What a way to usher in the New Year 2010 – under a winter storm watch/warning and looking forward to a few days of snow! Just another January in Northern Mid Maine. The birds are swarming at my feeders outside my kitchen window. Hordes of goldfinches quickly deplete the sunflower meaties I provide for them. As you can tell, they wait for the feeders to be filled and then swarm!
Just Goldfinches here, but plenty of Chickadees, a breeding pair of Cardinals with their young, and even a wayward Brown Trasher have visited these feeders in the past few weeks. Blue Jays, Woodpeckers, and occasional Juncos are reminders that our feathered friends may need some supplemental foods during the cold weather times. Especially before and during snow storms, my feeders are the go to place for the neighborhood birds.
As I watched the gorgeous floats of the Rose Bowl Parade on television, I was once again reminded how lucky I am to be a florist. The beauty of each bloom, stem of foliage, and adaptation of the ingredients I use daily in my work, were all manipulated to produce gorgeous forms not of their natural inclination. To see salal foliage formed to produce the belly of a bird (an 8′ tall bird at that) and the iris bloom petals picked from their entirety to form the graceful plumage of wings, is an art in itself. Kudos to each visioneer on their planning, production, and overall end product for each and every float we were able to enjoy. Many, many long hours from volunteers, often days 14 to 16 hours in length to make that vision come to life and to be enjoyed by all along the parade route in person or on television – we who watched can only say Thanks to all involved!
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the spectacular New Year’s Eve dinner enjoyed by myself along with hubby, my oldest daughter, husband, and their friends at the Young House Bed & Breakfast in Millinocket. Fred and Micki are wonderful hosts, their B & B is tastefully decorated (and much loved by native Millinocketers), and is fast becoming the “go to place” for visitors and for special dinner nights enjoyed by so many. As a first timer to their wonderfully hosted dinners, the 5 course meal was delicious, cooked impeccably, and presented in an atmosphere so very comfortable. The only changes I would make, of course, is next time, I’ll make sure there are fresh flowers on the tables!! Thanks Jackie and Paul for the invite, to Dan & Amy, Lanie & Jeff, and Lynda for letting us share the evening with you.
As we enter this New Year, I wish all my friends, family, customers new and old, the best Happy, Healthy, and Safe New Year.
