Things I Learned in December

I’m linked up over at Chatting at the Sky, where a group of lovely women share what they’ve learned each month. Here’s what I learned this month….

That we have the best neighbors ever  We’ve lived next door to one another for several years now, each of us enjoying the privilege of escaping winter in upstate New York to enjoy the warmth of the Sunshine State.  I think we began appreciating each other because we didn’t invade each other’s privacy…it is close quarters, after all. Now though, as the months have turned into years, we’ve inched closer and closer into each other’s space and what a lovely space it is.  Our time together is pure delight.  There’s been laughter and tears, listening and being heard, sharing and caring. The joy and entertainment of time spent with these marvelous people is creating a tapestry of memories we will cherish for a lifetime. Our other neighbors are more recent but have already found their way into our hearts. We are looking forward to many years of cherished times spent together, and we are thankful for these neighbors of ours every single day.

That I have a new respect for photographers  Since I’ve been participating in my Mark 4:30 Photo-a-Day challenge, I’ve been inspired not only from the fact that it keeps God’s Word in my mind daily, but a few of the photos I’ve taken as a result of those daily scripture prompts have been an inspiration in themselves.  I’m finding that my right-brain is kicking into gear a bit more with this daily photo taking so I decided to experiment some more with photography and bought a DSLR camera.  Ever since I got it out of the box I’ve realized why there are all those “For Dummies” books.  It’s not often that I feel completely stupid, but this world of cameras and photography has succeeded in doing just that. Maybe next month my “What I Learned” list will be filled with my new-found knowledge and my photos will be incredible… but for now let’s just say that this new camera has given a whole new meaning to photo challenge.

That I need to stop apologizing for my taste in decorating  For the holidays our city’s historic district hosts a candlelight tour of homes allowing the public a rare chance to peak inside some of the most charming and elaborate residences of this exclusive neighborhood. As in any home, the décor in each was unique, a reflection of the owner’s personal style.  Each one was simply amazing in its own way, but when I walked into one particular home I literally sighed out loud…throughout the whole entire house.  Room after room decorated in the same exact color palette….beiges and taupes, creams and browns. My taste exactly! For years I’ve felt bland and boring that I am drawn to this monochromatic style. Even the dictionary defines it as “lacking in variety, monotonous”.  But during this tour there were other people oohing and ahhing too.  What can I say….it helped me.  It’s silly, I know, but I’ve finally settled it…there’s nothing wrong with me and I’m done apologizing for my preferences.

About two new salads to try at home  Oh my, these salads are incredible.  The first is the under 600 calorie Quinoa Arugula Salad at California Pizza Kitchen Ingredients: quinoa, arugula, red onions, sun dried tomatoes, asparagus, feta cheese and pine nuts.  Equally delicious is the Sweet Cranberry and Walnut Salad at Moon Under Water in downtown St.Petersburg  Ingredients: cranberries, walnuts, tomato, cucumber, red onion and crumbled blue cheese served over mixed greens with a maple vinaigrette.  I’ve tried the Quinoa salad but have yet to perfect a dressing that compares with the original, and the ingredients for the Sweet Cranberry and Walnut salad are in the fridge.  I’m excited to be excited about salad after all the holiday eating I’ve done!

About my new favorite outdoor eating spot  If you’re in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area make sure to visit downtown St. Petersburg.  You’ll quickly become a member of the I Love the ‘Burg fan club.  With shopping, dining, museums, cafés, historic hotels, year round events, and stunning waterfront views there’s something for everyone to enjoy.  Recently we discovered The Canopy, a marvelous spot to enjoy a breezy, balmy Florida evening overlooking Beach Drive and the waterfront district of this charming area. Perched atop The Birchwood, a restaurant where we joined friends for Thanksgiving dinner, this stunning open-air gathering spot is perfect for relaxation and conversation. It has officially been added to the list of places we will be taking every single guest who visits us in Florida during the winter months.