

"Stop a minute, right where you are.  Relax your shoulders, shake your head and spine, like a dog shaking off cold water.  Tell that imperious voice in your head to be still..." - Barbara Kingsolver

"Corners of the World" in Palos Verdes, California

We spent a wonderful girlfriend's day out on a beautiful, sunny December morning in Palos Verdes.   Our 2nd annual Xmas shopping adventure at our friend Jurgen's "Corners of the World" store at Malaga Cove.  Here is a little slide show of our delightful day out with my friends Isa, Mitra and Judy.

Jurgen Kading the owner of Corners of the World
1 Malaga Cove Plaza, Palos Verdes Estates, California 90274
1 (310) 373-5096

Create your own free picture slideshow

Create your own free picture slideshow

 

RIP Nelson Mandela

"I would like to be remembered not as anyone unique or special, but as part of a great team in this country that has struggled for many years, for decades and even centuries," he said. "The greatest glory of living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time you fall."

Born:  July 18, 1918, Mvezo, South Africa  

Died:  December 5, 2013

 Freedom fighter, prisoner, moral compass and South Africa's symbol of the struggle against racial oppression.

That was Nelson Mandela, who emerged from prison after 27 years to lead his country out of decades of apartheid.

He died Thursday night at age 95.

His message of reconciliation, not vengeance, inspired the world after he negotiated a peaceful end to segregation and urged forgiveness for the white government that imprisoned him.

"As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn't leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I'd still be in prison," Mandela said after he was freed in 1990. 

-http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/05/world/africa/nelson-mandela/

"It is music and dancing that make me most at peace with the world." - Nelson Mandela

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HSahOZqYpQ

To Have and Have Not

"I feel so sorry for some people 

they are so poor all they have is

a bunch of money." - Chris King Long

On My December "To Do" List