Walking on the Grey Side

Gloucester, Ma.
Sunday
12/28/08

It's not even halfway into the winter season and we already miss the ocean. We wished we could have gone home to the tropical bliss in the orient but it's just not the case this time. So we have to make the most of the long but short weekend that our respective work afforded us this year. After gallivanting through the snowy mountains this past few days, we supposed we 'll pay a visit to the cold Atlantic Ocean even if just by it's grey and cloudy beach. Just so we can smell the ocean breeze and hear the flocks of seagulls with their cries piercing through the cloudy horizon.

It's also great to bring our ever energizer Daisy. She just loves going in the car and prop herself on the armrest in between the two front seats with nose up in the air ready to back seat drive with the humans. She was so excited to be let out by the esplanade, meet new dogs sniffing each other's butts (whew!) circle a few times and let out a growl for a greeting. I can never understand the sniffing part, but maybe that's how they get to know each other.

Anyways, we walked along our running Daisy who can't even sit still for a picture because she just had to check out the waves crashing through the sea wall. This place's really nice for a hang out during the summer although it tend to get crowded during the warmer weather it's wide open and spacious enough to handle the crowd. Today's another story though....there's only a handful of people around,brave souls with their winter jackets, hats, scarves and mittens who decided to walked and just enjoy the grey sky with its ominous clouds that somehow promises a coming snowstorm. Which by the way, is what is happening right now outside. It's predicted that we'll have another 6-8 inches by nightfall. It is New Year's eve and we have a freakin' snowstorm! Way to go 2009!

This was a cold windy day by the beach and the sun's nowhere to be seen due to all the clouds. Everything is grey and depressing but there's also a certain aura of a cloudy day. It's really a very unassuming beauty that it's not seen at first glance. I supposed one has to really soaked in the day to feel and admire it. At least, Daisy did not mind it at all! She's just happy to be out and alive mingling with others and hanging out with her --- dare I say? Neurotic owners? Yeah I supposed with our crazy life, can't helped but think of us that way.

And of course, I think you can learn a lot about life through a dog. They are just generally happy creatures no matter what. They swagger around with their smile on every time, they know when they're wrong and they're not afraid to beg for forgiveness. Some of us are even so afraid to admit we are wrong! We could learn a lot from a freakin' dog and I am glad to own one though at first I was reluctant. I don't want changes and I don't want to change our daily habits to accommodate a dog in our crazy schedule. But I supposed that the dog won me over and showed me that there's a human soul in a dog that understands and empathizes when your walking on the grey side of things.

Dashing Through the Snow

The day after Christmas, I have to get in to work and finish up a few tests that I have started 4 days before.This was supposed to be a 4 day weekend off from work but I have to go in because they wanted things done by the end of the year. It only took a few hours and we have the rest of the day so we decided to melt the accumulated pounds during the holidays for a winter hike up to our special spot in the White Mountains. It wasn't snowing anymore but the day looks like it is going to sprinkle snow anytime. We did not let the weather discourage us and so we packed Daisy and some snacks for our trek on the snow. As you can see she loves going out and she can't wait to get out of the truck after about an hour and a half ride .

Slim Baker Reservation.....is a good size hill, steep and with about a foot of snow on its path so going up was quite a task. It's been a few months since we've done this trek and that was in a better weather than this one. I was going to give up, ha! I thought I can't lift my heavy snow boots step anymore....but I trudge along thinking, one more step,one more uphill step at a time and we'll reach the top. The picture on top was the spot where we end up. It is beautiful for all season, it overlooks the little New England town of Bristol, New Hampshire.

The path going up was cleaned and they run a snowmobile tractor or some kind of vehicle going up top to marked the path. There was packed snow underneath the path we walked on, the air was very clean and the silence was music that accompany our every steps. You're probably thinking, we should have done this in our snowshoes or cross-country skiing gear but this my friend is a spur-of -the-moment trip. We were going to go shopping and see if we can haggle some after Christmas sale but we ditched that idea and opted for a trip dashing through the snow.

After our little hike we went for a ride to some familiar places and snapped some more photos. The snow changes the landscape but it still brings some old memories of the times past. We've been through these places so many times but each time is still awe-inspiring and full of magnificence.

The granite on the side of the road were all wrapped in an icy grip as seen here while skiers from the not so distant Cannon Mountain zip through the groomed trail taking advantage of nature's natural playgound accessories ---snow.

Hancock Viewpoint, Kancamangus Highway.....we're thinking nothing about icy road or running out of gas, instead we thought of the road running out because of winter closures. The views were spectacular as ever, the crowds may have gone, the sun may just be a blurry spot on the sky but these mountain vista is as constant as the changing season ---dressed in different palette every time.

The Pemigewasset River....flowing like it's the only thing that its known, dotted with stones that looked like they have icing on top. It's clean, cold and like the blood, it flows through the mountain valleys and provides life a constant reminder that there maybe stones, hills and mountains along the way yet it will persevere and always some how find its way to go through them and emerge out in the open ocean.....free.

Hancock Viewpoint----we were just happy to be here enjoying the time together, weaving new memories and reminisce on the old ones.

The hanging bridge across the Pemi river was full of icy snow but it did not deter some brave souls who were not equipped to cross it with proper gears. We saw quite a few people with their cross-country skis gears on and off they go through the snowy path. We were just there to soak in nature's beautiful change.

The Pemi River from the bridge...we looked cold to the bones but we'll always remember the love that warmth our hearts......

....the moments that we share and memories that we'll remember...

Dashing through the snow,

In our 4-wheel drive we go.

Through the hills, mountains and valleys,

Reminiscing and laughing all the way.

Daisy's dog-collar rings,

Going from window to window

Enjoying the view.

Oh, what fun we had .......

Especially For You

Inside the two-fold card design...

The front of the two-fold card design...

Handcrafted just a few minutes ago ^_^... I love sending and receiving christmas cards and I usually keep them for years, I've a whole lot of them already stacked up in my box up in the attic. It's great to see them and remember the holidays at that time they were received.

I thought I had enough of that personalized christmas cards I ordered online but I run out of it and I still have a few people that I have not send to.....So! I went through my scrapbooking materials and see what I can do to remedy the situation. This is one design I have come up with.... hopefully the persons that this will go to will appreciate my effort. I did have fun making it...especially for you...or rather for them. What do you think?

Sunday Morning Drive

As usual, we went to the early church service today. We like going to the early mass, start the day early so we have the rest of the day to do all kinds of weekend stuff--like going for a drive in the back country to see the whole mess that the ice storm has brought to the eastern part of the United States. Half of the town did not have any power the past few day and lucky for us,my house did not lose the electricity like some of my neighbors. I think God must be responsible because the neighbors' tree fell though it did not hit anything, it would have been a a much bigger mess if it did.
After church we head on out to Starbuck's for some espresso for Bob, hot chocolate for Christian (I did not get anything, my stomach is a little upset from last night's spicy hot dinner)and proceeded up a few miles North and venture out to where the ice covered treetops must be. WE did not really went that far because the gas meter of my car is running on empty. WE did see a lot of trees bent over the side of the roads, slick black ice gleaming to the sun, and tree tops wrapped in icicles. On one of the side roads we saw these party of ducks and geeses. It was a nice little party with all the chatter and sounds they make, the splashes of water and they even came closer to see if we some goodies for them. It was such a nice day and it looked like they were enjoying the cold water. This scene is just amazing for me, because I've never seen so many of them together like these except probably in movies or when they are up high flying to the South. On which I am wondering why they stayed here when they could have flown South for the winter? Maybe those are different types of geeses? Oh well, it was a nice day for a drive and no pun intended but this picture just iced it up!

Holiday Party @ Work

Getting ready before the party is a little bit exhausting and I have to get used to walking with these mile-high heels without tripping over and twisting my ankle. My dear hubby helped me in and out of the car but the gusty wind wasn't helping at all. It was dry and chilly evening , the moon was full and bright against the quicksilver night sky. Except for the traffic everything was just as planned; dropped my son in my in-law's
house for baby sitting while we party the night away. My brother-in-law and his wife were just as happy to watch my son. Their own has long left the nest and only comes for a visit now and then. We had a great time and had so much fun we barely notice the time that we had to wrapped it up, had our quick goodbye to my co-workers. We'd have loved to stay longer but like all good things, it has to end at that moment and all's that left are just cherish memories that's etched in our mind for years of remembrance to come.

Happy Holidays!

I woke up this morning with the first snowfall for the year covering the ground with a dusting just enough to make it look like a picturesque winter scene. I love it! It's Sunday and though I have a big load of studying to catch up on and housework to deal with I feel light hearted and glad. The whole gang prep for Sunday morning church and stepping out my porch, I feel that finally, old man winter is fast approaching. I probably have to deal with a lot of traffic come Monday morning but I put that thought aside and took a deep breath of fresh crisp cool air that only can be had after a snowfall. After church, I spent part of the day doing chores, prep study for my finals and most of all, gladly wrapping some of my loot for christmas gifts. It was a nice family day hanging in looking forward to a long winter but hopefully full of the holiday spirits for the season and all through the coming year. I am done with my christmas shopping and I told myself not to venture in shopping malls anymore for the rest of the remaining days before christmas. The lines to the cash register is getting longer, people are scrambling and feeling impatient plus the parking lots are like war zones as well. So I will try to enjoy the rest of the days before christmas hanging in, sipping something hot and catching up on some letter writing to some friends whose probably now thinking that I am too busy for them. I hate excuses BUT yes, I am a little bit busy though I am hoping that they will understand. 'Tis christmas after all, time for good tidings and holiday cheer, parties, get together and well-wishing. Have a great week to one and all.....!

It's December, it's christmas time......

Other from getting older again, I love this time of the year because of Christmas. Clearly it is the time when people forget all their enemies and starts feeling the euphoria that the christmas season brings. But of course, it's different when you don't celebrate this holiday at all.
Today is another shopping day before the day of exchanging gifts arrive on Christmas eve or Christmas day. Traffic is tough to navigate in the highway as well as in the malls. I am one of the guilty ones who run around during this time and try to pick up that special gift that my family would love for Christmas, sadly this year the economy has been really bad. So I supposed the greatest thing that we can all give this Christmas is the TIME that we missed to give when we are so busy with work that we just basically glance at each other before racing to the door for work or school. The LOVE that we always meant to give or share yet we're so wrapped up with our own inhibitions and shortcomings we decided not too. The PEACE that we should all have in our heart but cannot feel it or share it because of all the noise and bustles that has become our way of life. We forget that the most important gift of all is our HUMANITY. We forget because of all the materialistic surroundings we've allowed ourselves to be enveloped into. Things that in the end doesn't matter at all. So, my friend, hopefully this Christmas season you will not forget to reach out and share the time, love and peace that the whole world really need.