The Changing of the Lanterns

 Brain cancer is...

 ...replacing our paper lanterns.

More than a year ago, Mitra and David hung over our patio the paper lanterns that were important to the festive atmosphere welcoming the little person we all now know as Nova B.

Our lanterns started as pink and gray (see them new here).  They made us so happy that we decided to leave them up and watch them change over time.  It didn't take long for them to fade to white, a new kind of beauty (here).  

 

Many have come down in heavy winds, and the few remaining, as you see above, have done their festive duty for us.

 

We therefore one-click shopped a new batch to welcome the new year.

Nothing makes a space say "happy" like paper lanterns!

 

Many people in many traditions around the world celebrate with a festival of lights (as in here), so by celebrating our changing of the lanterns, we join a rich set of traditions.

 

Here's to the world's people and their beautiful traditions!

 

Today's Bloom

 

Our spathiphyllum (peace lily) is at it again.  At first we thought, "Oh, we have posted that a couple times in the past" and were about to look for a new bloom, but we decided that flowers that just keep blooming deserve a special shout out. 

We used a filter to see the lily through newly appreciative eyes.

Today's Planetary Convergence Photo

Birthday girl Melanie certainly knows how to celebrate.  Some nice people in San Clemente decorated the world's tallest tree for her (here). 

 

And, for the first time in 800 years, the planets of Jupiter and Saturn are converging at night (here)...just for her.    Melanie caught the planets converging tonight over the ocean.

Saturn and Jupiter are just below the palm tree.  The full "great conjunction" is tomorrow night.

Well, if anyone ever deserved the world's tallest tree and a rare planetary convergence, it's our sister Melanie.  Happy birthday, Sis.