Dars Stuffings

Sweet Williams

2012-02-13T07:13:00.002-06:00

I love all flowers for their immense beauty,

Most sweetly scented, but some downright offensive,

But one of my favorite blooms is still the

Nearly Un-scented Sweet William.

They simply surround you with their tiny eyes.

Their blooms can be seen from a distance if

They are sporting their spring jackets.

I'm not sure why

But I'm overwhelmed this morning.

My Sweet William is far from opening.

I await.

BlessYourHeart

Change, Anyone?

2012-02-11T12:18:00.004-06:00

The sun is shining,

but it's very cold outside.

The weatherman says it's going to feel like minus -30's today, with all of the wind. I believe he's right this time.

I'd rather just crawl back under the covers.

It also snowed again. Goodness Sake, already!

How about a bit of humor~~~lol!

Someone was visited by the tooth fairy!

Chop-Chop!

Have a fun weekend, wherever you go, whatever you do.

and

BlessYourHeart

In An Instant

2012-02-09T21:30:00.002-06:00

I am in awe at God's artistic hand,

for,

In an instant, sometimes before I can even grab the camera,

He creates such outstanding change,

Right before my eyes.

Just look at that gorgeous sky.

How can one not stop, gaze and say WOW!

Enjoy the miracle as I have

From an engaging fog to a stunning good-night.

I couldn't wait to share.

Good night all.

and

BlessYourHeart

Bare All

2012-02-08T09:55:00.002-06:00

I wonder!

I wonder if my succulents,

Succulents like these,

and these,

Will have survived~

Living here all winter,

Under the snow and ice on the

South side of the garage~~~

With another month's full moon,

Under the icy glare of moonlight,

Have they survived?

It doesn't seem possible, does it?

We will just have to wait until

Mid-May to see

If they found a way~~~

A way out from under the harsh elements of winter.

Thanks for stopping by on this chilly morn.

BlessYourHeart

A Gorgeous Weekend

2012-02-06T19:30:00.003-06:00

Nothing to complain about here.

No, not a thing.

It was a gorgeous weekend in northcentral WI.

The weather was fair., fog lifting over the field first thing in the morning with the sun rising behind the trees.

No complainin'.

Follow the lifting fog to see the trees frost before our eyes

as the day begins to warm, as warm as the low 40's above F.

It may get ' long on winter,'

but Jack Frost knows his way here to

remind us that there are warmer days ' a ' comin.'

The sun did shine for brief moments,

enough to show a few shadows during my walk.

My twin drove in for a visit.

I really think he stopped to see his nephew.

They used to work the same shift and they miss one another.

He was pretty impressed with the use for the auger, and no,

it's not just for fishing, anymore.

This lone oak leaf lay exposed in the snow.

This will broaden my walk and search in the spring.

I do not recall seeing an oak for at least a mile from here.

I'd like to strap on the snowshoes and follow this trail.

It is the one of the bobcats that we have been seeing.

I will wait for my man to come with me....soon,

before the trail melts away.

Difficult to see, but the bottom of these two tracks is that of the

Bobcat.

Click on any of the pictures for an up-close view.

Another track, that of a

Crow.

and, a deeply set

Deer track.

and even the wee

Mouse.

I love my warm weather winter walks.

When I returned, three of the GrandLoves and their Daddy,

were still hard at work,

digging a tunnel and fort.

Remember the auger? It's in my son's hand in the next two photos.

He uses it to dig through the snow, pulling it to the surface,

so much less digging the hard way. He's using the hand auger

with the little ones around, rather than the power auger.

It works like a charm.

Once the snow is loosened from it's packed hillside,

he rakes it out with the squeegee...anything to get the job done quickly,

cause~~~

even tho it feels like a heatwave to us northerners,

it's still ' frigid-aire ' out there.

After awhile, you get wet, playing this way, and then

the cold really sets in and it's cocoa time.

Of course, before the boys came in to warm up and dry their snow gear,

they still had to make the hill longer and higher. After all, there are now plans to make rooms and windows and otter slides.

I'm just so happy to see the tradition of outside winter playtime, being passed down another generation. Our son is reliving his childhood with his boys. He's remembering the days and weeks that he, his brothers and cousins spent doing the exact same thing. Only difference was, they never had to push more snow in piles.

There was always at least 5 ft. of it to dig in. We did not even have a foot of it this winter, but it didn't stop them from creating their own fun.

Awwww, Life is Good.

I just know you all had a wonderful weekend too.

Thanks for stopping by and

BlessYourHeart

Heat Wave Effects

2012-01-31T20:03:00.002-06:00

Finally, it looks like the meltdown is about to begin.

We had a heatwave today. It was all the way up to 44 degrees, yes, Fahrenheit.

We are seeing the beginning of the end of our long winter.

Oh, we don't allow ourselves to get too excited, for there will surely be at least one more blast of cold and certainly, more snow. But for today, I am very happy.

The sun was shining most the day, the birds were singing, even the neighbor's dog seemed to have more yip in her yelp.

Soon enough the cabin doors will be flung open, the windows raised and the fresh air will pour in reminding me to flip the mattresses, air the bedding, and fold the woolen blankets.

Wake up, wake up Dar, you're dreaming again.

Spring will not cover WI. for at least another month or so.

Silly girl, see what one day of Jan. Thaw can do. I don't care. I'm sticking with my story like the snow sticks to my mittens and teases me once again.

After the tracks are not so quickly visible, and not until the last crystal of ice melts from the waters,

THEN, and only THEN,

it will finally be time~~~

Time to hold the earth in my hands and plant spring.

Until then,

Thanks for stopping and reading to this point,

You're so kind.

and

BlessYourHeart

Good Food ? Good Intentions

2012-01-29T19:08:00.004-06:00

Take a moment and drink in the glorious Sunrise.

As gray as what the days have been, there is always hope of sun throughout the day when we wake to such a beautiful sunrise.

However, we also have grown old and wise to the sense of humor our Lord has.

That Nor'Wester Clipper that was predicted did come in. We may have risen to a pretty sky but we also woke to snow drifts, most of which had to be pushed aside off the driveway and

shoveled from the decks and the roof.

Our kitchen roof, though new by a couple years, has been giving us considerable grief. We had the problem before re-roofing, insulating and venting, but still, we have ice build up on the roofs edge, to melt back about 12 ft. during the thaw and dripping through the insulation, down the peak, through the ceiling, down the cabinet, inside and out, over the counter top and leaving an unpleasant water puddle on the floor. I cannot get used to stepping in that cold puddle first thing in the morning on my way to the coffee pot before even turning the lights on.

Do you see the ice sheet on the left side of the roof Bill is shoveling?

Why is this happening, and why only on that corner? (not that I want it on another corner, too~heaven forbid!)

As usual, the cold that followed the snow always screams for some comfort food. I can take care of that, so I rolled up some Enchiladas for supper last night.

There were some tortillas left over so I turned them into homemade chips. A little sprinkle of olive oil, cheddar and garlic seasoning and a sprinkle of basil and toast in the oven for about 5-6 min. til toasty.

They turned out pretty good. At least, they didn't last very long.

A couple nights a week and on the nights and weekends Andy has the boys, our son gets to do the cooking. Mind you, this is not by his choice but it's just his turn. Ya live here, ya share the duties.

Anyway, tonight was his turn and he made burgers sandwiches with garlic bread. It doesn't look that bad, right? Well, take a closer look.

What do you see all over the top of the stove?

and in the pan,

and on this side of the stove,

What? is this a new condiment on the counter?

In all fairness, the burgers were fixed just perfect. He did not annihilate them, and the garlic toast was awesome. It was from a package that already had the butter and seasonings on it but he toasted it perfect~~not a single burnt edge. Once assembled, all was a feast for the tastebuds, ( once one got past the 'greasy spoon' my kitchen became.)

Oh, another thing! Why is it that once the guys clean up the kitchen?, it has to be done again! I will save that for later, so as not to offend! :/)

Now, For some Chocolate---

Brownie anyone?

Awwww, what a beauty of a sunset.

I think it means I will sleep fairly tonight.

Surely, we will wake to another glorious sunrise.

LoveYa'll and

BlessYourHeart

A Warming Trend?

2012-01-28T10:19:00.003-06:00

There's a warming trend going on.

Or is there?

A couple days ago it was in the low 40's,

Late yesterday we had a Nor'wester

Sharing a rapid onset of snow, snow, flurries***

straight out of the northwest~~grrr,

and then cold again.

It's going to happen tho, I have no doubt.

It's going to begin to melt along with sunshine,

and bring the fruits of spring.

Bring it on [:D~[==;

See me smile with my crocked lil' neck,

slender body and flipped shoe?

~OK, sisters Mel, Cher & Colleen~

So at least I'm working on slenderizing my Body;)

Tain't easy to melt these pounds like spring thaw!

Have yourselves a playful weekend,

R & R for me. (After my walk)

BlessYourHeart

Anticipation, Acclimation, Accomplishment

2012-01-26T19:35:00.003-06:00

All day, at least several hours, anyway,

It took to boil off Pinto Beans for something good for the soul~~~

Bean Soup

Bean Soup with Pintos, Garbonzos, Tomatoes, Onions, Rich Tomato Broth, ~~~ mmmm,

So Good,

So worth the wait while the house smelled so healthy!

Another comfort food that is worth the wait is~

A simple grilled burger.

Do you buy in bulk? I do, when possible.

Tho, this time, my purchase was not budgeted in., but sometimes~

It's just too good to pass up.

With all of the wild game in the freezer, I seldom purchase good ol' ground beef, Angus yet!

Our son's order somehow was doubled, so rather than return it, he gave us and some friends a call and we all split up 160 lb's. of beautiful, fresh ground beef.

The best part was that it came in 5 lb. tubes that were partially frozen which made it so easy to cut down for packaging and~cut into burgers that fit my Burger Stackers just perfect.

Yes, we had burgers for supper with the Bean Soup.

I had also started another dehydrator full of apple slices but somehow, my picture got eaten. Blogger must like them too;) Oh, and a dozen hard boiled eggs for the boys for the fisheree this weekend.

End of Anticipation!!!

Have you ever had to Acclimate tropical fish and snails to an aquarium?

I got netted into this chore because I happened to be home when the package arrived. I did wonder just how they were going to ship fish in the dead of winter in WI. with all the snow and cold in the air.

They actually came in the warmest insulated foam container packed in packing peanuts and an insulated envelope that held a couple of heat pacs. It was toasty inside the box and the water the fish were in was as warm as the aquarium.

First and most important, was to close the blinds and turn off the aquarium light so as not to shock the little fresh water fish and crustaceans coming from the dark box they traveled in, into the big bright world they were about to embark.

To acclimate the Tetras, Snails and Shrimp, the bags they came in were first floated in the aquarium for 15 min., then opened, tops turned down to create an air pocket so they would continue to float. Precisely every 4 minutes, 1/2 cup of the aquarium water was poured into each bag, 5 times, discarding half the bagged water as it filled to the top. Finally they were netted out of their travel bags and into the aquarium that they now were acclimated to.

The light still had to remain off and the blinds closed for a total of 4 hours during this entire process. All I've got to say was, yeah, this is done with and what a ' welcome party ' these lil' creatures got.

Well, maybe except for 3 of the 6 shrimp who tried to end it all when they jumped from the net onto the floor instead of into the water.

They all survived, in spite of the tumble.

End of Acclimation!

Finally, but not the least of the day, I decided to take a quick picture for my inventory file of the a cute set I had finished.

The collar is knit in my favorite colors, Chocolate and Mint. ( had to get chocolate in this entry somewhere ).

The fingerless mitts are crocheted in matching colors. I tried them with my brown jacket~~~pretty cute. I wouldn't want to break my arm patting myself on my back for this set, but, by golly, I'm proud, especially of the knit collar. For any of you knit-wits out there, I take pride because my knitting experience never surpassed the stockinette stitch before. I know you understand my accomplishment.

And finally, this quick knit scarf, I whipped up one evening watching my favorite show, ~Chopped~( love Food Network )

This one is another keeper, as I've worn it all winter, however, I do plan on making a bunch more of these. I plan to share ~~~ here, there, everywhere.

This is the end of a day's Accomplishment!

Have a wonderful day.

I did.

BlessYourHeart

On the Lighter Side

2012-01-25T19:32:00.002-06:00

When will we see the end of the tunnel?

Now, I'm not talking about that snow tunnel that the GrandLoves are working on with their Dad, but the end to trials and tribulation?

One second things are good, sweet and lovely,

The next, we wonder, so what's next on the list?

I do declare, Sometimes I wish I were back in grade school and had not a care in the world. I would love just one day to be riddled with what color to paint the sky on a drawing, or whether to add an extra spoonful of sugar to my cereal.

To be perfectly honest with you, I do not know where this dribble is coming from.

All I know for sure is, I feel restless, distracted, dizzy. Heck, the whole family knows I'm dizzy!

Maybe that's it! Dizzy. I just got over with the flu, not even a bad case, but enough to make me dizzy. Dizzy enough to be asked, " What's Up, Chuck? "

I slept an entire day. I lost an entire day.

That's it, by golly. That has got to be it. I lost a day so now I feel like I missed something important.

Last week I spent 3 days down with my neck out of whack again. Now, I know I have to live with it unless I want to risk paralysis.

So that has got to be it. I missed a funeral that I most certainly should have attended, but it could not be helped.

I have not been able to be there for my own Mom lately, but my siblings are there when she needs them. That's such a good thing. I know they understand.

I did work her puzzle with her awhile today and we shared a laugh or two.

That's at least something.

I had been helping a neighbor friend with her grief and dealing with cancer.

It's stressful and painful for her, I know. I've seen what she goes through and this is her 3rd round. How much more can her tiny body handle, I wonder. I feel bad that I cannot be there for her right now, tho we talk often.

I am on one big pity party, so the buck stops here.

So~~~

On the lighter side....what's on your bucket list?

I have always wanted to sky-dive. That's not going to happen.

I once thought I could carry a tune well enough to sing country.

That's not exactly true.

I am going to see to it that my family does not have anything to worry about.

( Tho, I know there will always be trials and tribulation.)

All I really want is to see my family and friends happy and that they know who their ' Keeper ' really is, ( they know it surely is not me,). They will be OK.

It's another sleepy evening. Give me wings.

Nighty Night and

BlessYourHeart

Tunneling Fun

2012-01-24T10:32:00.005-06:00

A Snowy, above zero weekend had taken our son and his ' Threesome' outdoors for some fun. When Andy was a boy, he, his brothers and cousins dug at least one snow fort every winter.

This year, there is the least amount of snow to work with for our northern WI county, but it has not halted tradition.

Andy and his three sons dug in from one side to the other of what was pushed with the plow. Already, there is a request to Papa ( Grandpa ), for more snow to be piled on top so they can dig higher, making for easier travel through the tunnel.

There is digging with shovels, and digging with hands,

kicking the snow loose with feet, and pulling more out with arms and hands and snow tools.

No matter how it's done, sooner or later, the tunnel gets dug.

Because of the cold noses, fingers, and ' toes-es,'

The digging ended after just 15 minutes.

We already know the first place the kids will want to go next weekend~

It will be to finish the fort. Papa promised to add more snow.

The weatherman promised warmer weather, and Grandma promised more hot cocoa with peppermint sticks.

It's been s-now much fun!!!

On with another chore.

I had squash that still needed something done with them so, after cleaning out the cavities and filling with butter and brown sugar, I baked them off in the oven this morning.

The house smells like pumpkin pie, so that will be next, only Squash Pies.

You all have a wonderful day.

BlessYourHeart

Chocolate Wins~~~And Garden Dreamin'

2012-01-22T12:38:00.004-06:00

Chocolate Wins!

It was not a difficult choice for me.

I love Gingerbread but Dark Chocolate Cake took the prize...

This time.

I love, Love, LOVE Chocolate,

Especially when it comes as a cake,

All wrapped in Silky Peanut Butter Frosting.

For me, it's best with a hot cup of black coffee.

One more bite, oh how sweet.

The weather has taken a leap from the minuses

to the 20's, 26F. above zero at the moment.

Well, that's almost warm enough to think about~~~

Going outside for a long walk.,

Scarf wrapped around my neck for the first 1/2 mile.

Yes, folks, I'm walking again.

One thing I hate about winter up north,

Is, where I walk, there is either ice, deep snow or slush.

On the cold, Cold, COLD days, I walk inside.

No matter, I am bound and determined to stay with it,

This time.

Garden season is already near,

The garden catalogs are coming daily.

Seeds, bulbs, tubers, sets, shrubs, fruit trees, berries,

I am anxious.

Each year, we say we will not add more to our gardens,

But, lo and behold, something in the air grabs us.

We order more than we intended.

We plant and plant and plant.

We harvest and live well.

My Man loves his tractor, he loves to dig.

Maybe he will be putting Garden # 4 in this spring.

We need a patch, just for pumpkins, another for beans.

We all love carrots and squash and peas off the vine.

Hurry, check to see if the first tomato is ripe.

I often wonder,

Just how do people that do not garden,

Even from their window-sill or patio,

Do they really have no choice except to

Buy from the Farmers Market?

At least they are getting better produce and fruit

Than any grocer can offer.

Plant something,

And see what you have been missing.

I have a couple of new seed catalogs to scan.

Most are free, order yourself a few and

Savor the flavor.

BlessYourHearts

Still Cold Outside

2012-01-21T13:42:00.003-06:00

The weather was not much different this morning, still minus temps, -22F this morning. Not happy.

Since not much has changed yesterday to today,

I'm grumpy.

The major Harvey Wall-banger headache without the party, isn't doing much to add to the excitement of another day. Maybe I should bake a cake or make lemonade.

Maybe

starting some seed sprouts like my buddy, George, would do the trick. He just joined me so check out what he's been up to. He sure makes spring look promising. Thanks, George, for brightening my day with that cold-frame of lettuces. I'll be right down, (in my dreams of the south, that is.)

The Bobcats are back. Now they are coming in already, by two in the afternoon.

The second we step out the door, they used to take off. Now, they don't move from their dinner until we take a few steps in their direction.

( Note to self: Keep a very close eye on the GrandLoves. )

It's much too cold for the GrandBoys to play outside today anyway.

I heard their Dad say they might take a drive to play with cousins.

Good idea. Right now, Daddy is reading to the youngest, and the oldest is watching a Disney movie with Grandpa, while I catch up here.

My sis Mel has been saying that all this cold weather is good for making ice. By that she means, the lakes, the flowage where the Suicide Awareness Fisheree will be next weekend, the rivers, all are freezing deeper and safer for the ice fishing that will be going on. Check it out at Mel's at Up North With Mel .

~~~Now, about that cake~~~

Dark Chocolate with Peanut Butter Frosting?

Gingerbread with Whipped Cream?

to be continued~~~

BlessYourHeart

BRRRR~~~

2012-01-20T05:42:00.002-06:00

Where's My Blanket?

It's nasty cold outside,

And inside too~

At four in the morning

our thermometer read chilling numbers.

At the moment, an hour later, we are actually getting a heat wave at only minus-18 instead of that dreaded number below of minus-21.8.

Good news?

Snow is on it's way, meaning it will be warming up into the teens by the weekend. Yipee~~~

Stay warm all my northerers and don't forget to send up a wave of warmth from the south, my southern friends.

Have a fantastic weekend.

If you have temps like us, please bundle up, like your Mama's would say and don't forget your mittens, scarves and boots. A pair of snowpants or insulated underwear would really feel great, just to be on the safe side.

Better still, Get Your Blanket and Stay Inside.

GodBlessYourDay

and

BlessYourHeart

Life Gets Tedious

2012-01-19T09:06:00.002-06:00

Throughout my childhood and til Daddy rested at a better place, it was not unusual to hear him recite bits of poems and songs he had learned as a kid, himself.

One in particular, was heard on cold, miserable, bone-chilling days like we are having today.

This was an ol' Walter Brennan song and a few of the lyrics from " Life Gets Tedious, Don't It." Dad said that Old Minnie Pearl on Hee Haw was one that used to recite it on the "Grand Ol Opry". He'd say, to bring it out right, it s h o u l d n' t be rushed too much, kinda slow and easy with a little extra hesitation before the last line of each verse.

Dad would say that there could have been another verse or two, but this was about all his recollector had recorded.

Life Gets Tedious, Don't It

The sun comes up and the sun goes down,

Hands on the clock keep goin' around,

I just get up, and it's time to lay down,

Life gets tee-jus, don't it?

Mouse a-chawin' on the pantry door,

He's been at it a month or more,

When he gets through he'll shore be sore.

Ain't a durn thing in there.

Cow went dry and the hen's don't lay,

Fish quit bitin' last Saturday,

Trouble's pilin' up day by day,

Now I'm gettin' dandruff.

Hounddog a howlin' so forlorn,

Laziest dog that ever was born,

He's a -howlin' cause he's sittin' on a thorn,

Just too tired to move over.

Tin roof leaks and the chimney leans,

Wore a hole in the seat of my old blue jeans,

And I et the last of the pork and beans,

Just can't depend on nuthin'.

Debts and taxes, grief and woe,

Pains and misery and so it goes,

I think I'm getting a co'd in my no'd,

Life gets tasteless, don't it?

There are several more verses to this little ditty, but these are the ones that Dad recalled. We sure got a kick out of it when he'd start to recite this out of the blue. The room would get quiet and everyone lent an ear. I wonder, now, was that his way to hush all of us noisy kids. There were a bunch of us. It must have crowded him on an 'inside' day.

Anyway, today has started out to be one of those miserable, cold days when there will be no going outside. The wind is howling and the chill is far below zero, like minus 30. You know, the kind that freezes your nostrils and throat, forms icicles on your nose.

I think I'll go bake something chocolate.

Have a warm day. I'm drawing the drapes up to let the sun shine in.

BlessYourHeart

It's No Good Til It's In the Pan

2012-01-16T08:12:00.007-06:00

Way up here in northcentral WI., ice fishing is a big sport, family fun, survival of the fittest. First, it takes desire, next warm, very warm clothes, head to toe and boots that will keep those tootsies toasty throughout your ice fishing day.

I love to eat the fish that are caught, I will gladly fry them up the way you want them, but I am not particularly excited about sitting on a bucket in the middle of a snow-covered lake, wetting a line down a little 4 to 8 inch hole in the ice, just to catch a fish. Call me crazy, but I do not care to freeze like a popsicle in a matter of minutes, in fact, I guess it really isn't fair to make an assessment since I never, not once,have ice fished.........so, I sent my son. He loves to go.

This was yesterday's minimal catch,........today, his uncle went along and they fished two different lakes and threw back the only keeper........but, as they say, it was the company, the stories, the nice day of 28 degrees and exploring a couple small lakes they could walk to the fishing hole.......of course, now they had to drill those fishing holes with a hand auger. After all, they just walked a mile to get to the lake., then to the middle it. Good thing it was only about 42 acres. That's an easy trek, normally, but factor in carrying your supplies, tip-ups, jig poles, bait, folding camp chairs, backpack of water, thermos of beef broth, survival kit, (just in case), and a snack or two for the afternoon.

Uncle took the lead, since the nephew had offspring, as he said, throwing nephew the truck keys, just in case he went through the ice. Yikes. Afterall, these were lakes with springs in them, even open water along the edges. Out in the center of the lake, the water depth was 20-some feet, but thank goodness, there was 14 inches of safe ice to hand-auger through.....exhausted from the walk and the excitement of the day, the holes drilled, let the fishing begin.

The remainder of the photos are from the 'net', internet, not fish net. The picture above and below are a pretty accurate scene of what the boys did today, walked out onto the lake, drilled a hole with the hand auger, set a tip-up, or used a jig-pole and fished.
These two fellas are just 'nuts,' idiots, but very dedicated to the end of the melt. It even looks as tho they have a pretty good tan going on yet, too. Can you believe this? And to think there actually are some die-hards out there.
In the middle of winter, in the middle of nowhere, when there is not a blade of green grass to see or a leaf on the trees, this is one of the chosen ' good times ' up north.

A Fisheree, whether for a good cause, or just for fun, is not an uncommon event waiting for spring thaw. You must understand, our winters can go as long as 6 months.......so, pull up a chair or a bucket, scoop the ice crystals out of your freshly drilled hole, and fish awhile.

Go to upnorthwithmel.blogspot.com and check out the upcoming JDWarrior Fisheree, a fisheree for a good cause, for Suicide Awareness. It will just take you a second to get to UpNorthWithMel. She's my sis, and does a great job putting this event on with the rest of her hubby's family. Then, get in the truck or your car and take a drive to the event....don't forget your snowboots, warm clothes and that jig pole.

Yessiree, this is fishin'

I love this cartoonage~~~it reminds me of the GrandLoves~~~LOL
Even the birds~
and the dog get into the act~~~~I'll git'em fer'ya
Now, put me in one of these log cabin ice shacks and maybe I won't notice I'm on a lake of ice.....
or something like this for a quick get-away~~~
But there ya have it, My Fear Factor
Are we having fun yet?
How about now?
There is a deadline, as to when ice shacks, vehicles and people, have to be off of the ice depending on the rate of spring thaw, but there is always one out there that the rule just doesn't seem to apply. Then it's their responsibility to remove the sunken obstacle out of the northern waters by another deadline, that comes along with a hefty fine for not paying attention in the first place.

I'm so glad our guys, so far, have not had to learn the hard way.

Seriously, get out there and play in the winter air. So, if you are squeamish about going on the ice, no matter how thick it is, go sledding, skiing, cross-country skiing, skating, snow-shoeing, hiking, heck, just build a snowman or build a fort or an igloo. Whatever you do, get outside. Breathe the fresh, cold air. Go fishing through the ice, I'm going to try it this year. Dad used to say the fish are no good until they're in the frypan. He was right.

Thanks for listening to me carry on and on and on.

Do check out Mel's blog about the Suicide Awareness Fisheree at www.upnorthwithmel.blogspot.com

and

BlessYourHeart

Bob1 and Bob2

2012-01-15T14:18:00.002-06:00

A few entries back, I showed you who was visiting the trail cam.

Well look closer.

We have two visitors, that we know of.

The first in line, I've come to call Camo.

You will see why in a bit.

These cats are not starving, by any means.

My B-I-L was surprised they come in so close during the day.

Take a close look at this next shot.

How many cats do you see?

There's Camo, waiting his turn. The larger of the two of them I've tagged him, Gimpy~~if you look closely, he's missing the end of his right back leg. It hasn't slowed him any, tho he does limp.

I am enjoying watching these animals, tho they make me a bit nervous up so close. It is a rare sight to see them in the wild, as they usually hunt rabbits, small rodents, etc., rarely deer, and at dusk or night and in the solitary. My Dad would call this a privilege so I will too.

Camo is wondering what all the racket is on the highway, not 200 yards away, as he keeps a sharp eye.

I appreciate how beautiful these Bobcats are. Just so they keep their distance, just far enough away.

There's Camo again, waiting his turn while his elder feasts on the frozen carcass.

The camera didn't catch it, but I watched from my kitchen window as these two sat on their haunches and swatted each other a few times.

Maybe next time, the camera will snap at that moment.

What a sight to witness. I am privileged, indeed.

~I wonder if they are mates that will show us their kits in the spring~

So it goes in the wilds out my kitchen window.

BlessYourHearts

Ready for Some Reds

2012-01-13T19:05:00.006-06:00

I am so ready for Reds.

Red Apples I eat each day,

They say one will keep the doctor away.

One, I'll bet, you can't eat just one,

Of the juicy Red Strawberries you picked for your Hon.

Don't dare to forget an early veggie of spring,

The round orbs of Red Radish,

From the garden, a sweet thing~

A crispness to answer a craving, a wish.

So what are you so hungry for,

Something that's saying

May I have more, please~~~please, more.

Have a wonderful evening, no sorrow,

BlessYourGenerousPrayerfulHearts

All will be back to normal come tomorrow.

Now, go satisfy your cravings! and

BlessYourHeart

The Power

2012-01-13T07:56:00.003-06:00

Sometimes we just need a little reminder.

Psalm 118:vs24

Any of you who has had the honor of knowing my parents, already know that, no matter what, some time during their day together, they would recite this verse. One of them would, out of the blue, start the verse, ending wherever they wished, and the other would finish it.

They believed it. They never missed a day.

Then four yrs. ago, Dad passed away, he rested.

This would have been his birthday week. As my sis in TX says, "I wonder if they celebrate birthdays in heaven?" I wonder.

His birthday, his and Mom's anniversary, holidays, important events to him or them, of which there are so, so many, all of these days, some are so heart-wrenching that we fall to our knees missing him.

Have a grateful day., no matter how difficult.

God is always with us, only He knows His plan for our lives on this earth. Only He governs our time here. He is a most wonderful, kind and compassionate God, even when we are reminded that we are not meant to fully understand His plan.

Keep faith, for it is the one thing, the one gift, that keeps us strong. Pray for the healing through tough times. He is there.

Yes, even when the most healthy, kind, beloved person in your life gets sick, God is always there to carry them through. Big prayers, little prayers, all answered, tho sometimes not the way we wish.

You see, I'm from a large family of love and support which comes from our faith in God, but there is always room for more prayers.

Prayers from you and you and you and you, will be greatly appreciated as our Mom recovers. She is going to be fine but needs even those who do not know her, to pull for her as she heals. She is a very private person, my reason for not going into detail, but she does understand the power of prayer. She and Dad taught us well.

I thank you in advance, for your help. God be with each and every one of you and

BlessYourHeart

Red Sky Morning

2012-01-11T20:38:00.002-06:00

Look what we woke up to this morning,

The reddest ice in the driveway,

Glowing like fire. Or is that a lake full of ripples and gentle waves.

The dark shadow is the trunk of a huge spruce tree between the drive and the garden., gosh, I love that reflection..

I'm amazed how quickly the colors of a sunrise and a sunset change.

By the time I walked from one room to the next to retrieve my camera, the red had already faded to lighter shades of orange, pinks, yellow. It still looks pretty peeking through the branches of the spruce tree out my dining room window.

It even showed hues of red through the frosted glass of the bathroom window...sorry, didn't mean to take you along.

And the evening ended with shadows reflecting, thanks to a full moonlit night. The bright spot in the center of the photo is the moon on the icy driveway again, with the head of the metal blue heron between the deck rails.

Do click on the photos for a closer look. You won't be disappointed.

I'm sure to be corrected if I say this wrong, but doesn't the saying go something like this:

Red Sky in Morning

Sailor take Warning

Red Sky at Night

Sailor's Delight

The red sky of this morning brought us Weather Warnings for our entire state, for snow. At least it will be just a lil' bit compared to what Alaska is getting. My prayers go out to them as they dig their way out of another 15 feet, not inches, of snow.

They should be able to grow record-sized cabbages this year again, with all the unexpected moisture.

Be safe and shovel out slowly. No amount of snow is worth a heart attack or sliding off the road. Stay warm.

BlessYourHearts

The Buffet

2012-01-10T07:08:00.007-06:00

As the late fall/early winter hunts end, after the harvesting is done,

there is usually something for the scrap pile,

bones, bits of meat, leftovers.

My hunt then begins as I set up a trail camera

over the buffet that the wildlife of the swamp and air,

soon devour.

We have been watching a kitty, a big kitty called

BOB, Bob the Bobcat.

He's been here day and night and

I suppose will not leave until every last morsel is gone.

I'd rather see him dig and chew the scraps of a selective wildlife hunt than to run down the few deer we have left in the county.

That icy cold full moon, the Wolf Moon was

working hard last night, filling the landscape with shadows,

wolves howling.

There's Bob again, early in the day,

not even moving when I opened the door to take his picture.

It gives me goosebumps, to think the Grandloves have been sliding down the hill just in front of that birdhouse. I know, I know, that cat is a scar-dy-cat around people. He takes off, the second I take one step out that door.

We've had other visitors to the buffet,

like Mr. Crow,

a few pesky Starlings,

the wolf has been through, but no picture at the scraps, just his tracks again.

Last winter we had others fly in.

My favorite to watch throughout the day was our

majestic Bald Eagle.

(apologies to you who have seen these photos of last year.)

If you are squeamish of reality, you may wish to close your eyes for the next couple of photos.

The respect for hierarchy is apparent as the Crow waits for his turn after the great Bald Eagle.

The survival of the fittest is evident in these last three images.

The Bald Eagle is first to feast.

The coyote that would sneak a snack in the middle of the night just disappeared from the page, much like they do in real life.

The crows fight for the best snippet of meat off the few pieces left on the rib and neck bones. Such is as it goes for the strongest of the flock.

But the Bald Eagle and her young return for one last meal.

All is right with the balancing of nature.

One feeds another.

We feast off the deer,

as do the

varmints of the woods, the bobcat, the wolf, the coyote,

the Bald Eagles, the Crows, Starlings and other small birds,

even the mice, moles, shrews and insects, all get their share.

So, get in line.

Thus it goes at Mother Natures buffet.

God sure has great plans to feed his flock.,

One way or another.

BlessYourHeart

Wholesome Good Eats

2012-01-07T19:36:00.002-06:00

There is something wonderful about the flavors of wholesome food, no matter how you fix it.

I found this apple peeler/slicer/corer at a tag sale years ago.

Each fall and whenever I get a whim, I pull it out, peel and slice a pile of apples for whatever suits my fancy.

This time, it was dehydrated apples to fill a half gallon jar of

' instant satisfaction,' dried apples.

The dehydrator wasn't quite full enough so I did a tray of banana chips, too. What a treat.

I love this kitchen tool. Just secure it to the counter, add an apple to the apple clamp and turn the pretty red crank handle. Seconds later, the apple is cored, peeled and sliced, ready for whatever you desire.

Pie sounds good to me. Even dehydrated apples can be soaked, re-hydrated and baked into a pie.

Dehydrating apples, what a sweet smell.

While the dehydrator was still sitting out, the boys marinated some sliced venison and made jerky. They sure have that recipe down. Their jerky turned out great and didn't last very long, even tho they made 4 different flavors. Of the Hickory, Hickory Maple, Montreal Steak, and the Lawry's Seasoned, the Hickory Maple is still my favorite.

As long as I'm sharing a few wholesome favorites, how about this dandy dry seasoned 12 lb. chicken~~~my neighbor brings me a chicken each fall and this years bird just fit in my largest roaster. It took just over an hour and a half to cook this beast. Was it dry, No, was it enough,

Absolutely, as the 2-6 of us had 3 meals from this one chicken.

Hmmm, no one has ever said to me, "Look at those thighs!" Of course, that would be a good thing.

No food in this entry was left to the spoils. All portions were consumed by human, bird or animal and thoroughly enjoyed to the fullest.

Thanks for stopping by and

BlessYourHeart

Did Ya Know?

2012-01-05T20:29:00.004-06:00

Continued from earlier this same day, see last entry:

Noon:30 : on the road heading east/ northeast again

1, 1:30 : Still on the road, at least the weather has warmed but

splashing a lot of salt on the truck and windows...washer

fluid is greatly appreciated

1:50 : finally at destination one, the Bakery Outlet where we loaded

up on 8 loaves of Healthy Choice breads, those thin, thin

hamburger buns, a berry pie and a cho. chip cupcake all for

less than a buck a loaf..........we do like the Bakery Outlet

until next month

2:15 : destination two, we are 15 min. early for this very important

meeting with the SS office. Lots of questions were asked

and answered. Did ya know an X can collect on your SS?

Someone was not very happy@,@,@,@,@~~~~

3:30 : WALMART!!!~~~there is always walmart and all of it's aisles

full of whatever any average guy and gal could want or need~~

today, there were only a few things to stop for, Mom's light

bulbs, salt for the water softener, water repellent spray for

my boots, an outdoor light to exchange, for our outdoor lantern,

and a new snow shovel that fits My Man's hands just right!

4:00 : The Log Cabin for dinner...and am I hungry. Do you know

how much energy it takes answering questions about your life?

My Man got a couple answers wrong, like, when did we get

married and when was my birthday~~~I was not at all sur-

prised. He did, however, know when he wants to retire.

OOPS, got side-tracked at the expended energy part...

My Man downed his double Cheeseburger and Fries in no

time flat while I took my time with the best Broasted Chicken.

5:00 : Back on the road again to enjoy the prettiest red sunset, lots

of Willie's Roadhouse music and good conversation about

maybe retiring early.

6:30 : Home again, home again, jiggity-jig....to be greeted by two

rambunctious GrandLoves asking, " What took so long?"

Enough about our exhausting day, tho we did not accomplish much actual work........well, My Man worked from 5-Noon while I tried to catch a few winks. Sleep will be wonderful tonight. I'm not so wound up like a top anymore, and feel like a good night is going to be all mine.

That's it, there is no more. My pillow is calling~~~~~~and it isn't even 9 p.m. when I'm used to staying wired until at least 11 p.m. Crazy me.

Have a great night and Friday. I will be spending the morning ' at the farm ' with Mom.......we have a puzzle to complete.......

( Boy, do I need to get a life. )

BlessYourHeart

Restless

2012-01-05T10:28:00.004-06:00

Midnight- still not asleep

restless feet, neck is a mess ( maybe I should

have agreed to have surgery, nights like this make

me wonder if the risk is worth it.)

One------ roll over again and again and again

Two...... up with slam-dunk headache

two Aleve and back to bed

trying Not to wake My Man

who works way too hard

Three~~~~ I must have fallen fast asleep zzzz fast asleep

Four

GO BACK TO SLEEP MY MAN

!!!!!!!!! I'm awake dear, please fire up for me.

Made coffee, a half sandwich, a couple pieces of

fruit for My Man's mid-morning snack

Five..... Coffee with My Man and reassuring him

all was ready for this afternoon

Cleaned up the kitchen and started the dishwasher

Five: Back to bed, ( I never go back to bed )

Six______ I heard an alarm go off

Seven[ ] Still must be asleep ( I never sleep past 5 )

Eight**** Up in a start, as in, quickly, wide awake.

Wow, I feel refreshed ( what a treat )

Fired the woodstove, tho it was full. Son must

have filled it before going to work

Took a l o n g shower that seemed to help

Made a 2-egg omelet with baby ports, onion, bacon,

cheese topped with sour cream, picante and hot

sauce.....coffee was 'hot' ( I multi-task so much

that my coffee is usually cold by time I drink it )

Nine~~~~~ My Time...blogging for an hour whenever I can. It is rare also, these days.

Ten------ Time to finish paying the bills, doing household

duties such as laundry, empty dishwasher, file the

past months business and get ready for 'tax-time'

Eleven~~~ I will actually be vain and watch Y&R with hot

coffee, knit while I watch and straighten my hair

Noon>>>>>>> My Man will be home in five and we will hit the

road again.

To be cont. >

BlessYourHearts

Chi-Chi-Chilly

2012-01-03T09:50:00.003-06:00

It is ' bitter ' outside this morning.

Chi-Chi-Chilly barely describes.

We woke to minus 11~~~teeth chattering

Fire needed stoking to kindle the flame.

Even Mr. Snowman from last winter returned

At the end of the drive.,

All snow-covered and shivering,

Wondering where his coat went.

I hope all of you northerners who know this feeling,

Are tucked under a blanket of quilts, comforters,

Mittens and scarves.

For the more fortunate, to know the warmth of the sun,

Be so kind as to send enough rays of your good luck

To melt our misery.

Stay warm up north,

Cuddle.

Enjoy your sunshine down south.

The sunshine be ' my ' quest.,

To warm my freezing toes

Baby, it's cold outside,

Cap on, scarf tight, cover your nose.

Nostrils stick together in this horrid stuff.

Stay inside if ya know what's good for ya!!!,

As dear husband says.

Sometimes I listen.

Today will be the day.

BlessYourHearts

Last Day, First Day

2012-01-02T09:20:00.004-06:00

It was the last day of 2011,
A good time was going to be had.
There wasn't much snow, but just enough
Today will be a day to be glad.

The Brothers 3 would decide,
A play day they would give
To their children, of them, 5 would ride
An exciting day they would live.

There will be snow angels,
And rides behind the yellow sled,
Pulled at the end of the longest rope
On a tube, should they dread?

The laughter and screams were under the guidance
Of Uncles and Dads and true trust,
For not one returned crying but
Laughing and licking their snow-covered crust!

From top to the bottom.
A sliding hill promised more fun
For another turn, pairs of little legs
Crawl to the top for one more run.

Snow stuck everywhere, the noses, the cheeks,
The mittens and knees.
Nothing stopped the little ones from
Doing what they please.

Rest was needed, the sun never peeking through
Yet, it was a day of glory
For the children, for me,
Come along,~~~~for you, too.

Another year ended,
Another begun,
Look out the window, It snowed,
YES, more FUN~~~~~~

Thanks for stopping by and listening to me babble on and on.
Have a wonderful, fun-filled 2012, my friends and of course,

BlessYourHeart

2011-12-31T08:14:00.002-06:00

We would like to thank all of you who have taken the time out of your busy day to take a peek at our family and leave your kind comments. Blogging has been a blessing for me, meeting you all in such a personal heartfelt way. May your year be filled with fun and adventure., laughter and tears to wash away any troubles, and hugs from around the world. God has blessed us with each other.

Have a most wonderful year and
BlessYourHearts
Dar n' Bill

A GrandLove Christmas

2011-12-15T08:42:00.004-06:00

And a GrandLove Christmas it Was!!!

Nine of eleven GrandLoves in this family picture are being hugged by us on each end.

What a fun, busy Christmas weekend we had.
The little ones kept the house feeling warm with their constant giggles and grins.
There was music in the air with much of their singing, gentle humming, or the sounds of Christmas coming from the many music boxed snowmen for the children to play with.

The scents 'screamed' Christmas as we baked, filled slow-cookers, casserole bowls, cookie platters, appetizer trays. Spiral hams were cut and plated, gently glazed with brown sugar and cranberry sauce. Fruit trays were sampled as fast as we could fill them. Little fingers were grazing the tables of goodies, some sweet, some savory.

Grandpa took a chair at the head of the table, happily letting the smallest of GrandLoves fill his plate with blue chips, salsa, TX Caviar, Saultz, sausage and dips, Pumpkin Glazed Almonds, many fresh vegetables from the platter.

Soon the table and counters were covered with more than we could eat in one sitting.
Surely there would be left-overs.

There was that gorgeous Glazed Ham, Marshmallow-Toasted Sweet Potatoes, Cranberry Sauce, Green Bean Casserole, Swiss Mixed Veg. Bake topped with Toasted Onions, Crockpot Mac N'Cheese that was the best I've ever tasted, and so much more.

After dinner, full tummies and quiet little ones, the excitement began all over again. Before the cousins each opened gifts from one another, of which names had been drawn just after Thanksgiving, a very special time is shared. This year Katie read a book she wrote titled, "My Best Day Ever." She wrote about baking with her Mom, of which she did most of the work...so cute. Next it was Syrus' turn, as he stood tall in front of the fireplace and family and sang and played his Recorder to
"It's a Holly Jolly Christmas." Can that kid sing and play. Watching our GrandLoves gain confidence, pride and respect, is such a heartwarming feeling.

For the 'big kids,' like me and any teen that thinks they can handle the defeat of a gift being stolen from them during ' The Game,' much fun was about to begin. Poor Hannah, our first Granddaughter, 16 of age, was stolen from so often, that she finally accepted the Dremel Tool and Magnet on a Stick with a smile rather than a grimace. We sure have a lot of fun during, what has become a tradition during our Christmas together. I can just imagine what it's going to be like when all the little ones are grown and playing along. I can't wait.

After all the exchanging and games, the little ones all had a chance to search for the Christmas Pickle on the Christmas tree. There are rules~~~no touching the tree, and no going behind the tree. There were little noses peeking here and there, giggles, a little push and shove but the tree is still standing.

The tradition goes, the first to find the Christmas Pickle gets a prize. They know the prize is always the same and that the winner must share. This year, Syrus was the lucky fella to find the Pickle Ornament. He happily opened the trio of Canned Popcorn and did share. What a great time for the kids. Of course, there is always a picture to keep.

And Then, There was PIE!
Tummies began to settle from such a wonderful meal, but there is always room for pie~
There were Caramel Apple, Coconut Creme and Chocolate French Silk Pies. How do you choose? I had a sliver of each, and I mean a sliver. Mercy, how wonderful.

The fun continued as some of us vegged the rest of the afternoon, while the younger ones and their parents, played board games, Wii Dance, Boxing and Skiing. I always choose a Memory Game, reason, I need to work on mine.

Sorry this got too long, but how do YOU cram a weekend of Christmas into a few lines.

Have a great time preparing and celebrating our Lord's birth.
We live because of Him.

BlessYourHearts

Circle of Loves

2011-12-08T09:08:00.002-06:00

It's bitter cold outside our windows,

Our nostrils freeze as we breathe.

The bright sunshine deceives us,

But giving no relief.

A wheel of mittens,

Or a row to go,

Our GrandLoves will play warmer

Through wind, ice and snow.

Finally, I finished the scarves and mittens for our 11 GrandLoves. The little ones each get mittens and toys, while the tweens and teens get scarves and gift cards this year.

I think they all realize that Grandma and Grandpa are soon to open an even tighter wallet of fixed income, so it's always a pleasure to see their grateful smiles with the slightest of material things. Praise the Lord, they know we love them and have saved the best for last. I'm so happy that each of them have come to know that the greatest gift is ' love.'

Our Christmas together is this weekend. For years now, those that have room for the 20 of us, have taken turns hosting our weekend. It will once again, be family photo time, (note to me)-(bring camera). Maybe we can have our daughter, the photographer, do photos again, hint, hint, Little One.

The host and hostess provide a main meal of their choice. The rest of us bring appetizers or a dish to pass, lots of Christmas cookies and gifts for the children who have drawn names amongst the cousins. They become bright-eyed as they open their packages. To a Grandpa and Grandma, it's the best part, seeing those sparkling faces and well behaved gigglers. Wow, how I love Christmas.

You will not hear from me for awhile. After our busy weekend in Baraboo, this Grandma is going to finally curl up under a cozy quilt and take a long winters nap in my chair with the heat of the wood fire, tucking me in even deeper.

Sleep, Sleep Deep, Sleep.

When I awake, there will finally be time to deck the halls. Those of you who have followed me for awhile, know that I do not put up my outside lights until there is snow on the ground or it's bitter cold outside. Well, we have both, so I will be most busy placing a few lights, wreaths, and most welcome, I will be lighting my star on the barn to ' light the way.'

I wish you all a safe journey, wherever your travels may take you.

I wish you the Joys of Christmas.

Christmas is every day. Enjoy it's calm.

and

BlessYourHearts

No Rest in Sight

2011-12-05T08:37:00.004-06:00

Have you seen it? Have you seen the calendar and how close it's getting to Christmas?

Well, NEWS FLASH~~~

To me CHRIST-MAS is every day of our lives.

We have so much to be grateful for in our daily living.

There seems to be a rush to please everyone on our list just a bit more during the Season that has Reason.

My fingers have been flying, crochet hook is hooking, knitting needles are clanking, the sewing machine is clattering, one stitch at a time.

The kitchen smells of spices for cookies and cakes.

Canning jars are still being filled and pies are being baked.

Fruitcake, since I'm the only one that treasures it, is in it's safe haven, just for me, citron excluded.

With our family Christmas coming this weekend already, there are still a few things to finish to keep the kiddles fingers and toes toasty-cozy.

Here are a few of the finished projects.

A lacy shawl-scarf to fall beautifully over a woolen peacoat.

or this duel colored scarf as soft as a feather.

for all seasons, is a tank top or t-shirt over-lace~~~

hmmm, I may hang onto this one.

beanies, string scarves and mittens,

just fun stuff for the wee ones.

While waiting for my canner to come up to temperature in the shop,

there were nature notions waiting to be turned into a winter wreath.

Ok, so it's lop-sided, but still will grace the barn.

With all the snow outside that is sure to stay,

canned venison will make plenty of stews and soups,

~Comfort Food~

The weather outside is delightful

piled high on the tire swing of summer.

Dear Bill is busy playing in the winter wonderland, taking nearly 4 hours to clear out the homefront, the cabin drive and yard, and the neighbors.

He LOVES his tractor.

Each year, our Bridal Wreath shrub which was planted in 1980 when we were first married, spends the winters under a blanket of snow. May she grow very old with us.

Snow stuck to the garden fence says the snowfall was heavy at first.

Heavy enough to nearly cover the spruce cones trying to sneak a peak.

It is 3 days and nights since the snow fell and it still clings to the branches creating a picture postcards.

The powerlines connected to the house still hold a thin blanket.

With all the white out there, I never tire of this sight out my windows to the north.

Our little red barn .

I hope you enjoyed this lengthy trip up north in God's Country, as we like to call it.

Now, I really need to get back to work. With 11, yes eleven GrandLoves, I still have 5 pair of mittens and a hat to make. Toodle-do~

and

BlessYourHeart

Busy, Busy, Busy

2011-12-03T21:02:00.004-06:00

I sure looked forward to this evening, and a long, long nights rest.

There was so much to get done the past several days but I was only focusing on 'today.'

By early evening, around 3 p.m., the sky began to darken, it was very overcast, a gray day. The predicted snow began to fall and fall hard.

At first glance, it looked like it actually would not be too bad, fluffy looking.

I would never make a weathergal, as what appeared to me to be ' fluffy,' turned out to be fast, furious, WET, very wet stuff and it is sticking, really sticking around this time. You know, it's that kind of snow that ' heart attack shoveling' is made of.

The snow sure is beautiful, until you wake in the morning and see what has to be shoveled. To tell you the truth, I really do not mind. I love the look of the dreaded white stuff, but I do not care so much anymore, for the wet, damp stuff. Give me the dry snow. That's the kind that you can fly through on the snowmobiles, sleds and the tobaggans, skis and snowshoes, snow tubes, snowboards and flying saucers.

Sadly, no snowmen are assembled. This snowfall is perfect to build Frosty the Snowman. The children will giggle with glee. They know that ' snowman ' snow, is also ' snow day, alias, NO School, Snow.

We are getting our share of the measurable glistening flakes. The rain gauge is filling fast tho rain gauges really do not count for snow measuring like a good old yardstick.

I spent a few hours altering a Bridesmaid dress last night and this afternoon, for my niece and Goddaughter, Tracy. A tuck here, a tuck there and before you knew it, she was smiling at the success. I love, Love, LOVE this girl and would do all I can to help her.

Tracy's dress is a navy blue with a silver bow and cape. The bow down the back is as lovely as she~~~stunning~~~

studded with sequins and beading.

My day was not over.

The boys, my man and son Andy, were busy in the butchering center in the shop, butchering the deer that Andy harvested for many winter meals.

Since the shop was warmed by the woodfire, I took the opportunity to keep them company while I whipped up a few more swags, one for Tracy, one for Mom, one for my elderly neighbor, and one for our door. I'm pleased that they turned out festive and will substitute a wreath, that is, unless I change my mind. I'm entitled, aren't I? I rather like the Circle of Life that the Wreath represents for me. What do you think? Like? All of the boughs, pine, cedar with the cones, balsam and the red Winterberries, all came from the edge of my woods by the house. I'm so fortunate, Not to have to pay out of pocket, for my supplies.

There were GrandLove Gifts to finish wrapping for our Christmas in Baraboo, WI. I can hardly wait. This will be the first time in several years, that our immediate family Christmas will be away from home.

Of course, Christmas Eve will still be at the farm. There is never a question about it.

So, in between the loads of laundry, making and serving 3 meals, paying bills, altering a gown, wrapping the venison the boys cut, a little knitting, a little crocheting, sweeping, vacuuming, mopping the floors, visiting, gift-wrapping and, of course, chatting with Mom on the phone for half an hour, there's always time for Scrabble, right?

Not really. Today was just too jam-packed. Hmmm, no wonder my eyelids are getting heavy, my muscles relaxed.

Nighty, night, it's time for bed.

Time for me to rest my weary head.

Have a Fantastic Sunday

and

BlessYourBusyHeart

Put Another Log On the Fire

2011-12-02T08:53:00.003-06:00

Yes, Folks, Put Another Log On the Fire

Cause

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Zero Degrees This Morning

But

The Sun IS Shining

Tho this Photo is Blurred

And the Colors Unsure,

It is the Snowplow Coming By

Yes, Another Reminder that

Fall has Passed and Winter is Well on It's Way

It's Time to Split the Pumpkin and Gourds

For the Birds and Deer and

Fill their Feeders With Seeds, Peanut Butter/Seed Mix

and Tallow

It's Time to Slide My Hands Into

The Comfort of Woolen Mittens

And Time to Finish Knitting Socks

To Warm my Toes for Another Season of

Snow, Wind and Ice

And Still Save Time to Play

Have Another Great Day

and

BlessYourHearts

Road Trippin' Again

2011-11-30T07:08:00.002-06:00

On the Road Again, and with Willie

in my heart,

And Mama by my side

filling our cart.

There are Christmas surprises in store,

So we will check out gifts for Mama and some mine,

Check it off our list,

One gift at a time.

We will attempt to purchase within our own state,

Loosing our state of mind while we wait.

Nothing foreign this year,

It will be a difficult task, Mama dear.

Lunchtime at Tula's

Will please our palate,

With a salad piled high,

and Pie, full tummies and a sigh.

Another lengthy visit as we travel

the lonely distance from point A to point B.

It will be a pleasure, I'm sure

For Mama and Me.

Come along if you please,

There is always room for more.

Just give me a quick call

Before we head out the door.

Have a wonderful trip today

Wherever you may trod,

But remember to save a seat next to you

For your guide, our God.

BlessYourHeart and YourTravels

A Gift from Nature

2011-11-28T07:05:00.004-06:00

Though we have been fortunate to have unseasonably warm weather all fall and early winter, I still have not strung my outdoor lights, nor have I done any decorating....I'm not sure why? but I always manage to wait for the most bone-chilling, hand-freezing day. It must feel like it's ' time ' then.

I did, however, begin to gather.

I've cut balsam, pine and cedar boughs, winterberries and pine cones.

The kids went home with swags for their doors and their decks.

The scents of Christmas linger in the air as I cut, wrap wire, and hang things ' just right.'

My primitive workshop is all I mustered for the few items I would be making this season, but how I love it. The Christmas carols sound in the background, they're sung as I attempt to do my share of the ' elf ' duties.

Soon, the doors will be dressed at my house too,

but for now,

the ' cheer ' is sent over the rivers and through the woods

to the grown ' loves ' of this shop.

Two by two,

One for me and one for you.

Enjoy the scents of the season.

Now, I have a few lights to string, wreaths, garland and swags to make.

There are mittens, socks and scarves to finish knitting for the ( shhhh), Grandloves, on my list, and Christmas cakes to bake.

A tree, take Mom to pick out the perfect Christmas trees.

Make fudge and cookies and cocoa and slush.

Yarn, I need more yarn.

I really do have to run.

Thanks again, to all of my faithful friends, for taking a second out of your day to stop in to say 'hi' and extend your warm hearts.

God Bless Each and Everyone of You

as you prepare for the Coming of God's Son

and

BlessYourHearts

Thanks

2011-11-23T19:52:00.001-06:00

Thanks

and

BlessYourHearts

' Back Then '

2011-11-15T18:10:00.004-06:00

( Please click on the photos for an up-close look )

The times sure have changed even within the past few years, but look at this.

I sure would love to return to 1967 to go grocery shopping. The grocery stores in this old news ad were a couple of the local, family-owned groceries within 10 miles, thus a bit more pricey than the chain store prices. None the less, I STILL would love to shop those prices once again. ( I just paid $2.49# for a pork roast last week...on sale.)

This piece of tin has been turned with the blank side facing the pot-bellied stove for years, to deflect heat from a too-close-to-the-stove-end of the countertop in the cabin.

The tin sheet is how they apparently made newsprint before transferring it to paper back then. ( note to self: research this procedure )

Today, everything is computerized. The old phrase, ' back then ' is aging me, as a picture of me is on this sheet.

' Back Then ' was 1968, the year I was wrangled into running for Homecoming Queen. Thank God, my classmate and dear friend, Carol took the stage. I quickly realized I hated this kind of attention. I remember Ruthie in the back row with me was as grateful as I was for the lack of class votes. What was I thinking? I still remember celebrating on the bus ride home that night. I found out that I did not want or need this kind of fame.

One thing I did not regret, was getting involved in the folk singing group. We were called the Lincoln Singers, after the Lincoln High School we attended together. It was a fun time.

I felt fortunate to be a part of any extra-curricular activity ' back then.' I lived way out in the country with a houseful of siblings and we were lucky to be allowed to participate in anything that meant an extra trip to town to pick up busy kids. It was way different then, than it is now, where kids are involved in everything offered. The money wasn't there for extras and the privilege was earned.

So, I felt pretty good when the folks said I could ' sing.'

I've been taken ' Back Then,' when I was given this newspaper clipping today. It reminded me to take another look at the tin sheet of yester-years.

Where you in any ' extras ' in high school?

I'd love to ' read all about it.'

Thanks for stopping, reading and commenting and

BlessYourHeart

An Apple A Day

2011-11-14T08:12:00.002-06:00

An apple a day keeps the doctor away,

At least, so they say.

I have eaten an apple a day for as long as I can remember,

And that will not change, even tho~~~

Last week was another busy one until a couple of days were rudely interrupted by a simple bite into a most delectable, juicy apple.

I heard a quiet snap, like that of a thin rubber band and something against my tongue and between my two front teeth.

Being religious about flossing, immediately thinking I had a piece of peel between my choppers, I slid a piece of floss between them. OR did I?

It did not feel just right, so after a look in my looking glass, I see the floss was actually lodged in a thin crack from the bottom of my tooth, nearly to the gum. Looking closer still, there was a chip and the entire section could be moved back and forth with my tongue...talk about irritating.

A trip to my dentist revealed an even greater problem. Not only one tooth, but two, were chipped, needing the grind, file, fill, file, floss and polishing. Finally, I got my smile back after a couple of soup and straw days.

One regret~~~all of this happened on the day my brother got a trophy buck with his bow and arrow. I made steaks and mushrooms for him to celebrate. He, my son and Mom said they were the best eye of rib steaks they had ever had. Of course, I would not know, as I wasn't taking any chances eating steak yet too.

Moral of this story~

Beware the bite you take~

Always take good care of your teeth, as they are the only God-given set you will have and always,

ALWAYS~~~

*SMILE*

BlessYourHeart

Rest, Re-use, Warmth

2011-11-09T07:40:00.003-06:00

(Click the photos to enlarge your view.)

Hey, sleeping bear,

Wake up and go to bed!

Surely you know it's time to rest your weary head.

It's time,

Time to crawl in your den,

Slow your breathing and

hibernate for the winter.

The weather has cooled,

The wind's icy cold,

The snows are coming today

To blanket your winter home.

I found for you, the perfect place

To slowly decelerate your pace,

Rest, Sleep, We will see you again

We will see you in the spring.

OK, I know, that was rather corny but oh well~~~

Bill has been at it again.

This time he built a time-saving, back-saving bunk.

A bunk for stick firewood for the cabin.

It works great. We fill it with a trailer load of hardwood tops,

cut them a foot long for the pot-bellied stove,

Zip, Zip, Pile, Pile, and we are done.

Of all the things my dear has come up with,

This one is a keeper.

Whatever works.

Whatever saves our aging backs and bones.

We will keep this one and build another when this one falls by the wayside, tired as we.

I know, we have been making firewood all year.

It's what we do to stay warm and we have even sold a cord or few.

We are under a wet snowstorm warning for today so we are grateful to have wood for the fire. We couldn't afford to fill the fuel tank this year so at least we have what God gave us to keep the fires burning.

I just realized that I do not need another sweater or a new pair of jeans.

I know how to sew, patch and mend, I know how to knit and crochet. I have plenty of fabric and yarns. I will re-use, re-purpose.

All I need for the winter, is to burn what's freely lying on our forest floor for warmth,

Eat what has filled our freezer and pantry shelves from harvesting our own gardens. We have been blessed with venison, partridge, fish, chicken and pork to nourish our bodies. We will share with our family.

We have our Bible to fill our lost souls with His word, and

Hugs. Hugs from our loved ones fulfill all, whether in person or from afar. We feel the warm embrace.

Find your hug.

Find your warmth.

Stay safe.

God Bless You All

BlessYourHearts

Carvers to Pumpkin Heads

2011-10-28T10:24:00.002-05:00

Look what's going on at Grandma's house~~~

Yep, it's that time again for pumpkin carving and Freight Nite---eeeek!

Our little Grandloves are turning into

Pumpkin Heads.

They sure love getting their hands full of the slippery, slimy guts of their future creations.

They sure have done a fine job of lighting the way to the door...

for now they sit in front of the door facing the inside for them to enjoy, but

come Halloween, they will line the pathway to the treats. Trick or Treat everyone.

I opt for the treat, but I know a few tricks are in store.

Have a safe weekend but have a blast.

(I sure am doing the Happy Dance. I finally found my misplaced camera...phew!)

BlessYourHearts

Where? Where?

2011-10-20T13:43:00.003-05:00

Have you ever been a victim of illusion?

Sometimes while just driving along on the country roads, side roads, your county roads, logging roads, abandoned railroads, oh, it's endless where you can go with the right vehicle. Anyway, sometimes, you are fortunate to see wildlife.

Well, I hate it when someone will say, " Did you see that deer?," and you did not? It happens to me all the time. I have quite an eye for the wilds, but when my eyes just don't ' get it ' or badly deceive me, it gets frustrating.

This first deer was an easy-see.

But, some of the upcoming ones, were a bit tougher. Keep in mind, that looking through the camera lens catches them by movement or full lens.

Once you zoom in, Unless you have already got him in sight, it can get tricky. Only after taking the shot and viewing the picture, do you see the flash in their eyes ~ sometime.

Enjoy the ride. I won't hold it against you if you click on the pictures to enlarge them, simply for location, of course. Some are dead give-aways. YOU have the advantage here.

I'm looking at you.

Peek~~~

How many deer do You see?

Here's one of those give-away easy sightings.

Now that you have a trained eye, this fawn should be a give-in.

I come from a long, long line of outdoor sportsmen and women. Though I no longer hunt wild game, there is one thing my parents taught me that I have never forgotten. They said that the easiest way to see deer, etc. in heavy brush or way off in the distance, was to look for a horizontal shape. Unless it's a log or half-fallen tree, it looks out of place in the woods. It made sense, and besides, it works.

So, the next time someone says, look at that deer, it's right there, or that turkey or partridge, you will spot it much easier. Anything that matches the terrain is hard to spot, no matter what, but folks will be amazed as to how good you are at spotting a feast for the eyes. Once it moves, you no longer will get the credit due you for being the first to see the wildlife .

Take a ride. The deer are moving with the weather, the rut, the need to fill their hunger. There are still bear who have not hibernated and elk roaming about if you live far enough north. (Game farms don't count.)

Enjoy the ride. " Keep your eyes peeled.," as my Daddy would say, and have a great time. Be the first! Drive with care and ~

BlessYourHeart

In Preparation

2011-10-13T07:28:00.004-05:00

It's here. It's in the air.

It's preparation time.

The birds are relishing in the last of the warm sunshine on their breasts.

The shadows are getting longer, the days, shorter.

( Please, click any picture for a closer look, and twice for a greater feast for the eyes. )

The Warblers, like this wee one on the welcome mat, are flying with the Bluebirds, I'm sure to warmer branches, warmer homes. Who can blame them, for they instinctively know that northcentral WI has bitter cold and snow-covered, long winters.

Sometimes, even in late Sept. and certainly in Oct., it is not uncommon to see waters covered in thin sheets of ice. Soon, as soon as the cold fronts come in to stay, ice will be impossible to penetrate for fresh drinks, leaving only springs to quench thirst, and snow, oh, that ' s ' word.

So while there are still a few warmer days and nights, the birds take one last splash in the birdbaths before flocking for their flights southward.

"Come on in, the water's fine."

Mallards preen themselves and bask in the last of the rays of sunshine.

Our year-round residents are filling their bellies with food and water almost constantly this time of the year in ' Readiness! '

Even the winter-hardy birds like Mr. Bluejay, fill their crops with corn wherever they can find it. It will keep them warm.

The squirrels have been so busy gathering and storing mushrooms, seeds, corn, acorns to sustain them throughout the coming blizzards.

They must be little 'scatter-brains,' as they easily loose track of where they've hidden their treasures.

"Now, where did I put that acorn? I thought it was right here~~~hmph!"

I'm always impressed as to how compatible the forest animals and birds are. This is one of the reasons I love to sit and gaze out my windows at the cabin. It's amazing what you will see. It is not at all uncommon to see the deer, rabbits, partridge, squirrels, chipmunks, several song birds, even the raccoon, congregate in the same area, just for a chance at a free buffet of corn, apples and sunflower seeds.

Do you know how difficult it is to catch a small bird on the wing with your lens? Thanks to trail cameras, it's much easier. The Bluejays stay, but~~~

Fly away Bluebird. It's getting cooler by the hour. The rain is coming down hard and steady and promises of more. I do hope the Bluebirds take flight soon, as they have been flocking together for a couple of weeks already. They are a sight to see during their preparation for migration. We noticed that they also have been checking out the Bluebird houses for their return in the spring. But, for now, one last rest on the Sugar Maple branch overlooking a favored nest box feels so good.

I hope you enjoyed the migration preparation in our back yard and at the cabin. We actually only caretake for the birds and animals, for the forest belongs to them. It's a privilege to be part of their world.

Thanks for stopping by on your busy day.

and

BlessYourHeart

Week Two of VaCaTion

2011-10-10T08:45:00.004-05:00

Well Hello There!

Week Two of our vacation was spent mainly at the cabin.

We watched the wildlife,

enjoyed the warmth of a cozy fire

and

candlelight~

we played cribbage after every meal~

loved the rustle of the leaves while

bringing in the firewood for the potbelly stove,

we sat quietly on the deck after dark,

listening to the creek ramble on~

and the owl~

R&R included reading,

pencil play~

journaling and crochet~

riding side-saddle on the tractor~

ready the hunting tent for this falls bow hunt~

We enjoyed the giggles and clowning of 4 of our

GrandLoves, and their friends~

as they and their Dad's visited over the weekend.

It was the end of a relaxing week at the cabin~

as we sat around the campfire and

dreamed of the Next trip to the cabin.

Hope you all had a wonderful week.

and

BlessYourHearts

Week One of VaCa

2011-10-04T09:42:00.006-05:00

Above All,

Look Up

Enjoy the Scenery

Enjoy the Stay

Be Awed by the Beauty

The Magic

The Mystery

Have some Yukons and Pontiacs

Take a Hike

Fall a Dead Tree for Heat but~

Beware! The Hornets

and the Bear Prints on the Door

Pick some Pumpkins

Hunt and Hike with your boys

Show them the Joy

A-Maze them with their names in Leaves

Work

Foam the Deck Clean

While the Sun still Shines

Mark some Dead Hardwoods for next years Fires in the Stove

Stain and Seal that Cleaned Deck

Find December's Christmas Tree

Enjoy the Ride

tho bumpy and on the tractor wheel

So MUCH Better Way to Go

NOW, Onward to Week Two

And

BlessYourHearts

So Busy, So Little Time

2011-09-27T10:18:00.002-05:00

Working with the work horses this week and next

Will allow little time for what needs to be done

On my end.

Until later

BlessYourHearts

Comfort

2011-09-20T08:16:00.004-05:00

Comfort~

I find comfort in many things

during harvest season~

right here in our own country corner.

Food~

Who doesn't find comfort in food~

Hearty food, like venison stew. Everything

coming directly out of our gardens~

directly from the toil of our soil~

our backs and hands ~

even the meat already tenderized from the

garden it grazed on late last fall.

In the slow cooker it goes.

The best part of this meal was sharing it~

with two of our boys~

Comfort food from God of Heaven.

Chocolate Zuchinni Cake bakes in the oven~

providing scents throughout the house.

Comfort of no other kind~

The last of the tomatoes have been picked~

ripening in boxes

awaiting sauces, stewing, canning and salsas.

A few more jars have been filled~

hearing the ' ping ' of their seals assuring

they hold the freshness of the hour they were preserved!

~Comfort~

Finally, the perfect neck rest,

back support, good book,

Blanket~

Aww, Comfort!

:e)

We cannot forget what awaits----

the Grandloves were eyeing up these lil fellas~

in anticipation of Oct. fun.

Be still, my heart!

They find 'comfort' here.

It's all the little things!

~Comfort~

Now, there is still so much fall work to do around the place so

now I must get ' uncomfortable ' and put my back into more lifting and planting. More cooking and cleaning.

More organizing and filing.

More~until I can relax in my easy chair with that good book

after the sun sets once again.

Find your comfort zone, what ever that may be.

I'd love to read all about it.

Until then,

BlessYourHeart

Killing Frost/Killing Time

2011-09-18T20:42:00.004-05:00

What a frosty couple of mornings we had just before the weekend.

NO, That is NOT the 'S' word stuff, it is FROST!

The sun trying to melt it off early in the morning, was rather pretty.

I can't say I'm looking forward to the long cold winters we usually have, but I didn't mind the help cleaning out the gardens to get ready for it.

Another couple more pails of ripe Plum Tomatoes produced~

half a dozen quarts of canned tomatoes and freshly made tomato soup to go with our toasted cheese sandwiches....oh, my, so good.

My garden helpers moved from one garden to another,

gettin'er'done!

A bucket full of Buttercup (my favorite) and Butternut Squash,

a variety of gourds and a few pumpkins for the punkins'.

the last of the Beet Greens, another favorite of the family~

Cylindra Beets so large that they were as long__________

as the clothes basket was wide...

That center beet also was as long and wide as Andy's size 14 boot~

but still unbelievably and naturally sweet, all 16 quarts of them!

It was a pitiful year for onions, oh so

small and few~

the squash and pumpkins are safe from any more

killing frost in the barn until I can get to them~

tomorrow~~~after more canning.

We are finally winding down.

The only thing left in the gardens, are

potatoes,

carrots,

chard,

more and more and more

tomatoes,

and my Rosemary plant that needs protection.

Soon,

soon I will be able to get back to the needs of the house,

a few painting projects,

chairs to refinish and a couple of trunks.

Soon.

until next time,

thanks for stopping and making my day.

Do take time to enjoy the fall that is in the air,

and

BlessYourHeart

OneAndAll

Woolen Socks Provide

2011-09-16T06:14:00.004-05:00

Way back when my man was of teen age~

his Mama knit him gray woolen socks with red stripes.

To keep him warm on his run to school~

and his annual fall hunts for deer & squirrel~

But most important to him,

his socks warmed his toes while he cared for the

hundreds of rabbits he raised and sold to the local IGA~

His way to help keep his family's bellies from growling.

He wears those very same socks still~

On every fall hunt for deer and partridge,

to feed his family to keep our bellies from growling.

The socks wore holes in the heels once again~

So finally, using matching yarn,

I knit patches and carefully placed them where~

the holes once wore the wool thin.

My Man now has warm socks for this fall's hunt

and not a knot will he feel.

The yarn is wound throughout the patch in

such a way that finding the beginning and

the end of it, is virtually impossible.

This, for My Man the Provider!

~Grapes~

From the vines of dear Uncle Bob,

came multiple clumps of Concord grapes that needed attention.

~So~

With many grapes,

Make Jelly!

And, Oh it is delicious~

That's all folks~

I'll be back after a restful weekend

catching up with the adventures of

school-age Grandloves.

Have a very merry time yourselves.

Take time to enjoy the fall colors if they have reached your area.

If not, take a northern drive.

We have been having one frosty night after another so the leaves

are already turning brilliant shades of red, yellow and orange.

Bring on the fall. Breathe the damp air, the wet leaves as you shuffle your hikers through the forest trails.

Watch out for the deer as you drive,

as they already are being seen more often crossing roads.

Stop at a farmer's market and enjoy their organic produce~

Buy a pumpkin!

Bake a pie~

~Thank God for Providing~

BlessYourHeart

Great GRATE etc.

2011-09-14T07:03:00.005-05:00

The moon rising behind the trees reminded me of a day 31 yrs. ago on the 13th of Sept.

It was the same moon that shone itself large and orange

as we drove the night of our wedding.

I cannot believe it's been that long ago~

sometimes it seems like yesterday!

Check out this great GRATE that my brother gifted us with last night in celebration of our upcoming fireplace.

That, my friends, will come later because, as Bill always says,

" Don't rush me."

He always keeps his promises tho, so we will see how long this project takes this time. I will thank him in advance.

Do you think that will nudge him along?

Thanks Eric, the grate is awesome ;)

I looked all over for my blankets that I use to cover my tomatoes~

they belong in the old dresser in the barn~

not there!

Maybe they were used and moved to the garage~

not there!

On checking in the loft of the barn~

I was reminded of all the ' projects' waiting for my attention~

Does anyone have a need for lights that used to shine over the high school football field? I still remember the day the boys brought them home saying they were going to use them at the cabin~

NOT on our dime~

There are six of these waiting for you~

I love old iron, like the center of an old wagon wheel~

how about a horse~

all he needs is one more spring to hold him back on his

bouncing rack~

the sample spring is still in the truck, but

Don't rush me, he says.

One of these days, the old wooden pulley will hold

hanging planters. I have two of them.

Bill needs to get them down for me, but

Don't rush me, he says.

I love the look of the loft ceiling complete with it's

hay hook pulley. The hooks are around here~

~somewhere~

I say the same thing lately~

Don't rush me~

these two tables, one oak, one not,

wait to be refinished~

The oak leg is in my potting cabinet~

~somewhere~

it's been awhile since I've climbed the wall ladder to the loft~

I'd forgotten about this trunk~

~soon~

and this old enamel painted chair~

let's not forget the old ice chest~

the missing caster is still on the counter~

~I know exactly where~

~sooner than later~

grrrrrrrrrr~

there is so much to do~

see ya~

I have so much to do~

Have a warm day~

BlessYa

Good Days Coming

2011-09-13T07:04:00.003-05:00

First, Bill says,

" Thank You for all the Birthday Wishes and Kind Words "

He had another eye appt. yesterday, another injection,

good news and bad.

The good first~his good eye has stabilized-no more loss since the laser.

The bad news~his shootin' eye has some permanent loss that the injections and laser were unable to correct. There is still hope for what is not lost. Keep your appt.s and do your best to maintain and control diabetes. Better yet, do what you can to avoid it at all costs. Loss of your vision is horrifying, to say the least. I think I'd rather not hear.

Most of all, keep your spirits high`

I see daily, this attitude, it is what has kept Bill going~

doing all he can while he can.

There is promise!

For today, the Morning Glories are ' looking ' gorgeous this morning.

They are not going to last long, as the weatherman says it's going to freeze and freeze hard in our area the rest of the week.

I will cover a few things, as the weekend promises the 70's after the

deep freeze. Maybe it's best to carry in the rest of the tomatoes.

The sky, tho beautiful with the sun touching the top of the clouds

one minute, suddenly looked~

Menacing and Mean the next~

I cannot say I like waking to this~

Harvesting in the wind and rain does not make a happy me~

oh, but look, the sun just came out!

Having to travel an hour and more to get special care for eyes,

means an opportunity to also look for things we need that

our lil town does not carry~

(that is just about everything unless you want to give up

your last dime)~

Our search this trip, was for Mom.

Sorry to report~

we did not find gaskets for her pressure cooker and canner~

so we will search the wild, wide web~

We did, however, find the instructions of how to get her

screen out of her new door~

Now she can wash the window and see out, clearly,

once again.

Oh, she will be so happy!

We took another route home, a beautiful ride between lakes.

When we go back in Oct.

maybe the leaves will still be colored throughout those

winding roads. What a pretty drive.

So much for this morning.

I have plants to bring inside~

gardens to empty~

and more bedding to wash and dry in the fresh air~

for there is nothing more tranquil to sleep under~

than freshly aired linens.

Fill many busy-bee hours~

preparing for cooler days!

and

BlessYourHeart

A Bittersweet Time

2011-09-10T20:36:00.002-05:00

The fall of the year is upon us

as we see the deer gazing~

past the garden full of ripening tomatoes

looking directly at me~

knowing full well, that I was following her

through the lens of my camera~

Perhaps the dying old oak tree

will provide a bit more shelter from my sight, she thinks~

Passing the goldenrod and the sunny flowers

that bow to the ground from the wind~

as the last of the roses perfume the yard

near the barn~

beyond the cold white of the zebra grasses that

soon will be white with frost and then

~'snow'~

a blanket to protect~

The past weeks have been troubling and difficult.

The fall of the year is bittersweet~

Pray for peace.

BlessYourHearts

Disconnect~~~

2011-09-07T07:41:00.002-05:00

Is it one of those days?

I was fine this morning~

Then~

for no reason known to me~

The tears came as if a flood~

Jump~

Sometimes it is necessary to~

Disconnect~

I am so out of here for the morning~

No work~

No more work~

Coffee with Mel

Coffee with Mom

Home~

to reconnect again~

Have a great day

BlessYa

Done!

2011-09-01T07:29:00.003-05:00

Squeezing Apples makes~

Applesauce~

Done!

Applesauce then, can easily be turned into~

Apple Butter~

Done!

Blackberry Jelly~

in progress~

Sugar is nearly gone~

Jelly Jars are nearly all filled~

There will be no more jams and jellies to fill my shelves~

When this bag of sugar and pectin are gone~

This ' kitchen witch ' is done~

Done doing her duty to fill the shelves with sweet treats~

No one under this roof will lack for~

sumptuous spreads on their toasted `breads!~

Nuff Said~

Have a wonderful day!

and

BlessYourHeart~

Done!

Rest?

2011-08-30T19:53:00.009-05:00

(Feel Free to Click any photo for an enlarged view)

God had Blessed Our Travels

We are home again, safe and sound~

Threatening skies did not deter us as we drove past the pines,

over the warm waters of late summer,

past farm ponds~

quickly greening from cooling fall air~

and field after field of corn,

the sky continues to darken~

suddenly, miles have passed~

the sky brightens over the round hay bales

drying on green, green fields.

They must have had rain~

The horses were already having their supper~

as we slowed down past the grove

of Black Walnut trees~

everywhere, there were more~

to the East~

the West~

the South~

of our daughter's home~

Black Walnut Trees~

Pine, large pine~

Oak, virgin Oak~

hundreds of years old~

and

Trumpet Vine of orange, red and yellow hues~

One for me and one for you~

climbing profusely up the grain shed~

smack in the midst of the horses playground.

So heavy are the vine~

that the roof is showing signs of distress.

I will fix the roof, he says,

But oh, be careful of the Trumpets!, she declares.

Whatchadoin? Austin's Windy horse wonders~

And then there is a 'pony' of a different kind~

Just shortened again a week prior~

So as not to sit on her locks~

And a congregation of turkeys~

ten little ones and Mom and Pop~

spiking the curiosity of the horses.

A mom showing her little one his picture~

Curious fella approves Mom's catch of himself~

Little brother feeds sisters

Sophie and Cocoa~

while his Windy looks on~

Big brother Christopher can't decide~

trucks or hoops~

Ah, Trucks it is!

Not a drop of rain~

But mountains of fun!

Grandma and Grandpa return home

ready for another week that is already half past~

Grandpa has already got plans for his new welder!

Of course! There is Always another project going on~

Syrus Lee is so happy to see us home again~

and has news!

There are kittens in the barn again!

3 of them have been spotted~

But now to tame the feline!

It's been such a busy time~

We never seem to rest~

Even when away for a short time~

We never seem to rest~

It does not matter~

We have been greatly blessed!

And~

BlessYourHeart