A Happy New Year To One And All!

Longwood Gardens - Water Fountain Show

Last night, my girlfriend and I were at Longwood Gardens. Among other things, they had a very impressive water fountain show. Some scenes from that show are presented below.

Family Christmas Gatherings

This past Sunday and Sunday a week ago, I attended two of my Christmas family gatherings. Some pictures from both are shown below with the most recent one being first.


My brother from Michigan every year introduces us to a number of new table games. Many of them we have never heard of before. It might now almost be a part of our family tradition at Christmas time. Some of them he finds out about through being a part of a couple game clubs. I don't remember the name of the card game being played in this picture. But it can get rather active. See below.


When a certain card is played, everyone tries to be the first to grab and keep the wooden piece that stands in the center. [See first picture.] As one can see in this picture, it can get to be a free for all struggle.


Some of my nephews and nieces and one brother


My nieces and their parents are preparing to leave while others continue playing a card game.


My girlfriend is the wonderful person sitting towards the far left in this picture. Meeting her made this the best Christmas ever. [a big joyful grin]

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The following pictures are from the big Christmas dinner held every year with relatives on my dad's side of the family.


My brother from Michigan and our three nieces


Every year at this dinner, we have a piñatta filled with candy for the children. It is fun to watch the children trying to break the piñatta.

Wishing One and All

A Blessed Christmas!

Christmas Came Early

Christmas came early
Unsought, unexpected
Soft whispers, soft touchings

Christmas came early
A love unknown
A love discovered

Christmas came early
A peace undescribable
A peace dwelling deep

Christmas came early
A joy unspeakable
A joy overflowing

Christmas came early
A new future arises
No longer alone

A Morning's Visit to Lake Nockamixon, part 2

This past Tuesday morning I visited Nockamixon State Park on the Quakertown side, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Below are some photos of plants and landscape sights from that hike.

The Children's Christmas Program

This past Sunday, our church held its annual children's Christmas program. The children performed a musical entitled The Christmas Checklist authored by Cathy Skogen-Soldner. It is always good to see the children put their heart and soul into this program. And afterwards, the congregation fellowships over cookies and punch.


Initial entry picture


Joseph and Mary checking their supplies


The youngest children singing


The innkeeper speaking with Joseph and Mary
after the birth of Jesus


The angels


The shepherds and sheep
just after the angels had visited


The shepherds preparing to visit Jesus


Another view of the shepherds and sheep


The wisemen who came to see Jesus

A Morning's Visit to Lake Nockamixon, part 1

This morning I visited Nockamixon State Park on the Quakertown side, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Below are some photos of plants and landscape sights from that hike.


A close-up of some beautiful red fruit on a bush


Overlooking a T-shaped section of Lake Nockamixon


Candles of Heaven in the winter time


A dead tree can sometimes be a sculptured piece of art.


A nut tree maybe walnut


Another overlook of a portion of Lake Nockamixon


I posted a photo of this tree in an earlier post. That one was taken in the evening; this one was taken in the morning from a slightly different perspective. The lake as background is almost as important as the tree.


A fascinating plant - diseased?


Another perspective on Lake Nockamixon

My Nieces' Winter Piano Recital

This afternoon I went to my nieces' winter piano recital at The James Lorah House in Doylestown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The first two photos were taken during the performance. Unfortunately, I wasn't positioned at a location that shows their hand and finger movement.


My second oldest niece playing Splashing in the Brook


My oldest niece playing Frosty the Snowman


The group picture after the piano recital


All three of my nieces posing after the recital

Lake Nockamixon at Evening, part 2

This is a continuation of the hike I was on in the previous post at Lake Nockamixon. Only this post will only show some sights from near the lake not the lake itself. Many of these photos are not as dramatic as those in the previous post. But it is all part of life's story.


Entering the dark forest :)


Clouds under the setting sun


A fungus close up


A collection of fungi
Notice how the one fungus has a branch growing through its center.


As promised, here is the picture that shows that it was cold enough to have ice on top of small water puddles.


I always enjoy seeing moss. There's just something about moss that has fascinated me since even my childhood.