Say Good-Bye...

to 2009!

..

Here's to many more...

exciting, .....creative, ......inspiring

....etc....

new posts!

...

See you in 2010!

..

Happy New Year!

The countdown...

Was looking out my window and thinking (funny what comes to mind when you look out the window)……..

"We are now in month twelve of 2009."

Month Twelve or December means we are less than 30 days away to 2010 ….and counting down quickly.

I see those commercials on TV where they flash 2010 on the screen in big letters and it still seems kind of weird. Seems not too long ago we turned the century over to 2000. Now here we are ten years later…..TEN years, wow, how quickly they have gone by.

I remember thinking in the late 80’s early 90’s…will we make it to the turn of the century. What will life be like on the other side of 1999? Would we still be here? Would the world end? Would something dramatic happen?

Then came Y2K. What kind of world we would have after Y2K? Well guess we know now.

Now there are the movies about 2012. That’s only two years away.

And in 2009 they are planning future missions to Mars with real people. What a world! What’s next? What’s real? ….. What’s left for Science Fiction?

Things that make you smile

There's lots of things that can make one smile.

..

Here are

a few of my top picks......

...

When I pick up my kitty.................

and she starts purring like crazy. I can't help but think

there is just something about a purring kitty...

....and it makes me smile.

...

When I look into my puppy's cute face..........

and his big brown eyes and I see that his tail is just a wagging like ever....

.......I can't help but smile.
..

When I feel the warmth......

of the sun on my back and hear a little bird chirping from his perch....

...it brings a smile.

..

When I see a little baby......

cuddled contentedly in his/her Mommy or Daddy's arms......

......I can't help but smile.

...

What are your favorite moments that make you smile?

Enjoying the days labour

I'd been thinking about homemade muffins. So after checking my cupboards for ingredients, a trip to the store to get the missing ones.....baking day happened (yesterday).

So all that was left was.... the taste test.

Yum Yum Yum

...

Banana oatmeal muffins pictured top right and in my plate. Oatmeal muffins pictured on top left.

Recipes from "Muffins & More" (Company's Coming) by Jean Pare

A Day to Remember

Remembrance Day

(November 11)

....

A day to remember all those brave soldiers that fought

for

freedom.

...

We are glad you did..

...

We thank you!

Who is Dr. Oz?

Thank you to all who participated in my poll. ...Are you a Dr. Oz fan? I'm not sure where I met him first but let me introduce you to Dr. Oz............

..

He's been on The Oprah Show. You can also see postings of him on Oprah's website... http://www.oprah.com/

..

He now has his own show. For more information you can see his website: http://www.doctoroz.com

..

You can see my Feb 9, 2009 posting: "You have a 100 billion!!!"

I refer to a book, "You, the Owner's Manual",

Authors: Michael F. Rozen MD and Mehmet C. Oz MD.

Little Critters say it best....

Keep your eyes on the goal.

Learn.....always learn...you never know when you will need

the...C.A.T. Awareness Course (or The Art of Negotiating)

Sometimes it takes longer to make new friends than you thought.

Sometime you gotta look at life through someone else's eyes.

New Gadget

Am testing out a new gadget on my site. Just wanted to see how it works.

So go vote if you like!

My Rubber Boots

Today reminded me of a poem I wrote quite few years ago. I wrote it in February but today reminded me of it....

...

The picture is from today but here is the poem...

......

My Rubber Boots

I need my rubber boots today,
No matter what those fellas say,
That heap of snow that came last week,
Is now just at its melting peak.

My leather boots were doing fine,
But now they are just biding time,
The puddles growing by the week,
Have caused my boots to spring a leak!

Now as I walk along... oh no!
I feel wetness on my toe,
So now you know why I must say,
I need my rubber boots today!

White accents.....

........are hanging around a bit longer than expected!

but...

I still see color (anybody see green?) in there...

so...

here's to hope for warmer days ahead!

Interesting quote

Noticed this quote on a goblet box...........

"You were born an original

don't die a copy".

~Author unknown

Who got tired of the color "green"?

I traveled down the road one day and couldn’t help but notice,
Where did the color “green” all go?
That I had waited for so long.

I couldn’t help but ask myself, “Who brought out that big old paint brush?
Who splashed a stroke of yellow here,
And over there some red?

Who painted the hews of the rainbow, over hill and valley and meadow?
Who left some shades of green around,
But painted mostly in color?

And while for a bit I did ponder the reason I suddenly discovered why it was so.
It’s the harvest you know,
The fields are quite bare, the harvest is in.

This is the special harvest time and it’s time to celebrate
And however nice the color green is
It just isn’t quite enough.

The harvest time must be celebrated with lots of splash of color
The whole wide world has got to know
The harvest is in, the harvest is in.

For those who work the fields do know the challenge to get things to grow,
Through heat and cold, and wet and dry
And bugs that come to eat the sprouts and fruits.

It’s a miracle that we can celebrate that the harvest is in our bins today,
So bring on the color and hope it can stay,
For a long time to brighten our way!

Sun Seekers

Now isn't that just a sunny picture!

I love how these bright yellow heads love to follow the sun,

My sun seekers got harvested yesterday. Nice big beautiful heads of sunflower seeds. Been a long time coming since the heads had enough time to produce seeds.

Book lovers...you can win

To get your chance to win a great book or 2 visit

this blog...

...

"It's A Beautiful Life"

...

http://awordfromhome.blogspot.com/

...

Aug 31 posting ...It's a giveaway...It's 2 giveaways!

Natures Awesome Colors

Just need your camera at the right time...

I don't know what this plant (or weed) is but I love the way it photographs.

Easy care roses

If you live in the right place you don't even have to plant these "easy care" roses.......they plant themselves.
You can just enjoy them.

Pretty faces...

Nothing like a pretty face to greet you when you step outside your door....

This planter started out with three small plants. Now it has grown up to be a nice cheery bunch.

This is my pond...

I was out walking on a nice sunny day when I stopped to glance at the dugout on our acreage. There he was… a little duck swimming on the water. I was always happy to find some wildlife enjoying our dugout.

I walked a bit closer, as close as I dared to get without scaring it away. Then I sat down on the ground and watched. This little duck swimming on the water just looked so very, very peaceful. As I watched, it gave me an awesome sense of peace.

I watched him swimming on the water and it was like this little duck was saying…….

“Today this is my pond and I’m swimming in it!”

“I’m doing laps from end to end. I’m swimming side to side. I’m diving. I’m causing ripples. I’m chasing bugs. I’m twirling round and round. I’m enjoying the warm sun on my back.

This is a beautiful pond!…I have it to myself today.….

Thank you God for giving me this pond today.”

Sometimes we need our own special little blessing.

Hope one comes your way today!

......

...

.

ps bird in photo may vary from actual bird seen

Blogging trail.......

If you wonder

if my blogging trail

has

gone cold....

....

...I'll be back soon

with some

new posts

..........

just been trying

to catch up

on some weeding!

Other bloomers........part one

It's fun to see what's blooming...........

Garlic Chives

Nanking cherry

Marigolds that I started.

Strawberry

Oops.......rubarb is bloomin'.



I like these pretty little purple flowers. Can you guess what they are?

If you got lost in the Fuzz.......

Don't despair.

Second crop now in....

Jun 3, 2009 offer still applies!

The "Just Right" Challenge

We were outside weeding in the garden chatting to each other when some part of the conversation triggered comments on how people think its either "too this" or "too that". Sometimes it's too hot, or too cold, sometimes it's too windy or too calm, sometimes it's too cloudy or too sunny, or it's too rainy or too dry. It's always something their not happy about.

So later that evening when I was outside working in a different part of the garden, I was thinking, "you know today it is just right". It's not too hot, it's not too cold, it's not too windy, not too rainy, it's not too cloudy but just right. Just right to be outside, weeding in the garden, listening to the birds chirp and sing their songs and enjoy the warmth of the sun on my face and my back.

I was thinking, "I dare not think it's too hot", because all winter long I've waited for the day when I can shed my coat and just walk outside without the layers and the winter boots. It was a perfectly beautiful evening. It was a treat.

So why not have a "Just Right" Challenge. If you start thinking or to say " it's too.........", catch yourself. Dare yourself to have a "Just Right" Day!

Double Dandy Deal!!!

Dandy colors...

Buy 1 get 1 FREE!....only while supplies last!!!

Okay, just kidding....I really do love my dandelion farm! It adds colorful life after the long winter season.

Today's chuckle....

"Hey are you sure we got on the right flight?"

Pussy Pic..

Hope of green evidence coming.

I'm looking for........

Green Evidence

I am looking for green evidence,
Brown and white have done their time,
It is time for the green.

I have seen the ducks swim,
I have seen the geese fly,
I have even seen a robin in a tree.

It is green evidence.
I am looking for green evidence,
It is way overdue.

I have seen a blade of grass,
I have seen a weed or two,
I have even seen a butterfly.

It is green evidence.
I am looking for green evidence.
I am so longing for green.

April is near gone,
We are going into May,
It is time to see green.

Don't you agree?

And on the sixth day....

............God made "puppies"! (My paraphrase)

The verse says: "And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind; and God saw that it was good." Gen 1:25

Ok maybe he made their parents first, but I'm sure He had puppies in mind. Cute, cuddly, playful, wagging tails and all, beautiful puppies.

What a way to cheer your day to see that cute little face, tongue hanging out, tail wagging like crazy and if he could talk say, "Will you come and play with me?!." How can you resist?

Meet my new Team!

Swat Team for Hire!

When Skies are Blue...

This was about a week ago........

I looked outside my window at the beautiful day. The sky was blue. There was not a cloud to be seen.
I decided to check the forcast online. For my area things looked pretty good but for an area about 50 km away there was a "winter storm warning". Hm. We called a friend who lived in that area. There too the sky was blue with not a cloud in sight.
Later that day I checked the forcast again. Now too for my area there was a "winter storm warning". I looked outside the window. Still the sky was blue all around.
How could there be a "storm warning"? I pondered. Hard to believe a storm was coming when the day had been nice and the sky was still blue.
But sure enough by morning things were looking pretty white!

I thought back to about a year ago. The skies looked pretty blue in the "economic world". Jobs were still plenty. Business seemed to be humming. I wondered, did anyone see "a storm warning"?
By early Fall things were different. We all saw it, or felt it.

I checked out this blog..... http://davidwilkersontoday.blogspot.com/
For a different perspective on what is happening in our world today check out his Mar 7, 2009 post.
You may also want to check out todays post (We are not without hope).

A Favorite Invention

There have been lots of great inventions over the centuries but I think one of my favorites has got to be the "remote control".

Just click a button and the TV turns on, or off or changes channel or goes mute. Just click and the car turns on (not that my current car has this wonderful feature), but its an awesome invention for this particular season when the car is stone cold and covered in frost, and one doesn't want to step outdoors.

So a week or so ago when I went to "click" the button of my favorite invention, the button "did not" click and turn the TV on, or off, or anything. I wondered. I clicked and clicked but nothing, and when I tried the old fashioned way (the button on the TV) still nothing so then I knew it wasn't the wonderful invention that failed me, just the TV it was trying to control.

So now we have what I call "exercise TV", you actually have to "go to" the TV to turn it on, or off, or mute it or change the channel (if you can get more than one)!

So I was thinking the other day, has this new invention made us lazy? Why don't we declare a "No Remote" week? Wouldn't that just fit in with the "environmental" concern of our generation?

How many batteries would we extend the life of, or save?

How many calories would we burn?

How much more would we appreciate the great inventions of our time?

Would it be more acceptable than "No TV" week?

What do you think?

One thing I like........

I must say I am hard pressed to find something I like about winter on those days when the thermometer is dipping it's needle to -40 C and the wind is howling and the snow is blowing all about. All is a mass of white. The snow is swirling so high in the sky that the drifts are gathering so quickly that one wonders if one needs a grader to get out!!!

I wondered if I could ever find something I liked about winter?......but I did.

It's on those other days.... when the sun comes out and the sky is blue and the temperature is up and you can feel the warm of the sun on your face and your back. You can feel the refreshing of your spirits as you wander outside to explore the outdoors.

It's on those kind of days I find the tracks. Big tracks or little tracks. I like to see who's been walking about. I like to see who else has been exploring the land. I like to follow the tracks! Don't you?

A Green Promise...

If you are tired of seeing "white"...here is a promise God made to Noah....

"While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease."

~Genesis 8:22 kjv

Imagine this....

I just like this quote...........

"Hope is that thing with feathers

that perches in the soul

and sings the tune without the words and never stops......at all."

~Emily Dickinson

An "Awe" Moment........

I was driving home from work...it was in the evening...before complete darkness had fallen. At first I didn't know if it was snowing, or if it was just foggy or if it was the frost that was falling. I think it was the frost.

I watched as the soft flakes of sparkle floated down to the ground. The lights of the car made the whole roadway glisten.

It reminded me of a city………..The great city…the new Jerusalem….as talked about in Rev 21:21 (KJV)……..”and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass”. This street isn’t just paved in gold it is pure gold. And I wondered……..do the streets sparkle of “gold” flakes?

Furthermore... this isn’t just a one street town! As it says in Rev 21:16 (KJV) …”and he measured the city with the reed and it was 12,000 furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.”

12,000 furlongs (according to Wikipedia...a furlong = 1/8 mile, 220 yards, 660 ft, or 201.168 metres) So 12,000 furlongs equals about 1500 miles (or 2400 kms) That is one big long street of gold!!!

Can you imagine such a city?

For more see Rev 21:10 to Rev 21:27 (KJV).

Life's Little Lesson No. 1

"Big Critters always get the right of way"

I was leaving for work the other day. Just turned out of my driveway onto the gravel road, looked up, and there I saw them standing in the middle of the road just up ahead. There were 3. Papa, Mama and baby....and yes, they were moose.

Not sure exactly how far ahead of me they were, but close enough to be rather intimidating, yet far enough ahead so I could still stop safely. I waited for them to make their way over the fence and into the bush. They sauntered at their own pace, crossed the fence, and I could still see them watching me as I inched the car closer and crept past them. I hoped they weren't going to change their mind and cross the road again before I got far enough away.

so, yes....big critters get the right of way.

You have a 100 billion!!!

This always amazes me as I read it. "You have 100 Billion neurons in your brain!"

[From the book "You, The Owner's Manual", by Michael F. Roizen, MD and Mehmet C. Oz, MD copyright @2005, 2008 pgs 71-73]

That is one big number!! Hm. Don't know who counted them, but if you can imagine them, (all 100 billion) stretched out they would reach 30,000 miles.

Know what else amazes me? That each of these nerve cells contains pieces of information that needs to be communiated to another neuron, so your body can function properly. Can you imagine a team of 100 Billion working together to make one body function properly?

I remember a game we used to play. There was a group of people. The person at the beginning of the line would whisper something to the person next in line, and then that person would whisper it to the next person and so on till the end of the line. Well if you have played the game you know that the message at the end of the line was quite different from what it started out to be.

So for 100 Billion neurons to be transmitting information back and forth, it's a wonder it doesn't get garbled.

So just to remind you........you have a team of a 100 Billion working for you!! Take good care of them!

On track, or NOT!

I was driving home from work one day. It was one of those weeks where it had snowed off and on, but tonite it was clear, just dark as it was early in the evening.

My thoughts wandered as I turned the car into the driveway. I could still see my previous tracks so proceeded to follow the road as I made my way to the house. Soon I noticed something was wrong. Sure enough I was stuck and going nowhere. I tried to back out or to go forward but without success so resigned myself to get out and walk to the house.

The next morning I investigated. I checked out the tire tracks on the driveway. I noticed I was following the tracks to start but where I passed the curve of the road is where I started going off course. I looked closer and it was only by one tire width that I was off. One tire width didn't seem to be that big of a deal. How could one tire width get me so off track? However, I did notice that the trail on that side was pretty close to the edge. Not a lot of room for error. So it wasn't a very good place to get off track.

So I'm thinking that if you are going down a path you want to be on, just a small degree of change can get you seriously off track.

Just the opposite if you are going down a path that seems to be not bringing your results you are hoping for, all you need to do is change your path by a few degrees, a few small changes....and you can be on your way to much better results!

I've been tagged.........

So here are 6 things that make me happy:



1. Beautiful sunny days.

2. Moments when my kitty curls up beside me and purrs like crazy.

3. Great visits with friends over coffee!

4. Going for a walk on a nice day.

5. Seeing those little tiny green leaves push their way out of the earth and I know those seeds I planted were good!

6. On a clear night to look up into the sky and see all those beautiful stars shining.



Since I 'm a newbie to blogging I haven't had much time to explore other great blogs. So this time I've posted my list and am sending this:

1. ( back just to you.) It's a beautiful Life.



Here are the rules.

1. Link to the person who tagged you.

2. Write 6 things that make you happy.

3. Post the rules, Tag 6 others and let them know you did it.

4. Then tell the person when your entry is complete.

Open the Doors and they will come.....

I want to thank my friend Brenda for encouraging and inspiring me to start my own blog.

I have had a desire to write for as far back as I can remember, even before I started grade one in Elementary School. So I've thought about it long enough and today is the day. This is my opportunity to "Just Jump In" and start my writing adventure and see where it will lead me. (as my friend says on her blog http://awordfromhome.blogspot.com see Day One Post - "Just Jump In")

I have been working in the retail industry for a few years now and have observed the following.

It can be the coldest most miserable day in winter, the hottest day in summer, a blustery day in fall or a bright spring day. All you have to do is open the doors.....you open the doors and the people will come.

There never has been a day when no one has come. Grant it some days have been slow, some are steady and some are crazy busy, but to my amazement there never has been a day when no one has come.

So today I am opening the doors to my blog, and I am curious and excited to see - who will come!