Christmas on Amelia Island

Tiamo selects Christmas lights





It's quite amazing how time slips by. My excuses for not writing more are not even worthy of mention.

Instead, I will take this opportunity to share this Christmas before the New Year rolls in.

 



A long winter's nap

Don and Barbara invited me to spend Christmas with them on Amelia Island, Florida. Tiamo stayed at the clinic with Ann - spending her first Christmas in a cage, but it was good to know she was safe and warm. She did enjoy all the early stages of Christmas, such as putting up Christmas lights and

wrapping gifts. 



Wrapping gifts is fun

 



Tux was thrilled to have the house to himself, able to come and go at will, with no pesky little sister bothering him.



Ghost Gums on the Ridge

 I missed Tennessee's white Christmas - but we'd already enjoyed our first snow on December 14, so I was fine with a walk on a sparkling beach instead!

Amelia Island - Christmas Eve




Black Skimmers

  Christmas in Florida - invigorating walks on the beach under a cold, blue sky criss-crossed with contrails.  The beach where I always feel so close to Bill. The sea was the reward - sparkling silver in the sun. Migratory birds wheeling and soaring in the brisk wind. Black Skimmers sporting orange bands on their long beaks sharing the same spot of sand with resident flocks of gulls, brief transients on their journey southward.



St. Peter's Episcopal Church



Barb, Kendall and I attended a Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve at the beautiful little Episcopal Church (built 1881) in Fernandina Beach, enjoying the procession and ritual and singing as the clock ticked over to midnight.



Rick teaches Debi how to play the drums

 The most memorable Christmas gift was the drum set nephew Dennis gave to his brother Rick

Dennis eyes Don's helicopter

- and the remote controlled helicopters that kept the "boys" entertained for hours!

My thrill was a ride in Rick's 427 Ford Cobra, followed by a fast drag run down Rick's airplane runway in Dennis' Corvette. These guys are the experts on fast cars!


Don carves the turkey in Debi's kitchen

We had two Christmas dinners, with great company of family and friends. Don and Barb hosted the first dinner on Friday, and Rick and Debi the second one on Sunday. Linda's Bread Pudding is the recipe we all want - maybe I will have it to share next posting!



Debi and Kendall









 



  Lots of great food and wine, cozy fires, comfortable hours spent reading and   chatting. I am blessed to have family to share this time.



Christmas is best shared with family and friends