Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Just Believe . . .



Believe in what your heart is saying,
Hear the melody that's playing . . . 



{KK magic0916}

. . .  You have everything you need,
If you just believe.

"Believe" - Josh Groban from Polar Express


I might have been a little weak when I spied this cute cup, especially with this
sweet little bell tied to it. It reminded me immediately of the Polar Express, and the magic
 of the season, A reminder that when we keep our child-like qualities as we get older, we 
are better able to "hear" the true spirit of Christmas.
The real reason for the season.

I wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays
in whatever way you celebrate this week!!

I'm also over at Focusing on life, and as we wrap up our monthly theme
of seasonal light, I'm sharing my interpretational photo and accompanying quote.
Short and sweet - pop over - won't you.

Love, Kim






Thursday, December 18, 2014

The Queen's Parade . . .



"I will honor Christmas in my heart,
and try to keep it all the year."

- Charles Dickens

On Tuesday I shared some general photos from the Dickens on the Strand in Galveston,
a yearly tradition with this being our 4th in attendance.

Today...the Queen's Parade.

We found a spot a waited and for the parade to start, but as our luck would have it
a crowd formed right in our viewing path. So, I crossed the street to get a better position
where there weren't many people, just to have another person with two cameras dart in front 
of me more times than I would like to say. Father Christmas, missed it. The queen in her
carriage, yep, missed it.

Then at the end of the parade when the Texas snow came down (aka dish soap bubbles)
my camera malfunctioned and I missed that too.

But, I did manage to have really good timing on one of them . . . 





















  


THIS ONE! . . . Sometimes the timing God's are on your side.








The Battle of Galveston reenactment crew - coming up next month.


And, this is what a whole lot of my shots looked like...someone always stepping in my way, oh well!
We were lucky to make it several blocks to the very end of the "bed races" after trying to figure
out how to get my camera working again. This was one of those 'one shot' deals before I almost got run over by a reindeer bed! lol

Always such a good time, although there was no 'real' snow machine this year for the kids
to throw snowballs, and the elephants were missing? One year one of the elephants managed to try and steal the glasses right off my face. Just in case you were wondering, elephant spit doesn't
smell so good! ;)








Tuesday, December 16, 2014

A Victorian Christmas Stroll


Every year, I look forward to  . . . 

"Dickens on The Strand" in Galveston.


For me, it's a photographers dream, to practice street photography where people
are not only dressed up, but where I don't have to feel like I'm stalking someone
while getting a hairy eyeball. They more than likely will want their photo taken.
It works for me . . . win, win!

And there just might have been a gazillion people, maybe the most I've ever seen.
Last year it was in the twenties, with a blustery wind, and the year before that I think we
were in shorts. This year, it was just right, although it was quite overcast and gray.



Since I'm linking up with Kathy's song-ography today I thought instead of writing
the lyrics, I would let you stroll to some music (if you like) to the song "Silver Bells"
and a little Bob Hope.

                       


Let's take a stroll, shall we . . . .



First stop, a turkey leg....of course!



Or a corn dog.



A little pit stop,




to watch a Greek Gypsy sing while doing a scarf dance.
(I have no idea how this fits in with a Victorian Christmas, so just roll with it) :)

OPA!!



Nearly everywhere you turn there is entertainment, and it's fun to watch some of the same
kids grow from year to year both physically and musically.




Sometimes people are so moved that they break into dance...




This girl reminded me of a porcelain doll.




Perhaps she was amused by the fire eater?
(kids DO NOT try this at home, or anywhere for that matter)

I wonder if he realizes there were turkey legs and corn dogs just up the street?




I can never get enough of the costumes. I've always wanted to dress up, but the dress I saw and fell
in love with was over $500!



Sometimes, people will just stop when they see you have a camera and strike a pose.




This cutie, stole my heart and he was getting a lot of tips! I wonder
if he needs an agent next year? ;)


(KK happy heart)

And it wouldn't be Dickens on The Strand without the "Christmas Tree Lady"...
Joy to the world, she has real working lights!


Or Father Christmas, or Captain Sparrow. But, I never caught up with Father
Christmas, and I was having camera malfunctions through out the day and missed the
opportunity with Captain Sparrow. Yep, the dreaded ERR message on my only 5 month 
old camera which I thought I figured out, only to have issues again. May need to send it
to Nikon - BOO!!

(I still have more to share, including the "Queen's" parade, later in the week.)

I would tell you that my tree is finished, but that would be a lie. It's been up for quite some
time, but I just haven't brought myself to wrap those lights. The way I look at it is, we are still way ahead of last year when I got the tree done a day and a half before Christmas because I was sick. But...on the plus side we are for the most part finished with shopping. Two hours, and the hubby and I pretty much had things wrapped up (pun intended).

Unfortunately, my son ended up with the flu and missed school all last week, and then got an acute respiratory infection. Yep, I was a little more than nervous about that since his infusions suppress his immune system and we have to be extremely careful. But he was back at school yesterday, and the best part is we are well past the period that the rest of us could have gotten it. (quick knock on wood)

Now I'm off to make another batch of fudge since the last one was commandeered by ants.
Don't even get me started. We've tried everything and they are so small that they find a way
in the house every time. Hmmm, maybe I could lace some bait fudge with ex-lax? lol

Have a great day!
Love, Kim








Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Christmas light fun . . .


 
(KK Waterfront7_magic)


This past weekend we went to the Festival of Lights and I threw all the rules right 
out the window.

Just pure magical fun!

I'm sharing the results of my fun today over at Focusing on Life and would
love for you all to join me!

Make it a fun day!
Love, Kim






Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...