The Mill Pond

There was a slice of heaven the weather gods sent Dec. 29 and 30 so Jay suggested we take a run to the Mill Pond for an overnighter. The skies were blue and the air just a little crisp with no wind. We had the whole place virtually to ourselves both days. We found Lassiter creek/swamp and paddled in there a bit. A relaxing way to shut the lid on 2008.

Photo album on Snapfish (account needed but it is easy to create)

http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=275831497/a=134794933_134794933/t_=134794933

HEY, ALL YOU SHUTTERBUGS!

Does any one have any pictures to post of the fantabulous Christmas Party and Brunch? I feel so lost without my camera! All I know is we had a great time but want to see some pics, please!

NY NY

As some may know I took a trip on the cheap to NY City this week. I rode the "China" bus and stayed at the Carlton Arms Hotel (http://www.carltonarms.com/) located in the center of Manhattan. When I arrived at the hotel I had my choice between 1-B and 15-D...I chose 1-B. Visit the website and click the "rooms" tab - you can see photos of all 58 rooms and several of the hallways. Art as you've never seen it! Total price for transportation and two nights lodging was $237. I walked most places but did take the #1 subway north to Central Park and then south to catch the Staten Island Ferry. I like the city more than I expected. People were friendly and every turn brought new sights and sounds. The park was pretty incredible and seeing the city from 70 stories up on Rockerfeller Center was an awsome sight at sunset. I've posted 36 photos (with captions) on Snapfish. You'll need an account but it takes less than a minute to set that up: http://www2.snapfish.com/share/p=999141229297016489/l=455189477/g=134794933/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB

Cherry Knoll Rain Chain

Though few would argue that downspouts effectively direct water from the gutter to the collecting tank, would we agree that they add to the aesthetic appeal of a landscape? Probably not. Fortunately, for people who wish to transcend function for form, there is another option.
Rain chains ('Kusari doi' in Japanese) offer a highly attractive and unique alternative to traditional downspouts. They are hung from the corners of your roof or canale to guide the flow of water into large barrels to catch the water from the roof for household purposes and gardening. They have been used for hundreds of years in Japan, and are a perfect expression of the Japanese knack for combining aesthetics and practicality. I had a major problem with water drainage from my upper deck onto my lower deck and came across this fascinating solution to the problem. With the help of my friend, Reed, we installed a gutter along the upper deck of my house and then added a copper rain chain to direct the water down into a beautiful ceramic pot. The water is then drained under my deck to a nearby flowerbed. A perfect solution to a very annoying problem! You'll have to check it out the next time you visit, and hopefully it will be raining so you can get the complete effect. It's absolutely mesmerizing, and I love it! Now I can't wait for rainy days, and the harder the downpour, the more beautiful the effect!

Richmond Christmas Parade

Last Saturday was a cold day for a parade, but it was loads of fun and laughter. We all got a big laugh over Odie licking the pavement as his handlers lowered him under streetlights. Typical of a dog! Jim got some great shots with his new SLR digital camera...

Carly and Jason's Thanksgiving Dinner

Here are some pics from Carly and Jason's Thanksgiving Dinner. Jason's sister, Holly, and her boyfriend Jeremiah came over and some of Jason's other friends did too. The food preparation was a family affair. The turkey grease dripping spill was also a family affair, ending with Jeremiah's paper towel grease dance. Everything was delicious, fun, and memorable.