The "Surprise" Hill

When we built this house 26 years ago, we put a light on the corner of the house for the nighttime barbeques...or so we thought. Little did we know that the light at night after a big snow was AWESOME to light up the sledding hill. The hill looks WAY bigger at night and we had lots and lots of sledding parties over the years. This week, Sydney and I checked it out and built a pretty fast run. Cowabunga!

A Perfect Day After Christmas

Just came in from snowshoeing all around the property to finally catch up on FB posts by the fire. Feeling ever so grateful for so many of YOU - friends and family - on this gorgeous snowy day after Christmas and reflecting on the power of giving, whether it's time, money, care, cards, and/or causes. Reminds me of those wise words:  "To those to whom much is given...much is expected." I am most grateful for opportunities...and hope I do not pass any by this year. :)

op·por·tu·ni·ty[ˌäpərˈt(y)o͞onədē]  NOUN

1. a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something

    

   

    

Such Cool Seattle Kids

I had such fun hanging out with these friends of Sydney's today in Seattle, Harrison and Mariah. Sydney and I drove through a few hours of snow and rain and Snoqualmie Pass CLOSED five minutes after we drove through. Phew! But we are now settled into Cindy and Jeff's condo tonight and heading home tomorrow.

Well...the ONLY benefit of dropping an old phone into the toilet is?

Getting a NEW phone for the first time in...6-7 years? The last one was Sydney's old android and it had a good long life. I think the value was $25 when it decided to dive into the pot last week. FIRST time I ever stuck a phone in my back pocket....and last.  So I got a new one today after learning all I could from the ATT store in Cheney - love those guys and bought them all Starbuck's Frappuccino’s before I left :)  Tho I love Mac computers, still said no to the iPhone - I decided not to join the 80% of the world's cell users that want one of those!?!  But I'm very happy with the photo capability on the HTC Desire. Here was the first shot I took coming back up our lane today from town. What a GORGEOUS snowy day in Spokane...

Flicker Up Close and Personal

Sooooooo many birds are now clamoring for food at our three feeders. Mostly Nuthatches, House Finch, Chickadees, Gold Finch, and Pine Siskins...but today a huge flicker was swinging madly on the little suet block, jabbing it with his strong beak to beat the band! All the feeders are about two feet from our dining room window so the view is awesome :)

Season of Remembrance...

There is a Hospice Tree at Riverpark Square covered four deep with remembrances of loved ones who have passed on. I remembered Mom and Dad today with two little doves. I hope we can always keep memories alive with traditions and stories. Even if it's a bit painful, talk about those no longer with you at the dinner table. We can bring them back for awhile with a smile...

Mr. and Mrs Frosty are Here!

Well, whether it snows or not, we will have a pair of "snow people" to gaze at every morning outside our window. Such a wonderful time of year...

Mr. and Mrs. Frosty are Coming!

Vern loves it when my Christmas present requests are cheap - hahaha!  Earlier this week, I posted my request on this little blog based on a very cool stump family at a local university and it's coming true! The logs were so heavy I had to help boost the belly onto the bottom so I know what's happening but I am still excited. Will "dress" them up and post a family portrait tomorrow.

Josh and Mom Remembered in Snowy Branches

My nephew Josh left this world in the spring of 2014 and posted one of my mom's Christmas Cards on FaceBook to me just a few days before he died. He said, "I think this is one of my favorites." I responded saying it was one of my favorites as well. Mom's sketch that year was all about wonder and hope. When I think about Josh searching out that card, scanning it, contemplating it's meaning, and sending it to me, I only wish he were here so we could chat about it. He just never made it to the more distant finish line. Today, the branches were covered with snow and I know that sight would have inspired both my artist mom and Josh. Remembering you both today with love.

Ponderosa Santa???

I told Vern this is what I'd like for Christmas...plus that really awesome felted skirt from Kizuri - lol :)  We'll see if he comes through on this one. I do know that tomorrow he is cutting down the BIG tree that snapped off 30 feet up.  Hmmmmm.....

Haaaaaaaaaalelujah!!!

I joined about a hundred (or more) others singing Handel's Messiah tonight along with four soloists and a beautiful string and horn symphony. Wow. Have not sung that since HIGH SCHOOL...yes, I still even had the score! And it was FUN. Most of us are probably not very good singing alone, but it appears we can hold a tune and the chorus sounded marvelous together. Now I can check that off my bucket list...and possibly do it again next year!  :)

Baby Moose Muncher

It's a sad story, today.  This little guy's mother was killed last week and now Baby Moose is munching here alone and quite fearless. He just goes around and around the house and garden neatly trimming all the bushes. He avoids the Oregon Grape bushes much to our dismay - I believe they are too stickery for his lips! Not sure what the Wildlife biologists will do about him - as he is also going over to the local elementary school playground and hanging out. Yikes...but I adore him.

Turkeys Survive Another Thanksgiving!

Well, the local "crew" appears to be untouched. All 14 were available to gawk and gobble at me when I walked by today. There were four Toms in the bunch and when I gobbled at them, the remaining hens all turned their heads instantly and simultaneously and gobbled back. Wish I could have caught a recording of that. Hilarious!!!!

Grandmom's Snowflakes

Thirty one years ago this month, my Grandmom Marguerite Bryan made about 40 hand crocheted white snowflakes and angels for the evergreen tree set up in the foyer of the old church at the Iowa Living History Farm. She made them for our wedding day. And they are still the first lovelies to adorn our tree each year. Other meaningful ornaments will follow when Sydney gets home, but for now, thanks Grandmom.  There are so many spirits of Christmas Past coming alive in our house lately. It feels good to be surrounded by their gifts of love.

My Very Special Walnut Nativity

My dad made sooooo many of these special Walnut Nativity sets back in the day. He cut the baby Jesus and Star at an angle so they would be highlighted with the white sapwood near the bark. I gave lots of them away to dear and special friends over the years. Now mine sits in a place of honor with Grandmom's red crocheted doily underneath. Isn't it the little things that make this season special? :)

My Lady of the Lake Lollies...

I know research shows that a strong support group for women has wonderful benefits.  Well, I had proof in my house last Sunday and just wanted to encourage ANYONE out there to surround themselves with wonderful friends. Seems like anything we might eventually go through (good or bad) has been experienced by someone in our group...so there is always advice, strength, encouragement, and of course loads of laughter tossed in the mix. We missed a few special ones at the Christmas Party, but thanks to the Ladies of the Lake for making life so fun over the last 20 years!

Burnt Sienna...Favorite Color

Does anyone remember Burnt Sienna from early coloring book days? IF you got a double or triple row of crayons in a box, you might know what color I am talking about. I was quite proud to name that as my favorite color back in the day - haha!  I've passed this dead pine tree for many months now and the needles have recently turned an exceptionally lovely color. I do believe it is Burnt Sienna :)

Amy's Priceless Nativity

My sis-in-law, Amy Jones, cut out the large wooden figures and painted this exquisite Nativity for us many many years ago. It is the first Christmas decoration to go up and the last to come down. The kids would often play with all the characters, putting baby Jesus on the back of the camel...or Mary and Joseph face to face...or sometimes baby Jesus face down (if they thought he had gotten in trouble with his folks that day!?!). Needless to say, it is well loved.  Now that Amy is gone, it's all the more special to think of the time and love and care she put into this lovely set. Thank you Amy for your priceless gift.

Oh the Scent of Christmas...

Truly one of my great simple joys of the season is to get our tree at Swenson's Nursery in Cheney, put it in the iron stand, give it a drink, and let it stand for a day or two. Just green and gorgeous and smelling of pine needles and forests. Someday I might not decorate it at all...but not this year. All the little meaningful symbols will be hung soon and I'll remember the origin of each one.  Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, how lovely are thy branches...:)

A Baby Girl for Linus

My dear friends Emily and Danny Messina had their precious baby girl Carinna at last, and Linus, their Dachshund, is learning how to share.  I decided Linus had to be represented in her baby quilt :) One of my greatest pleasures is to finish the binding by hand on a quilt. I think of who is going to be wrapped up in it and send a lot of love into the stitches. And how sweet it is to be binding it by the fire in my favorite chair chatting with dear friends from Holden Village, Lorrie and Marv Franson.

 

Find Beauty in a Walk Somewhere...

I walk this path nearly every single day now rather than the once or twice per week I used to walk. It's probably the single biggest change I've made since retirement. I now feel lost without my walk. There have been SO many things happen on walks over the years - hundreds of phone calls to my mom and dad, practicing lectures or presentations in my head, sometimes memorizing a poem, watching an occasional moose or coyote, scattering turkeys, snacking on serviceberries, seeing fall mushrooms push up through the dry soil, noticing the first spring flowers, picking up lots of trash with Vern, and of course the companionship for 12 years of faithful dog, Moby. Every day is a little better with a walk. Won't you join me? :)