Photo Week

Here is picture story of this weekend on Cotton Wood Creek.

Mister "M" is making a duck cage for the ducks that, sadly, will be killed by mysterious duck eaters in the dark of the night as soon as we free them (just like all the rest)

I pinned the kids down for a spring photo

The dogs, all three have to know where Claire is at all times-they are also her welcoming committee.


This little guy was hanging out eating the bugs around the living room window, I took the photo through the window.

$45 dollars later, I am ready for some outside work.

Yes it’s a Llama...indigenous to this part of Michigan...I whistled at him and he slowly lifted his ear...it was pretty comical

And for all the spring allergy sufferers…a beautiful field of goldenrod…

Every Year this Robin makes his nest right outside of the garage...Mister "M" complains...but he is really a softy at heart.

a pail of tadpoles right out of the ditch...we put them in the pond becasue we LOVE frogs!

Here is my crab apple tree...it is absolutely buzzzzzzzing with Bees and smells wonderful.


Have a wonderful week from all of here on Cotton Wood Creek!

Mary

Yard Work Again-never ending

In a yard the size of ours there is always work! Today is our yearly “picking up the sticks day”. We have to wait until the yard dries out then pick up all the sticks before ever so fashionable Mister “M” can roll out the John Deer!

Claire's way to save energy...

Gabe's way...

This is also bonding time for the brother and sister…

guess what comes next?

Does it ever stop?

Since they were little, I assured Mister “M” that one day, the kids grow out of fighting and picking at each other in the car. Driving over 10 miles was parental suicide…I know all parents know what I am talking about! First they are great friends and their silliness/goofing around earns them harsh words from their crazy parents-or mom rather as Mister “M” is the driving man and I am the insane mother beating her children in the next car over-you know the one…Next, Gabe pokes Claire and the roof is raised with her scream!!! That’s just too much potential for amusement for Gabe so he ventures out again…until she fights back and all hell breaks lose and Mister “M” can not hear Hank on the radio anymore… Yes, kids screaming and Hank on the radio…no wonder I am “off center”…Mom goes into action (which is louder still) and kids are quiet…10 minutes later the vicious circle starts again…all the way up north!!! Any way…tell me it gets better…

Look... here they are around the “relaxing campfire” a few years back…

Anyway...back to the yard work-

...Where was I you ask? I was grooming Teddy. Poor Teddy Boo, he looks soooo….well it is a work in progress…I may be many things, but a groomer I am not…yet.

Until next time…God Bless

Mary

Busy Week

We have someone very dear to us in the hospital this week (and last) so I have not had time to post as I like to, sorry. But, until I have time to catch you all up on the mundane happenings here on Cotton Wood Creek, here is a few things to look at...

here is a new page I put together last week.

I was asked by my niece to snap her senior pics and out of them we put together a playful announcement for her graduation party. She gave me permission to post her pictures on this blog. She is a very beautiful girl so my first attempt with taking senior pictures was half won before I started.

Untill next time, GOD Bless America.

Mary

DUCK day on Cotton Wood Creek

Seems like every spring we get some new baby ducks-some times twice in the spring. Every year, we (softly) say NO (because the coyotes or some other critter usually gets them eventually) and they seem to magically appear. They are so darned cute. So this is DUCK day on Cotton Wood Creek.

“Oh God…not more ducks…” Bindi has been through this before.

Teddy can’t get the idea that he is a lot bigger and they do not want to play with him, so he is watching from the house-poor Teddy (all he wants to do is play)

All Dusty wants to do is play with Claire-he does not seem to regard the ducks any more than he would a couple of lady bugs under his feet…He is also in the house with Teddy for that reason.

Here is Momma Duckie (Gabe) leading the way … Look at his little flipper…so cute.

Not much more happening on Cotton Wood Creek as we had a family member in the hospital this week-she is doing okay now, but we had a few scary minutes there for a while..

Until next week…God Bless you, your families, and our great country

Mary

Spring Clean Up

First, I am sorry that I did not post last week. I had, what I am absolutely sure, was a memory card of excellent Easter photos. My plan was to post a few of my best. However, I had some computer troubles, and when I put my memory card in all photos were erased! That never happened to me before. I believe I have since fixed the problem as it has not repeated this action (apparently screaming-swearing-pushing keys doesn’t just work on TV’s and remote controls…).

I did not want to go another week with out posting as it was my goal when I started this to be consistent. So I have for you today a very special treat…yes…it is the official, yearly, cleaning of the pond!!! Here is a very attractive pic of the slushy Mister “M” dressed for the occasion (as always).

And of course… what outside job would not be complete without overseers…here Claire and Bindi Loo watch from a safe distance---away from Gabe.

I, the head overseer, was busy trying to sneak pictures of Gabe working (not always easy to capture on film…) I have to be like one of those National Geographic Photogs…having lots of patience, waiting for that “once in a life time” moment…

Got it!

Here is a little turtle wondering what all the fuss is about…

Welcomed proof that Spring has actually arrived here on Cotton Wood Creek

Next week, if all digital gadgets cooperate, I hope to be able to share one of Claire’s songs she is planning to sing at her school’s talent show. Until then… and if I may be so bold...

God Bless America…Mary

Birthday Dinner

The Mysterious Mister “M” and I are lucky that our mothers were born on the same day (a couple years a part; one is 39 years old and the other is 41-we will leave it that). I always like to have something special for them. This year, feeling in the mood for a smaller, peaceful gathering, I made dinner, and we celebrated a quiet evening. I cooked a rib roast with a delicious crunchy garlicky-peppery-salty crust and a porcini, bacon au jus for the main course. We had asparagus in puff pastry with a lemon-wine-butter sauce for a first course. Lastly, I attempted a Martha Stewart recipe for the birthday cake. It was a hummingbird cake with dried pineapple flowers on top. It did not look like the picture when I finished it. It looks okay here, but that is because I am not posting the real picture (sorry Martha, I wanted to save you the embarrassment!). Tasted okay though…
I made one mother a book of her gardens from BLURB (see last post for link). She loved it. I made the other mother a collage of sorts of pictures our kids (yes her grand-kids)-I used some scrapbook pages that I sized very small and printed out a Walgreens. That worked out well. I also gave some gift cards; she likes to shop. I wrapped the book in scrapbook paper and fashioned a flower on the top with matching paper. I used the other gift as a center piece to make the table look pretty. Here are some pictures of the gifts and the table.

I love to really dress it up and make it special. Sometimes that is much more work than having all the family over. I was exhausted at the end of the night, but they seemed as if they enjoyed it. I always make enough for leftovers, that is another benefit of doing the cooking.

Tonight, the weather forecast calls for 4-6 inches of snow!!!!! We shall see about that.

Until next week, have a blessed Holy Week. Mary

Birthday Book

I love blurb.com!!!
I have been working on this small book about my mother’ gardens for her birthday. I ordered it and it came about 5 days later. It looks great! The paper used is top quality and the dust cover is beautiful.

It actually looks better than I thought it would (having seen others made from different sources). I have not given it to her yet, but fear not, she will not see it on my blog as she has no (realistic) idea how to use a computer. She recently started watching NCIS and she now thinks that everyone (i.e.-me) with computer has the same capabilities as the NCIS and the same knowledge as Abby for using it.

Anyway, everyone around here knows that come Spring, my mom can be found in her gardens or in someone else’s garden digging and planting. She loves her flowers and no one has flowers like she does. Anything grows in her garden. So, not being a person who ever wants gifts, I thought I would make her a book. I think she will like it.

I have been busy with all kinds of things lately (in my head); wish I had the time and energy to do them all. However, I did start a project that I had in mind for a while. Last week I posted pictures I took of Claire. I printed them out on vellum and started to put a collage of sorts together of several different poses. Here is what I have at the moment.

I covered painted blocks of wood with them with gesso.

Hope to have some finished ones when I check in next week.

Until then...God Bless and Keep you. Mary