We took a very early morning flight to Portland, and here we are, in the home of the S’s, a lovely, warm, welcoming home. LS’s mother, at 83, has flown in from Florida..she still looks so exquisitely beautiful. We just finished a late lunch and I am typing on the bridegroom-to-be’s laptop….Have to go and gift-wrap stuff now, and I am pretty glad that there is NO snow around here, however cold it is!

We are leaving for Maine (Christmas), Connecticut (wedding on the 29th) , and then California (KM’s entire family is getting together) , early tomorrow…don’t know how my internet access will be…so here’s wishing everyone a Merry Christmas with this spray of real holly, that I photographed just outside the St Louis Cathedral…

During our trip into the Meramec Caves, the guide switched on these lights…Photos: KM

Here’s a beautiful public illumination fixture that I photographed; those mythical animals are called griffons, or gryphons: