It’s Thursday…the day we were looking for snow to blanket our little corner of the world. The day the kids were counting on building a snowman. But is it white out my window? Sorry to say, it didn’t happen.

We did get ice on the trees…



…and, frost and ice on the ground…

…but, the only snowmen around here, will be the ones on my mantle!

I had a dream last night. It was one of those crazy dreams where nothing really makes sense. It jumped around from this to that and back to something else. I don’t remember all of it, but I know it was not frightening. Just crazy. Crazy can be frightening sometimes, I know. But, I live there so much of the time…it felt comfortable.

The only reason I mention it is because my Mom was there. Now, I don’t know why she was there, nor do I remember what she was doing. But, I do remember exactly what she said to me. She said, “Tonja Lynn, do not put those plants in that pot.” I don’t recollect doing any gardening in my dream. And, I certainly don’t remember how planting came in to play amidst the rest of the confusion.

I don’t know much about dreams. I do know that there are many books on the subject and plenty of people out there to tell you what they mean. I just don’t have a lot of faith in folks that think they know my inner self when they don’t even know my
outer self. I mean, how can someone who knows nothing about me personally tell me what the most personal part of me means. So, I’ll just pass on those ‘experts’. Thank-you very much.

I did read a book written by a Christian author some time ago, that talked about the meaning of dreams. Sorry, it was a while back, and I wasn’t a blogger then. Or I would have known I needed to remember all the important information to document my statement. Oh, well, believe me or not. Anyway, what he said was, “When you think back on a dream…think about the way it made you feel. Then,
see if there is anything that is going on in your life that is making you feel the same way.” This should be what your subconscious is trying to get you to think about.

I have used this method many times since I read it. And, it really does work. If I dream about not being prepared for something important…usually, I can relate it to something I am not prepared for in real life. So, this has worked for me through the years. But, in this case, it just does not make any sense. I most definitely have not been getting ready to plant anything. This isn’t the time. I have been planning to go back to my other house and dig up my hostas and move them over here. But, I think this is the time I am supposed to do that. I bought some small orange pots for the kitchen before Christmas…but I do not even have an idea what I am going to put in them. I have a big, beautiful Tuscan type urn/bowl. Mom gave it to me while we were building the house. I have had it up on top of the china cabinet, but just took it down yesterday. I actually was thinking of finding some sort of florals or greenery to put in it for the center of my table. Now, I’m thinking that I need to put it back up on top of the china cabinet, and forget the idea.

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OK, so, I just went to make a picture of this piece to show it to you. Isn’t it beautiful?

Then I decided I’d make a picture of the two orange pots, since I told you about them, too. Picked them up to move them to a better place to photograph them. Here they are:

No, I did not intend to move them to the floor to snap their pic! Sure glad I didn’t pick up the yellow bowl!

I have no idea what this all means…or if it means anything at all! Just thought I’d share…

I know that around the country, there is way too much snow. I know that there are those who are not able to leave their homes. I know that driving is very dangerous in weather like this. AND, to our great surprise, the weather man on our local station said we had a great chance of getting snow Wednesday night and Thursday.

In this area of the country…the very deep South, it hardly ever snows. We live just 90 miles from the coast of Florida. The temperature has actually been in the teens early in the morning. I have lived here all my life and I can recall it snowing and sticking twice. We manage to have some flurries all along, but it comes and goes quickly. The best chance we have had in many years comes this week. So, we’ll see. The children are all praying it comes…it would most certainly mean a day off from school! Because, the whole city will shut down. Schools will close, churches will cancel services, other services will be delayed. We are just not equipped to drive in sleet, snow, or ice… and that is the biggest danger. As happy as the children will be to play in it, they won’t be as happy when they have to miss a day of their spring break to make up the day! ‘Cause around these parts…it very likely could be warm enough to swim by then!

Following are some pictures I have collected over the years that show some beautiful snow scenes. Obviously…I did not make these! And, they are not taken around here, either! Beautiful, nonetheless!

Here it is! I know you’ve been waiting with baited breath! Finally, we can rest easy…Pantone has finally announced the COLOR OF THE YEAR…2010! It’s TURQUOISE!

Now, frankly, I do not know why we need an official color. Should we all go out and paint our houses? Should we all go buy a dress in this hue? Should we buy our new car in this color? I don’t think so. But, “they” say that this is the color that fashion, home ware manufacturers, car companies, building materials, etc. will all use as a starting point for their new lines.

I thought it quite interesting; and wondered what the colors for the past years, since 2000, would be. Here, then, are the colors that have been a part of your life…and you may not have even known it!

2010….TURQUOISE

2009…MIMOSA

2008…BLUE IRIS

2007…CHILI PEPPER

2006…SAND DOLLAR

2005…BLUE TURQUOISE

2004…TIGERLILY

2003…AQUA SKY

2002…TRUE RED

2001…FUCHSIA ROSE

2000…CERULEAN BLUE…also chosen as COLOR OF THE MILLENNIUM

It’s interesting that the dance seems to be around the blues and reds. What does that say about the other colors? Are they just not good enough? Or just not popular at this time? I wonder…

So, when you are out and about, doing your shopping for this, that or the other… and you see it offered to you in TURQUOISE…you’ll know why. Just remember…don’t buy it in YELLOW…it’s so ‘last year’!!!

Yesterday I began taking down my Christmas trees, and decor throughout the house.

I do not like doing this. Not because of the work…I actually enjoy packing my treasures up, making them nice and cozy in tissue paper for their long nap. I enjoy organizing, and labelling and stacking just so on the shelves.

I just do not like the season being over. We wait so long for it to arrive…we look forward, and plan and prepare. We decorate, and cook, and shop, and hide, and wrap. We place the gifts under the tree just so. Stacking them so as to show off the ribbons and bows. The ribbons and bows that you took so much time to tie. The ribbons and bows that you used your best ribbon for. The ribbon that is wired on the edges so the loops will stand out just so. Quick! Make a picture. When the first gift is removed, the perfect scene will be gone…it will quickly become just a pile of presents once more.

I remove the sweet, little nativity set that has been under our tree since the boys were small. A few of the pieces need gluing before I put it away. Surprised that it has lasted this long. And the slab of wood that the characters stand on. Holes pounded in it from little boys with hammers. And, they practiced writing their names there as well…in that little boy scrawl…some letters big, some small, some even backwards. But, their name, just the same.

All the beautiful garland that I so painstakingly fluffed in early December, will be crushed flat again to fit it into the clear plastic bin. It flattens down to almost one thin line of green. Oh, how much better it looks fluffed out! With pretty red berries placed between its branches. And, the new garland that I bought this year…I do not even want to fold it up to put it away! It had a heavy twig vine with beautiful variegated holly leaves…and full of plump red berries! If it is folded up and pushed flat…will it ever be as pretty again? HMMMMM….where can I possible hide it in its present state until next Christmas?

The special ornaments will be wrapped carefully in tissue…and cradled gently in a box. The 3 special angels…the Krinkles…the beautiful birds. All the sweet ornaments that hold beautiful memories. And, the glorious pink glass rose. The one I found wrapped carefully in a drawer in Mom’s dresser. The glorious pink glass rose that I gave her 2 Christmases ago. It has been added to my box of extra special trinkets!

Next the mercury glass. Oh, how I love the beauty of this pitted and spotted glass. Part shiny and new/ part old and worn. I love the character of these orbs of Christmas glass.

I have collected them for several years…and finally had enough this year to fill a 9 ft. tree. Oh, how pretty it was. I loved the twinkling white lights reflecting off of the colored glass. So festive. I don’t want to take it down. But, I will. I think it may not speak too highly of my decorating skill if it was up in July! Besides, I need Don to move the tree while he is off for New Years.

Empty, undressed Christmas trees are very sad looking things.

So away it will all go. Packed off to a closet and the storage room. Covered carefully to keep out dust and little varmits. Stacked, and stored, and placed just so.

And, the funniest thing will happen. Over the months that the Christmas treasures sleep…I will forget some of the things I have collected. I will forget some of the things that make me smile the most. And, then when November comes round again…and I begin to pull down and unstack and open up the boxes…I will be surprised and delighted as I see my old friends. And, I will carefully put them in their place of honor once again.