A glorious morning to you! Happy Monday and all of that. Ms. Kate and I are home and are back in the routine of being us. We got home Saturday afternoon; got the car unloaded and most everything put away. Yesterday we simply crashed and burned and still managed to do four loads of laundry, and pick up all of the branches and twigs that had blown down while we were gone. I also got the buffet refilled and the guests are plentiful this morning.

I had been worried that we would run into bad weather as we traveled home but we had perfect travel weather and dodged all of the storms both ways on this trip. I give thanks to God for our safe travels.

As I set here this morning it has begun to snow and the grass and bushes are turning white. Of course that also means that the bed for of daffodils are getting fresh white coats this morning. But, this band of snow is a narrow band and it will be followed by rain. So what ever is out there will be washed away. The pussy willow tree outside my sunporch has a bevy of visitors at the backyard buffet. Most noticeable though are the six or more cardinals and a pair of bluebirds. I'm thrilled that there is a pair of bluebirds and I hope they take up residence in the bluebird house hanging on the tree out there. That would be fantastic.

Our vacation was wonderful. It was very relaxing and we did little more than just relax. Sitting on the balcony of our room and watching the waves come in and hearing them crash on to the beach was a nice hypnotic sound and sight. We had some reaally great sea food and we also went to a botanical gardens in Vero Beach. It was fantastic. It wasn't huge, (18 acres) but the flowers were magnificent. The paths were wide and smooth and there were a lot of benches that a person could just sit and meditate. It wasn't crowded at all and the people that were there were quiet. It made for a very pleasant experience. It is just so overwhelming to sit and look at the intricacy of God's handiwork. All of the different kinds of foliage, and the vast array of colors of the flowers and the birds that were there can certainly make a person feel humble in the presence of God and God's handiwork.

But --- it is wonderful to be back home too. As much as we love to travel, --- there is no place like home. That's why I'm sitting here enjoying the cardinals, and the bluebirds, and the snow flakes, ---- and that silly robin; --- taking a bath in the middle of a snowfall. Have a blessed day.