Christmas Cards...

Like lovely greetings from the heart
They bring a special cheer...
The cards we write and always send
Around this time of year.
They picture such delightful scenes
In colors bright and gay,
A host of all the many things
So dear on Christmas Day.
They are a token of our love
Across the snowy miles;
Some travel near, some travel far
To bring forth happy smiles.
Christmas cards are wonderful,
Containing warmth and cheer.
We welcome them with happy hearts
And always hold them dear.
(LaVerne Larson)

It has been a busy week so I have not taken any new photos. Instead, I thought I would go into the archives and share Mother Nature's Christmas Spruce and some of the beautiful ornaments only she could come up with!

Remember...

Remember
This December,
That love weighs more than gold!
(Josephine Dodge Daskam Bacon)


I think the other little birds felt the bluejays were getting too much attention so here is a little red breasted nuthatch enjoying some frosty peanuts. Today is a busy day for me so there is no time to go out and take new photos, so I'm sharing another macro of those gorgeous "frost leaves". Of the 1000's of photos I have taken in the backyard this last shot is still my favorite. It was taken about 5 years ago with the old 35mm so I scanned the print (so quality is not as good) but I just love the frozen leaf impressions on the pond. I have looked to recapture this shot every year since but I guess it was a "once in a lifetime" shot. Cottonwood leaves had fallen on the surface ice and frozen...the next day the wind blew the actual leaf off leaving these impressions...amazing!

Crystals amongst the blue...

Look over yonder what do you see
The sun is a-risin' most definitely
A new day is comin' people are changin'
Ain't it beautiful crystal blue persuasion

Better get ready gonna see the light
Love, love is the answer and that's all right
So don't you give up now so easy to find
Just look to your soul and open your mind

Crystal blue persuasion, mm-hmm
It's a new vibration
Crystal blue persuasion, crystal blue persuasion
Maybe tomorrow when He looks down
Every green field and every town
All of his children every nation
There'll be peace and good brotherhood
Crystal blue persuasion, Crystal blue persuasion.....
(Tommy James and the Shondells lyrics)

The hoar frost was so beautiful against the bright blue sky...on closer inspection it looked like this...
When I went in even closer I was amazed to see that each little frost crystal looked like a miniature glass leaf (definitely worth clicking to enlarge)...I just marvel at God's creations...and look forward to the day when as the lyrics read "all of His children in every nation will have Peace and Brotherhood"
Not made of crystal but another shot of blue...this one coming in for a landing

Winter Wools...

"The leaves fall, the wind blows, and the farm country slowly changes from the summer cottons into its winter wools."
(Henry Beston, Northern Farm)On Wednesday...the trees around Candy Cane Lane definitely were wearing their "winter wools"...
Mother Nature provided more beautiful Christmas trees than any I have just shown you...
a close up of one of the spruce branches...just wait to see the hoar frost I mean "winter wools" shots that I plan to show tomorrow...

Trees...final chapter

Most of all the time I like to think
That all my childish ways
Are but mementos of the past:
Forgotten yesterdays;
But once a year, at Christmas time,
There comes a sudden change,
The years don’t seem to count for much –
I’m just a child again.

The decorated Christmas tree
Adorned with angel’s hair;
A dad and mother, hearts made light,
With all their children there;
Some simple gifts that speak of love,
Each a surprise to bring,
When all things come to my mind –
I’m just a child again.

We’ve all been taught that Christmastime
Is just for girls and boys –
The little tots who like to play
With dolls, and blocks, and toys –
Perhaps it is, but when gay hearts
The Christmas carols sing,
The years don’t mean a thing to me –
I’m just a child again.
(William Washburn)
Last tree, I promise...this one is in the dining room and it is my nostaglia tree. I've told this story before but growing up our family had the angel with star halo on our tree. When I was 18 and moved into my first apartment my mother gave me that tree top for my first tree (as she had a new electric star, all the rage in 1970's), I soon met & fell in love with Jeff and lo and behold his parents had the same angel (sans star) in their nativity set. We are now blessed to have both of them as precious memories of our parents and childhoods (they have the spot of honor at the top of our real tree).
One day I was shopping at a garage sale and what to my wondering eyes did appear...another angel like the one from Jeff's family. Then just for fun I did an ebay search and found that there are a lot of these gals still out there...a little research has found that they are part of the Bradford 1950's collection. Now I look for them in antique stores whereever we go and in 3 years I have only found one more with the star halo, but have added vintage Bradford angels, choir boys, wisemen, Santas & reindeer. Recently, I have discovered reproduction bubble lights and will add them next year. I am such a sentimental old fool and such a "child again" at Christmas (well really all year long) and nostaglic things warm my heart.
Those blue jays are now trained...first thing in the morning they are calling like crazy for their peanuts. So today at -4 below zero I slipped on my boots and ran out in my robe to give them their daily ration. If the saying "freeze your a** off" was true...I think I discovered a sure fire weight loss formula :-)

Trees...part 5

I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December
A magical thing
And sweet to remember:
"We are nearer to Spring
Than we were in September,"
I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December.
(Oliver Herford)

Tree number 5 is the indoor bird tree. I really should not call it a Christmas tree as I leave it up all year long as part of the nature decor in my family room. In fact, about February when someone remarks "you still have your Christmas tree up?" I am known to get more than a little defensive! I love everything about it and it is so "me" so up it stays 365 days of the year...

It has feeders and houses, berry garlands, vines and nests big and small plus dozens of all my favorite birds. Underneath is a collection of stuffed birds that when you squeeze their bellies it plays their "call". I've been known to pick these up on vacation too...a pink galah from Australia and a cactus wren & roadrunner from AZ are front and center. These birds are a favorite of all the visiting nieces and nephews...in fact, Benjamin just quizzed me last Saturday making me turn my back and guess what one he was squeezing. He also questioned me on the id's of all the bird ornaments and then went to the window and identified as many outside as he could...an awesome educational tool for the kids.
Of course, as much as I love this tree it is nothing in comparison to the real bird tree I showed you yesterday. I just love these blue ornaments!

trees...part 4

May the spirit of Christmas
bring you peace,
The gladness of Christmas
give you hope,
The warmth of Christmas
grant you love.
(Author Unknown)

We're back outside today for my 4th Christmas tree. This one is for the birds...literally. Every year I put up this small tree and decorate it with edible food for the birds. Usually it is pine cones stuffed with peanut butter & seeds, wooden ornaments spread with PB and seeds and a garland of love lies bleeding. Last year, I pulled love lies bleeding seedlings all over the garden as they really self seeded so those strands got hung in the back row of trees this year. As for the pinecones and lots of ornaments...ask Gabi & Ruger about those! This year, I moved the pedestal behind the rock and I guess it became accessible to 2 PB loving dogs who jumped up on the rock and picked off every ornament they could reach.



Some well hidden peanuts bring some of nature's prettiest ornaments to it each day.











There's even some fighting over the best place to find them...

and some fun poses as they reach down to grab them.

Trees...part 3

There is a quiet on this winter night, a silence that the soul alone can hear, as if all nature knew and understood the meaning of this Holy time of year.

Tree number 3 is the small little tree in the bay window shining above some of my nativity collection. Simple but beautiful in it's own special way. Directly below it is a framed card with the above text on it.
This card is the last Christmas card we received from Jeff's mom before she passed away. She was famous for signing them "Love you'se always"...you'se her own special word...we miss her and it's always a treasure to pull out the decorations and read "love you'se" in her handwriting once again.

Christmas Blessings...

Trees...part 2

Christmas is forever, not for just one day,
for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away
like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf.
The good you do for others is good you do yourself...
(Norman Wesley Brooks, "Let Every Day Be Christmas," 1976)

The beautiful tree Benjamin picked out on Saturday is up and decorated. Once again it is the most beautiful ever! This Christmas tree like all the others before it is chock full of memories. It is not a "decorator" tree but a reflection of our lives and marriage. Last year in this post I told you about all my sentimental family ornaments.
This year I'll show you just a few of the ornaments from our travels. New this year is the Branson snowman from our Ozarks trip and the cherries and lighthouse from our Door County adventure. I am lucky to be able to travel and some of the favorites shown are from the Black Hills of SD; San Diego, CA; Alaska and Australia. It is so much fun to unpack them all and remember when and where we bought them as we put them up on the tree...I hope there are many more of these kind of ornaments in my future.
"The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page."
(St. Augustine)

Trees...part 1

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.
(Norman Vincent Peale)

I love Christmas trees so I have decided to show them all (I have 6) to you in the next several posts. The beautiful pine Benjamin picked out is now inside and decorated and will be tomorrow's topic but today I thought I would show you the one in the garden gazebo. During the daytime, the juncos and bluejays are frequent visitors as they feed on corn screenings I scatter under it...




but at night the rabbits move in. This is the only time of year...I tolerate them in the garden...it is Christmas after all!

The Little Pine...

It wasn’t very long ago
It stood so straight and tall,
And longed to be a Christmas tree
The fairest of them all.
Its every hope through summer months,
Through cold November’s snow,
Was that it might spend Christmas Eve
‘Neath lights that shine and glow.
But then it seemed time hurried by,
It had that dreadful fear,
It mightn’t be quite big enough
At Christmas time this year.
The others, oh so near at hand
Were larger trees by far,
Their tops were much more sturdy
And could hold a bigger star.
At last December first was here
‘Twas such a lovely sight,
And every branch on every tree
Was decked in lovely white.
Folks chose their trees quite carefully
And took them to their homes;
The little pine was very sad,
For now it stood alone.It seemed that everyone who came
Would pass the small pine by;
They wanted one that was large enough
To touch the ceiling high.
A small tree couldn’t hold the gifts,
Nor could its branches hide
The many little packages
They longed to tuck inside.
Until at last a little boy
With eyes so wondrous bright,
Was quite excited by the tree
That stood within his sight.
He loved the lonesome little pine
And nothing else would do,
‘Twas large enough to please his heart
And quite the fairest, too.Now the little pine felt snug and warm
Despite the wind and cold,
So proud to be a Christmas tree
With lights and toys to hold.
A little boy was just as pleased
With Christmas dreams he planned,
And little pine was loved at last
A child could understand.
(Garnett Ann Schultz)It wouldn't be Christmas without Benjamin coming to pick us out a tree...Thank you so much...we are very pleased and this little pine is loved all the more because you picked it out!

Christmas Wreaths...

Our Christmas wreaths
Are fat and round
Made of woodsy things
We found.
We tied brown cones
Upon the green
And stuck red berries
In between.
Upon the wreath
For our front door
We tied red ribbon from a store.
(author unknown)
a little chickadee enjoying some Christmas spirit around the breakfast table...

Woo-Woo

I'm a big red fire truck long and stout,
When I am needed, I roar and shout.
People love to see me rush about,
Just turn me on and head me out.
(elementary school song sung to I'm a little teapot)
One more photo from Bentleyville. This one I took especially for Ryan who loves fire trucks. Santa was riding in the engine up on the rooftop of the Bentley's home. While I did not see any firetrucks..I did see some red lights in my rear view mirror on the way home from Duluth.
The last 3 hours of the trip allowed me to really look at the beautiful countryside at 55 mph.
I thought these horses grazing in a snow covered pasture were worth stopping to take a photo.

What a weekend...

Every year I spend the first weekend of December with my daughter Jayme while Jeff is hunting with his brothers. We usually shop till we drop, then check out the some of the spectacular light displays in the area and then shop some more. This year was definitely different as a snowstorm arrived on Saturday. The shopping was kept to a minimum while we stayed warm in her house and worked on some crafts while 10 inches of snow fell outside.On Sunday evening we ventured out to one of my favorite places to get in the Christmas mood Bentleyville which is one family's private wonderland that they open to the community each year. Here we strolled uptown...
and then downtown and all around the huge site filled with beautiful lighted displays.
We stopped at the cookie house for cookies and hot cider and passed by the smore hut and popcorn house...gazed at a row of lighted houses and...
enjoyed winter park.
There are over 600 snowflakes high in the trees which makes it just magical even when your fingers are beginning to numb.
For more photos check out Jayme's blog. Tomorrow morning it is back to home and hopefully clear roads for the 4 hour drive. If it gets stressful, I will have many wonderful memories to relax me of a wonderful weekend with Jayme & Scott and XM radio "holly" channel playing me Christmas music to sing along too...back to the garden on Tuesday.