Happy New Year! Here’s to a fabulous 2016 for us all.

Forest path, with sunlight. Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Welcome to 2016!

Linking with Our World Tuesday, Wednesday Around the World (WATW), Outdoor Wednesday, Photo Friday, Friday Greens, Pink Saturday, Scenic Weekends, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, and Saturday Show Off. Thank you for visiting here and hope to see you again very soon.

The dark days still have some beauty in the Pacific Northwest.

Cloudscape from view point in Normandy Park, Washington

Joining Our World Tuesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Wednesday Around the World (WATW), Water World Wednesday, Wednesday Waters, Skywatch Friday, Photo Friday, Scenic Weekends, Weekend Reflections, Pink Saturday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, and Saturday Show Off. If there is only one photo showing here, please click on the curly letters of Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above to see a few more. Thanks!

Sometimes this time of year makes me dip into the sunshine archives. From the other side of the year, in my front yard:

Light pink lavender plant, and purple lavender plant, in the rose garden

Linking up with Our World Tuesday, Monday Mellow Yellows, Ruby Tuesday 2, Wednesday Around the World (WATW), Outdoor Wednesday, Floral Friday, Photo Friday, Today’s Flowers, Scenic Weekends, Pink Saturday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, and Saturday Show Off. Thank you for visiting here and hope to see you again very soon.

From my visit to the Cloisters in New York City last month, some birds singing.

The courtyard medicinal garden at the Cloisters in New York City

Linking with Our World Tuesday, Monday Mellow Yellows, Wednesday Around the World (WATW), Outdoor Wednesday, Skywatch Friday, Photo Friday, Orange You Glad It’s Friday, Pink Saturday, Scenic Weekends, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, and Saturday Show Off. Thank you for visiting here and hope to see you again very soon.

May your days be merry and bright…

Candle ornament decorates a Christmas tree

Linking up with Our World Tuesday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, Monday Mellow Yellows, Ruby Tuesday 2, Wednesday Around the World (WATW), Photo Friday, Pink Saturday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, and Saturday Show Off. If there is only one photo showing here, please click on the Sara’s Fave Photos Blog letters above for a few more. Thanks and see you again soon!

The Pacific Northwest grows holly very well. Christmas in the landscape!

Holly with red berries growing

Linking up with Our World Tuesday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Wednesday Around the World (WATW), Outdoor Wednesday, Floral Friday, Photo Friday, Pink Saturday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, and Saturday Show Off. Thank you for visiting here and hope to see you again very soon.

This rose is from the OTHER solstice, the summer one, but I show it with a nod to our Down Under friends. For us in the throes of darkness in the Northern Hemisphere, here is an image to remind us that as the earth tips tonight, it is bringing us ever closer to the light.

Peace rose against a blue sky at the Summer Solstice

Linking with Our World Tuesday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, Monday Mellow Yellows, Wednesday Around the World (WATW), Outdoor Wednesday, Skywatch Friday, Floral Friday, Photo Friday, Today’s Flowers, Pink Saturday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, and Saturday Show Off. Thank you for visiting here and hope to see you again very soon.

The solstice is very soon. All the lights!

Graceful crystal chadelier lights up the night

Connecting with Our World Tuesday, Monday Mellow Yellows, Wednesday Around the World (WATW), Thursday Challenge (Glass), Photo Friday, Pink Saturday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, and Saturday Show Off. If there is only one photo showing here, please click on the Sara’s Fave Photos Blog letters above for a few more.

Another nod to the nearness of the Solstice. This dahlia is like the sun, is it not?

Dahlia with pointy petals, red to orange with yellow tips.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, Monday Mellow Yellows, Ruby Tuesday 2, Wednesday Around the World (WATW), Floral Friday, Photo Friday, Orange You Glad It’s Friday, Today’s Flowers, Pink Saturday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, and Saturday Show Off. Thank you for visiting here and hope to see you again very soon.

The nights are long but the day always returns. We’re almost at the Solstice!

Vista point overlooking Puget Sound on a winter afternoon

Connecting with Our World Tuesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Wednesday Around the World (WATW), Water World Wednesday, Wednesday Waters, Skywatch Friday, Photo Friday, Orange You Glad It’s Friday, Scenic Weekends, Pink Saturday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, and Saturday Show Off. If there is only one photo showing here, please click on the curly letters of Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above to see a few more. Thanks!