Taunton Green 2012

I said I’d get there. It was just a matter of time. The weather hasn’t helped but we finally got a beautiful sunny day so when the sun set the skies were still clear. The perfect night…I thought.
I arrived at the green in the center of Taunton a little before sunset. It was definitely getting colder but you expect that after sunset.
What I didn’t expect was a 20+ degree drop in temperature in less than an hour. Cold as it was the sky was still clear so it was perfect. I began snapping away. I’d only have about an hour before I’d lose the “blue hour”. That’s the time between the afterglow from the sunset and full dark. The sky gets a deep , deep blue and the glowing lights seem to “pop”.

Mother nature isn’t making this easy for me. Now on top of the cold the wind has sprung up and not just a little breeze. The branches on the trees with their hanging lights are really blowing and swaying especially the 40 ft. Christmas tree on the corner of the Green.
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The few people strolling the green departed quickly as the winds became blustery. Ready or not it was time to pack up and leave.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Around the office the elves are busy pinning and taping. Various displays are beginning to come together. The early birds add the finishing touches to their cubicles while watching in awe as the late-comers throw themselves into their project with deadlines looming.
WFO Christmas 009 copy Every where you look there’s a tree or snowman or wreath or so it seems.
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Management concluded that the department supervisors couldn’t be the judges (probably a good choice) so 3 supervisors from another department are being coerced into the role of judges. I wouldn’t want to try to choose. All of the displays are beautiful or symbolic and everyone contributed work, idea, or decorations.
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Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

What are you thankful for?
I’m thankful to be alive and relatively healthy. There’s so much to see and do in this big  wide world.

I’m thankful for my furry friends…Rocky and Smokey.

They keep me company and cheer me up when I’m down. They are loyal and give me unconditional love. Sound like a dog? They are about as dog-like as  cats can be. Rocky follows me, comes when called and plays fetch.Smokey will flop over for a belly run any chance he gets and wants to be wherever I am.

I’m thankful for the family…even if we don’t see each other a lot. I know they “have my back”. And since some of them live in the country I’ll have a place to move if  the “Doomsday Preppers” are right. 🙂

I’m thankful I have a job. So many people are out of work. I joke about retiring but somehow I think I have few good years left.

I’m thankful I have a roof over my head. I’m not homeless even if I came close when the real estate market tanked. But thanks to the  new rules and mortgage modifications that resulted, I still have my home.

I’m thankful that I am still on a spiritual journey. It keeps me from becoming close minded and intolerant. There is truth in every religion as well as mystery. No one has all the answers in this life.

I’m thankful for the friends and acquaintances that I meet along my path. Some for a short time, some travel the path with me for a longer time. They are a network of friendship and support, constantly changing yet always there.

I am thankful for the beauty I see around me every day and the hobby that allows me to see it with new eyes.

I’m thankful for so much more as well but what is it that you’re thankful for?

Rocky Holiday Photo..Take 2

We’ve only been “clicker” training for 2 days so I wasn’t even going to bother trying to get the picture of my “vision” but When I turned my back there he was…right in the middle of the picture set up I was working on.

Ok he was ready and willing. I decided to try again.

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We’re getting closer  but we’re not quite there yet.