❝ Chestnuts roasting by an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose…❞

And for those like me who are enamored by birds, but don’t know what the hell they are, give the WhatBird site a try – It will blow your mind!

There is a beautiful, Walt Disney-like tree in my mother’s long and narrow city-suburban hybrid of a backyard. It towers our home and all the others around it at a staggering (and approximate) seventy-five feet. The trunk is roughly eight feet wide and about ten feet high. The leaves morph from green to a purple-ish hue. It is a challenge of a climb. It’s a Copper Beech; a very rare find in New England. There are theories that this species was brought over from Europe where it is naturally derived.

It’s a magical tree. I absolutely love it.

These shots are taken from last year’s archive. I didn’t have the heart to recreate them – I just love the colors in these. This Beech is currently budding. Looking at it one warm afternoon during last week’s stint of fabulous weather reminded me about these captures.

This is an older photo of my friend Danny from my solo road trip to Maryland last March. It was a snowy afternoon in which I caught him hiding behind some gargantuan bamboo bushels as we promenaded his new stomping grounds.

I’ve been ridiculously busy this holiday season. The holidays were warm and welcoming and on top of that I just accepted a new full-time position AND a new apartment! Phew! It’s been a friggen’ roller coaster ride and I’m peachy keen about all of it. I hope everyone kickin’ back right now had a wonderful holiday and I wish you all to have a fantastic New Years’.

Now bring on the snow!

Christmas is not in tinsel and lights and outward show. The secret lies in an inner glow. It’s lighting a fire inside the heart. Good will and joy a vital part. It’s higher thought and a greater plan. It’s glorious dream in the soul of man.

This holiday season has been more hectic than usual, but deep down I really do love Christmas time. The previous quote sums up all my reasons precisely, although I must admit, I tend to find joy in the lights and show as well (obviously). Furthermore, I do deduce that gift-giving might be slightly overrated and we should just eat another gigantic, swell-tasting turkey instead. Just a suggestion!

This ridiculously colorful photograph was taken on the New Haven Green on a rather chilly night from the bottom of a mammoth Christmas tree.

My coworker’s baby, Max, is probably the only toddler I consider eye candy. He is cutest, chubbiest, most adorable thing I have ever seen. She requested I take some shots of him for a little Christmas card spirit. Max was quite the good model – it wasn’t hard with that face! He was soon overtaken by crankiness as we began to breach upon his coveted nap time.

The pup, Austin, swiftly intervened early on, securing that his fluffiness was a spotlight of the holidays as well.