Oh My - More!!

I just finished shoveling the sidewalk and the driveway to the car - it is not all that cold out - the snow is fairly light and now the sun has come out and it is spectacular!

So of course I had to take more pictures . . .

I think the bunches of snow on the branches look like antlers with velvet . . .
or cotton bolls . . .

A stump in the neighbor's yard . . .

Deer prints in the snow in the back yard . . .

A magical fairyland of snow . . .

Oh My!!!

In the night I opened the curtains by my bed - and it was snowing. I could see deer tracks across the driveway in the snow. This morning we have about 4" of new snow - and more expected. I don't think it is supposed to last beyond today or early tomorrow - so I don't mind it too much - although I was hoping to get out today to buy my new computer. This one is really acting up. It has had to repair damaged sectors twice this week - and then I get flashing messages about digital imaging breaking down - and all sorts of other things I don't understand - so I fear it is time for that new computer after all.

But first - the snow . . .

Taken out the back window . . .

Neighbor's Oso Berry bush . . .

Up close of Oso Berry bush . . .

Bird feeders and the boys' boat . . .

Rain gauge with snow on top of it . . .


These are the view across the street from us . . . our very own Hundred Acre Wood . . .

1-1-11

I was going to make a whole new blog post wishing all a Happy New Year - then life got in the way.

A 1:30 run to the ER for Don on New Years Eve, all is fine now, he had a bit of a scare with his pancreas - fortunately it was not his heart. ER was jumpin' on New Year's Eve so the wait for proceedures was long and tedious - but they did the best they could. Home by 8:30 a.m. - some sleep and some clear liquids and appts at all kinds of doctors for next week. At least it is resolved, we are back home and can get on with our new year.

Go here for our New Years greeting - and I wish you all a good and fulfilling new year.

I am thankful for family, friends far and near- and for blogging friends that have enriched my life so much. Thank you.

And don't for get - at a little after 11 o'clock tonight it will be 11:11 on 1-1-11 - they say when there is an abundance of ones, the fairies are all about! Watch for fairies - and you can report on them tomorrow - we, however, plan to be sleeping and will let the fairies do what they want on this wonderful night.

It's been a year

Quite a year.

Seems the days slip by - the time passes and we have another year behind us. This year has come to a crashing end - pushing and slipping and slamming us towards the new year. I'm looking for peace and happiness.

As this year draws to a close I am thinking about what makes for happiness.

Good health, or course, that helps. And since Don's heart surgery, good health has been on our minds more and more. He is in good health and that brings me happiness. . .

The Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness.
You have to catch it for yourself. ~Benjamin Franklin

Family - children and children-in-laws - all spectacular adults leading productive and wonderful lives. Growing and learning and always there to help others when needed. And grandsons - there is hardly a moment of a day that I'm not thinking of things the boys have said, things they have done, photos I have taken, times we have spent with them. And now, next June, another grandbaby - all bring happiness . . .

Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn't know you left open. ~John Barrymore


Linda - at a sew-in in Anacortes

Friends - I have many friends; long time friends; school classmates that I've reconnected with; new friends; friends nearby; friends far away; friends I talk with almost daily; friends I contact only ocassionally and still, it is like we were together yesterday; friends that care; friends that I care about; friends from around the world that I've met through blogging - friends are happiness . . .

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming
gardeners who make our souls blossom. ~Marcel Proust

Working with my hands - this is when I meditate, when my thoughts wander and swoop and swirl and swoosh far and near. When I can light on any subject and ponder it as long as I want, or for a tiny short moment. Quilting, knitting, crocheting, crafting, gardening, washing the dishes, cleaning our house, painting, dabbling about in new crafts - all bring happiness . . .

Every now and then, when the world sits just right, a gentle breath of heaven fills my soul with delight... ~Hazelmarie ‘Mattie’ Elliott, A Breath of Heaven

Helping others - when a friend hurts, hold their hand; when someone is sad, be their sunshine; if there is a need, fill it; if the path is long and lonely, share the journey - these bring happiness . . .

One joy scatters a hundred griefs. ~Chinese Proverb

Nature - the beauty of the trees; a surprise visit to the bird feeder of a bird we've not seen before; the happiness on a child's face when a deer comes close and eats from their hand; clouds with sunshine bursting from behind them; eagles soaring over the river; dark stormy days when the very air rocks and blasts us; spray from the waves of the ocean; water, smooth or choppy, rippling or rushing - happiness surrounds us . . .

Pleasure is spread through the earth
In stray gifts to be claimed by whoever shall find.
~William Wordsworth, 1806

Time spent with Don, just the two of us. Watching the Alaska ferry depart on Friday nights - listening for the whistle blast as it echos through the hills of Bellingham; walking down the mossy path at the lake - finding a new scene that we've not noticed before; riding for hours - looking for swans, or snow geese, or flotillas of ducks, or pelicans skimming the ocean; sitting in our comfortable chairs, talking late into the night; driving down to the bay at midnight just to listen to the fog horns; waking each other up so we can both hear the owl in the night - happiness multiplied over and over . . .

“The really happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery when on a detour.” — Unknown

And so I find happiness - happiness in the year just past, happiness in the things to come, happiness that makes my heart sing, even after a hard patch, happiness that lasts and I can revisit over and over . . . there is happiness . . .

You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy ice cream.
And that’s kind of the same thing. – Unknown

Happiness and ice cream to you all in the new year!!!

Merry Christmas

From our family - the merriest of christmases!

May you have as much fun and happiness as we are having!!!

Some fun stuff in the mail

This week I received some wonderful things in the mail - I do love surprises. From my friend Franni, in Florida, I got a nice big box of fun things. Some I knew were coming - some I was surprised by.

Some cute hair clips for the holidays - Franni makes and sells these in her Artfire shop - do stop over and see what else she has there. . . you'll be glad you did . . .

More darling hair clips . . .

And then the surprise part - two big stacks of red fabrics - oh how I love red fabric . . .

And a big piece of this fabulous 30s reproduction fabric - isn't it just great?

And for our tree, the cutest little sequin boot ornaments . . .

And a machine embroidered picture frame - just the thing for Ben's santa photo . . . such a fun box to open - it just went on and on - I'm lucky to have a friend like Franni.

And from my good friend Pam, a wonderful suprise. I was not even expecting this box, but when I saw the return address I was really excited.


This is a santa that Pam's mom made. Pam and her mother took a doll making class together and Pam's mom started this Santa doll. She passed away before she could finish it and the teacher finished it up. Santa has lived at Pam's house for 6 years now and she decided that he wanted to live here with my other Santas. So she surprised me with Santa.

Santa has stripey socks and "leather" shoes and mittens, checked pants and a lined velvet coat with hat and pack to match. His hat jingles with a bell and he is watching to see if you were naughty or nice. Pam was definitely nice, to share Santa with me. He will always be a very special treasure.

Santa's face close up - I love the red wire glasses and his puffy beard.