*sparkle* & *lights*

after totally bailing on Halloween this year (didn't even carve a pumpkin - and it felt great.), i was happy to discover that i had purchased some sparkly things on the post-Christmas sales last year.  our city is known for its lighted balls, and it only seemed fitting that we offer a small contribution in the form of these oversized ornaments on one of the little dogwoods in front of our house.  youngest declared it closely resembles Charlie Brown's tree.  good.  that's exactly what i was going for.  that and lots of sparkles.

~ they seem to be objects of perpetual motion ~

 

 *sparkle*

and, to add some LIGHT to our SPARKLE, we went downtown tonight to the Festival of Lights.  we've been going to this festival since its first sparse years when it was primarily a small sidewalk gig.  in recent years, streets are closed, parking is tight, and throngs of holiday-makers pour into downtown to stroll around with red antlers on their heads advertising the local newspaper.

UNCG art student and her time travel booth ~ sending postcards to your future self

 the Amtrak passenger train on its way up to NYC

 

hibernating Elsewhere

holiday french horns

~ there are lots of great doorways downtown

here's one of my favorites ~

green bean's upstairs neighbor

 a lightbulb moment

outside Scuppernong

my toes were properly numb from the cold

by the end of our trek up & down Elm Street.

'tis the season!