Synchronized umbrella twirling?

If it were snowing where I live, I would be outside doing this, right now.  I wonder what the comparable activity to do in the rain would be?  Ideas?

Snow Drawings by Sonja Hinrichsen, found via Colossal

Touring in my own town: Art

Castro Valley is also home to the very charming Japanese Gardens, where all of the trees resemble Edward Scissorhands' handy work.  (See above.)  I always thought the gardens were technically in Hayward, because they are near the ambiguous zig-zaggy border between CV and Hayward.  But, according to Google Maps (THE authority on all things location), the gardens are in 94546.  Take that, Hayward!

Such a peaceful setting.  Birds chirping, water falling, and if you look very, very closely below, you may see the little turtle sunning himself in front of the mini-pagoda statue.

There are numerous rock "seating areas", perfect for one or two, secluded from the paths.  Ideal for quiet reflection, observing, or picnicking.

 
And there are Koi swimming about!  Huge koi.  I threw all those coins in the pond so you'd have points of reference.  ;]

And, a little color in the winter is always welcome!

Besides landscape art, Castro Valley houses the Adobe Art Gallery, which shamefully, I've never been to.  AND, I recently discovered some delightful street art in CV.  No, you did not misread that last statement.  I will show you soon.  Street art is one of my favorite things, though, and it deserves its own week's worth of posts.  At least.  Watch out—We hope for more could become a niche blog after all. We hope for more [art].  ;]

Dear Global Winter Wonderland,

You are equal parts creepy,

(the snowman, not my darling pal, Grayce)

bizarre,

blue fox with a beak (?) kickin' it @ "your favorite childhood shoe house"

perplexing,

bikini-clad woman guarding pirate ship with gun + sword

adorable,

how happy does Santa look to deliver those TWO packages to the boys + girls of the world?!

 kawaii,

libra + gemini

 and genius!

I mean, WHO would've thought to include dinosaurs in the mix with other traditional Winter Wonderland fare?  Not I, Global Winter Wonderland, not I.  You are awesome, and I thank you for an evening of pure entertainment.  Consider yourself added to the illustrious list of activities that get me feeling all Christmassy.  Cheers! 

xoxo,

Sarah

Coutdown within a countdown within a countdown

Top 5 activities that'll get me in the Christmas spirit, even when it's 65˚ here in sunshiney Northern California:

5. Listening to Christmas music
4. Viewing strings of lights festooning homes
3. Baking cookies
2. Consuming peppermint-flavored anything
1. Watching my favorite Christmassy movies

Top 5 movies that are guaranteed to give me warm fuzzies:

5. Home Alone
4. Elf
3. Scrooged
2. A Charlie Brown Christmas
1. The Nightmare Before Christmas

Alternates that will suffice in a pinch if none of the above are available for viewing:

3. Edward Scissorhands
2. You've Got Mail
1. Watching Puss in Boots tell the story of "Santa Claws" about 27 times in succession 

I'll give you a cookie if you work the line, "I have shamed myself," casually and naturally into a conversation today.  Please include a transcript in the comments.  ;]

Tradition!

I recall forcing my mom to listen to Christmas with the Chipmunks, Volume 1 once or twice.*

*Or 8 times a day, 7 days a week, 4 weeks a year.  For approximately 13 years.  If she didn't want to hear it that much, she shouldn't have given me a boom box with auto reverse, right?  I still stand behind my DJing skillz.

Secular Christmas Goodness - a playlist

Since I gifted music to a complete stranger last week, I thought it only fair I should do the same for you.  I originally made this playlist in 2005 for my mom.*  But I listen to it every year because I think it's swell.  I hope it brings you warm fuzzies as you sip on hot chocolate and watch the yule log.  Or sip on wassail and wrap gifts.  Or sip on egg nog and dance! 

*Hence the Mariah Carey. Don't judge.  I stand behind my DJing skillz.
**Also of note: the original playlist included Rosemary Clooney's version of Rudolph, but playlist.com didn't have it.  Still!  Burl Ives is pretty classic, no?  I always loved how Sam the Snowman glided through the snow + left that little trail.  :]