I stood out in the snow and cried

It's snowing here in the northeast.  Who's been dreaming of a white Halloween?  Which one of you was it?  Well, it's come true.

Pumpkin seeds roasting on an open fire...

Doesn't have quite the same ring to it, eh?

The snow will probably all be gone by tomorrow, but it is beautiful to look at.  I love the snow.  I love watching it fall.  It is very soothing.  Like watching fish swim, or horses graze out in the fields, or sun shining on your face.  Yes, watching snow fall makes me smile, just as much as that first sun-shiny day after a bitter cold winter.  Is it because I am a gemini?  I like winter and summer.  Fall and spring.  Snow and sunshine.

Today was a grey, miserable day.  It rained all day long.  We spent our day running errands and dodging raindrops and loafing on the sofa watching TV.  Maybe it wasn't so grey and miserable.  But, in terms of weather, it was grey and miserable.  And then, just a few minutes ago I looked out and saw snow.  Actual snow flakes falling from the sky.  It was magical.  I ran outside and looked up.  It was beautiful.  And, then I looked over at Hoss' tree.  Yes, he has a tree.  Or, had...  He passed away a few weeks ago.  I miss him every day.  I look at Hoss' tree and it makes me smile and cry at the same time.  I guess that is the definition of bittersweet.  Whenever Hoss was out back and wanted to relax he could always be found lounging under his tree.  I think he liked the shade of it on a warmer day and the soft buzzing of bees gathering pollen was probably soothing to him.

As I looked up in the sky and watched the snow flakes come down and felt the coldness of them melt on my face and land on my hair... in that moment I knew Hoss was in heaven.  Who else would be sending me down gorgeous snow flakes this early in the season?  Hoss was hanging out with St. Francis and was thinking of us.  He wanted to let us know that that he was thinking of us.  I felt him all around me.

Snow was Hoss' absolute favorite.  Just as much as he liked to lounge outside under his tree on a sunny day he loved to lie outside in a blizzard and chill.  Hoss was the king of chillaxing.

We could all learn a thing or two from a St. Bernard.

I anticipate this winter being quite a bittersweet one.  And, so, I stood out in the snow, turned my face up to the falling snowflakes, and cried.


I love you my darling.

I miss you.

Landscaping: Phase 1 of 15,6879

Our house is situated on a somewhat wooded lot.  Those woods have been encroaching on our yard for the last decade and now it has completely taken over.  

Well, not completely, but almost!  

For the past few years I have been getting estimates and meaning to have some trees cut down and the underbrush cleared, but it never seemed to happen.  

Well this Spring I finally pulled the trigger.  

Men came with chainsaws and cut away at the underbrush:

Men climbed with chainsaws and sawed off branches:

and then climbed higher:

oh, mylanta!  

(c'mon, I know you watched Full House.  Gotta love those DJ Tanner one-liners)

This is around the time when he called for his Mommy and a bottle of milk:

no lie...

This is where he kissed it up to God and 

swung!

From one tree...

to another...

and, yes...while he is swinging around like Tarzan, he has a chainsaw tied around his waist.  

Mommy!!

TIIIMMMMBBBBEEERRRRR....

Good catch!

Then:

Did I mention this is where I would like to plant a garden...

Now:

Wish me luck!

Menu Planning

One of the things I love to do is read blogs.  I don't know how I was turned on to the world of blogs, but I am thankful for it-however it happened.  There are so many great blogs and websites out there with tons of wonderful tips and information.  Most of the blogs I read (actually, probably all of the blogs I read) are authored by women.  Mothers.  A few of the ones I was perusing this week were talking about menu planning.  Apparently there is a huge subset of mothers who plan out their family's weekly menu (mostly dinner) and even have a budget for the grocery store.  I would like to study this subset of the population more and maybe partake in a few of their rituals.  This 'menu planning' (is that how you pronounce it?) sounds very intriguing and I think it may be very beneficial to my life.  My whole entire life could change.  So, if any of you have any tips or advice regarding menu planning and budgeting I would love to hear them.

Isn't this pretty?  I love how the berries are still clinging to the branches and the contrast with the snow.  It was a little tree in a bank parking lot on some road on our way to a skating rink.  I made my husband stop so I could take a picture of it.

Guess What Peeps?

It's snowing again.  It's late, it's dark, but I can see the snow sparkling outside.

It's beautiful.

I can't wait to see it in morning's first light.  I am sure I will take a gazillion photos.  I just can't help myself.  Every year I say, 'baby-cakes.  you don't need any more photographs of that tree covered in snow.'  But, then I see the freshly fallen snow and I am like a kid in a candy store.

Or a bull in a china shop.

One of those.

Strong like bull.

ahem...where was I?

Oh, yes, gorgeous, beautiful, freshly fallen snow.  It's reminds me of the pile of confectioner's sugar I sift when I make my famous carrot cake.  Yes, it's famous.  You haven't heard of it?  Oh...  hmmm... I could have sworn it was famous.  How many people have to like something in order for it to be famous?  oh...

I am starting to get confused now.  It's late, it's dark...

Ah, yes, as I was saying, it's snowing again in these parts.  I just can't wait to take a photo of that tree covered in snow (again).

Here is what it looked like last time it snowed:

It's just one of my favorite trees.  Makes me smile.  It's also my daughter's 'climbing tree'.  Maybe that is why I am so attached to the tree.  When she was little she grabbed hold of those branches and would not let go.  

 Small fry was determined.

And, if you please, shall we all just have a moment of silence for the diaper sticking out of the back of the pants.

Is it not delicious?  Doesn't it make you want to wear outfits with peter-pan collars?  

Why I didn't have 100 babies I'll never know...

What happens when it snows...

The trees look lovely:

The birds eat what's left on the birdfeeder:

The birds eat what's left of the halloween pumpkin:

The squirrels eat what's left of the halloween pumpkin:

Did I mention the trees look lovely?

Children wear snowboots to school:

Oh, and some people lose control of their vehicle
swerve on the road
and crash into your mailbox:

Thank you.

Thankyouverymuch.

US & OZ

The photo from OZ is pretty scary...have your hands by your eyes just in case you need to cover them.

Are you ready?

Here it is...

I don't think you'll have to look toooo closely to find the little australian murder machine.      

I don't know if that is really a poisonous one, but he sure looks pissed.

                                                                                                       -Kate

EEK...!!!!  A scary spider.  It might even be venomous.  There are all kinds of poisonous animals down undah.  Not sure what the proper scientific name is, but scary spider seems apt.  

Kate's pretty sure she's correct and the proper name is 'little Australian murder machine'.  

come-see; come-saw

Meanwhile, back in Kansas.  

Well, not really Kansas, but since I was talking about OZ it just seemed like a natural segue.  (not to be confused with a motorised 2-wheeled machine).  

Speaking of murder machines (another segue, thankyouverymuch) have you ever observed the tenacity of Blue Jays?  They are fierce, big bullies.  They knock all the other little chickadees off the bird-feeder and then knock all the seeds off the perch until they find the one that they like.  They have even been known to dive bomb little doggies.  My friend's childhood pooch as a matter of fact.  But, that's another story for another time.   

Or, maybe they feel badly for knocking all the chickadees off the bird-feeder and are putting some seed on the ground for them...?  

But, now I have photographic proof that they are the ones making a mess with the birdseed.  So, if I ever corner them and they say,
'who us?  we don't make no stinkin messes.  You must be thinking of those other birds'.
I can whip out this photograph and say 'AH HA!  PROOF!'  And they will sheepishly fly away and leave the chickadees to eat when and where they like.  

And, one more thing.  How about the contrast between the two photographs.  Kate's background is green and colorful.  Lush foliage that should be present in summertime.  My background is bare branches and even a trace of snow on the roof of the bird-feeder.  

  

US & OZ

Sorry I have been MIA.  Busy busy busy...  I am sure we are all singing the same tune.
However, I felt badly enough for neglecting my blog that I stopped on my way to the land of nod to sit at the computer and update it just one more time...
Who knows, maybe I will get one more post in before the end of the year!  Fingers crossed...
 

From OZ:

The girls enjoying one of the "pressies" that my mom sent them for Christmas! 

I let them open one a day early. :)

                          -Kate

From US:

My daughter taking a break from my photo-shoot in front of the tree.  

US & OZ: December 3, 2010

From Oz:

December 3rd, third day of summer...

Lara in one of her party dresses, showing me their christmas tree.

                                                              -Kate

From US:

Deer in the Woods

I just love this photo.  If there were snow on the ground I think it would be a perfect Christmas card.  

  

A Day Late & A Dollar Short

Well, as illness continues to make its way through the household it seems I have been forgetting to do some other things.  Oh, like decorate for the season and buy some gifts for my family to open on Christmas morning.  There's only 3 weeks left!


And, to post a photo from Gorgeous Kate down undah.  We are both a little too busy to do daily photographs, but when she sends me one I will post it.  I am looking forward to seeing Australia decorated for Christmas!

Kate sent me this photo yesterday:

Welcome back to Australia, here is a picture of some weird tree goo!! :)

                                                                                   -Kate

I just love seeing everything in bloom!

It is quite a contrast to this one:

berries hanging on to bare prickly branches.  

I am not sure what kind of bush it is, but it is in our back yard and those thorns hurt!

US & OZ: October 27, 2010

OZ:

Picnic fun in the park. Can you tell Dora is very popular in Australia?

                                                                                                   -Kate

US:

A dark and dreary leaf soaked driveway.  

US & OZ: October 25, 2010

Sorry for the lateness of this post, but I am a bit under the weather (a terrible place to be) and have been dozing on the sofa.

Here is the photo from OZ:

Well it started pouring again so I went with this picture. 

I've been wanting to show off the butterfly stickers on my window. :) 

I think they have been there since the first au pair.

                                                                                -Kate

and the photo from US:

Kate has said that the month of October is making her homesick so I thought I would take a photo of home.  These are the delicious deciduous trees by Kate's house.
Don't they look stunning?
One thing I love about fall on the east coast is the color.  Even driving down the highway is more enjoyable when you can admire all the gorgeous coordinating colors of the leaves.

As I was snapping away I thought, I hope this doesn't make her more homesick.  My intentions were pure, I assure you!!

xo

US & OZ: Day 4

So, the regularly gorgeous Kate sent me this photo this morning:

Mary always keeps fresh flowers around the house. 

I have no idea what kind these are, but they sure are perty. :)

ummm...I am pretty sure they are lillies...did you really not know that Kate?  

What will your mother say??

I have to say, looking at this photo made me just a little bit, just a tiny twinge (really teensy) jealous.  Seeing the bright blooms and the sunny weather through the glass made ME.WANT.THAT!!  

oh, ahem, cough cough, sorry...lost my place there for a second.  

You see, as I was looking out my windows it was dark and dreary and wet and cold.  

I kept waiting for the elusive sun to peek out, but alas, it did not.  So, on went the wellies and rain jacket and out I went with my camera.  I had spied something earlier on my way down the driveway and I knew I wanted to photograph it.  

Here it is:

Mushrooms growing out of a fallen tree.  Taken around 5pm.  

That's just how much it has been raining.  

Mushrooms are sprouting up all over the place.  

And toadstools.

Notice the contrast in the photos?  

Bright and colorful vs. Dark and dreary.  

*sigh*

US & OZ: Day 1

Hello everyone, 

Here is the photo that the gorgeous Kate sent me this morning:

"i'm in a suburb of sydney. the pic is of the sidewalk of my street at around 3:30pm."

-Gorgeous Kate

Knowing that she had taken her photo around 3:30pm I thought I would try to do the same.  However, it has been rainy and cloudy and overall dreary here so I thought I would wait until the sun started to peak out.  It did around 4pm and I took this shot around 4:30pm:

It is a tree at the end of my driveway and it looks at me everyday while I wait for the school bus.

Sometimes it can look a little creepy, but it usually makes me smile.  While I look at the tree and daydream I believe that Nature is just bursting to talk to me so the tree grew a face.  One day I will walk down to the end of my driveway and it will have a mouth and then the conversations will get really good.  Right now they are a little one-sided.  

xo