Ahhhh....

From my sunroom table

Spring flowers .... just what January needs!

It's like taking a deep breath and exhaling all the way ..... blood pressure down, pulse at a nice easy pace and balance back in place. Sunshine and flowers ....life always needs to be kept in perspective.

Here comes the sun ... da da da da da...

     dancin' on down the street.... da da da da da ...

Visitors ....

These guys made me happy.  This guy was here yesterday and today - note the lack of snow yesterday. I love that they stopped by to fill their bellies and share their feather finery!

 Stop by any time. The feeder is open!

A few pictures ... tells the story.

Enough said?

It's dramatic ... and, powerful!

Winter and water, always creates drama.  I'm drawn to it. I love the formations, the power, the cold ... the colors.

This raw beauty is just beside Simon Pearce in Quechee, Vermont. 

As you can see, they are still in the recovery stages from Hurricane Irene.  The covered bridge has just now re-opened and is not yet finished.

But, Mother Nature knows no boundaries.  Regardless of the rebuild going on, she pushes through doing her thing. 

                                                 Once again, what a show!

Wreaths of a different color!

Woodstock, Vermont

 So elegantly beautiful!

Miracles ....

... only happen under the kind and gentle hand of a saint.

Vermont Flannel .....

... such great marketing!.  Walking down the street in Woodstock, Vermont, I stopped dead in my tracks (and so did the people behind me ... good thing!). What a great way to display your goods!  These "kids" were sitting on the sidewalk just outside the door to the shop.  We went right in  .... of course we were going in anyway  .... love that Vermont Flannel. Everyone walking by the display was talking about it.  Brilliant! Simple and brilliant!

Covered Bridge .... different faces.

Woodstock, Vermont

 The front side...

..  .the middle ....

... the other side. 

No matter which way you approach these icons, you feel Vermont! As the kind lady who spoke to us as we walked through the bridge ..... "I love living in Woodstock. I love walking thru the covered bridge each day to go to work. I am blessed and I never want to forget it".  That about says it all.

Little Christmas ......

Maple Leaf Inn, Brandan, Vermont

Do you know the story of Little Christmas?  Well  ......

Little Christmas is an Irish and celebrated on January 6th. The Irish also call it "Women's Little Christmas".

On this day, the Irish men taking on all the household duties for the day.

 Women hold parties or go out to celebrate the day with their friends, sisters, mothers, and aunts. Bars and restaurants serve mostly women and girls on this night.

Bar/Restaurant in downtown Woodstock, Vermont

Children often buy presents for their mothers and grandmothers.

Outdoor decoration in Woodstock, Vermont

Now that I know all these interesting facts, you can be sure that next year I am cashing in on this day!!!

Do you remember ... winter as a kid?

The snow was so deep ....... thru a little kids eyes, it was up to the roof top!

The climb to the top of the snow mound .... thru a little kids eyes, was like climbing Mt Everest.

Climb along the surface of the snow ..... thru a little kids eyes, your legs went thru the snow to China.

Push on you must .... thru those little kid eyes, there were no barriers.

Resting for a minute ..... thru those little kids eyes, was for but a few seconds.

It didn't matter that your hat was falling off. your jacket was unzipped, snow was  getting down your mittens and up your legs ..... thru those little kids eyes, you didn't even notice.

 You checked to see if someone was watching .....thru those little kids eyes, you didn't really want to be alone.

You caught those snowflakes on your tongue .... thru those little kids eyes, it was such a fun game.

Then, finally, you made it to the top of that 6 foot snow-pile ..... thru those little kids eyes, you were on top of the world!

Whew!!! What a work out .... but, thru those little kids eyes, the world was a perfect playground.
What a wonderful reminiscence.  Thru a Nana's eyes, it's a joyful journey.