"Baby It's Cold Outside..."

This is the best Christmas present I could ever get.
51 + years and going strong, side by side.
Love you so much mom and dad.

"These are a few of my favorite things..."

Over the past 10 years living in Ukraine I have had to become a "city girl" (I actually flew back into America this year on the exact date that 10 years ago I first flew into Kyiv to start living there!). Taking the metro, hailing taxis, living in a city of
millions of people has become my daily routine. But in my heart I am still a hick from Grants Pass, Oregon. :)



There are certain things that when I see them they just make me feel good. They remind me of home, of my parents, of the things that make up who I am so much more than I realize. They are not particularly beautiful things, in maybe the traditional sense...but they are beautiful to me.


My parents surprised me with an early Christmas present this year of a camera to replace the one that was lost along with my purse a year ago. It's so nice to be blogging with photos again! :)









So these are just shots that are probably no big deal to anyone else, but they capture a little of what is so familiar to me about my parent's home and so are dear to me, if to no one else. :)

"It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!"...

This is the first of hopefully a few dispatches from Oregon. I am here in "God's Country" enjoying my family for the holidays.

We got a light dusting of snow recently and here's how it looked at the pond in my folk's backyard.

I've seen plenty of snow for the past 9+ winters in Kyiv, but "city snow" is so much different than "country snow". It makes a simple thing like the driveway down to the barn look so picturesque, (at least to me!)



And what about this cute guy? How can you resist a mug like that? Ok, I can hear some of my friends saying "Resist that mug? Easily!" :) But I think a face like that just makes you want to say "Hi guy!" :)

And this stylish pair....as if Kyiv "devushki" were the only ones that made sure their winter "coats" stylishly match the weather?! :)

Ok, yes, having a great time here. :)