Resolutions...

It's that time of year to plan those New Year's resolutions...one I'm taking on is an "attitude of gratitude"
I think I've always minded my manners and thanked people...but have not always noticed all the little things around me to be grateful for (I don't know maybe I take them for granted). So in 2008, I'm taking on this advice which I received in a DARE e-newsletter. Start a Gratitude Journal. At the end of each day, write down 3 good things that happened in your life that day. They don't have to be big; it can be as simple as someone holding a door open for you. Keeping a gratitude journal is a great way to develop a positive way of thinking.
Sometimes, I will share one or two of them with you...My #1 today is how thankful I am to be able to see these individual snowflakes...I am sure most have not taken the time to look...this one is definitely worth the "click to enlarge"...who knew?...real snowflakes look just like the fake ones we see everywhere this time of year!

Backyard trees...

Even though most people have packed away their Christmas decorations...I always leave mine out and lit until New Year's Day. J & I both have large families so Christmas lasts awhile for us...this year his side will celebrate tomorrow and mine has extended the season into January so we still have gifts under our tree yet. I really enjoy the lit backyard trees and especially the gazebo one where I scatter food for the birds & rabbits. Here is a little junco enjoying it...
and a lone mourning dove. I have never seen one around here this late in the season but I have seen this guy for a week now.
Once I shut these lights off in a few days...I'll spend the next 4-5 months wishing that the backyard was not so barren and back to looking like this....

"Every gardener knows that under the cloak of winter lies a miracle. . .a seed waiting to sprout, a bulb opening to the light, a bud straining to unfurl. And the anticipation nurtures our dream".
(Barbara Winkler)

Yeah, my brain was thinking more clearly this morning and I figured out out to recapture the old counter...

a new look...

"Just because everything is different doesn't mean anything has changed." (Irene Peter)
With the new year just a few days away I am feeling a need for change so I thought I would try a new look on the blog page...what do you think? I have started reading many fun blogs this year after discovering them through some of your comments. I am also finding out that maybe I am not up to par on "blog etiquette" so with the new look comes a new resolve to respond to all comments. If you comment in the "comments" I will respond there and if you email me...I'll respond from there. At least, I am sure going to try. Maybe...I'll feel the need for change again soon and we'll be back to a green background...who knows...but sometimes change is good because as an unknown author once said... "If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies".

Live life to the fullest...

Yesterday is history, Tomorrow is a mystery...but today is a Gift
that is why it is called the "Present".

These little vintage Napco girls are dated the year of my birth. Today, is my birthday and I spent it at my brother-in-law's funeral who died much too young. The day has been one of reflecting on life and all that is precious in it. Life is short and every day is truly a "gift" and should be lived to the fullest...I found the following passage and would like to share with all of you...such good advice.

Always Live Life to the Fullest

Don't let go of hope,
Hope gives you the strength to keep going
When you feel like giving up.

Don't ever quit believing in yourself,
As long as you believe you can,
You will have reason for trying.

Don't let anyone hold your happiness in their hands,
Hold it in yours, so it will always be within your reach.

Don't measure success or failure by material wealth,
But by how you feel,
Our feelings determine the richness of our lives.

Don't let bad moments overcome you,
Be patient, and they will pass.

Don't hesitate to reach out for help;
We all need it from time to time.

Don't run away from love but towards love,
Because it is your deepest joy.

Don't wait for what you want to come to you.
Go after it with all that you are,
Knowing that life will meet you halfway.

Don't feel like you've lost,
When plans and dreams fall short of your hopes.
Anytime you learn something new,
About yourself or about life,
You have progressed

Don't do anything that takes away,
From your self-respect.
Feeling good about yourself
Is essential to feeling good about life.

Don't ever forget how to laugh,
Or be too proud to cry,
Or too stubborn to smile.

Don't ever forget a friend who truly loves you,
As it could be that friend who is true to your needs.
Don't ever forget who helped you grow as your need
for more seeds may often re-appear.

With all the above, live life to it's fullest....
(Author Unknown)

This Christmas Day...

God Bless You on this Christmas Day
With happiness supreme
And may you gather all the gifts
Of which you ever dream
May all your friends remember you
With sentiment sincere
To add a world of pleasure and
To multiply your cheer
God bless you with the courage to
Pursue each noble guest
And grant this golden Yule will be
By far your happiest
May all the ornaments and lights
Upon the Christmas tree
Reflect the peace and comfort of
Your loving family
May every moment of your life
Seem wonderful and new
And in the year a week away
May all your dreams come true
(James Metcalfe)

Wishing a Blessed Christmas to all my faithful readers. It is amazing to me to watch the counter increase day by day...I know I have a big family but didn't realize how many new friends I would make through this blog. I thank you for checking in and wish you peace and joy this Christmas and a Happy & Healthy New Year!

Day before Christmas...

We have been helping
with the cake
And licking out the pan
And wrapping up
our packages
As neatly as we can.
We have hung our
stockings up
Beside the open grate.
And now there's nothing more to do
Except
To
Wait

Christmas in Heaven...

I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below
With tiny lights, like Heaven’s stars reflecting on the snow.

The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away that tear,
For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear
But the sounds of music can’t compare with the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you of the joy their voices bring,
For it is beyond description to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart
for I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I can’t tell you of the splendor or the peace here in this place
Can you just imagine Christmas with our Savior face to face?

I’ll ask Him to lift your spirit as I tell Him of your love
so then pray for one another as you lift your eyes above.

Please let your hearts be joyful and let your spirits sing
for I am spending Christmas in Heaven and I’m walking with the King.
(author unknown)

In memory of Ron
1951 - 2007

December sunrise...

Yes, I said sunrise...this morning's sunrise looked more like a moonrise than any other sunrise I've ever seen. While it was not spectactular like this one in November, it certainly was beautiful and unique. Around 8:10 this morning I happened to look out and see this big ball of pink rising above the foggy horizon.
A few minutes later it was a beautiful pink/orange ball in a sea of gray.


By 8:15 it was above the fog and brightened into yellow and soon blurred into bright sunlight. Not the usual sunrise but what a beautiful sight.

"Today, give a stranger one of your smiles. It might be the only sunshine he sees all day." (Author Unknown)

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!