Wishing You a Happiest New Year

Photo above ... Frosty morning in Florida but it sure beats the NY blizzard!

The Holidays are now behind us and I'm busy trying to catch up on all the many things that have been neglected while I enjoyed a wonderful visit with my youngest daughter.  As some of you may have read in my previous post, Wendi's flight out of Florida to NYC on December 26th, was cancelled due to the northeastern blizzard.  She had been re-booked to depart on Dec. 28th, however that flight too was ultimately cancelled and the soonest she was able to get a flight was on Thursday, the 30th, at an airport almost 100 miles south of us ! 
Though Santa didn't bring me jewels or fancy gadgets, he brought me the most precious gift of all ... a very lovely and long visit with my daughter.  There are just somethings money can not buy. :)

If you recall I posted some photos of my beautiful poinsettia plant just before the holidays and I worried about how the cold spell would affect it.  Photo below shows all too clearly that poinsettias do not fair well in freezing temps . 

We broke an all time record with temps that dipped down to 23 degrees, that's really cold for us here in  south Florida. 

I wish you all the Happiest New Year; may it be blessed with good health, filled with the love of dear family and friends, and may it hold bright promises for the future along with prosperity, peace on Earth and good will to all.

Blizzards Can be a Blessing

Photo above...Christmas morning - No, our son-in-law didn't put the plastic bag over his head, it only looks like he did.  He decided to give the bag a shake to open it up just as I snapped the photo.  Great timing!

It has been a most wonderful Christmas and what has made it so is the fact that my youngest daughter, Wendi, was able to spend it with us.  Normally she arrives just a few short days before December 25th and leaves on the 26th, scarcely staying a full week.  However this year was different, she was longing to get away from NY, NY for a while and she scheduled her trip from December 15th through the 25th, with her return flight booked on December 26th. 

Photo above...Grandchildren gathered around their gifts.

Photo above...My older daughter, Kathi, with her daughter Lexie.  Lexie just opened a gift of a sterling charm necklace, the charm is of a prancing pony, which Lexie loves.

On December 26th all flights departing for NY, after a certain hour, were cancelled, so Wendi ended up booking another flight for the afternoon of the 27th, unfortunately that flight would depart from Fort Myers about 84 miles south of us.  Just before noon on Monday, that flight too was cancelled .  Seems Wendi can't get a flight until Thursday as there is a backlog of passengers returning to NY and they will all have to wait for better weather conditions.

Though I'm delighted to have her here with us I've had to contain my glee as I know she is concerned about her job, returning home to complete things that need to be done and to take care of her beloved kitty cat, Mimi.  Undoubtedly Mimi is going to be more than a little miffed about being left in the hands of a kitty sitter and I imagine she will not be too understanding about the fact that planes do not fly into or out of blizzard conditions.
Meanwhile I continue to enjoy having Wendi here with us as it has been a truly wonderful 12 days of shopping with her, decorating, talking, shopping, doing crafts together (she embroiders and I make jewelry), shopping, fixing meals and cleaning up the dishes and ah ... did I mention shopping ?