The Month of March

Once again, sorry it has been so long since I last posted...Mister "M" has been a travel'n man for work and I've been holding down the fort! Not really a good excuse but that's all I have.I will cover a couple of weeks in this post.

Here are some shots of Winter's dying days here on Cotton Wood creek...It was so haunting... I had to get my camera.

Last weekend we had some visitors from "out back"...I do not see this group to often but love it when I do. They came up the creek out of the woods and crossed the road on some kind of day trip...



Here is Tom, taking his ladies out for a walk...taken'em shopping...Good Man!

The weather has been so nice and mild lately, I got the kids out for a Bro-Sis shot-always fun!!

This year's Lenten challenge...no more coffee...tea instead...but sadly, I did not give up cookies!

I was at the library...I just love this sculpture in the front...here is the top of it...

..and this little guy sits at the base of the sculpture...

I will leave you with these-I was playing around in Photoshop

It's funny how Claire is so dark and Gabe is so light...and just as different in their personalities...Claire is like her mother and Gabe is like his father...(we are complete opposites) they are related-I can vouch for that, and they have always been good friends-for that I am thankful!

until next time...blessings

check'n in

Sorry it has been a long time since I last posted. Here we are in the dredges of winter again. It was 40 degrees yesterday with almost all the snow melting and today, the kids had a snow day...with 10 inches since 7 this morning!








And, yes I am dragging my tail feathers...I so crave a vacation somewhere out near the Pacific ocean...Oh well that will have to wait... It is a good day, however when we wake up and still have our jobs.

I promise I will post some more pics of what's happen'n out here on Cotton Wood Creek very soon...I will make it a point this week to wonder about with the camera...

Until then...Blessings to all

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