At the potluck brunch this morning for which I prepared the fruit plate mentioned in my last post, our hostess had decorated so beautifully for the holiday. The house had decor including several arrangements with perfect red roses that she had made herself. As a long-time garden club member, no wonder she did such a beautiful job. I loved the idea of red roses for Christmas.

Visit Macro Flowers Saturday, Today’s Flowers, and Color Carnival for more interesting photos with a theme.

And as usual, if there’s only one photo showing below, click on Sara’s Fave Photos, here or above, for the complete blog with the latest posts.

The U.S. Pacific Northwest has an interesting climate. Even though it’s quite far north, the ocean currents and the large amount of straits, bays, inlets, rivers and other water features gives us quite temperate weather, although mostly cloudy. The temperatures vary here less than any other place I have ever lived. We are lucky that certain broadleaf evergreens like the holly tree flourish here.

This large tree in my neighborhood, perhaps 5 or even 10 yards/meters tall, has wonderful berries, but I noticed that they begin fairly high up. I am pretty sure that is due to people helping themselves to these very attractive holiday decorations. I was tempted.

Visit Ruby Tuesday for more splashes of red, Outdoor Wednesday, Scenic Sunday and SOOC for more straight-out-of-the-camera shots. If the berries is the only photo here, click on Sara’s Fave Photos for more.

Here’s some early Christmas decoration for you. I’m not sure if these are holly berries or what, but they sure are pretty, aren’t they? They were at the Pike Place Market in Seattle not too long ago.

Visit Ruby Tuesday and Color Carnival for more colorful photos. SOOC has more straight-out-of-the camera shots, too. Outdoor Wednesday is showing Xmas decor, indoors and out. And if you see only this one photo here, please click on Sara’s Fave Photos for the complete blog with lots more photos you might like.

I know Christmas is over, but just one more photo of lights, and then I promise I’ll stop. My new camera, the Canon S90, is especially good in low light so I had to see what it could do handheld with holiday lights. This fired at 1/60th of a second, which is great for a night shot, even one with lights.

I truly love this candycane archway and would love to have something like it. It was very tall, and felt so cheerful and welcoming. Where do people get stuff like this?

For more photos with some ruby redness, visit Ruby Tuesday.

I do love Santa the best, but Frosty is my second fave holiday personage. Something so delightful about him; I just can’t explain. Perhaps his rotund shape, and now that I think about it, Santa qualifies there, too. In any case, one of those houses near me that go all out with Christmas lights and decor featured this Frosty who doffs his hat repeatedly for you. Nice!

This week’s Thursday Challenge is Lights, and a very perfect subject it is. Merry everything to you!

It’s almost time for presents! Don’t you just want to open every single one? I do. Have a happy Ruby Tuesday, all. Santa’s coming SOON!

These were taken a couple of years ago in the town of Redondo, south of Des Moines, half an hour or so south of Seattle. This one street just goes all out, collecting food for a food bank and everything. I love the lights. Nothing makes me feel like an enchanted child like Christmas lights sparkling in the nighttime.

You can see more Window and Doors here, and have a very merry time doing so. Try Color Carnival for more brilliant colors, too.

Today is the final day for voting on the Photoblog Awards for 2009. If you like the photos on this blog, please vote for it today by clicking in the link below. You have to register (name and password only) and then click on the word Vote in the upper left. Thanks very much! Photoblog Awards 2009.

Today’s weather was in the high 40s at least, so I was able to be out in the garden pulling weeds, which I actually enjoy doing. I thought I’d show a snow photo from December as a bit of contrast. Snow could happen again, of course, but we wouldn’t have the pretty Christmas lights if it did. And I know they’re not really shadows, but so pretty anyway I thought I might get away with it as a shadow post.

For more real shadows, extremely artistically photographed, click HERE.

I know I should save one for next week but I can’t resist. I love these photos, taken at a party on Sunday. Hope you enjoy them. The cake was at least as delicious as it looked. Not too sweet, with four layers of chocolate cake with nuts and cherries inside, just whipped cream on the outside, and the holly leaves handmade from white chocolate. I think it’s one of the best cakes I ever ate.

For more photos with the color red, click HERE.