Bogged Down By the Snow

I took a week of from posting, mainly because we have been bombarded with snow fall and record breaking low temps (not really, I just got busy). I know I sound like I am whining to all those in states hit harder…but hey- its all relative (as far as whether goes). We have to dig ourselves out every morning, and there is no where for the snow to go once we do. Hopefully, it will melt a little to make room for the new snow-calling on a little cooperation from the sun. Look at last night’s snow fall, it can be measured if you look at the picnic table on the deck…

couldn’t help dropping in some pics of warmer days for comparison.

My Mom lives on the lake. Here are the drifts off the lake.

These cars are parked on the lake for the snowmobile races. Still gets me nervous-parking on the ice…

Well, at least Gabe keeps busy with more admirable pursuits…

Take care and Keep warm-until next time...Mary

Happy New Year!!

As the end of the holiday comes to a close…We find ourselves busy wrapping up all the home projects we started (about 8 years ago…) like finishing up the molding in the kitchen and the dining room.

I came down with a lousy cold or flu…whatever… I can never tell what I have…I used to call everything a cold, but I guess many of the symptoms of flu often get lumped into the cold category. I had some time to paint this past week-I will post it when I finish it…still playing with the idea. I made it a point to relax this vacation. I looked through some really inspiring art magazines and read some great articles about photography, digital scrapbooking, and Photoshop techniques. I treated myself to a couple good books on one of our bookstore runs also. Probably won’t get to those until we go camping in the spring.

I am looking forward to getting back to work. In my neck of the woods, the adoption business has been a little slow last year. We had two babies born in these past two weeks, and two very happy new families celebrated. I hope for all the other couples waiting to be parents that this is a taste of what the New Year will bring. Not much more to say this week, but thought I would post a scrapbook page I was playing with.




I really need a good couple of photography days so I can restock my scrapbook photos. I am planning on starting a book, a digital memoir of my father very soon…at this point I am still in the “mulling it over” stage.

Until next time…Mary

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

The snow was falling …..and falling…and falling…we were well on our way to a very white Christmas. This poor Robin-who is usually the harbinger of spring around this part of Michigan, stayed behind this year for the berries on my tree. I’ll bet he is giving this decision a second thought…


I was up early to set out brunch for the family this year. We moved right into dinner…way too much good food…we laughed and laughed and there was plenty of activity…sure wish you warm weather relatives were here to join in the fun!!!

Christmas morning I was up at the break of dawn. I miss those years when the kids whispered and giggled in their bed trying to wait until the big-hand was on 12 and the little hand was on 6 until they got up to see what Santa brought them…as teens, they are too big for Santa…

I finally had to send the dogs up to shake ‘em up a little...I grew tired of waiting for everyone to wake up. We are working on setting new traditions for Christmas morning. We sipped rich hot “dark” chocolate and munched on huge crunchy “breakfast” cookies. We opened presents, relaxed and just enjoyed each other. I made breakfast later in the morning. This year, we picked out the fourth season of Colombo (got seasons 1-2-3 last year) to watch all day snuggled on the couches and warmed by a fire in the fireplace. There was also an all-day marathon of “the Duke” on T.V., and naturally, Mister “M” was all over that…Teddy boo was out-of-control with excitement at present opening time…grabbing what ever he could-boxes, directions, paper… and making a run for it. This was his first Christmas.

We sure miss all of your out-of-towners and hope to see you all very soon. We want to wish all readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! May God bless us all with love, peace, and His joy.

until next time, Mary

Too busy for words this week

I really do have to take this hummingbird feeder down

Teddy Boo


dreaming of spring...

be blessed and hopeful...Mary

Holiday Preparation

We finally finished the laundry room…or at least finished it enough to hook up the washer and the dryer. The Masterful Mister “M”…worked hard to get the “easy to use- just peel and stick” floor to stay down!!! Because the room is so long, I was able to set a up a little art area at the back of it for the kids and me thereby saving my antique cherry wood dining room table from further distress.

We still have some touch-ups like painting the cabinets…Mister “M” is an absolute genius when it comes to figuring out how to make things…I told him I needed a folding table and something on which to hang clothes…He found a desk top to attach to an old sideboard I have. He is devising a retractable hanging thingy…I will post it when he finishes…since I am not sure how to explain it…

Christmas festivities are at our house this year!!! I have big plans-I love working out big parties, decorating for them, and coming up with the menu. I think I will be doing brunch, and diner for one side of the family and diner for the other. I started the decorating…I wrapped the kids presents today while they are at school.

I love to look at presents under the tree.

As I ran around the house putting up the “kitchen” tree, listening to Christmas music, wrapping the presents, and stringing the lights…Loo in her new ‘kitty” bed-not so sure she is as excited about her kitty bed as I am, watched my busy undertakings with her characteristically enthusiastic expression…not sure I want to know what she is thinking…

Here is a page I made this week in my “spare minute” …I like the thoughtful feel…Claire has always been very easy to photograph-her moods come through easily…


Until next time…be blessed in this Advent season….Mary

Thanksgiving Snippets

I let the dogs out at the break of dawn on Thanksgiving morning. The ground was glistening with frost and the light was so pretty breaking through the trees as the sun came up. Here is a pic of my flower pot on the front porch...

This year we decided to lay low…up until the last couple of years, I usually did the holidays around here for one side of the family or the other - if not both. This year, we graciously declined thanksgiving invitations and spent the day at home. Mr. “M” worked on the Laundry room floor-yes he is still at it- nothing ever goes as it should when you are re-modeling!!! I cooked a turkey and all the fix’ns… We enjoyed a quiet and warm family day. Here is the table-not as decked out as I normally do but special for us.

About an hour ago, the sky opened up and dropped a very thick heavy blanket of snow-the kind that mutes the sounds of nature and leaves the atmosphere thick and soundless. They say 5 inches before morning. Claire took the dogs out to play. So ends our busy holiday weekend ...

Maybe next week I will have some new laundry room before and afters...till then...

have a blessed week.

Mary

Busy Week Away

Look what at what this morning brought…SNOW!!!

In the wee morning hours, there is a heavy kind of peace that the first blanket of show brings…I stood outside for a moment to feel the stillness…that is until I let three over-eager dogs out into the universe to do what ever they have to after a long night in the house. Dogs barking…wet mud on the floor…”feed me” “feed me” in little doggie voices… And little teddy close underfoot…he can’t eat until he says good morning and gets his good morn’n lov’n in.

Makes me crazy - usually…but, later today, I am off for four days to acquire some training for my job...I am, as is Mister “M”, by and large, a home body. We do not like to leave. It is always a big ordeal when he has to leave, at least for me and a bigger one when it is ‘mom” who is leaving. You know…he leaves and things still keep going…I leave and there are notes everywhere and people alerted, and pick-up and drop-off’s planned, and meals pre-planned etc…I an exhausted even before I am in the car…and I dread being away. They say a few days away does a body good or maybe, in this case, the three bodies I am leaving behind…hopefully it will work.

Mister “M” is re-doing the laundry room. We moved in 11 years ago and have never really done much with it. It was far past the “up-date” time. I have some before pics for you and hopefully, when I return, it will be done!!!

I was packing the car to leave this morning and look who was hanging out at the door-smudging up the window...Teddy and Dusty.

Until next week, God Bless and Keep you…Mary