Sunset: the sky is on fire

It was a run-and-get-the-camera-quick-before-it-disappears-forever kind of sunset.

The snow has all been washed away by yesterday's rain: mild day today, but winter is on its way back.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Bella wishes every one of you a Very Merry Christmas... from the comfort of her new bed!

May your days be full of health and happiness, fun and family. May the New Year bring you good things!

Cold and sunny morning

This is what I call "ice blue".

Winter sunset, Mastic Beach

Sun setting on December 22nd, 2009, snow still piled high from the blizzard.

Little Red Riding Hood/Wolf

It keeps her warm in the snow and ice. Custom-made by WarmWags.

The swans are breaking the thin layer of ice on the creek

Sunrise: beautiful, as always

Winter sunset

Snow. Free. Come and get it.

Cold and white and beautiful.

Snowshoes needed. Where are my tennis rackets?

Oooops!

Not the first to go in there and probably not the last... but maybe the coldest and nastiest day to do it with the longest wait to get out again. I think the driver and his mate were sitting and waiting in the truck for about three hours before the yellow bulldozer came to rescue them.

Everyone.. if you cut the corner at the south end of Park Drive, the ditch gets you. OK?

Mastic Beach: we live in a beautiful place

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Ever wonder where a Great Dane will sleep during the day, given the choice?

... on the leopard chaise longue, of course!

Getaway cottage in the heart of it all! All for 159K$!!!

This cute cottage is ready for you to move into--you don't need to do a thing! Located minutes from Long Island's beautiful ocean beaches, and by road too: no need to wait for ferries or water taxis, just take the car and within minutes you can be at Cupsogue or Smith Point beaches.

With easy access to both Sunrise Highway and the Long Island Expressway, you will be able to head east to Montauk or the Hamptons, or west to Manhattan and the international airports, with ease. But you'll want to head for main street, Center Moriches, to explore the cute shops and dine at the variety of restaurants. Take a look at some of the local businesses. Walk through the shark's jaws for fish and chips!

The cottage's kitchen is newly refurbished, and ready for you to prepare your weekend meals.

Beautiful hardwood floors in the living room shine like the summer sun that you will enjoy in Center Moriches. What better than relaxing here after a day on the beach or boat, or hiking in the Fire Island Wilderness?

And to top it all, you'll have a lot of property to enjoy! Imagine the barbeques and fun to be had here in your own fenced property! Plenty of room for expansion!

NOTE: This is a short sale and price is subject to bank approval. MLS #2240896

Alison Toon, Licensed Real Estate Salesperson, Century 21 Sparrow Realty

Results of "Christmas shopping" trip

I did intend to go Christmas shopping, honestly. Struggled through traffic jams on Sunday. Ended up going to Medford and taking a quick detour to Wood Kingdom to check out their sheds... and this one was just sitting there, waiting for me! It is the exact colour that I plan to paint the ground floor of the house. And it was the right size, the right price, and they could deliver it this week.

Sorry kids, I spent the Christmas money on the shed. (Kidding... I maxed out the credit card instead.)

It arrived early this morning on a trailer behind a large pickup truck.

Neighbours: at some point in the spring the house colours will match the shed. Sorry if they clash for a while. And the back of the shed will look nice very soon!

Who'd have thought a simple garden shed could make someone so happy. Now I'll have to find something else to rant about.

Sunshine after the storm

Huge rainstorm this early-morning and morning: snow fell in New Jersey, but here on Long Island it was just rain, and lots of it, hurtling parallel to the ground. (If it snowed, it did so when it was dark--though the noise woke me before 4 a.m. I really didn't want to look outside).

Now we have some afternoon sun... reflecting on the tidal water that is now covering the wetlands and parts of the street. Bella had a short paddle instead of a long walk.

Silver sunrise

Another beautiful sunrise. The swans were silver, reflected on a mirror-bay.

If you still think mute swans are silent, come and hear them chattering early in the morning as they breakfast in the shallows.

A few days ago

... it was calm and sunny and just-like-this. It is not like this right now!

Muffin is a basket case

She is telling us winter is here--it's the only time she sleeps in her basket. And yes Jade, she DOES fit!

Park Drive gingerbread

Over the past year, several of the houses on Park Drive have become homes to young people who seem to be spending all of their weekends and evenings making their homes nicer places to be, carpentry and yardwork and everything else. And now as winter draws in, Park Drive is lit up with pretty lights as old and new homeowners add their decorations.

It is like a street of gingerbread houses!

And it goes to show that everyone doing their bit in their own small corner makes a huge difference to the community.

Now I must go out and find some new lights for the front yard... and replace the polar bear who lost his head last winter!

Sunrise House

I have decided to give my house a name.

It is now "Sunrise House", because no matter what the season, no matter the weather, the sunrise is always amazing. From the first hint of light through the silver and turquoise and orange and pink to the burning orb reflected on the water.

Just beautiful.

Mastic Beach Christmas Tree and Menorah lighting!

Sponsored by the MBPOA (Mastic Beach Property Owner's Association): the Christmas Tree will be lit on December 5th at 5 p.m, at the Gazebo on Neighborhood Road. Santa will be there! Bring the children!