This is what it looked like here on the 13th. The weather man just said that our yearly average snowfall is 7.2" and as of last weekend, we had already had 7.1". If it were the end of March, I wouldn't worry about it, but since we are still in mid-February, we stand the chance of more snow before the winter is out. At this point, I wish we lived in Barbados or St. Martin!

On the 13th, I was supposed to be at the flower shop at 10 a.m., but I called and went in late. According to the shop owner, the roads were clear enough that I should have been able to be there on time - since everyone else was. I didn't bother to explain, but having just come out of a wreck (in good weather), I hesitate to take any chance that might make another one imminent. Plus, our neighborhood is always more slippery than the main roads, since so many of our streets are shaded by pine trees. The half-mile between our home and the main road is often inaccessible or nearly so.

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Do you rely on invoices received in the mail for bills you owe? What happens if or when that piece of mail isn't delivered? Last week I got a call from the company that holds the loan on our heat pump. My January payment was late. I realized immediately that I had not received the invoice for that payment and explained that to the clerk who called. She asked that I mail it the next day - which I did - and told me I was responsible for the payment even if the invoice doesn't arrive here. So, I made a permanent note to myself of the amount and the due date, so that never happens again. I wish they would just send a payment coupon book and envelopes. I suspect it would be cheaper for that company to mail one coupon book per client per year than to generate an invoice each month. (And no, they don't offer on-line payments.)

The Pink Wedding

Pink weddings always make me want to say "Gag me with a spoon." This one was three shades of pink and cream, plus the bling and glitz requested by the bride. The stephanotis in her bouquet featured rhinestones, as did the ones in the groom's boutonniere (not pictured). All bouquets by Mel. The mother's corsages had pink rhinestones in them as well.

The bridesmaid's bouquets were actually very pretty (for pink....LOL). The colors are not true here. The darker roses were a deep shade of hot pink and for some odd reason they look red here. The church did not have a lot of light, so most of the colors are skewed a little.

One of the three types of centerpieces at the reception; white branches studded with pink cymbidium orchids and enough bling and glitz for a jewelry store! Crystal clear ornaments, pink crystal droplets and beaded garland festooned each one. I know you can't see it very well, but if I lightened it any more it would drown out all detail. Rhonda and I did these on site at the country club.

There were four of these taller arrangements with flowers and branches, sitting atop a tall vase with snow and pink ball ornaments inside. Done by Rhonda.

The altar arrangement (done by Mel).


This one graced the lobby at the country club.


The pew markers at the church (I did these).



Mel made the initials for the doors at the country club. (And Blogger will not let me make this font smaller no matter what I do!)

Another Sunrise Series

Virginia Beach...late November, 2008




Yes, there is a ship right in the middle of the sun!






A reminder: I am working all week long. We are now decorating the NC Governor's Mansion for Christmas, and I will eventually have photos to show you.

The Day Begins...

Sunrise over the ocean always draws me out of bed long before I normally would rise. This is not the best series of photos, but I hope you will enjoy it. A deep cloud cover kept me from seeing the actual break of the sun disk on the horizon; a sight I always treasure. Maybe next time.

The tiny light in the lower right was on a buoy. The one at the top is the slightly more than crescent moon.

The lights in the bottom right were on the Virginia Beach boardwalk. It was 5:30 am, but people were walking there and on the beach.


I love how that fiery streak kept getting larger and longer.

Late November and December finds Christmas and Holiday lights galore on the beach and arching over the boardwalk. You pay $10 per car and drive the length of the boardwalk (about 30 blocks). We took a few photos of that, which I'll show you later.

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Christmas decorating for the Dogwood Tree Floral crew - including yours truly - begins in earnest on Friday the 28th and goes for 9 straight days. I will have something to post (probably), but visiting or commenting may be slim to none. Be good.

Snow + Bugs + Raleigh in Photos

This is what I woke up to this morning. Luckily, within 60 minutes, it was gone.

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Go here, if you are science-minded. What ants can do boggles the mind! The video takes 6 and 1/2 minutes, and it is worth it.

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Here's what Raleigh looks like in the Fall. Beautiful presentations of our fair city.

Well, hello there, little buddy!

I got these pics in email also. Supposedly, they are the truth, and not fixed up in a photo program. I didn't copy the wording that came with it, but some well-known nature photographer snapped them when he was on a mission to get photos of polar bears. I think the bear must have been well-fed, otherwise, I cannot imagine her doing what she did - and lying down in the subserviant pose like that one below. Wonders never cease, do they?

Shuffle Off to Buffalo?

Anyone want to go to Buffalo, NY ? A friend sent me this pic of the area where his daughter lives. They call it "lake effect" snow.

It's beautiful, but this is as close as I want to get!