NYE Birthday

Birthday wishes on new years eve

On the Fence

California Quail: Callipepla californica

 Coming home to eat and then roost in the blue spruce tree in the backyard

chatter, chatter, chatter

Winter Sunrise

Winter in Central Oregon

We spend days in the fog and low lying clouds.  

Shadows

The shadows cast by the skeleton trees look like bony fingers across the yard.

There is beautiful abstract somewhere in this shadow

Every eye will see something different.

Snow Art

I love fresh snow.  It's like fingerprints of things that happen while we sleep.  I love the bird tracks all over the backyard.

I remember making flowers as a kid each new snow fall.  I still doodle daisies during meetings, while talking on the phone and even during study groups.

Missing Tree

This year with all the surgeries and health issues in our house, we voted against getting a Christmas tree.  Past memories of shopping for a tree, picking out the right one, hauling it home, fighting about if it's straight or not, cleaning up needles, and finally decorating the tree, are dear.  The holiday is over and I'm still sad we didn't continue our tradition for the last 11 years.  A part of me is happy neither of the "booted -foot members" of our family had to figure out a way to crawl into the tree to water it or more importantly today:  haul it off.  As for 2010 I'll remember this Christmas as the treeless year~

Christmas Dinner

Holiday dinner:

chucks, quinoa & cucumber salad

sweet potatoes

Old & New Memories

Afternoon Tea:

A wee cup of espresso

Melting chocolates

Souvenir tea cup 

And the Moon Rose

Beautiful scenery 

Bright snow

Clear Skies

Low lying fog

Chilly Wednesday

Pomegranate tea

Lovely Chocs from my sweet friend Beth

A new book

I believe this is the definition of Bliss.............

Cat's Meow

My family cannot wait to open gifts....

we end up opening presents days before Christmas.  

I guess this seals it, Tennille is truly part of the family.

i

greedy....she dumped the whole thing

This catnip is the cat's meow....

Snow Birds

It was a beautiful morning.  

We woke up to 7 inches of pure white snow.

The birds were happy for fresh sunflower seeds

Fruit Salad

Holiday fruit salad and cranberry cocktail.

Dishes like these will get you through the holidays

Winter Get Well

Beautiful purple get wells.

Lock Down

After foot surgery I'm on lock down at the house.

 

Soon I'll be back on top of the world

Stone

Tough as nails....strong as stone

Looking Forward

Blinding white snow

Beautiful blue water

Is this what Heaven is like?

Like a Kid

It's like a scene from a Christmas Story.  

Exhausted after opening her presents.

Third Week of Advent

Sunday morning breakfast at home....

In these precious days ahead, we are praying, longing, hoping in the background of our everyday lives.

Flight Pattern

Buteo jamaicensis (The Red-Tailed Hawk)

Holy Night

I saved these cheesy decorations from the trash bin.

They bring back fond memories from my childhood.

Game Day

Big rivalry games in college football today.   

I love that we live in the land of good beer.

Little Jack Frost

 

I was little boy lost, and I was little boy blue
I am little Jack Frost but I am warm through and through
It's not easy to hide when your heart's on full view
Oh, tonight, cruel world be forgiving
Oh, for once in my life I am living. 

~Kate Rusby

from the song Little Jack Frost

Same with Life

If you want to help somebody to climb a hill

you do not stand below and push him~

you go first and stretch out a helping hand.

It is the same with life.

~The Friendship Book, 1972

First Day of Advent

My house is still dominated with fall decorations.

My only Christmas addition is my fabulous advent calendar.

I love the 3D chalet! 

Sweetness

Tennille

    

we rescued her from the animal shelter hoping to find a companion for our cat, The Capt'n. 

 

Capt'n was mourning the death of our black lab and we thought he needed company. 

Tennille filled a void in our life and everyday we treasure her.

White as Snow

The juniper berry rests in the snow, plump and ripe

I love Tennille's paw prints.  

She hates the cold but loves the sun as it shines off the crystals.

Providing Warmth

The greatest invention ever made. 

HEATERS

They allow me to dress like summer while it's -10C outside.

Out with Autumn in with Winter

 

I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape

 

- the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter. 

Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn't show.  

~Andrew Wyeth

Time

It's all about time, that's what the doctor said.

Scott's ankle needs 6 weeks of rest, no walking.

We have 2 weeks left.

Simply Shrimp