Somethings, are just Great!

Our Christmas was perfect, the people in my life know me pretty good...

A little something to unwind with And the name is perfect too...

 Something to make me smile...
I guess I'm the only person who never knew about these ...bird window magnets half on inside half on outside....so it looks like a bird that can travel through glass...I just love this!

( It rained for 3 days prior to Christmas...)

Something to comfort me,
many nice greetings and an entire yard of chocolate candy ...

Something to remind me of the importance of friends..
and  bigger is better when coffee is involved....

Something to keep balance...
some things are better in small packages  nesting owl measuring cups---

these are precious!

...so many thoughtful gifts I received...

 it was such fun in the end...I DID NOT stress out about it...

 now the family is safe back in their own homes, the table is cleared, the gift wrap is secured, the left overs await,  and the SUN came out--awwww finally

It's time to rest up and regenerate...

How can anyone get the holiday blues when this is your closest neighbor

Appreciate the daily gifts we take for granted sometimes...

...and something to look forward to

                                  A Breaking Bad marathon on TV starts tomorrow...
                                                                  Im excited since.... 

I CAME DOWN WITH A COLD on Christmas Eve I lost my voice so I did a lot of listening, and not much talking---and I feel like being a couch potato for a day or two now....
this is the most I've said in 4 days!! TG for the Sun returning it may help!

Last post of 2014!

PEACE

Eleanor Roosevelt: You must do the thing you think you can not.

Enjoy Your Years end!

PEACE

Eleanor Roosevelt: You must do the thing you think you can not.

SO Simple Even a Scrooge Can Do It.

Part 2:

Well I told y'all I was going to enjoy Christmas this year and so far so good!  I'm not allowing it to get o me!! No way Jose!

 Today I packed up a box and it's labeled with shipping & ready to go to my son and his GF...now this is something I enjoy doing! I fill it with stuff they would never bother to waste money on, like reindeer antler headbands and Elf hats with big ears on it...and chocolate candy!!

So on the way to the post office I stopped and had a walk around the lake at Goodale park, my local...IT was so warm high was 70 today!  I was the only person at the lake...it was nice to be alone!  Nature provided me with easy, simple, pleasures!

Like these berries  decorating a cedar tree Nature has her own way of sprucing things up..

...here is a yellow rump who followed me around for a while enjoying a berry snack..

                 ... you can almost see a glint of red on the crown of this Ruby Crowned Kinglet,  he was eyeing me up pretty good!

red 

A Northern Mockingbird,  looked a little ruffled!

                 These 2 Pied Billed Grebes were calm as cucumbers not a care in the world...

We are hosting the Holiday meal this year and it will be a simple root roast with Potatoes, carrots, parsnips, sweet onion, mushrooms and peppers! I'll add some sweet peas a couple of store bought pies and Mom is making her Cornbread Stuffing. 

Easy Peasy!  

PEACE

Eleanor Roosevelt: You must do the thing you think you can not.

Made in America: Part One Keeping it Simple!

A HOLIDAY TRILOGY-- In my effort to ENJOY CHRISTMAS no matter what this year I selfishly put my name on top of my list..(yikes) and got these wonderful things for myself....

I found via blogging! 

If you are trying to give to someone who has everything..maybe they are ready for something made by an individual not a corporation or a retailer...my Father used to weave! So when I found the Etsy site of

Karen In The Woods, I was so excited!! My father made a small loom and he used to make wool scarves to keep away the winter chill I have 2 that he made before I was born, and a rug he loomed also, probably on one similar to the one Karen uses.

She weaves on old fashioned vintage looms no electricity needed! And she makes knit socks using a 100 year old (if I'm not mistaken)  sock knitting machine!  I ordered a pair of her warm socks and  I love them!

This is not the exact pair I got but this is another pair of her great socks! She looms awesome rugs and makes other items that are one of a kind!

Last year before I had the accident...I had ordered some wonderful soap and planned to give it to my Mom I had a ticket to fly to CO that fall and she was there... so the soap was going to be a surprise for her...I didn't get to take that flight but I did give her the soap and I got to use it too...Heavenly!!

I got the soap from 

The Common Milkweed

A wonderful young couple by the name of Steve and Jennifer who live in a 100 year old farm house  in the lovely state of Ohio and we all should strive to live the way they do...they grow wonderful gardens full of organic food, they reuse and recreate the things they need and they strive to live a renewable lifestyle.  Their items are completely Vegan and wonderful...

this year I ordered:

and this ..

being a creative person and a past business owner I know each one of these items is the very best it can be because when you make something and put your name on it- it's done with pride! 

PEACE

Eleanor Roosevelt: You must do the thing you think you can not.

Scrooged... Again?

For me its like both the Bill Murray films, Groundhog Day and Scrooged all in one.....  

24 days till Christmas? How can this be? Not that I dislike the idea of Christmas, I can take it or leave it... another year is gone!!  I've always wanted one of those "old fashioned Christmases" like the ones on the Lifetime specials...a house in the woods, the tree touching the ceiling, a cozy fire, eggnog and carols, snow on Christmas morning...ETC..everyone laughing and being so cheerful and caring...WHO am I kidding eh?  Ours normally turns out somewhere between The Grinch and the National Lampoons Christmas.
"that tree is way too big for this room" 
"put those candles out... they stink"
"it's 65 degrees outside"
"oh that's not my size, I wish you hadn't"
although I'm kinda exaggerating here...my family would deny these accusations!

I've tried to refuse to do it, that blew up in my face, I've tried to pass it off onto other family members, that was a mess, I've tried to have NO gifts present some got bent over that, I've tried running away from home, they actually seemed to enjoy that....hmmmm and yet I came back...so here I am facing yet another Christmas reluctantly! ...the truth is I LIVE IN A HOUSE IN THE WOODS, its normally not cold enough to light a fire on Christmas, and we have a snowballs chance in h**l of having a white Christmas, although we usually get it the week after, if we get it in December!  People are normally grumpy, stressed, and not in good cheer.  I hate that call ---

1. Q. What are we gonna do for Christmas?      A. I have no clue.
2. Q. What do  you want for Christmas?
   A. I have no clue.
3. Q. Why do we even bother?
   A. I have no clue

HUM BUG

One thing that terrifies me now is going into the attic to get down decorations and left over wrapping paper etc...the attic stairs in this house is metal, the project house where I fell is NOT ... I get that knot in my stomach...but like riding a horse when you fall off you gotta get back in the
saddle,,,, at least once the casts come off ! DO yourself a favor if you have one of those staircases with wooden steps replace it right away!! 

I love twinkling lights any time of year..so I put those up outside, I love the baked goods so I bake, I love family so they come over, I enjoy wrapping gifts, so why do I dread it so? IT's when you ADD it all together makes me a  scrooge and there is no getting around it...

This year Im making a personal vow---I will enjoy the hoopla, the shopping, the cooking, the family, the gifting, and all that
...but I'm not putting up an inside tree....

 Then put the left overs back in the attic Pandora's Box until next year!  

...and so it is that I celebrate once more...
this post from 2010 in Writtn's  details how Christmas came into my life IT KINDA EXPLAINS why I get this way...

PEACE

Eleanor Roosevelt: You must do the thing you think you can not.

Pet of the Week

For the person who has everything and needs to share it.....a gift idea....not for someone else but for YOU! Imagine this little guy in your life..HOW cute he is!!!

...from a local paper...the pet of week he needs a home! A Chihuahua mix 4 year old male, he has been fixed, and has his shots, and is heart worm Negative...omg he is precious

 for more info call 

Janice Emerson 803 447 3602 Fairfield Co, SC animal shelter.  

Even if you don't live nearby there is a network of people who help to transport animals to new homes across the country! Everything is possible! Can your home be his forever home? He barely takes up any space...and I don't think he will eat much either...

Our Thanksgiving was perfect! Since both my sisters now own homes in Colorado...(the west is growing by leaps and bounds I'm staying put for now but visits are def on my menu for the future)..I ate out with my son, his gorgeous girlfriend, my mom, and my X got to attend also..it was drama free, no dishes to wash, no left overs to wrap up, and we had a great time!! I spent some time watching movies too...I watched the Hunger Games, then Hunger Games Chasing Fire, and now I'm hyped to see Mocking jay in theaters, my friend and I are trying to line up next Friday in order to avoid any crowds this weekend!  

PEACE

Eleanor Roosevelt: You must do the thing you think you can not.

12 Most Over Looked Recognized Days!!

• January 25th   Opposite Day is a topsy, turvy day when everything you say, do, see, and hear are the opposite. 

• February 20th    On this winter day, people go out at noon, wave their hands over their heads and chant "Hoodie-Hoo".  
  
• March 1st  Today is a sticky day. National Peanut Butter Lover's Day salutes America's favorite sandwich spread. 

• April 4th Tell a Lie Day.....  if you ever need to tell a lie, today is the day to do so.

• May 4th  is the oldest of the days set aside to recognize birds. According to the U.S. Library of Congress, Bird Day was first observed  on May 4, 1894.
  
•  June 7th   National Chocolate Ice Cream Day is a great day to eat America's favorite flavor of ice cream. National Chocolate Ice Cream Day is a field day for ice cream makers. 
  
• July 22nd Hammock Day exists to enjoy summer as it should be enjoyed. People celebrate Hammock Day by spending as much time relaxing on it as possible. 

• Aug 3rd  This big fruit deserves it's own big day. So, we give pause to celebrate watermelons on National Watermelon Day. Sweet and tasty, watermelons, are one of summer's favorite fruit.
  
• Sept 22nd, Elephant Appreciation Day is today. Show us how much you care about elephants. This is a big, elephant sized day. We feel it should be celebrated in a big way.
  
• Oct 6th   Mad Hatter Day is a great day to be silly and celebrate silliness.  

•  Nov 4th  King Tut Day celebrates the date of the discovery of King Tutankhamen's Tomb.
  
• Dec 21st  Don't be left in the dark on National Flashlight Day. 

Just thought you'd need a break from the silly season---
Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and all the up coming crazy of December!!

PEACE

Eleanor Roosevelt: You must do the thing you think you can not.

Stops Along the Way...

A quick trip to bring Mom back from a visit at sisters house so we made a couple stops along the way...

We finally took the exit for Musgrove Mill a Historic Site, and there was a stream and a pond...with  Pied Billed Grebes...

and these 2 what I think are immature Ring Neck Ducks, 

really enjoyed watching them...

We saw these 9 men running around in tight formation....straight lines, then in a tighter group...no clue what it was about...

...its a Revolutionary War Historic site...

There is a nice big back porch at the visitors center with rockers so you can relax and enjoy this expansive back forty of the old Musgrove Mill Property where Patriots whipped up on some Loyalists...in 1780

The Enoree River runs around the property...we drove about a mile down the road since there is no bridge over the river to get to the Horseshoe Falls! Its small but very pretty..

              

There was a paved path so Mom enjoyed the falls from the viewing platform while I went down to get a closer look, tried some long exposures it was a bit bright...for that but I gave it a try..

Just a small tumble over some rocks but we sure enjoyed it! 

This Robin gave us the stink eye as we hiked back to the van...

And check out this unusual roadside sight!!

LOL...its actually yard art!! Pretty Yacky!  If you notice the tree is also full of bicycles!! 

PEACE

Eleanor Roosevelt: You must do the thing you think you can not.

For the Love of DOGS!

Flickr ATE MY pHOTOS 
Casey's coat

I did my first sewing project in over a year! Of course not the industrial sewing I did for a living...but a quick project on my new set up--how easy to not have to drag the machine out of the closet drag it to the kitchen, put it on the table set it up etc...and then do the reverse...putting it all away..NO MORE-so happy with my FREE cabinet!

I bought Casey a winter coat it had issues...the belly strap needed a tweak in the way of an elastic extension, but with the extension in use part of the belly strap hung down and looked untidy and got hung up in things outside...so I sewed it down onto that side so now it won't hang loose..

               

very simple project....

He had some fun wearing it this morning when he went out for his romp with the girls..

there was a traffic jam at the doggie door..ha!

Annie peeping in, Casey and Flossie waiting to exit

then he had to wait for the gate to be opened they romp in the old horse pasture...the coat may look a little short on his back but Casey is LONG--I couldnt find an X-long in a small.

They regrouped in the back yard after a good half hour of play...

for a drink in my little water garden thats dying back for fall they drink here daily! Before the raccoon got my fish the fish used to circle their tongues..lol Casey didn't need his coat after that warm up.

Yesterday Mom and I drove to the facility where my X is now living and I signed him out and took him on a picnic...it was a bit cool but we bundled up and enjoyed it anyways!! He is doing okay, and I wish I could say he is doing better...but that would not be true. 

Casey came along to offer up some Pet therapy and he was a big hit, he has become a wonderful addition to our family!  He is filling out nicely and looks happy and healthy!

I wouldn't mind getting him certified so all the residents could enjoy petting him..in fact my big girls would be great as Pet Therapists people love them!! 

Hope you got some Dog Love in your life its a VERY SPECIAL THING!

PEACE

Eleanor Roosevelt: You must do the thing you think you can not.

the Fallen...

With all the awesome fall color I saw in NC, VA and TN on my recent trip I almost forgot about the fall happening right here at home!  Course with all the leaves in my yard I should of seen the clues....Yesterday I needed my body of water fix so on the way home from dropping off the recyclables I stopped at our local Goodale State Park where all the Cyprus are flaming rust!! Some needles fell with the recent rain and wind storms we had but enough were on for me to enjoy it... and I'll share it with y'all  

This is the view looking to the lake from the boat area..I wish I had my own kayak its a great place to put in and have a quiet paddle they do rent kayaks too...western hikers have to be wary of bears, here in SC... 

We have other big toothed things to be wary of...

The lake is so calm its perfect for a nice float---

The ferns were all in various stages of color change ...

Photo missing,

even the rocks seem more colorful right now..

And this weird Spider it's called an Arrow Shaped Micrathena 

and the trees were full of yellow rumps...Audubon's 

These Pitchers look like they're singing all hitting high notes together...
The Autumn Leaves Are Falling..la-te-dah

Now back to work raking up the Fallen...!!

PEACE

Eleanor Roosevelt: You must do the thing you think you can not.