Happy February!

January has been a rough month around here. Cold and snowy and looong! Glad it's over! I posted these pictures on Facebook, and thought I would put them up here as well.

The picture above is of my snowy front yard. We had 7 inches of snow on 1-28-2010! The tracks were left by my little wire hair, Midgie. And although some of it has melted, there is still a lot of snow out there! Greg will be clearing my driveway today. He is such a blessing to me!

This is my little pond. My view when I sit at my laptop in the sun room. Thirsty birds and beasts around here use it a lot. This morning it's frozen, but the sunshine will melt the edges, a little later today.

I walked up to my gravel road, a 200 foot trek from the house, to take a picture of all the snow, and was surprised to see it had been plowed! That was great news to me. It meant I could get out sooner than I thought. I have lived here since 1987, and had never seen this road plowed! Of course, we usually don't get this much snow, either.

I hope you're all doing well in your neck of the woods. Happy February. Spring will be here soon! I hope!



Blessings from the woods!

No Snow in My Neighborhood, and Other Things.

I took a couple of pictures yesterday. This is the gravel road I live on, and as you can see, we have no snow in my neighborhood. Thank goodness for that. And the temperatures this past week have been moderate. Of course, all that will change tonight, when the Alberta Clipper arrives in the woods. But today will be in the low 40s, and I will be heading to town, and to the Chinese Buffet. Might as well enjoy the day, before the deep freeze settles in for the next couple of days.


Yesterday was a frustrating day, to say the least. Blogger suddenly refused to recognize my password. I couldn't get to my Dashboard. It told me I had no account. Huh? All this transpired when friend Patti made her blog private, and sent me an invitation to be able to view it. But, Blogger would not honor that invitation and denied me access to her blog. Finally, it was all straightened out, but not before I had to reset my password. Now I have to make sure I will not forget it. Anyone else ever have this problem?

Here is my little pond, taken from the window in my little sun room. This is my view as I sit at my laptop. Yesterday, a Great Blue Heron landed on the far side, and Felix, who was outside, started walking towards it bravely. That bird was much bigger than Felix, but it took off when it saw the cat! I have tried taking a picture of the heron several times, but he flies off as soon as he sees me. He is a beauty!

And here is a picture of my little pond taken from the field. It is primarily a wild life pond, providing water for birds and beasts all year round. By tonight, when the temperatures drop to single digits, the pond will freeze, which means that cats will have to stay indoors for a few days. Can't have another episode of falling through the ice, and having to be rescued by me!

Thank you for reading. I hope you all stay safe and warm, whatever part of the country or world you're in, friends. And if you're one of the lucky ones, living in warmer parts, send some of that warm air my way!

Blessings from the woods!

Sunshine and Ice!

The relentless bitter cold finally moved out, and the temperatures moderated today. The sun shone brightly, and we reached a balmy 43 degrees! I spent the better part of the afternoon outdoors, be bopping around in the field and woods.
The pond from the distance looked dark, even in the sunshine.


A closer look revealed a thick layer of ice, that finally started to melt around the edges by late afternoon.

My little shadow, Orie (Oreo) followed me around faithfully. She seemed to enjoy being outdoors as much as I did. The two dogs enjoyed it as well, but they took off for the woods, following the exciting scents that the woods provide.

I really enjoyed being outdoors today. Tomorrow, we're supposed to reach the upper fifties, but along with the warmer temperatures some rain is in the forecast for Monday night. I'll take it! Who cares if more snow is in the forecast later next week. I'm enjoying a taste of spring for now!

I hope it's warmer where you are as well.

Have a blessed week, everyone.

BRRRRRRRR! And Some Chicken Soup to Warm Me!

The New Year arrived to remind us in my area, that it's winter!
"Baby, it's cold outside!"
Fifteen degrees with a wind-chill of zero but no precipitation. Brrr! The good news is, by the weekend we'll be back in the upper fifties and even sixties.

Some Chicken Soup arrived for the new year as well, and although "fowl" is not supposed to be on the menu on New Years Eve or Day, this "chicken soup" was very welcome. My contributing author's copy of "Chicken Soup for the Soul Celebrating People Who Make a Difference: The Headlines You’ll Never Read," looks great, and the stories in it are wonderful. It will be in the book stores in February.

My inspirational little piece also made it into the January issue of True Confession. It's in their "That's Incredible" department. The buzz went around about it in our grocery store, and some of the guys that work in there told me it sold out really quickly! LOL. Even Bob, the stock guy, bought a copy, but told me not to tell anyone. LOL. So I'll have to wait for my copy to arrive in the mail in a month or so.

And a check arrived in the mail as well, from Dave Bordon of Bordon Books, for the "Best Dad in the World" book, which will be released just before Father's Day 2008. Usually, the contributing writers get their checks when the book comes out, but he surprised us all with an early check! Thank you, Mr.Bordon!

So, the year 2008 has begun on a good note for me. They say what you do on the first day of the year, you will do all year. I went out to dinner with friends. Par for the course, for a "social butterfly." Tee-Hee.

My writing has become sporadic though. There are too many other things at this point in my life, that I want to do and enjoy. My daughter says I've become a social butterfly, nowadays, and so I have. Being with family, friends, enjoying simple things bring me much pleasure; they are joys of life that I want to enjoy more fully now.

This poem made an impression on me:

Otherwise
By Jane Kenyon

I got out of bed
on two strong legs.
It might have been otherwise. I ate cereal, sweet
milk, ripe, flawless peach. It might
have been otherwise.
I took a dog uphill
to the birch wood.
All morning did
the work I love.

At noon I lay down
with my man. It might
have been otherwise.
We ate dinner together
at a table with silver
candlesticks. It might
have been otherwise.
I slept in a bed
in a room with paintings
on the walls, and
planned another day
just like this day.
But one day, I know,
it will be otherwise.

(The poet Jane Kenyon died at the age of 45 of leukemia.)

So, in the new year of 2008, my main goal is to be thankful and enjoy my blessings. As for resolutions, they are the same as last year: to be the best Mom I can be to my "human" kids and "furry" kids as well, the best Nana to my grandchildren, the best friend to my dear friends, and a good all around person.

I hope all of you reach your goals in the new year, whether they be lofty or more simple, like mine, and if you made any resolutions, good luck on keeping them.


Happy New Year!