Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Our Eyes Are On the Sparrow, too!

"Look at the birds: they do not plant seeds, gather a harvest and put it in the barns; yet your Father in heaven takes care of them!..."


Have we not been entrusted to be good stewards of all resources?
I count the small effort on my part in helping the Winter birds find food a necessary task as well as a pleasure.

(Downy woodpecker on the nearly empty suet feeder!)
And here's "Mr. Hairy Woodpecker" on the rejuvenated feeder!

Our neighbors, Chris and Russ, gave us the
Christmas treat box below.
Aren't they the cutest?

I put them out this morning...


It's been snowing fairly steadily all morning and into this afternoon.

The little seed treats are a "hit!"

The next two photos were taken through the front door.
Mr. Finch (House or Purple??)
and his spouse
... Aren't you worth much more than birds?" Matthew 6:26

Enjoy the next few days. It will soon be 2010.
Amazing!
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Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Have You Heard?

Snowy Winter Weather is for the birds!

Big ones and little ones,


and all those in-between.




They're Winter's lovely flowers


(that season in-between)


So, feed these little flowers...


and water in-between...



You won't believe the joy you'll find






'Midst Winter's lovely scenes.

Happy Winter!
:-)



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Friday, December 25, 2009

Merry Christmas - 2009

For those of you who are traveling, may you be blessed with safety. May each of you be celebrating Christmas in the company of loved ones. May you be able to store an abundance of Loving Memories that will renew your spirit and give you comfort throughout the coming 2010.





And may we look forward to the year 2010 as one in which we can more greatly view this myriad of plant and flower with greater wonder and appreciation. Blessings to each of my gardening friends. "Merry Christmas - 2009"
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Thursday, December 24, 2009

Carol of the Bells

I found this on YouTube this morning...

It's described as Celtic women performing at the Helix Center in Dublin, Ireland.

Enjoy!



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Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Are You Ready for a Merry Christmas?

I must explain that I have always Loved a number of poems by Eugene Field (1850 - 1895). The following is one of them... I hope you enjoy it as much as I have (since I was old enough to read!).



JEST 'FORE CHRISTMAS

Father calls me William, sister calls me Will,
Mother calls me Willie, but the fellers call me Bill!
Mighty glad I ain't a girl --- ruther be a boy,
Without them sashes, curls, an' things that's worn by Fauntleroy!
Love to chawnk green apples an' go swimmin' in the lake---
Hate to take the caster-ile they give for bellyache!
'Most all the time, the whole year round, there ain't no flies on me,
But jest 'fore Christmas I'm as good as I kin be!

Got a yeller dog names Sport, sick him on the cat;
First thing she knows she doesn't know where she is at!
Got a clipper sled, an' when us kids goes out to slide,
'Long comes the grocery cart, an' we all hook a ride!
But sometimes when the grocery man is worited an' cross,
He reaches at us with his whip, an' larrups up his hoss,
An' then I laff an' holler, "Oh, ye never teched me!"
But jest'fore Christmas I'm as good as I kin be!

Gran'ma says she hopes that when I git to be a man,
I'll be a missionarer like her oldest brother, Dan,
As was et up by the cannibuls that lives in Ceylon's Isle,
Where every prospeck pleases, an' only man is vile!
But gran'ma she has never been to see a Wild West show,
Nor read the Life of Daniel Boone, or else I guess she'd know
That Buff'lo Bill an' cowboys is good enough for me!
Except' jest 'fore Christmas, when I'm as good as I kin be!

An then old Sport he hangs around, so solemnlike an' still,
His eyes they seem a-sayin': "What's the matter, little Bill?"
The old cat sneaks down off her perch an' wonders what's become
Of them two enemies of hern that used to make things hum!
But I am so perlite an' tend so earnestly to biz,
That mother says to father: "How improved our Willie is!"
But father, havin' been a boy hissself, suspicions me
When, juest 'fore Christmas, I'm as good as I kin be!

For Christmas, with its lots an' lots of candies, cakes, an' toys,
Was made, they say, for proper kids an' not for naughty boys;
So wash yer face an' bresh yer hair, an' mind yer p's and q's,
Say "Yessum" to the ladies, and "Yessur" to the men,
An' when they's company, don't pass yer plate for pie again;
But, thinkin' of the things yer'd like to see upon that tree,
Jest 'fore Christmas be as good as yer kin be!


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Friday, December 18, 2009

Photo Friday

I Know... What's with the ugly pole??






These are the three best photos I've taken lately! I should throw the others away, but I cannot bring myself to do that quite yet. :-) Isn't this Fun??
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2009 Christmas Ornaments

Click here to visit "Making Memories" to see how these little hanging book ornaments are made!


Some of us have been "Making Memories!"
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Thursday, December 17, 2009

'Twas the 17th of December, and All Through The House..


'Twas the 17th of December
and All through the House,
Not a Creature was stirring,
not even the Spouse!

The House was all festive
with tinsel and cheer,
In hopes that the "cold bugs"
would leave and stay clear.

We'd taken our cough syrup
and bundled in bed,
While visions of tissues
wound round in our heads.

The next morning arrived
before I'd expected,
The pleasure I witnessed ...
my cold? Undetected!

I gave a notice at
the lump still in bed,
whose blankets were wound
clear round his head.

My goodness!
Good gracious!
Mercy!
and Me!

Do you think it's quite possible...
Could it honestly be
that my cold's about gone,
but had settled on "he?"

I drew on my robe,
slipped into my slippers
and wove my way down the hall
towards the paper and scissors.

As the wrapping and taping
and bows had begun
I knew it'd be soon
that we'd all have some fun.

Meanwhile 'His Coldness'
came into sight
with redness of eyes, nose
and sore throat -- no delight.

With tissues and jammies,
and my mess all about,
Don't 'cha know it's the memories
that Christmas's about?

First we'll top off these germs,
and Fight this old cold,
So we can spread the good word
of the Good News of old!

Then you'll hear us exclaim
and you'll hear a wee shout,
as we all look towards Christmas
--- family and friends 'round about!



by Yours truly, with apologies to Clement C. Moore)
Thank you for your tolerance! ;-)



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Friday, December 11, 2009

What Would YOU Suggest?

This Last Year, I spent too much time on projects***

thinking about projects,
beginning projects,
working on uncompleted projects,
finishing projects,
and being frustrated by unfinished projects

and too much time thinking about projects...


Projects in themselves are not a bad thing. But it's all about Balance, isn't it?? Here is my problem:

I didn't take enough time to sit, sip a lemonaid/iced tea/etc., relax, and enjoy my gardens.
I didn't take out my sketch pad, as I'd intended.
I didn't take out my writing tablet, as I'd intended.
I didn't sit outdoors and read a book, as I'd intended
I didn't invite friends over, as I'd intended...

Okay, I think you're getting the picture.
I need your help.

Please offer suggestions on how I can better enjoy the outdoors.
What do you do to take advantage of the plants, flowers and wildlife in the gardens? How do you go about making sure you take the time to relax outdoors?
I would really like to better enjoy a more relaxing Spring, Summer, and Fall next year!

After all, isn't that what it's Really About???

Once I gather your suggestions, I'll look forward to seeing these sights next Spring!
:-)
All the photos below were taken May 4, 2009.










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Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Ooh the Weather Outside is Frightful... but You Can Make it Snow on Your Blog!

But inside the snow's delightful!

What did I say??


I want to give you the information to place a snowfall wigit
on your blot. Just be patient, it will snow! ;-)

Click on this Link for the information!

(I also apologize to whomever provided this information earlier...
I found it on one of the blogs I visit, but forgot to note who it was.
Now I can't thank him/her!)
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Monday, December 7, 2009

Some Winter Bird Photos

We woke up to SNOW this morning. Our forecast sounds blizzardy with lots of snow? these next couple of days. Fairly unusual weather for this SE Iowa location. We'll see what happens!

I'm going to take you for a little walk around the house... Sidney (dog) and I just couldn't help but take a little jaunt!
North side of the driveway

Now we're south of the driveway, in the front yard.

In the raised bed gardens... Echinacea in the foreground,

Miss Coneflower with her winter bonnet.

Backyard view

Untrimmed 'Autumn Joy' sedum

Perky

Wren house is now waiting until Spring for its occupants
Now... for the birds.
I could hardly wait until this moment!
I pulled the tripod out of the basement, set it up in the living room, and mounted the camera. It didn't take long, and the birds began showing up.

My problem is that I was pretty far away and photographing at an angle (60 degrees?) through the window. My camera is a 10x optical zoom. But I took these at a 29. But I'm not sad. I'll continue working at this! :-)

Mr. Tufted Titmouse

Miss Goldfinch (quickly entering her winter phase) and Mr. T.T.
Mr. Black-capped Chickadee-dee and, again, Mr. TT
I'm not quite sure Who that is back there, but on the left we again have Miss Goldfinch and on the right we are happy to introduce Mr. Nuthatch!

Juncos don't Have to wait on the ground for the leftovers All the time! :-)

Mr. Red bellied Woodpecker stopped in for a look and a sample.

And Th-th-th-that's All, Folks!

Nothing Shady here! ;-)
Have a great day.
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