Happy New Year

This little blog of mine is just a few weeks over six months old. In that time I've made some exceptional on-line friends. You have all enriched, not only my life, but that of my family too. I am blessed.

Thank you all.

Here's wishing each of you a safe and prosperous New Year. God bless.

Stephen

The Last Night

Is here and we're finally home. Little Bit is watching a movie, Casper I think, Sweet Wife is in the laundry room, and I'm here to post pictures for kymber.

Today, as you know, we took a day trip to St. Augustine in order for Little Bit to see the lights. Here are the results. Please forgive my less than adequate photography.

Above, the cathedral captured in the setting sun.

Note the date. I love this old church. We just missed New Years Eve mass.

Little Bit and Nana shopping in the old slave market.

This shot was taken from the Salve Market. In the background if you look close you can see the Bridge of Lions.

The front of the Cathedral. Just about sunset when the lights flicker to life.

We took a quick break at the Bunnery. I bet you wish you had been with me when the picture was taken. That's a Sticky Bun coated in pecans and caramel with coffee, of course. We've eaten at the Bunnery for close to thirty years.

A blurred image of St. George street after sunset.

kymber, I thought you'd like this Christmas decoration made from local pieces of nature.

And here they are on a balcony.

Just another street scene.

I thought this was kinda nice. Wish I had a decent camera, then again I lack the skills to use one.

Above, look closely just above the building and see if you can spot the star in the western sky.

I took this shot of the oldest school house in America with tourist taking pictures of the oldest school house in America.

Head shot of Little Bit riding the carousel. She just about drove me crazy with her, 'Papa, please, can I ride the carousel now, ugh, please. Repeat every five seconds. She finally wore me down.

Bad shot of a carriage dressed for Christmas. Hey, it was dark.

At one point Nana and Little Bit noticed a shoe store. Guess what happened next. So, here I found myself, once again....Standing Outside, Looking In.

Goodnight, our year is finished. God bless.

Stepheh

St. Augustine

Will be our destination for our last night of 2011. We will leave in about two hours. What awaits is an evening of what the Irish fondly refer to as a 'soft evening' of warm temperatures with trees coated in tiny white lights, the smell of fine food, gentle laughter and history.

St. Augustine is the oldest city in our country. Many of the cobbled streets are worn smooth from several hundred years of horse drawn buggies, and the streets are narrow between walls constructed of oyster shells and lime; ferns and moss grow among the cracks that give onto hundred year old figs which stand next to sweet scented limes and Live Oaks old enough to have witnessed Spanish landings.

I just want a cold glass of Sangria.

I'll try and take a few pictures.

Stephen

She's Back

Our Little Bit that is...she came home with me this afternoon. First though, we took a run to our local Publix.

Once inside Little Bit took control. I have had a smile on my face all afternoon. It isn't often we're separated for such a long period of time.

Her hair is a mess, but her Nana is correcting that problem as I write. Above, she's considering a selection of dairy products.

She has her favorite brand of bread ready for the cart.

All is again as it should be in my world.

Have a great weekend and a Happy New Year.


Stephen

Free Books For Your Kindle

Visit, here for a ton of free books for your Kindle. When you arrive, click the 'e-book' button.

Just a way to help my friends. You will find cookbooks, fiction, classic fiction and tons of other great works.

Stephen

Brain Freeze

I'm thinking, I swear I am...just can't seem to write this morning. All this New Year stuff has me in a fog.

Guess I could hang my new calenders.

Or, watch Atlas Shrugged, it arrived yesterday.

Or, Ronin again for the fifteenth time.

Or, read one of my new books.

Or not.

Business is very slow, or couldn't you tell.

Stephen

Thanks & Welcome

To my new follower and friend, MSgtB, a fellow veteran and writer of My Muse Shaked Me. Master Sargent, please be advised I shall always, I promise, answer any comments you leave here. It might take me a few hours or even days if business gets in my way, but rest assured, I will reply.

I ask the rest of my friends to please trot over and give our new friend a wave and say hello.

Again, thank you and welcome. You are now among friends.

Stephen