My Day Looks Like This...

Good Morn'ing...this is what my day looks like-not all of them but enough of them...

Wake up...stumble down stairs...make coffee.



I put the water on to boil...

I feel like someone is watching me...

Oh yes...the happy little face of the "white elephant "gift that Gabe got for Christmas from his Aunt...you know the one you just can't throw out...(not the Aunt-the gift)...you just have to see what it will look like... I water it and place it lovingly back upon the window ledge to catch the morning sun.



Time to wake up the dogs and feed them...




Oh look...here the dishes I asked someone---anyone---everyone to put in the dish washer before bed...

Dogs barking-tell them to shut up.




take out tonight's dinner...grabbed whatever was in the "upstairs" freezer...I will work out the rest of the menu when I get home. Chicken sounds good anyway. Dogs barking...

I have an hour to sit at the computer, eat my cereal, and read emails and snoop around the blogs...dogs barking-tell them to shut up.

Time to drop the kids off at school and then on to work...

I have the most wonderful little office...it is actually nicer than this pic shows...it is private, warm, and looks outside on both sides of the building (love that natural light)

I settle in here...turn on my radio...check my email...sip my coffee and start my day...no dogs barking-AHHHHH

lots of time passes (spared you the ride home)...I make it home before the kids...change into my attractive lounge clothing-too attractive to show the world...start dinner...and off we go to do the afternoon chores...of which feeding dogs, the ducks, the birds, and anything else that drops by to snack...Dogs barking-tell them to shut up.

No...these are Claire's attractive lounge/feed the ducks clothes...not mine...dogs barking at Claire-she tells them to shut up.

Happy Ducks...barking dogs

Eat...Clean-up...visit with family...argue about who has dishes...make sure homework is done...etc...Dogs barking-tell them to SHUT UP! Dogs shut up.

In bed early (hopefully) to watch NCIS, the Office, or Antique Road Show-whatever and read my mail...fall asleep...wake-up and start all over again...

I kinda like predictable days...

Speaking of which-have a GOOD one-

Settling in for The long Winter Ahead...

Now that all is said and done...the holidays are behind us...and life has fallen back into the well worn path of normalcy...I have settled in for the long winter days ahead. Yesterday, I mentioned to the relaxing Mister "M" that I felt antsy...ready for spring...I saw a "oh no is is starting" look of terror on his face and quickly assured him that it was probably a passing mood...not really...although it is rearing it's ugly head early this year...that ol' familiar pang for sunshine, green grass, leaves rustling in the wind, and the smell of lilacs is working its way into my longing...I am starting to dream for warmer weather...I will get through this, I know, believe me, I have had practice! (heavy sigh)

We took a little family ride last week, intending to get out and take a break... We passed this wonderful old church (Kirk in the Hills in Bloomfield Hills Michigan) and I was able to get out of the car to snap a shot or two or more...I loved this door!





The windows were wonderful to look at too.



On the way home, the snow started...This little Ceder Waxwing flew into the window and was a little stunned..He tucked himself under the pines, and I was very happy to see he only needed a few minutes to get himself together and fly away.



Gabe's snow plowing shades...



and Claire's best Sasquatch imitation...taking the dogs out in the woods to run in the newly fallen snow...



This is Dusty keeping a close watch on Claire's every move...



part of the new years resolution to eat healthier...



Until next time, stay warm and be blessed!

First Snow of the New Year!

Happy New Year All..

I finally did it!! I figured out how to change the background of my blog! Whew..I have had so much trouble with this. I got the how to on Kevin and Amanda's blog . I tried to follow several tutorials that were not nearly as good. Their instructions were so easy and actually worked! (Amanda also has an inspiring weight loss story and some great tips that I am going to try in order to keep myself on track with one of my pesky little New Year's resolutions...

Look at the snow! It is not much yet, but Mother Nature has great plans for the weekend I understand. I let the dogs out to play, and they love it. All of them except Bindi, our little wiener dog. Her little belly drags along the snow and she hates being cold-can't say as I blame her.

Here are my trees in the back yard. The snow has been gently falling all day and it really is peaceful and beautiful out there. Claire will take the dogs for a walk in the woods when she gets home, and I hope to get some more winter shots then. I will post them if I do.




Teddy just loves the snow. He romps and darts around until he ends up rolling in the snow. He makes a terrible mess when I finally get him in the house.


Logs for the fire tonight.



I love this...Look at my heart chip...its telling me to remember my New Year's resolutions I am sure!

Until I post again...Blessings

Merry Christmas to All!!

What a wonderful and relaxing holiday season this is turning out to be...here is the tree and some gifts from Santa...

Christmas day is just for the four of us (at this point)...we spend the day in our jammies, watch movies, eat good food, and play games...no one comes in or goes out... Teddy and I are just relaxing with a good cup of coffee still in the wee hours...taking in the peace of the early morning...reminiscing and missing the sounds of the kids, when they were little, and all the excitement of Christmas morning. Now they want to sleep in and take a shower before they sit to open presents...Well...life has a way of moving along doesn't it?

Note the layers and flair of my Christmas Day outfit...Yes it feels as comfy and good as it looks...

Here is a pic of Claire with her big gift and Gabe goofing off for the shot...

Here is Bindi enjoying her yummy doggie bone/gift...she also got a big bag!!! She loves to crawl into tight spaces-here she is happy as a clam.

Here is the Brunch set up for the whole family ( a couple of days before Christmas)...from here we move into a fun day of games, snacks, gift-giving...then on into diner...WHEW...at the end of the day, I am just pooped out! But we always have lots of fun. Wish all you out-of-towners were here-we miss you all!!!

Here we are playing a family game (a really fun one at that) and Teddy just has to be a part of it all...here is how he proposed to do so... note the stealth moves he is pulling over on us...

...until Mister "M" catches him and allows him to join us...That Mister "M" is just spoiling this little guy something awful!!!

Hope all of you has a great and Blessed Holy Day!! Merry Christmas to all...And Blessings for your new year!!!

until next time, Mary

Between Holidays

Sorry it took me so long to post-again...I am not even going to tell you I have been busy...However, with Mister "M" working out of town again (in the deep south), I have had to be both mom and dad...God bless all you single parents for your strength and for your dedication...it has been a new thing for me and my kids are teens not even little ones...! The hardest part of this single parent thing so far has been the---are you ready---the grocery shopping thing!!!!! Yes, Mister "M" is the shopper in this family. Yes, of course I go , but I don't get the deals he does...(we get the good stuff). Sorry Mister "M"...I really am working in it (got a killer deal on salami)!!

Lets go back a week or so...here is the Thanksgiving table... now, before you comment on how informal my table setting is...know that it was just us and Grandma for dinner. I cooked as much as I usually do and we are still eating the leftovers...but it was really good (tried some new recipes) and we had a wonderfully relaxing low-key family day..fire in the fireplace - family games and after dinner - movie...

Te family game was Poker with the kids and of course, the dog. Teddy has the some potential, but he looses interest too soon and starts to lick the cards-tried to explain that this is not good card etiquette...

...teaching the kids how to play Poker. One is a penny hoarder ( even with the family penny jar) and one is a wild risk taker...he understands the concept of "family penny jar"... it was fun.

I set up the Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. I am not by nature a procrastinator (that is with most things) and I love all the lights in the house as I gear up for Holy/Holiday season.

Here is the tree...

Here are some wooden trees we made for the festival in the summer. I kept some to put around...I think they turned out charming...The larger ones in the background, I usually wrap with lights.

Oh yesssssss..and look at my Christmas gift is this year!!!! I get it early so I can make sure it is working (30 days same as cash) It is soo cool...!!! I did wrap up the box though...

Last night the pond froze! The duckies are wondering what they are supposed to do now...Mister "M" will set up their winter lodgings this weekend when he gets home. Until then, we will continue to break up the ice and fee them corn. Hopefully the coyotes will not come in for a peek before we get it all arranged. They usually wait for the colder nights when it is harder for them to fin an easy dinner.

The Robins and the Ceder Waxwings love the berries on the tree right outside my kitchen window. I love to watch them and snap a pic when I can. Once I had 12 Blue Birds on the tree in the middle of winter!!

Yes, for you Northerners, that Robin should have moved on south...at least in my estimation...shows you how delicious those berries are-think'n about trying some my self...Anyway, have a wonderful week and God Bless you all in the Glorious Advent season!

Till next time

Mary

gota get a minute...

Sorry...it has been a while since I have posted...again, I have been so busy!!!
But, I had a minute to drop in and show you a page that I started...I am having fun with my new downloads from Designer Digitals (Anna Aspnes more specifically). And no...Mister "M", it cost hardly anything!

He is working out of town for the moment and I am just anticipating his thought stream as he reads this...love ya dear!

until next time-Blessings

Mary

Fall Clean-Up

Here we are again...doing yard work!!! Sometimes seems like that is all we do. Oh Well...that's the price you pay to live in the country...we are a country family...there is just too much going on at any one time here on Cottonwood Creek. Kids yelling (no matter how old they are) dogs barking...mom yelling out orders...and Mister "M" overseeing it all- or watching rather. Here is what we started off with on Sunday morning.

Pumpkins still needed carving...Gabe and I have a plan...

The whole family picks up sticks, I use the blower on the leaves shooting them out into the path of Gabe on the mower, and Mister "M" comes back when we are all finished and picks the leaves up.

Here is how Claire picks up sticks...although who can blame her...can anyone, young at heart, ignore a big pile of leaves in the Fall?

Teddy needed some encouragement.

Gabe on the tractor

Here is Mister "M" perched high up above overseeing and oh yea...cleaning out the gutters...

Claire and I were done with our jobs early so we went for a walk back in the woods......Look at the size of this tree...

A hole in the tree

After all the yard work was finished, we carved pumpkins. This is what Gabe came up with... We got it out of the "Extreme Pumpkins" book written by Tom Nardone, here is a link to the web site http://www.extremepumpkins.com/...it will crack you up if you are into that kind of twisted humor...

Last but not least, here is Claire on Halloween..She was out and about with a group of her friends. Gabe went out with his friends...It was the first Halloween in 17 years that Mister "M" and I could actually plan to do what we wanted...we went out to dinner and then waited for the candy to roll in...I kinda like Halloween on our terms...

Hope your weekend was as festive and fun! Until next time-blessings on all

Mary