January Gloom

I think that I am safe in saying that most of us don't like January. (Unless you are lucky enough to have a birthday this month) So it comes as no surprise that today on a foggy damp and dreary Wednesday, I was feeling a bit yuck. Lucy and I had ear marked today as a trip to Longwood. After trying to walk in freezing fog to the bus stop, (that means everything has ice in a thin coating and it is replenished by the air, so basically treacherous) I thought that we might have to shelf that plan. But as luck would have it, the freezing fog just turned to fog and we braved it and went to Longwood.

This is what we saw and it was magical. I literally felt my heart rate slowing down. I hope you enjoy these snaps from my phone. Such a surprise to enjoy something outside on a day like today.

This is a really special view and I love this picture, I may even have to have this one framed. 

A surprise to see such rich color in winter

These are tulip trees and they really seem to be impossibly tall!

This is a Beech tree, they often don't get rid of all their leaves and in Winter and provide a good spot of color

Just lots of twigs

Did I mention that we had the place to ourselves. After the last panic attack inducing visit this was simply fantastic and such a treat!

Even in the Greenhouses...I mean deserted

Very fuzzy pic but look at that name, Powderpuff Lillypilly

Seriously not a soul there

Right in the center of the flower are smaller tiny winy purple triangles... amazing

The rose green house had bougainvillea in flower

My favorite room, so soothing the colors.

This is in the same room, the cactus room and this wreath is just simply stunning

The day although foggy turned out not so bad after all, so for now, that's all folks.............

Actually maybe Part 2 and 3!

Hi again and apologises as this is a really big post. You are more than welcome to treat this like the elephant in the room, ie one bite at a time. Although me personally, I would never eat an elephant. What I am trying to say is, deep breath and dive in!

So where were we, ah that's right we had just got the tree. Well this is how it looked decorated

So once that was done and we were feeling suitably Christmas like, we decided that we should go to Longwood Gardens on Christmas Eve! Yup big mistake. I did practically have a panic attack, slow moving people in the greenhouses did me in. AGH ready to kill on Christmas Eve, not quite the warm fuzzy feeling I was going for. But as we had taken so much trouble to wrap up and it was blizzard conditions going in, felt I had to continue but not next year! no way. I will remember that EVERYONE has that idea on Christmas Eve and I definitely don't need a panic attack as a Christmas tradition!

 So that blotchy is snow falling

 Yes that is also snow

I do like the outside trees and this one especially caught my eye, all those gourdes.

As you can see Isaac is really quite tall and Damian is trying hard to be as tall and Nana is just fab!

That is how wrapped up Louie and Julie were, the blue twins.

I was still moderately OK at this point in the greenhouse, getting all artsy with the photos.

This was the last one, as I was getting out of there. Amazingly I haven't got the swarms of people in any of the photos. But let me tell you, the "Christmas Route" that they force you to walk is painful. Everyone walking at about 5 minutes per step and then OH least I forget. Brian decided that the family visiting from Chicago, who had decided that they would pass the time by singing, (sounds nice doesn't it? NOT! they couldn't sing. So yes that's right trapped in a que of slow moving people, singing Christmas songs, badly and I have a family member joining them!) no thank you.

Anyway we had a shower and dressed for bed and awaited for Father Christmas to come.

We even tracked him online as he flew around the world!

Christmas morning and look! he has been and left filled stockings! we love you Father Christmas!!!!

Ready for Christmas fun to begin!

We love the stockings!

So much fun for young and older alike

 Did I mention older! he got the Christmas sleigh bell from Father Christmas's sleigh....wow

Happy Boy in Christmas Present Dr Who scarf reading his Beano book

Happy Boy number 2 (yes Isaac is actually reading and there are presents still left to open!)

Pretty much what they did then for the rest of the day and had the best Christmas ever.

Although Julie made us play the pickle game. I had reservations about this but it is essentially, find a tiny pickle ornament on the tree and then the one who finds it gets an extra present. In this case she had done us a pass the parcel and the picture below was Nana's present from the pickle. We had lots of fun doing this and this is a tradition that we will keep!

Then it was onto the neighbourhood party. I hosted it this year on the 27th December and there were over 50 people there! It was a big event and thoroughly enjoyed and glad I don't have to do it every year.

 We lit the way with luminaries

Paddy was first to arrive and Dr Who was already here. This is about an hour before the party.

Isaac was obviously exhausted by the prospect of the party and all that tidying he did (he actually did do cleaning on the army style detail lead by Julie!)

Yes I am looking a bit crazy

But the outfit it super!!

After all of that we had to get ready for Louie's birthday on the 1st and it took a few days to get back some energy and then off into party mode for someone to turn 12. 

 Happy Birthday Louie

Reading his Lego bible and he literally is.

Making a wish!

 They were so pleased to have built the crystal car! wow, thanks Mum and Dad for a great present. And of course to all of you. He loved every single gift and was really so grateful.

 We even managed to have a New Year's Day walk in the park!!!

Action Louie

OH yeah, just practising my teenage pose Mum.

And then it snowed again!

Yes that is me clearing the snow from the bushes....if I don't it squashes them. 

Cool ice in the Holly trees

Fantastic icicles

 Ah Mr Wren hello

I love this picture. The hooks look like a hand and he is all fluffed out.

The detail of his tail and wing feathers is amazing. This is New Year's Day and in the IOM they hunt the wren on the 1st of the year. I thought that it was nice to be visited by one here and think about home....no hunt needed.

Rose Finch and Mr Junco

I know this is a really long blog but this I couldn't leave out. Louie's surprise Dance party with all the friends from the studio.

He was so surprised!

Doing some dancing at the party.

Of course in the middle and having pizza, what else.

Just one of the super cool presents.

Yup that super market cake left an impression! colored every ones mouth blue!

Happy New Year to you all and thank you for reading and getting to end of the world's longest blog! I have nothing planned for about 6 months, so that's it. I will just have to make some stuff up.!