Happy New Year!

On the last day of 2008, I just want to say "Thank You" for your friendship during this year! Some of the nicest people you could ever get to know are right here on blogspot. Thanks for sharing your corner of the world and the beauty that you see there. Thanks for being open and honest enough to share your joys, your sorrows and your prayer requests. Thanks for your help in putting my blog together, for your suggestions and insights. Thanks be to God for creating this beautiful world for us! May we all be good stewards of what He has given us. Lord give us eyes to see beauty in all of your people and all of Nature!

Watery Wednesday

Here are a couple of wintery, Watery Wednesday pictures made at the American Legion Lake near our home. Click HERE to see other Watery Wednesday pictures and/or join this Meme.

My World Tuesday

My world today is filled with hungry Cardinals! If you would like to join this Meme and see sights from around the world, click HERE.

Happy New Year!

Watch the Birdie!

I HAD FUN SUNDAY AFTERNOON MAKING PICTURES OF THE BIRDS IN OUR YARD AND THE NEARBY WOODS. HERE IS A CUTE LITTLE CHICKADEE! I LOVE TO HEAR THEIR SONG!

PHOOEY! LEFTOVERS AGAIN!!!

HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU TO KEEP YOUR FEET OUT OF THE FOOD???

Sunday Blessings to You!

I hope everyone has a peaceful Sunday!

 

Happy Birthday Bonnie!

I first met you when we were in the 9th grade and the year was 1950. We have all been so blessed by electing you to be the Lifetime Secretary of our class when we graduated in 1954! You do such a great job keeping up with everyone and keeping all of us informed. I can't think of anyone in our class that would have held us together as you have. You have loved us all when we may have been unlovable at times. I feel like all of the 'Golden Girls' join me in wishing you a very Happy Birthday! We Love You!

Today's Backyard Birds

We were blessed by having some sunshine today!!! Even the birds seemed to be glad, too. This little Eastern Bluebird is checking me out.

We have lots of Cardinals visiting the feeders almost year round, but more in the winter.

These last two birds are Winter Wrens, I think. Leedra, correct me if I'm wrong. He has a loud and beautiful song.

Skywatch 24

Christmas Day started out dreary and gray this morning. The yard was full of birds visiting the feeders and waiting for the skies to clear. Click HERE to see more skywatch pictures or to join this meme.

While we were eating a late Christmas Brunch, the sun popped out and the sky looked like this!!

Maybe you can see a little gray sky in this picture of a female Cardinal who was enjoying a seed pod on a tree in my sister's yard.

By mid-afternoon the sky was mostly gray and we were having a few sprinkles of rain.

Happy Birthday!

My sisters and I have always lived in the same town (until I married and moved a few miles away). My oldest sister (red sweater) will be 80 on Christmas Day. Her birthday has always been lost amongst the Christmas celebration. Since this year is a special birthday, we wanted to have a separate celebration for her. My middle sister (center) and her husband were kind enough to host a little party. It was just the five of us, but we had a fun time.

We had a tasty lunch with lots of different desserts (my favorite thing).

Jeep played everything from "White Christmas" to Jerry Lee Lewis' "Whole Lot of Shakin' Going On", while we tried to sing. He played until his hands got too tired to play.

My sister's Christmas Cactus is blooming right on cue! She said part of it was supposed to be white, but it is blooming two shades of pink.

My oldest sister, (center) was born on Christmas Day. She has always commented that she never got to have a birthday party. Tomorrow she will celebrate her 80th birthday and we thought it was time to have a little party.

After lunch, we asked Jeep to make a picture of the three of us. They were complaining about the 'waddles' on their necks and we started acting silly.

We ended up getting so tickled we were laughing until our sides hurt! I can't show you the very last picture, it is too unflattering! It was a fun day! It's good to have sisters who live near you!

Merry Christmas to all my friends out there in the Bloggersphere!!!

First Day of Winter

It's cold this morning! This is great! It feels more like Christmas when

it is cold and it's a pleasant change from the warm, foggy, wet weather we've been having.

First it's off to Sunday school, morning worship service and back home to share a pizza. Then Jeep picks up his fiddle,

relaxes in the Lazy Boy love seat and plays a few Christmas songs.

Here he is playing

"Pretty Paper, Pretty Ribbons of Blue". If you are not familiar with this song, it's about an old man sitting out in the cold and trying to sell

pretty ribbon, paper and pencils to the shoppers who are hurrying by and ignoring him. It is a little sad because he feels so alone and all the laughter and joy seem to be passing him by. Here are the lyrics:

Pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue

Wrap your presents to your darling from you

Pretty pencils to write I love you

Pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue

***

Crowded street, busy feet, hustle by him

Downtown shoppers, Christmas is nigh

There he sits all alone on the sidewalk

Hoping that you won't pass him by

***

Should you stop? better not, much too busy

You're in a hurry, my how time does fly

In the distance the ringing of laughter

And in the midst of the laughter he cries

***

Pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue

Wrap your presents to your darling from you

Pretty pencils to write I love you

Pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue

Fall's Last Sunset

We have enjoyed thirteen weeks of my favorite season

of the year...Fall. Seasons come and seasons go,

and I'm always ready for the next one.

I like to think that God planned it this way so we wouldn't

get bored and tired of having the same weather all the time.

Isn't it wonderful that He knows us so well and takes care of us in ways

that we may not even recognize?

Tonight Jeep was on the phone, but he saw that the sunset

was going to be pretty, and told me to hurry and get the camera

and try to get a picture. I was almost too late,

as they fade very quickly.

I look forward to the next thirteen weeks of Winter weather.

We have no cows to milk, no chickens to feed, no wood to bring in,

and really no reason to be outside,

except trips to the grocery and to church.

How about some hot tea and an old movie!

Weird Santa!

This is a weird looking Santa I found in

the decorations that were saved in the attic.

Jeep didn't know who had painted the large gourd

to look like Santa. I think it's kind of cute

for a country house like ours.

***

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Five Days until Christmas!

I can’t believe that it’s only 5 days until Christmas! There are a few more gifts to buy and more cooking to be done. Outside this morning it is very foggy and 50 degrees. If it were colder with maybe a few flakes of snow, it would seem a little more like Christmas. I am thinking that it will be here before I’m ready.

I’m thankful that Jeep is feeling better. He has had an awful cold! Thankfully, I have not caught it from him.

The aroma from the kitchen is making me hungry. Jeep got the idea that it was time to make a pot of Chili. He buys this neat little package of Carroll Shelby’s Kit for Texas Chili, with separate packets of ingredients and detailed instructions. Anyone who can read, can make it, and it is GOOD!




I am going to the post office and I’m sure we will have more Christmas cards. I love to display them and my sisters like to look through them and read the little messages. I need to buy a few more to send.



I moved the bird feeder over under the porch so the bird seed won’t get wet. Also, I’m hoping to coax them close enough so I can get some better pictures of them. I like to hear the songs of the Chickadees and the Cardinals as they come to feed.



I'm making this arrangement of fresh Cedar, Pine and Pine Cones from the trees out back to make the house smell like Christmas. You couldn't really call it an 'arrangment', it is just stuck down in a pretty red pitcher that a friend gave me. This was made out on the porch.



Yesterday we went into town for the funeral of a friend. Since we were there at noontime, we ate lunch at the Mexican Restaurant. It was very tasty! I hope when I go back, I can remember what I ordered, because I want to order it again!

That's my day! This coming week I plan to get busy and finish up the last minute shopping and cooking just in time for Christmas!

Skywatch 23

Here is a Blue Bird with an insect to feed his babies. This was made back in the summer. They are still around here and sometimes come back and check out their former home. Perhaps they will stay in there on the cold winter nights. To join the Meme or see more skywatch pictures, click HERE or on the Skywatch badge below.

Watery Wednesday

For Watery Wednesday I'm posting a few more pictures I made at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, TN. To see more Watery Wednesday pictures, click HERE. I wish I could properly identify these pictures. I do know that this first picture is one ugly character!






These are Fresh Water Sting Rays.



I think these are different kinds of Koi.