waiting for the new year.....

today, December 28,2010 is our annual bird count ....this is my list of what I saw at our feeder....once a year I partcipate in this bird count....today there was not as many birds as there usually but it was quite windy out.....the numbers show the kind of bird how many and for what hours I observed.......

along with the annual bird count this is the time of year when I bring out the calendars I have collected for the new year......

..this is one we received from my sister in law from England.......

these are just 2 of many traditions we have at our house as we count down the final days of the old year waiting for the new........

Grandma nearly got run over.....

this is a photo of just off our back deck....the paths and tracks were made by deer visitors....

another angle taken off the deck......this was taken Boxing Day morning....last evening when I was walking over to our neighbours for Christmas dinner I had a doe jump right about 10-15 feet in front of me ....taken a back a bit as I was trying to get my wits about me lo and behold not 10 feet from me to my right were 3 more deer coming out of our back yard....that was about 5:30 p.m. so next a.m. I went out to check tracks and this was what I saw.....

they are quite brave as there were also tracks right up on the back deck by the door as were there tracks in the breezeway not 3 feet from the front window of the house......you just never know who will come for a visit......

they are quite brave as they had even visited the suet feeder which sits right in the breezeway...their tracks were right up on the deck at the back door as well....

and so it goes......

I made 2 ice lanterns for my windows this year.......

this is the mess that the deer are making at our big bird feeder this year....they seem to be coming in to town a bit earlier than usual........

this is the other of my ice lanterns.....these lanterns are as easy as making ice cubes to make and add quite a nice touch when they are burning....one simply fills the mold with water freezes it and unmold them....when the mold is ready drop a small votive (candle) in the centre ...light the candle and you have it.....simple decorative festive idea......

Christmas Eve

as 2010 fast comes to an end it is a time of reflection....on what was and what will be...I was quite captivated by the way the Christmas tree lights reflected in the front window......
and got to reflecting on my life...how it is how it will be and what I can and cannot do about it.....

this is an interesting piece of wood... the chickadees seem to be quite fascinated by it so I put it up for them to play around on.......(they seem to like it even better when stuffed with peanut butter)....

the beauty of a wind blown field....the best of our praire winters...what the wind can do if allowed......delightful to photograph on a sunny day but would not be to welcome on a cold windy evening if one were out in it....the irony of GOOD and BAD....

a shot of Mother Natures decorating....notice she uses icicles and snow to pretty up this cedar outside my daughter's kitchen window .......quite artistic isn't she?

My blog is behind and will be until the New Year arrives and life slows down.....a blog is an interesting pastime but when life gets busy my motto is "seize the moment" and my energies are spent on daily living.....with this I would like to wish each a very Merry Christmas and may your new year be blessed with many many GOOD Days!!!!!

...Wed Dec 15- Fri Dec17..

sharing and spending time with family and friends is my favorite way to celebrate the holiday season....

this week on Thursday we shared a meal with our friends and family...tho' the food wine and sweets help make the evening the best part is the conversation and laughter...we are blessed to have wonderful neighbors to share our time and gifts with.......sometimes the hardest part is just finding a time to be able to all get together to enjoy each other's company
Both Lyle and I enjoyed this evening very much.....

the table was set awaiting our guests...it is such a delight to bring out all the Christmas dishes and decorations.........

a sampling of supper to be.......baked salmon trimmings of potatoes and veggies and for dessert sweets and cream puffs.......

the biggest treat of this week was when I went and had my nails done and had a hand massage..a treat since all the holiday preparations are pretty much done.....in our small town we are very fortunate to be able to just go downtown and be treated to all the pleasures of the city...my nail specialist has just expanded her business opened up her own shop right on main street...Congrats! to her for continued success........

This has been a very GOOD week especially with nothing much left to do but enjoy what follows and I continue to be symptom free....my biggest wish and prayer is that all my dear MS friends remain symptom free and are able to take part in all the activities of this holiday season....I send you all peace calm and health.....

With the weekend upon us I plan on nothing more than my needle, chillaxing knitting and listening to lots of Christmas music......my GOOD plan for the upcoming days........

My week in Review...Mon Dec13-Wed Dec 15

here are just 2 of 15 cookie bags I filled with Christmas baking and delivered to some of our family and friends...they were filled with shortbread,3 different oatmeal cookies,fudge puddles,sugar cookies,gingersnaps and of coursebutter cookies.......a treat to give and fun to prepare.........

we are very fortunate to have this family diner owned and operated by Ron and Marlene Kittler..tho' we have other eating establishments in town...family small town friendliness in my opinion is best offered here....it is a pleasure to remember people in our town who make our lives so enjoyable.....whether it be coffee and muffin or liver and onion dinner ...the best home cooked meal comes from here......continued success is my wish for "Archie's Diner".......

the days seem so short when daylight is not present until nearly 9:00 a.m. and by 5:00p.m. it is dark again.....still before full light there are many opportunities for some great captures.....

this is another before daylight photo...world seems so quiet and calm.....one of my favorite times of the day regardless of the season......

Tuesday morning I had to take my friend up to the medi-centre/carehome and I was so impressed by the simplicity of the fence out front...with the red lights and bit of snow from Mother Nature it is very festive and delightful.......very eye-appealing.......

Since this week many of the holiday tasks are finding closure it has been a GOOD start to this week and my mind body and soul have been blessed with very few symptoms...hope the week continues along in this fashion....

Sat. Dec.11 aand Sun. Dec 12,2010

this morning which is Saturday I busied myself and tried a batch of Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins..(I wanted to see how well they would freeze...)freeze lovily,so moist and the bit of cinnamon with nutmeg makes them quite flavorful...I guess they are a keeper for breakfasts not only now but all year.....rest of Saturday was spent sleeping as today is my needle day...

I think I have been doing to much baking as everything I look at seems to be topped with icing...even the kennel fence looked as tho' it had been dabbed with icing.......

I do not wrap hardly any of my gifts..too much waste after the fact however I did have some giftwrap left from last year so wrapped some little things as well as some stuffers and I am so pleased with myself..it is Dec.12 and cards are done gifts wrapped (all under tree)..anything needing mailing is done and balance of my baking is done...now it's just time to wait for the big day......

This weekend has been quite uneventful but has been relaxing for which I am grateful

I am so pleased that I have been feeling so GOOD..as in November when I was ill I did not see everything being done and under wraps...funny how things work out...if one looks after themself everything else just falls into place........

Friday December 10, 2010

here it is the 10thn of December cute gifts are appearing......

this natvity scene is fashioned in a gourd...it comes from Peru...I like it because it is organic and is ideal for small spaces...one of the most favorite gifts I have rec'd over the years......

these two scarves I just finished are a cat and mouse and are for 2 sisters who are friends of my gdaughter and gson......just cute fun scarves.......
(only 2 0f about 20 scarves I knitted this year for gifts)

we rec'd this beautiful hand painted card this morning....our neighbor paints a collection of 20 Christmas cards and we are so pleased to recieve one from them each year....such a nice homemade card .........

the cookie of the day.."Fudge Snowball Crackles".....

middle of next week my cookies will be done and I can get my cookie bags filled.....

Thursday December 9,2010

this is house 1....just watch there is a pattern happening here.....

today was very cold and blustery but none the less I had to go out...so my friend and I braved the chills....I don't know if I have been baking to much but in the course of about 5 blocks I spied 3 different houses that had trees out front that looked like iced cupcakes......this is house 2

this is house 3 and they look more like little iced loaves .....but none the less...

this is the very last of my cards all done stamped and sorted by province..........

now I am not to proud of this mess but I did get all this done and the above photo shows tidy...momma likes done and tidy.........

in spite of it being very cold I did get quite a lot done while Lyle slept....tried to be quiet but my birds would not co operate.......GOOD day none the less.....

Monday December 6-Wednesday December8,2010

today I started into doing some baking....made 4 different batches of Oatmeal cookies, made Cranberry Shortbread with White Chocolate and done a batch of Lemon Raspberry Whoopie Pies....tomorrow the Chocolate Fudge Crinkles, Gingerbread and some Lemon Twists..........

I started baking today so I could start getting my cookie bags ready to go....I like to keep several of these ready and on hand for company that appears through the month.....

I spent some time editing and choosing some of my pictures to use to make some Christmas cards.........
I particularily liked the way the ice crystals formed on these branches....

these are evergreens (cedar) outside my daughter's house....they look quite festive just with the snow on them......



since I am nearly done my cards and wrapping and shopping...the only thing left is more thinbread,some baking and oh yes some housekeeping......such fun!!!!!....been a few GOOD productive days.......

Sunday December 5,2010

as perdicted after such a busy Saturday and then having my needle.....not to much life in me so I slept most of the day away....not really sick just to pooped to pop!!!.....enjoyed a GOOD full day of rest.......

Saturday December 4,2010

on Monday of this past week I went to Yorkton and spent the day with gchildren there as their folks had an appointment in Regina...in the afternoon my gson and I went out and shovel the driveway and built this statue....we were piling to see how high we could get it before it fell unfortunately we both were to short to get it any higher and when we arrived Saturday it was still there...kinda impressive and fun ........

our gdaughter at her school put on a musical...theYRHS presents a huge musical production every 2 years this year it was based on Dr.Seuss' stories... fabulous production and such a lot of work....loved it ...so not only were Lyle and I here for this but also her other Gpa John and Gma Lorie and auntie Megan from Alameda...after we enjoyed a lovily family supper we all went to the 2 1/2 hour show.......WOW! what fun we all had.....

apparently I am always going to be the shortest one...this was after the show ....Dani was a part of a group of singing attitude pushing monkeys...she also was part of a circus scene where she turned cart wheels for 5 minutes....and Griffin and I were there for the sheer fun of the show....

the show was interactive so Dani came out to the audience and grabbed Gpa Lyle to go on stage with her and dance.....that Gpa can shake his booty if need be....GOOD fun...(when we got home daughter Kim phoned and suggested maybe after all that shaking and rattling Gpa Lyle should pop a couple of Tyenol.....what great memories to be able to share with the gchildren....such fun...


this was a Wonderfully GOOD family filled day.......I am going to be sooooo tired tomorrow I just know it.........

Friday December 3,2010

when the sun shines the trees are just so darned pretty....just have to run out and start clicking....

today I purchased a pair of cockatiels....these are a mated pair....the grey and white is the male and the latino is the female....I have actually been looking for an African grey parrot but these came along and needed a home so here they are........this pair for their previous owners have raised 7 babies and right now have a nest with 5 eggs in it....we'll see in 28 days what happens.....

they are not used to being photographed and I had a bit of trouble with my lighting but this is my male and his name is Spikes....(name compliments of my gson) they are nearly 5 years old'''

and this is my female she is a latino and her name is Maisy (courtesy of gdaughter)...she is actually quite pretty this picture does not show it but she has a beautiful yellow tail...they are not used to broccoli but I am working on hand feeding them and they both like their broccoli...

....so you see my day has been busy and interesting....it has been a GOOD day as I am feeling much better these days......

Thursday December 2,2010

2 and 1/2 hours after the buns are risen here sits a plate of finished thin bread fit for the God's...tomorrow I think I will make some Christmas cookies or maybe some biscotti......

today after Lyle went to work I decided to make a batch of thin bread..this is the buns rising...waiting to be rolled and cooked......

although it was quite cold -28 there abouts this morning.....the trees and yard were very pretty ...snow cold and sunshine ....great combination for picture taking.......

some more of Mother Nature's handiwork....absolutely beautiful.......

this is a photo of our big dog Bing....because he is black except for his bib he is hard to take pictures of...but my gdaughter managed to take this striking pose of him.....


today has been a fairly busy day..with the holidays fast approaching it is now time to start and do some baking...I enjoy baking do lots for gift giving....so pleased to be feeling so much better than a few weeks ago....today has been a GOOD day filled with all the pleasures of the season....