Snow Chaos --- Just Northeast of Us

I watched in facination as the snow fell in thick sheets of white on Washington, DC last night, dreading the chaos that would ensue from such a beautiful sight.  How can something so beautiful be so deadly.   By the time I went to bed, power was out in lots of places, cars were being abandoned, airports were closed, and trees were  being brought down by the weight of the snow.  Even Jim Cantore said he had never seen anything like the quality of this snow in that area---the sheer weight of it left one in total amazement.  I always worry about the people and animals when the power goes out in the dead of Winter.  Troy, I hope you are layered up and have your new Timberlands on.  :)

Cabin Fever, A Neighbor's Horse...

The Robins were here in scores yesterday.  January IS half over.  Does this mean that Spring is  just around the corner, and those icicles are trying to deceive me?  I must admit that I'm ready to put out the fires, round up all the dust, throw open the windows, and actually hear the birds as well as see them through the windows.  :)  Someone please tell me it won't be long now. 

This has been a cold couple of months, and I have enjoyed snuggling by the fire, cleaning off buckets of snow from Bayley's little short legs, taking tons of bird photos through the windows; but yesterday was so NICE and WARM, and I took the pups on a romp up through the field to the woods, now I'm longing for DAYS of warmth and sunshine, feeling the breeze on my face.  It IS time to think about sticking seeds into cups of dirt.  Maybe I should clear off this table and set up a mini-greenhouse again.  I don't get much light in my house, but that never deters me from TRYING to get vegie seeds started at this time of year.  And there so much crap in this house that what's a bit more, right?  :)  I'm longing for some dirt therapy....maybe that's what I will do today---bring out the vegie and flowers seeds, round up some potting soil and cups...AFTER I call the Subaru dealership and see if they have a Camilla Rose Red Forester on their lot...and any deals they would like to offer me.  :D

Thank You, Everyone

The second Civil War block of Barbara Brackman's

Beautiful sunset last night

The morning was GORGEOUS---the trees across the lake had Hoar Frost on them

Any one out there know what kind of tree this is?

The tree in the forefront is the trunk of the photo before this one

 

 

 

    THANK YOU TO ALL O F YOU FOR YOUR CARING COMMENTS ON THE CAR ACCIDENT.  THEY ARE SINCERELY APPRECIATED.

Monday 1-10-11 News at Ships Landing

Randy is okay, just badly bruised and shaken up.  I wasn't with him.  He had gone to the pharmacy to pick up medicine for me.  If you know our road, you know that it goes much further up the hill and is much steeper the higher you go.  On Monday, it was totally covered by the time he was headed back home, not only with snow, but with ice as well.  He had a loooooong slide down the road and ended up where you see the car in the first photos.  :/  We've been catching our breath, and counting our blessings.  Now we have to try to figure out how to get it out of there without causing more damage to the car. 

Check out those 'snow balls' on Bayley's legs

My very first EVER White-Throated Sparrow :D

They returned today---in duplicates

See why I accomplish NOTHING???  :D

Oooh Cardinals Make ME Happy

She was back on the 8th

Look who followed her today!

Birds and Quilt Block

Frigid temps and howling winds send the little birds into a feeding frenzy

Jumping on the Civil War blocks bandwagon by Barbara Brackman at  http://civilwarquilts.blogspot.com/

A Bit of Christmas and Snow

Candle Mats and Mug Rugs

Troy is not sure what to make of his 'single' sock (felted wool 'coaster' with kitty on it)

Christmas pillow gift to BFF and red hoodie to me from BFF

Nita, can Snuggles beat Bayley in the 'snowball' class??? All four paws/legs/stomach coated EVERY time he went outside.   This is what I did many times yesterday---try to remove snow/ice balls from Bayley's thick,  lustrous fur :D

Happy New Year 2011

 

The Cardinals finally came to visit me on the tail end of 2010 and I was delighted. 

The sweet Junco flits almost as quickly as the Carolina Wren and Chickadee.

The Carolina Wren has been hanging out at Ships Landing, and even had a mate one day, doubling my delight.

  The sweet, little Chickadee has been to visit this past week, but he's so very quick I've spent the week trying to capture his picture, and FINALLY caught him today.  Adorable little bird.  

They all make me smile.

May this New Year of 2011 be full of wonder and delight.

Happy New Year!!

To Bless The Space Between Us at the Beginning of a New Year

The particular mind of the ocean

Filling the coastline's longing

With such brief harvest

Of elegant, vanishing waves

Is like the mind of time

Opening up shapes of days.

As this year draws to its end,

We give thanks for the gifts it brought

And how they became inlaid within

Where neither time nor tide can touch them.

The days when the veil lifted

And the soul could see delight;

When a quiver caressed the heart

In the sheer exuberance of being here.

Surprises that came awake

In forgotten corners of old fields

Where expectation seemed to have quenched.

The slow, brooding times

When all was awkward

And the wave in the mind

Pierced every sore with salt.

The darkened days that stopped

The confidence of the dawn.

Days when beloved faces shone brighter

With light from beyond themselves;

And from the granite of some secret sorrow

A stream of buried tears loosened.

We bless this year for all we learned,

For all we loved and lost

And for the quiet way it brought us

Nearer to our invisible destination.
John O'Donohue,

from To Bless the Space Between Us

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

May your Christmas be merry and bright, and the New Year full of peace, love and contentment.