One Christmas down...

...still one to go.

We had our family 'fake' Christmas on Monday before I ran off to Memphis. Nothing like Christmas dinner the way you're used to it, of course. And it's only with your own parents that you can make such particular demands as which kind (or kinds, in my case) of stuffing there's going to be.

As much as I was sad to wave goodbye to the 100% chance of a white Christmas at home, I have to say I've kind of had enough of snow by now. For this year, anyway. I'm not sure if that means I'm old now, or just that I spend too much time having to break ice and defrost pipes for the ponies.

Ricki desperately wants to be an indoor pony right now.

Domino does not approve of the snow either.

Although he appreciates that it's good for his image.

We did, however, get out to Memphis without a hitch! Which is something of a miracle, if you ask me. Boyfriend's sister, who flew the day before us, had a 30 hour journey punctuated with a sleep on the floor of Minneapolis airport. You have no idea how grateful I am that Heathrow appeared to have its act together by Tuesday, or that we hadn't booked for the earlier flight that got cancelled. Luck was on our side!

Enjoy the new background - Merry Christmas!

A Flickr-Illustrated Thanksgiving

Ok, I'm not American. I know. Blog title makes it pretty obvious. But I do like the 'giving thanks' idea and there are plenty of things I am thankful for - I'm a very lucky girl, all considered.

So, besides all the many other things that are wonderful, my Flickr gallery makes me thankful for...

Robins.

Ours has just returned to our garden. He makes the bird feeders more cheerful.

Little girls and ponies.

They make the world go round.

My boyfriend.

He's lovely. And good to me. And plays snooker.

I can't play snooker. At all.

Ducks!

Everyone loves ducks.

Especially crispy ones wrapped in little pancakes and smothered in hoisin sauce...

Sorry that was uncalled for. Apologies to delicious aromatic ducks.

Teddy bears!

No, sorry, that's a cow. Hard to tell. They're cooler than teddy bears anyway.

Not that I'd rather someone give me a cow for Christmas than a teddy bear. Not sure the cat would appreciate the company.

Speaking of, I am also thankful for my cat.

My cat is called Domino. He believes you should be fetching toys for him, that the bottom end of the sofa is his domain and that he's entitled to multiple dinners if people arrive home at different times.

He left white hair all over my clothes tonight.

Lastly, I am thankful for lint brushes.