Wandering Star: Skywatch Friday

Happy New Year - happy new decade too! As usual it's a time for looking both forwards and backwards - reflecting on a year gone by, looking ahead to the year to come.

Como

Plans and dreams, hopes and prayers, it's all part of the scenery on new year's day. I'm the average human, hoping for good, preparing for whatever comes, who knows what the year holds in store? Probably the usual mix of good and bad, blessings and that which we must overcome in order to survive.

Soave

Part of my looking back includes an extraordinary trip in summer. My family lives far away, so I don't see them very often, and our own circumstances are such that we're financially challenged most of the time. In 2009 my parents and brothers pooled their frequent flyer miles to purchase tickets to get us to Switzerland, where my brother Richard now lives. He loaned us his car to go to Italy, just a hop, skip and a jump away. My love affair with Italy is ongoing, and the fire was stoked all over again by this visit.

Verona

When we got to Milan my brother Jamie and his friend hosted us and completely spoiled us. It would be impossible to overstate how generous and kind they all were in taking care of us, making this trip possible, and making it SO much fun. These Italian sky photos are all framed by amazing structures, Italy is something to behold, and these hot, humid skies smiled on us for the whole trip.

Piazza San Marco, Venice

I'm thankful for a year of wonders, and looking forward to the year to come. Last night we looked out on a HUGE full moon, a blue moon as it happens, but I'm not even going to attempt capturing night skies on camera. To see what other skywatchers find when they look up and out, check out Skywatch Friday. Happy New Year everyone. Here it comes - ready or not!