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!
~ ♥ ~
46 comments:
Lovely - all of them. The leaping deer was amazing. It is real treat to visit your blog and see all the beautiful things you post.
As I walked with you in the yard and around inside, I was listening to Susan Boyle's song "Make Me a Channel Of Your Peace", it went spendidly with your post. Kind of lost myself in your photos, smiling at all your Christmas decorations...so quiet and peaceful...I love visiting...debbie
Hello Wanda, I was wondering if you're busy decorating. I do like the look of the curving lane, even when it's rainy or misty. I wouldn't mind sampling that Wanda Buffet - looks quite tempting. Enjoy the holidays with your Family, Wanda. I'm enjoying Dec with mine.
Do you know the bow hunter(s)? Are they hunting in the woods legally? I would be afraid to be out/near the woods with hunters waiting in the trees with weapons. Sends shivers down my spine. Please, be careful, Wanda.
Your food photos look as though they could be published in a cookbook.
As you wait for Alivia's help with the remainding decorations, enjoy the weather....waiting for that White Christmas that I'm sure you'll get.
We don't have anything white on the ground here...sigh. I will enjoy the snow vicariously through your blog.
It is always so nice to be here, Wanda. Hugs and much love to you and your family.
Love,
J.
'Love all your mosaics, most especially the hearts!
And the mail art is beautiful too.
Talking about beautiful ~ Alivia! And she's getting very mature looking.
The food of course all looks so delicious, and I wish I had a piece of that pizza right now!
Nice photo of the bow hunter, but I found him unsettling.
I haven't done as much decorating inside the house as I usually do, 'not enough time with a little one around.
Enjoy your decorating with Alivia!
I'm busy lately, with lots of good things, and unfortunately some not-so-good things. 'Would love to blog about it to get some feedback from folks whose opinion I value, but I dare not.
Life is crazy sometimes ~ but what can you do?
Take care, Wanda. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas Season.
Love,
Eileen
I do hope all your deer make it through this hunting season. Your pictures are beyond wonderful. I love that you take so many and make them into ONE! :-)
What a beautiful post full of beautiful pictures and sentiments. Simply lovely!
I think hunting is such a cruel and unnecessary sport. Your mosaics are so beautiful, Wanda. It must be quite time consuming to design them just right! Your wonderful, healthful meals look delicious! You put so much love into everything you do.
I always think that you must live in the most beautiful part of the world, your photos are gorgeous. But how very sad to be not able to roam freely through the woods. I am saddened by the thought of deer hunting.
Hi Wanda
Alivia is looking more like Amanda as she grows older. She is very sweet.
The deer below her in the collage has ears that really stand out - ringed in black...
Christmas in your climate is so perfect...the decorations here seem so out of place and unseasonal...we do see surfboard Santas but it's not the same...
You have accumulated a great amount of Christmas loot...it is nice to think of the pieces that have a history.
I have been looking on the beach for a branch to make a tree with but no luck yet.
Thanks for your warm and friendly meander...
Wish I could share the snow and cold weather.....that is all we have. I so enjoyed my visit here, your photos are wonderful. (made me hungry) Big hugs to Alivia and pleae don't venture too far into the woods. Hunting must be over soon. I find it sad thinking of those beautiful animals could be killed with a bow.....:-)Hugs
Your place looks beautiful, even when the weather is dreary! Your collection of snowmen made me smile, they look happy living in your home! Too bad you cannot go out into the woods now, I do hope the deer all will make it through this season. I have enjoyed all your beautiful photos again Wanda, it was a real treat, just like the food you serve, so colorful and delicious. Have a great day!
Wanda,
Your photos are all wonderful and such a joy to look at. It still doesn't feel like Christmas around here either but! I'll take it! I prefer the warmer weather :)
So glad to see the this years deer are still alive and well.
Can't wait to see what Alivia does with the tree this year.
Lisa
Hi Wanda, I am not a big fan of hunting, I would find it very alarming to have a bow hunter up in the tree. You can hardly see him. I love all your pictures and man the food looks delicious, and the hearts....I look and look but very seldom find any. lol. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season with your loved ones. hugs.
Wanda, this post is full of the joy, wonder, warmth, serenity, and deliciousness of the season. I’m amazed with your perfect eye for heart-shaped things and with your creativeness to make such a many lovely mail art. Love your collection of Christmas ornaments with sweet memories. My favorite collage is the last one: your woods look perfect setting for natural Christmas. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for the safety of the deer and fawns.
Have happy and peaceful pre-Christmas period, Wanda.
Yoko
I always love to see your photos--they are like National Geographic! Also love your food photos--made me hungry! I'm not even pretending to eat healthy until Jan 1st!
Thanks for your tip on my post, about where to buy K-cups. I'm really enjoying my Keurig. Donna
Beautiful post. I enjoyed walking with you and looking at all your lovely Christmas decorations.
Yeah! A shadow picture. Also birds at the feeder picture! I am Glad the fawns are ok so far. Kathy is coming home today and we will get our tree this weekend. We will wait to decorate until Brenda arrives on Monday. Good luck with your Christmas cards!
Wanda, your creativity abounds! Oh my goodness. This wonderful blog post is filled with stunning nature images, warm, cheery, festive holiday photographs, lovely sentiments, creative, colorful mail art and mouth watering dishes. It is an absolute joy to view your heartfelt, gorgeous blog posts! You are indeed a most beautiful soul.
HI WANDA - such beautiful pictures and traditions - I so love sharing in your world at Christmas and always.
Love Gail
peace......
Hunters sound a bit scary, and wet and slush are no where near as lovely as snow.
A very beautiful post! Lovely photos and commentary as well.
This was spun gold - you just weaved Christmas enchantment and made a very cynical woman appreciative of the wonders around her. Thank-you.
Beautiful! Merry Christmas Wanda.
You are a kindred spirit. Thank you. I try to take photos of unnoticed beauty...I wonder sometimes why I do it...but now I know...because it is there and I see it. It is part of a life well lived.
I always know when I come here I will enjoy and explore the wonders all around.Thank you as always for sharing your beautiful world! Keep your self safe from those hunters. Do you ever hear them?
Hello, Wanda.
What festive various photos they are! Your photos are saturated with full of joy. They all make me smile.I am wondering whether lovely deer could be easily found by hunters through bare woods!
I long for spring in winter,but the cold season is enjoyable too. It is the best time to hibernate in a warm house!! I love it very much!
Have a great week,Wanda.
Tomoko
I can't get enough of your beautiful pictures, and the sharing of your heart. You're living the life I've always only dreamed. God bless you.
Wanda, thank you for your (always) uplifting post. Your food looks so amazing! How do you stay so disciplined? I made the mistake of buying some homemade peanut brittle the other day, and it has been the downfall of me. I thought about making some for Christmas, but changed my mind, because I knew I wouldn't be able to leave it alone. The fudge and the cookies are bad enough.
It's a good thing I don't know where you live or you might find some of your snowmen missing. :) I have a collection of them on my mantel. They're now starting to spill over into surrounding areas. I said I wasn't going to add any this year, but when I was at Goodwill the other day, I found a trio of them in "See no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil" mode. Couldn't resist, and now they grace the shelf in my bathroom. :)
It's nice to be visiting you again.
Love, Susan
I love how you've captured that deer and the wonderful photos of your Christmas tree. And yes, please wish for snow. We will be spending Christmas with my in-laws in MO this year and my little one is desperately wishing for snow. So for him, I am keeping my fingers crossed.
As always your pictures are a fest for the eye...and speaking of feasts, your food shots are simply amazing! Have you thought about opening a restaurant? You make simply beautiful food!!! I'd be your first customer!
I love the mossy heart. And it already looks like a wonderland at your house. I'm wondering how long it will take my cats to destroy my decorations!
Thank you for sharing your Xmas preparations with us.
Love your collages and the fact that your blog is brimming over with hearts.
Hi Wanda!
I'm up so very late again tonight... catching up on all the Christmasy things I really want to do... stealing moments for myself when all is quiet at home...
What a magical place your home is! The photo with the leaping deer is just amazing...as are all the rest, just wonderful!
Thank you for sharing all this beauty.
I wish you a very lovely week ahead as we prepare for Christmas and a very holy and blessed Christmas Day as always,
Maria
Wanda, this post is one of the few that suggest that your life is not absolutely idyllic. (I'm gently teasing, I hope you know) To not be able to walk in the woods for fear of being taken for a deer is the case over here too and was a pretty bizarre notion to me, a city girl.
But as always, your photos are beautiful, your activities enviable and your text reminds me of the books I used to read as a kid, when they made me wish I could get right inside the stories and live them.
Hope it snows big fat Christmas flakes on the 24th for you! Best and warmest wishes to you and your family.
I just love those photos of December this year - more than the snow ones actually. They are really beautiful, I've always loved to see the bare branches of trees against a winter sky. The lichen heart is lovely too.
I love that you find hearts even in Lichen! Sorry hunting season is interfering w/your walks in the woods... I know how you enjoy them. Hope you are having a wonderful Holiday Season Wanda!
& a Happy 2012, too!
I think I missed this when it first came out, Wanda, but the timing for me couldn't be better! I was just taking a break from last-minute Christmas chores. What a joy to visit your house - so beautiful, healthy, and friendly!
Merry Christmas to you and all with whom you share your Christmas days & hours.
♥
Oh Wanda, I had completely missed this wonderful post. How could I. It is so wonderful that it is hard to describe in words. You are a genius in creating those photo-collages. Beautiful nature and lovely animals and the sweet Christmas figures and the delicious food. I'm hungry now for something delicious.
Dear Wanda, have a Happy Christmas time together with your beautiful family.
Grethe from Denmark ´)
Wishing you a Merry Christmas sweet friend and many blessing to you and your family for a healthy and happy 2012.
Nice knowing hubby is much better this year and will be enjoying Christmas at home. Big hugs to Miss Alivia, sending love, hugs and prayers to all the family. talk soon....:-)
Wanda,
Very lovely...I'd stay near home as well rather than compete with the hunters. I do pray for snow as well but here in NC it is near 70...oh well, perhaps another time.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas ♥
Rejoice! Rejoice!
always,
Maria
Happy Christmas Day, Wanda!!! =)
A Merry Christmas to you and your family Wanda :) It was a total pleasure seeing all the pretty pictures. Have a joyous and wonderful day. Loads of love :)
Hope you enjoyed Christmas day and wishing you all the best for the New Year!
Your pictures made me feel like Christmas. I have been a bit sick so Christmas was in bed for me with no seasonal food or festivities, so I enjoyed looking at yours. Did you cook all these delicious looking dishes? My husband does not cook so I have eaten a lot of Campbell soups lately… I am always astonished at the number of heart shape you find around – lovely. Have a great New Year.
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