It’s a good thing we didn’t plan to eat outside on the deck tonight. Can you believe this???

The wind is blowing, it’s 17 degrees F and more snow is expected throughout the day. Yes, winter still rules.

More photos to come later after I am brave enough to venture outside well bundled up!

P.S. Just a note on the photo in my last post. I did have one person ask just what the tree was reflected in. It was my wine glass filled with white wine, of course! Purely a happy accident that the glass, which was sitting on the stand next to the couch, happened to capture the tree’s reflection.

Even though we’d had a few nice days over the past week, it’s obvious it’s still winter. Over the past few days we’ve been below the freezing mark again and nights have dipped down to the teens. A cold, blustery wind has been blowing, dropping the “real feel” temperatures by ten or more degrees. Yep, still winter.

My spring bulbs are still waiting to break ground. Tree buds are still tightly closed and hard.

The bear who has picked him or herself a prime hibernation spot is still fast asleep in my neighbor’s tool storage trailer. They fondly refer to it as their security guard.

All signs that say winter still has its icy grip on New Jersey.

I am longing to throw open the windows and hear birdsong. Have the spring breeze bring the smell of wakening earth into the house. Go outside without a coat. Wear sandals and sling-back shoes again. Roll back the pool cover and gaze into its blue depths. Alas, those things are not possible. Not quite yet.

But, wait. Something is happening. Look what I found this morning in the boggy part of the woods in our yard.

The skunk cabbage seems to think spring is not far away after all!

It was a scene worth photographing this morning as the sun broke through the trees, casting long shadows. There was a little early morning fog and the trees glistened with the moisture they received during the night. I love shadows in the morning.

As it turns out, the bright morning sun made for some perfect kitty shadows as well. eBay loves it when the shadows come out to play. She’ll sit and wait for someone to walk by, hoping that someone will play shadows with her. Who could resist?

She knows it’s just my hand, but pretends she doesn’t know, if you get my drift.

There always comes a point in the game where she decides to let me know that she knows exactly what is going on here.

C’mon mom, I know it’s you!

Our vacation seems like only a dream now. We’ve been home almost two weeks and already the sweet memories of tropical breezes and white sand are fading away.

Like I’ve mentioned before, the resort we stayed at was wonderful. Pampering. Gorgeous. Great food. Lovely location. Here are some photos from around the resort.

I start with the entrance and main reception area. Lots of marble!

Our room.

Some scenes from around the grounds.

Below: one of the seven pools (this one had a swim-up bar) alongside one of the restaurants.

The outdoor eating area of the Mexican restaurant.

The spa where we treated ourselves to a pampering treatment one morning. Very, very Zen.

One of the outdoor bars where our little group tended to collect.

There were many Mayan statues like this one.

And this one.

According to hubby Rick, this one is giving what is construed as a rude gesture in Brit speak. How about it folks across the pond: true?

It’s the little things things that make my day. This morning during my step aerobics class on the Wii Fit, my mom was right beside me. Well, her Mii was. I am so thankful that she made her own Mii and that our Wii came back from repairs with all our games and Miis intact. (That’s her in the green.)

The Wii system mixes up the Miis that you’ve stored plus other random Miis that it generates so you never know who is going to be working out with you. Today it just happened to be Mom.

Rock on, Mom. Rock on.