Happy New Year!

The American White Pelicans are such gorgeous, graceful looking birds. They are spending the Winter months on Old Hickory Lake again this year.

I thought I would begin the New Year with some images of these beautiful birds. There are about 100 or more Pelicans living right off one of the rookeries that sits in the middle of the lake. At any time of the day you will find groups of Pelicans swimming and feeding around the tiny inlets and coves that make up Old Hickory Lake.

It's interesting to watch them as they feed because they synchronize their diving maneuvers. And as one goes down for a catch, the others follow suit.

This particular image is my favorite shot. I would have loved it if the water wasn't rippled, but it's a huge lake right off the Cumberland River and the chances of that ever happening are slim to none.

I have been battling bronchitis for nearly a week, but am starting to get well. I sleep at odd hours as the coughing keeps me up most of the night. I trust everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year's Eve. I watched the ball drop in New York's Times Square from my living room and then watched the Music Note in Nashville drop from my bedroom. I wish all of you the best wishes for the upcoming year and hope this one proves to be your best. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Have yourself a merry little Christmas

Let your heart be light

From now on your troubles will be out of sight

Have yourself a merry little Christmas

Make the Yuletide gay

From now on your troubles will be miles away

Here we are as in olden days

Happy golden days of yore

Faithful friends who are dear to us

Gather near to us once more

Through the years we all will be together

If the fates allow

Hang a shining star upon the highest bough

And have yourself a merry little Christmas now

Merry Christmas to everyone. I hope your holiday is filled with Christmas cheer and family and friends and all of the things that make your Christmas the best it can be. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Christmas Season

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that Saint Nicholas soon will be here. Rocking around the Christmas tree, it's a happy holiday. Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas. Silver bells, silver bells, it's Christmas time in the city. I'm dreaming of a White Christmas with every Christmas card I write. Dashing through the snow in a one horse open sleigh. I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus under the mistletoe.

Just a few of the opening lines from the Christmas Carols you are listening to this holiday season. Note the word "Carols" as my name means 'joy'. How appropriate. The most magical time of the year is upon us. I hope you are enjoying the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping, wrapping the gifts, baking Christmas cookies and decorating the Christmas tree. Here's a vintage barn bedecked with a Christmas wreath. ENJOY!

Merry Christmas to All

I wish everyone a wonderful and joyous Christmas with loved ones and friends alike. ENJOY!

'Deck the Hulls' Christmas Boat Parade

Tonight was Hendersonville's 'Deck the Hull's' Christmas Boat Parade on Old Hickory Lake. Everyone gathered as night fell at Mallard Point Park. Cars lined the edge of the lake in rows waiting and watching as the first boat came up the lake channel toward the park. This was one of the first boats hailing a real Santa waving at the crowds along the lakeshore. He's a tad skinny. Don't you think!

As the boats neared the boat launch at the park, they turned around and paraded back to the marina. When they turn and are headed back is the perfect time to get images and I was in the perfect place to do just that. I love this huge inflatable Santa Claus on this houseboat.

Here's a close up of Santa Claus, the inflatable, on the houseboat. Don't you just love him. The real Santa Clauses were yelling Merry Christmas to the crowds on the shore.

Here is the first image with blue lights lit up instead of red. It's amazing how the blue lights show more than the red ones do.

This Santa Claus was a much better one and he was real. You can't see him very well, but he was a jolly 'big' guy. Love this Christmas tree on this houseboat too. Tonight was a balmy 38 degrees. Last year is was in the mid 20's and BRRRR. I hope you are having fun this holiday season. My decorating is done. My shopping is done. My wrapping is done. Ahh, let's relax. ENJOY!

Two Ships that Pass in the Night

Quoting from an age old saying, "Two ships that pass in the night." I wanted to share this sailboat and cruiser as they passed each other on Old Hickory Lake last year during the Christmas Boat Parade. I had never been to a boat parade so you can just imagine my excitement in spite of the 25 degree temperatures. I hope to get to this year's parade which is coming up in a few weeks. I also hope there's even more boats in the parade, as last year was the first year they had brought back the boat parade here in Hendersonville. What fun. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Don't overdue yourself eating leftover turkey or putting up those holiday decorations. Back soon. ENJOY!

Merry Christmas

Did Santa leave everything under the Christmas tree that you wished for? I sure hope so. I just wanted to stop in and wish everyone a wonderful holiday. I captured this image at the Franklin Christmas Parade several weeks ago as Santa Claus was passing by in his sleigh with his reindeer. Have a very Merry Christmas everyone. ENJOY!

Oh, Christmas Tree

The Holiday Season is officially at a fever pitch. I hope you have finished your decorating and are well into shopping and wrapping and baking. Have a fantastic weekend. This photo was taken with my iPhone 7. Not bad, huh. ENJOY!

Christmas Boat Parade, Old Hickory Lake

Just a few of the boats as they glided along on Old Hickory Lake tonight for the Christmas Boat Parade. The boat parade was held for many years and then it was cancelled. Last year they brought the parade back, but I didn't make it down to the shore.

The only sailboat that launched for the parade. This photo didn't do it justice.

One of the many Santa Claus's perched atop the boats. I think one of my favorite things about the parade was the lights reflecting on the water. It really added a dimension I wasn't expecting.

You can't see them, but there are quite a few folks standing on top of the roof of this houseboat next to Santa Claus waving and shouting, 'Merry Christmas.' And I kept shouting back with other folks on the shore, 'Merry Christmas.'

Here is my favorite boat of the Christmas Boat Parade this year with Santa Claus and his Reindeer. I would have taken more images, but it was a balmy 29 degrees tonight and so cold. Brrrrr! ENJOY!

Linking to Foodie Friday & Everything Else

Merry Christmas to All

May the blessings of the season be yours. ENJOY!

Rejoice the Season

Years past, winter enveloped the landscape with snow and ice and biting winds.

Bundling of coats and scarves and gloves was in order when venturing out of doors.

A chilly afternoon was abound as I captured images of the season's beauty.

As we approach this holiest of weeks, packages are wrapped and tied with bows.

Halls are adorned in greens and reds and pines are decorated in golds and silvers.

Season's lights twinkle brightly illuminating the darkest of nights.

The day draws near for all to gather together in the warmth of our homes.

Gift giving, glasses clinking, smiles beaming, carols singing surround us.

It is the holidays for one and all.

With Hanukkah past, Christmas and Kwanzaa draw near.

CHRIST IS BORN, REJOICE AND BE GLAD!

Fall Gives Way to Winter

It is time to embrace this new season. Winter brings with it the holidays with Christmas and New Year's and more. We spend some time adorning the halls with the season's colors of reds, greens and golds, and in some settings even silvers and blues.

Goodbye Fall.

The forests lay bare from Fall's bounty with many leaves strewn across its floor.

Only firs and pines are left to dot the landscape and brave winter's gales.

Where snow has fallen, there is sleighing and sledding and skiing.

Blankets of white cover the mountaintops, the valleys and beyond.

Icicles hang from aside the cliffs with sheets of ice covering the creek beds.

Tracks from deer, fox and rabbits are encountered along paths to and from.

Winter's colder clime has taken hold, with rain, fog and snow.

Welcome Winter.

I hope you will take some time during these Winter months to venture out of doors with your camera to capture Winter's beauty. ENJOY!

Merry Christmas All

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, 
everything is softer and more beautiful.

                                             Norman Vincent Peale



 



Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday

'Tis the Season

Holidays are known for many things, the least of which is all of the decor and finery displayed throughout the season. The traditional Christmas decor would not be complete without a beautiful tree to adorn a room. As I made my way out of Gatlinburg in October, passing through Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, I made a stop at The Christmas Place. The Christmas Place is the largest Christmas decor shop in the eastern United States.

At least a dozen trees or more were decorated in various themes displayed throughout the store. Tuscan, Christmas Carol, white and blue, and well, you name it they had a tree for it. But the traditional red and green and gold Christmas tree always pulls me in. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving for those of you in the States. I have a tad bit more decorating for the holiday to do and then I will be done. Have a wonderful weekend all. ENJOY!

Linking back to Stonegable Blog.

Christmas is a Wrap

As the Christmas season wraps up, and the New Year is fast approaching, I wanted to share some of my holiday decorations I featured around my home this holiday season. The highlight this year was the beautiful new tree topper I added to my Christmas tree with shiny, glittering red and green sprays and a large bow. I also added a large green wreath with a beautiful red bow and ribbon which had large gold ornaments stamped on it. Inspiration for my tree topper came from several home and decor bloggers I follow.



And while most families gather before Christmas, or on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, as is the tradition, a gathering of some of my family has become a tradition born out of happenstance. Family members and I now meet for dinner out on this weekend after Christmas and later gather at my house for dessert. It started out by happenstance but is becoming a tradition. It isn't so much about food or gift giving as it is about sharing which in my opinion 'is the reason for the season'. We all decorate and spend time gathering for food and drink and gift giving throughout the season. We do this in celebration of the Christ child and to remember his birth. Yet, all of those gatherings of celebration in memory of him allows us to spend time together and share. As a working gal, I seldom entertain, but this small gathering has allowed me an opportunity to share my home with some of my family and share in the season. I hope you and yours had a wonderful holiday gathering with your family and friends enjoying and sharing in all that the season has to offer. I'll be back before the year ends. ENJOY!

Merry Christmas to All!

Wishing each and every one of my friends all around the globe a joyous and happy holiday. Merry Christmas to All. ENJOY!

Merry Christmas!

Be Safe. Find Peace. Share the Joy of the Season. Merry Christmas Everyone. ENJOY!

Poinsettia

It's a Poinsettia Extravaganza!

This weekend at my favorite nursery, Country Corner, located in Shepherdsville, Kentucky, they're celebrating the holidays with a Poinsettia Extravaganza featuring Santa Claus and rows and rows of beautiful Poinsettias. If you live anywhere near Mt. Washington or Shepherdsville in Kentucky you should take a few minutes to stop by and partake. Poinsettias are one of those really cheerful flowers to me. I love the shape of the leaves, but especially love the pinks, reds and yellows the Poinsettia comes in. ENJOY!

Christmas 2011!

I wish for you a very Merry Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with whomever you are sharing this wonderful holiday with. Happy family and friends. Happy gathering together. Happy sharing times past and making new memories. Happy eating and drinking. Happy gift giving and gift unwrapping. Happy Holidays! And since we'll have no snow here in the Bluegrass State, although we will have lots of sunshine, I have put together a little "snowy" something to share with you. HAPPY HOLIDAYS! ENJOY!

Vintage Santa Claus!

Santa Claus is coming to town. Hope your weekend is going well. ENJOY!