when morning dawned. . .

When morning dawned the sun shone bright,
And then rare beauty gleamed
Wherever sunlight beamed,
For countless gems flashed in the light -
The jewels of snow and ice.
The crystal light shone through the trees
From dainty pearls that hung
With great tenacity - and these
Were lovelier than mere words can portray.
(Annette May Jones)

With the shorter daylight hours of winter upon us the sun didn't rise this morning until 8 a.m. and what a beautiful site it was! We still have all the icicles from Thursday's freezing rain so I took the opportunity to take some more pictures before today's sunshine melted it all away. The sunlight reflecting the ice on the giant cottonwoods was truly "lovelier than mere words can portray".

Wintery weather. . .

Whether the weather be mild or whether the weather be not,
Whether the weather be cold or whether the weather be hot,
We'll weather the weather whatever the weather,
Whether we like it or not.
(kindergarten weather rhyme)

Today is the first day of winter and we have what us Minnesotans refer to as a "wintery mix" to show for it. Let's see...rain, drizzle, sleet & snow all on a December day...yup, I'd say that's winter alright!

Winter is the start of cold and flu season with all the sniffles and runny noses that accompany them. Of course, my garden visitors are no exception since they all welcomed winter with a runny nose. Smile - we'll have sunshine by the weekend.

Sing Noel. . .

Sing we all Noel, hear the music all around.
Sing we all Noel, let the joy resound.

Noel, noel, noel, let our voices rise
As we sing a song of praise and lift our music to the skies.
Noel, noel, noel, sing it loud and clear
So that all on earth may know our joy this season of the year.


You have to admit these little guys do look a little like they are singing "loud and clear". With only a few more days left until Christmas I am listening to all the Christmas CD's and they bring such a smile to my face, now if only I could carry a tune to sing along.
As you can see from previous posts, I love Christmas lights. This one is the new addition to the garden this year - after seeing one like it in Duluth last year I put the snowflakes on my "wish list" and Nathan & Jeff gave them to me for gifts.

May your Christmas be full of joy & light. . .

Do you see what I see . . .

Said the night wind to the little lamb,
"Do you see what I see?
Way up in the sky, little lamb,
Do you see what I see?
A star, a star, dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite,
With a tail as big as a kite."


















The squirrel was back again checking out my "Do you see what I see" flag before munching away half of a feeder of sunflower seeds and moving on. Where are those watch dogs?

Looking out the window at the squirrel I noticed this heart pattern on the frozen pond which must have been made by the wind & leaves. Nature makes for some beautiful sites to see!

Candy Cane Lane. . .

Here comes Santa Claus,
Here comes Santa Claus,
right down Candy Cane Lane

Wait -
maybe I should be quoting
"I'm dreaming of a White Christmas"


When I set up "candy cane lane" as a new addition to my outdoor Christmas decorations, I never imagined that they would not be sticking out of a blanket of white snow at this time of year. December has been very mild and things are looking pretty brown out there, but I'm not complaining. No snowy messes tracking in the house, no yucky roads to drive on and no bone chilling cold - but OK maybe a little white dusting for Christmas wouldn't be all that bad. . .

This pesky squirrel and all of his buddies are taking advantage of my Christmas spirit and raiding the bird feeders daily. If Santa's making his list and checking it twice I'd say they are definitely on the naughty not nice side of the list . . .they make such a huge mess, damage my feeders and scare away the songbirds. Gabi & Ruger need to spend less time in their warm bed and more time out hunting squirrels!

Precious memories. . .

Hang this on your
Christmas tree,
To remember how
I used to be.
To remind you of me
Now and then,
And bring fond memories
Back again.
(unknown author)







I'm a sentimental fool. . .I admit it! Yesterday, I spent almost 5 hours decorating my Christmas tree. Is it a perfect "decorator tree" like those in the stores and that's why it took so long? No, it's a lifetime of memories and each ornament takes me back to the person or place from where it came. Starting at the top is the angel (with star halo) that hung on my parents tree as I grew up. 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 1975), 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. More ornaments harking back to my childhood are the velvet toy soldier that my dad bought me on the way to visit my new baby niece born on Christmas Day, 1967. Behind it is a yarn pom pom ornament that my mom made in homemaker's club in the early 1970's all the more precious since she has been gone since 1977 and dad in 1998. There are the ornaments added from Jeff & my travels (wonderful souveniers from each vacation), the handmade ones I have crafted over the years, and the loving gifts from friends and family. A new tradition is the "pickle" which gets hidden among the branches and the lucky person to find it gets a sweet surprise but my favorite of all are the ones my kids made in their elementary years. There are two gingerbread cookie men crafted in Mrs. Seeman's kindergarten classes in 1984 & 1988, two laminated 2nd grade photos in hand colored ornaments from Mr. Runia's classes and the faded construction paper ornaments signed with early uneven printed handwriting. Each ornament is such a wonderful memory. . .5 hours went by just too quickly!
P.S. This year, Benjamin picked our biggest tree ever. . .in the stand it is 8 ft tall and almost 5 feet across!

the perfect tree. . .

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
O tree of green, unchanging.
Your boughs so green in summertime,
Do brave the snow of wintertime.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
O tree of green, unchanging.
(translation of the old German carol, O Tannenbaum)








With balmy temps of 40 degrees, no snow and only an hour to go before sunset, Benjamin, Jeff & I set out to find the perfect Christmas tree. This was Benjamin's 4th year of choosing our tree and he knows what he is doing. First, you spend a little time looking for wildlife & bird's nests in the trees and then you find the most "Charlie Brown" looking tree that you can find to see how Marsha reacts.








Finally he gets serious and checks for bare spots, straight trunks and height. It has to be over Jeff's head to qualify. He does ask our opinions but the final decision is always his.








This year he did the sawing and of course helps Jeff drag it back to the pickup. Now it's up to me to haul it in and decorate and invite Benjamin back over to show him how he picked out the most perfect tree ever and have him find the small pickle ornament we hide amongst the branches.

We are thankful to have such a fun and wonderful nephew in our lives.

It's beginning. . .

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Ev'rywhere you go;
Take a look in the five and ten glistening once again
With candy canes and silver lanes aglow.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Toys in ev'ry store
But the prettiest sight to see is the holly that will be
On your own front door.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Ev'rywhere you go;
There's a tree in the Grand Hotel, one in the park as well,
The sturdy kind that doesn't mind the snow.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas;
Soon the bells will start,
And the thing that will make them ring is the carol that you sing
Right within your heart.
(one of my favorite Christmas carols)

It's beginning. . .not only to look a lot like Christmas but the wedding planning! I spent the last 3 days in Duluth with Jayme trying on wedding dresses and it was such a wonderful mother/daughter experience. It's true. . .you know when you try on "the one" as there are smiles all around the room (bride, mom, friends & consultants). It brought tears to Laurie, her future mother-in-law so I think we have confirmation that Jayme is going to be a beautiful bride!
I love Duluth at this time of year - it is a city full of lights with many areas decorated beautifully for the season. An annual excursion for us is this house on Park Point. She has a huge lot right on Lake Superior and has the whole yard covered in lights. You are invited to get out of your cars and walk around the "wonderland" on paths lit with candlelight in 5 gallon ice sculptures. She has many areas set up with themes and a lighted walkway to the beach, a firepit to warm yourself outside with and a warming house with a wall of windows to enjoy a cup of hot cider & cookies and a visit with her. She is a wonderful lady with lots of Christmas spirit and does this as her gift to the community and this year we also enjoyed visiting with her grandson/helper.

In this season of miracles, as her sign reads. . .Believe

Smiles. . .

Keep a smile upon your face
and happy thoughts in your mind.
Always look for the good in others;
It's the greatest treasure you'll find.

Try spreading a little love and joy
to all those you see.
It doesn't cost you a thing;
Everything done for love is free.

Try practicing a little restraint
when others make you mad.
Lend a listening ear to those
who might be down or sad.

So always try to wear a smile
and keep a happy face.
Enjoy the gifts God gave to you.
Live life at a slower pace.
(Shirley Hile Powell)

I'm trying to live life at a slower pace and enjoying every minute of it. I said "no" to a few time robbing requests and found out that you can say "no" and things still work out especially if you say "no" with a smile on your face. Tis the busy season of shopping/baking/cleaning/entertaining all things that can rob a smile from anyone's face but if done with a smile they are easier (ask me, I tried the Friday after Thanksgiving shopping this year). I hope you enjoy this poem - it is such a good one :-) These little greedy guys always bring a smile to my face. Notice one even figured out how to pick up 2 peanuts at a time. . .they empty 3 big handfuls of peanuts in around 20 minutes.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The turkey is a funny bird
Its head goes bobble-bobble;
And all he knows is just one word...
And that is



GOBBLE-GOBBLE!

The Woodpecker

His bill an auger is,
His head, a cap and frill.
He laboreth at every tree,--
A worm his utmost goal.
(Emily Dickinson)










I have a new garden visitor who has been visiting the garden for about a week. A quick check of the bird book says he is a "Red-bellied Woodpecker" though I haven't seen a red belly at all, just a redhead (maybe he is related to Woody) :-)

A sister is one of the nicest things. . .

A sister is one of the nicest things that can happen to anyone.
She is someone to laugh with and share with, to work with and join in the fun.
She is someone who helps in the rough times and knows when you need a warm smile.
She is someone who will quietly listen when you just want to talk for awhile.
A sister is dear to you always, for she is someone who is always a part of all the favorite memories that you keep very close to your heart.
(Author Unknown)


"There can be no situation in life in which the conversation of my dear sister will not administer some comfort to me."
(Lady Mary Worley Montagu)

"How do people make it through life without a sister?" (Sara Corpening)

Voices in the garden of life. . .

"When the voices of children are heard on the green,
And laughing is heard on the hill,
My heart is at rest within my breast,
And everything else is still."
(William Blake)

I had the pleasure of watching my very talented nephew and niece, Zach and Emily, in their high school production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat this weekend. They sang, they danced and they acted out many parts moving quickly around the stage. (sorry, but with no flash photography they became blurred on slow shutter speed shots). Grandma and I listened, laughed and smiled during the whole performance.

Younger brother, Jacob, was in the children's chorus and the youngest siblings, Rachel & Joshua, were very attentive audience members for all 3 performances. I look forward to seeing more of this family's talents in the coming years!

Daddy's little girl. . .

You're the end of the rainbow, my pot of gold,
You're daddy's little girl to have and to hold.
A precious gem is what you are,
You're mommy's bright and shining star.
You're the spirit of Christmas, my star on the tree,
You're the Easter Bunny to mommy and me;
You're sugar, you're spice, you're everything nice,
And you're daddy's little girl.

You're the treasure I cherish, so sparkling and bright;
You were touched by the Holy and beautiful light.
Like angels that sing, a heavenly thing,
And you're daddy's little girl.
(Michael Buble lyrics)

Daddy's little girl loved to play "bride" (even when her dress was sewn from old curtains like Scarlett's), come into our bedroom to snuggle on those early mornings when she was the first one up and tell us "I'm never growing up". But grow up she did. . .into a beautiful (both inside and out) young woman who fell in love with a wonderful guy named Scott. Last night we got "the call" full of joyful tears as she told us her wonderful news that Scott had asked her to marry him. And yes, he did ask "daddy's" permission first :-)




We are so happy and excited for both of them and look forward to watching them start a new chapter in their lives. We haven't lost daddy's little girl, just gained a second son who has been a wonderful addition to our family for awhile now. Love you both :-)

November sunset

That the sky is brighter than the earth means little unless the earth itself is appreciated and enjoyed.
(Helen Keller)

The last five days of wonderful warm weather have been simply awesome. I've managed to get most of my procrastinated chores done and also spent some time just enjoying the sunshine. Today, I was outside putting up Christmas lights when a high, dark cloud cover arrived just before sunset. Once the sun set the clouds lit up in shades of orange, pink and purple, it was a beautiful sight. I know living in a town or city has some advantages but I would never want to miss my rural MN sunsets.
The first photo is facing west, the second photo is facing southwest and the third is facing south. I've been asked several times if I "photoshop" any of my pictures. The answer is NO, I'm not that computer literate :-) What the camera captures is what you see and tonight's sunset really was that pretty.

A cradle song. . .

Golden slumbers kiss your eyes,
Smiles awake you when you rise.
Sleep, pretty wantons, do not cry.
And I will sing a lullaby:
Rock them, rock them, lullaby.
(Thomas Dekker)





Alexis didn't feel well yesterday so she spent the day with me rather than going to daycare. She played "babies" all day with a cradle and rocking chair made 20 plus years ago by her Grandpa Steve for her cousin Jayme. Grandpa, it might be time to dust off those woodworking tools. . .






The dolls were well fed, rocked to sleep, taken to the window to enjoy the birds and changed quite frequently. All skills showing she is ready to help with Diego or Orlando :-)

huge, yellow moon. . .

Autumn ends the harvest
And breathes old thanks-filled tunes.
A fruitful, swollen, storing time,
It hangs huge, yellow moons.
(Mike Logan)












These past two nights we have been blessed with a beautiful full moon. On Sunday it appeared yellow/orange as it rose but on Saturday it was a cool white. I chose this poem because of the "yellow moon" line but also because we are thankful that most of our farmer friends have their crops out and are finishing the plowing for the year. The landscape has returned to flat, black fields.




What beautiful evenings and absolutely gorgeous weather this weekend had compared to our cold temps last week. I spent both afternoons outside and with the sun setting at 5 pm I watched the full moon rise (the sunset wasn't bad either). With this week of "indian summer" predicted, I'll get my fish out...my windows washed and maybe start hanging the garden christmas lights (don't worry, I won't turn them on until after Thanksgiving).





Take time to watch the sun set and the moon rise...you won't regret it!

Cool drink of water. . .

The ice was here,
the ice was there,
The ice was all around:
It cracked and growled, and roared and howled,
Like noises in a swound!
(Samuel Taylor Coleridge)




You know it is cold when moving water freezes! With a temperature of 10 degrees this morning there is ice on the pond and ice on the fountain. While it may be a pretty sight to see it is not good news for me as I still have to get my fish out for the winter. The weather service is predicting a warmup next week so hopefully all this ice melts so I can get them in and not have to resort to a heater.




The frozen pond surface didn't bother this woodpecker he just "pecked" until he got a drink.