Saturday, December 31, 2011

Enjoyed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with family.



Similar meals and desserts were had both days...
although some dishes were presented in different ways.



Most days haven't felt like winter in December...
if not for the cold mornings....it could be the fall of the year.
No snow...just sightings of green moss, little brown mushrooms and a very light cream colored squirrel.



The deer family remain safe and pass through often.
Here's one member being groomed by mom!



Sometimes...it's just the two youngest out on their own.



Three days after Christmas the field glowed in it's warm straw colors...
and the Elm trees in the woods still held their amber leaves.



Yesterday ....heavy rain and then very bright sunshine
produced a huge rainbow over the field! Quite a view!


Colorful rainbows...instead of winter snow...is fine with me!

Family will be here for New Year's Eve!
Hope everyone has a Wonderful 2012!
~ ♥ Wanda ♥ ~

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Can't Help But Wish

It's still deer hunting season so it's been wood puzzle solving
instead of walking in the woods for me.
Can't help but wish it weren't such a long season.



At the beginning of the season last year.... 
a distant shadow in a tree looked like a plastic bag....
zooming in with my camera...I was startled to see
a bow-hunter sitting high up in the tree.
I prefer to see my shadow only when walking this time of year.
(enlarge to see him and my shadow)


So...just in my yard I roam...I do look over the hillside to see
if the hollow treasure tree is still standing and across the ravine
for a better view of that newly fallen Beech tree.
At sunrise a long jet trail glowed like a pink ribbon in the sky
and a photo of a visiting male deer as he was leaping
made him appear cute and tiny in size.

(enlarge to see deer)


Granddaughter Alivia enjoys watching the other visitors...
the chipmunks and squirrels who eat the fallen birdseed and
it's nice to see that this year's fawns are still safe.  



I've spotted a few hearts in the lichen and clouds.
I noticed the top of the trees even have a similar shape.



To keep our shapes in control...desserts
have been lightly sweetened and made with whole grains.
Apple crisp and apple cake...both stuffed with apples!




Whole grain couscous, quinoa, brown rice, pastas, veg. chili,
baked potato, fish, chicken breasts, salads, soup...and
 Thanksgiving leftovers made up some of our meals.



The making of mail art for friends and family
is an enjoyable pastime....below are 4 I recently made.
Two more blogging friends just joined our group also.



A few Christmas cards have started coming in....
That's what I will be doing tomorrow...addressing some to go out!
I try to have them mailed by the 10th...wish me luck.



Most of the snowmen have come out of storage...
and found their places around the house.



The three little angels once belonged to my mother-in-law.
The angels with instruments and the three bears
were gifts from my daughter Annette.
The red boxes are used to store decorations for the tree.
They are still in there!



The tree is up...but only with lights at the moment...
eventually it will look like last year's tree below....with
little Santas that say "Pinch my cheeks and I'll give you a kiss!"
I've been putting it off and waiting...I believe...



...because most days here have looked something like this...
not like last December at all...I can't help but wish...  



.... for a Christmas-Look-To-It Snowfall! 


Actually...I'm waiting for Granddaughter Alivia's help!
~ ~

Friday, November 25, 2011

Come and Gone

It's now come and gone .....Thanksgiving Day!



Family gathered....with lots to say!



.....the plates are all washed and put away!


But...there's leftovers for another day!


Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Deep Into Fall

Returning from dropping grandsons off at school this morning...
 a stormy, but beautiful sky created a rainbow above the field.


In my haste to get photos...
I'm thankful I didn't run into this frequent visitor.



He frequents the back yard as well. I failed to get a photo
of his rising on back legs to feast on leaves.




He doesn't stand in one spot for long...
tracking and chasing the does keeps him on the run!



Most mornings the past few weeks have been sunny.



The mild season created warm Autumn colors in the leaves
and plenty of reasons for me to take breaks with hot teas!



One particular morning started with a promise of sunshine....



....which eventually turned to blowing wind and rain.
Many of those warm colored leaves were brought down.



Some mornings were hazy....with dew drops dressing the field.



Just before Halloween....
a witch appeared next to my and Alivia's 'unofficial' mailbox....
which overlooks a spooky area.


Alivia and a friend came 'very' cautiously to the mailbox
to retrieve a gift I had left. 
Hiding behind a tree...I captured the scenes. 

~note the little white ghost~


After getting the goods and escaping...her mom standing nearby....
mentioned she should go back and 'close' the door.
Reluctantly she closed it with a quick firm push...
which set off the little scary screaming ghost.
Alivia and her friend...both ran screaming!



Every morning hasn't been mild...
a few have produced frosty fields...
but there were beautiful skies still.



Icy crystals outlined everything from leaves to deer paths in the field.



On one of those chilly mornings....
deer gathered to eat acorns under the Oak trees in the front yard.



Her husband and I gathered for a few meals....
sharing them with Granddaughter Katie occasionally.



Rich desserts were few....fresh fruit and teas would have to do!



This past Monday morning on the way to school drop off....
50 some perched vultures were passed on the way!




Returning home I found the field in a seven o'clock blaze!



Other days....
an old pepsi bottle was found by son Steve and left by a tree...
while  a white tree fungus and red mite was spotted by me. 
A few things found on walks lately were a little puzzling.
Two hand sewn bags were found on different days.
One was empty and the other filled with beans and then a 
 little black cat entered the wood shed on Halloween.



One morning a few Bluebirds, who have been gone for over a month...
showed back up at the birdhouse they once knew as home.



The woods are still changing....
the golden leaves of the Beech trees have now....



....all turned brown....
...one Beech has even fallen over to the ground!




This tall Oak now stands naked without it's golden leaves....



...and
 the squirrels have eaten every last red dogwood berry....
without even saying please!



But then....
Deep into Fall....I do get to view sunrises like these.

~ Happy Fall Days ~
~ Wanda ~