The Heart of Winter

We're in, what I consider to be, the heart of winter.

Temperatures are well below freezing and a haze hangs in the air...

While my dogs will go out for potty breaks...

Sadie

They prefer the warmth of a hug...

DJ and Snoop

And sun puddles...

Sadie

Over the cold any day...

Keep warm.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

DJ came home Saturday night.  He has been sick with a terrible sinus infection and needed some sleep.  And we all know, there is nothing more comforting than your own bed.
Because he was home, I made the traditional corned beef and cabbage yesterday.  The meal was accompanied with soda bread and good old Guinness to wash it all down. 

I think he is feeling better. 
Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone.
And remember this, "If you're lucky enough to be Irish, you're lucky enough."

A Boy and His Dog

After a transatlantic air flight, a welcome home party and a good night's sleep, the first thing my son wanted to do this morning was...

just sit and be...

with one of his oldest and dearest friends - Snoop.

The Weekend

Here it is.
In A Nutshell.
Dropped this kid off at the airport and balled just like a baby.  

Felt so sorry for myself that I got myself a pedicure.  (It did make me feel better :)

Finally finished clipping Snoop down (I started clipping him Wednesday).
He smells so much better.

I wasn't finished clipping Snoop down in this photo.

Went for a hike back to the creek.

If Violet looks a little cockeyed, it is because she was shaking off the water :)

Enjoyed the wood's foliage.  

Milk Wort

New Growth on Ferns

Dogwood

On Saturday, I mowed my lawn for the first time (Bessie had been at the Lawnmower repair doctor).
On Sunday, I mulched. 

I need to wash the little doggie nose prints off my door :)

Enjoyed my lilacs.
They smell wonderful.

Enjoyed the birds.
I did see a Baltimore Oriole on my Sunday morning walk with the dogs, but did not have my camera with me.

Mother Robin

Did some container gardening.

Pansies

Noticed that the Robin's bird nest is on the back of DJ's basketball hoop.

Cleaned off my barn porch.  Rearranged.  Placed my new-to-me round iron table on the porch,got rid of a set of drawers, put a quilt on top of the table, adorned it with a Seagrams Jamaican Me Happy and then polished that baby right off.

Ahhh :)

There you have it.
My weekend.
In A Nutshell :)

Easter Weekend Recap

On Good Friday DJ and I traveled to sunny South Carolina...

 

to visit my daughter and her boyfriend and celebrate Easter with them...

Their apartment is lovely.  I think it is very organic...

I cannot forget to mention the real reason I was there...
To visit my grand doggies - Miley and Jenna :)

And to experience some warm weather.  It was actually almost 70 degrees on Saturday.
That, of course, is the perfect temperature for golfing according to DJ. 
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah  DJ :)

While DJ and Mike golfed, Nana and I visited a cupcake shop that won Cupcake Wars on the Food Network. 

It is absolutely adorable...

and the cupcakes are delicious.
I had the coconut cupcake.
Yummy!!!

Isn't that cake beautiful?
Nana and I also helped out at an Easter egg hunt :)

Spent three hours at Ikea (which is definitely not enough).  I had never been there before and just let me say - OMG.  I just may hide away there next time and live there for the weekend.  It is absolutely amazing!!!  I could definitely spend the whole day there and I am not sure I would see everything.

Very Swedish...

and prices are more than affordable...

On Sunday, we went to church, enjoyed Easter dinner and, of course, 

mowed down the candy :)
Today, DJ and I returned home to temperatures that were 30 degrees lower and snow.
More importantly though, we returned home :)

Christmas Bites

It's not really about the baking...

It's about being together...

and making memories...

that they will carry with them...

for the rest of their lives...

and hopefully share with their own children someday...

Create some memories of your own.
I hope your night is magical :)

His Eye Is On The...

Normally, His eye is on the sparrow :)

Today, however, His eye was on the...

the little, bitty, bitty tufted titmouse...

that flew into the kitchen window...

but I know He watches...
I know He watches...
over me.
And you too :)

Happy Birthday DJ!!!

We have a 20-year old in the house :)

Well, not physically in our house, but a 20-year old nonetheless.

Yesterday was DJ's birthday.  I took this picture of this happy, kind and smart 20-year old son of mine last night at dinner.  He is a blessing to me.

Trees

This was DJ's first full week at college.  He came home Friday night and we ate Chinese, played with the dogs and watched movies.  DJ spent the night and when he woke up the next morning he said to me, "Mom, you know what I miss the most about home?"
I'm thinking - his bed, hanging with me, home cooked meals, the dogs...
"I miss the sound of the trees.  The wind blowing through the trees."
I should have named that boy Joyce (as in the poet, Joyce Kilmer).

 

Trees

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

Joyce Kilmer

My Super Hero

This boy, my son, goes to school and work, then comes home and uses his super powers...

You are Spider Man.
However, Peter Parker, one must remember that, "...with great power, comes great responsibility..."

Saturday Snippets

With a few snippets from Friday thrown in.  It is true that we often take the little things for granted.  However, it is those little things that can make your day worthy.
Take for instance, a trip to Wegmans... 

can be like driving into a wonderland...
Seriously!!!

a walk along Canandaigua Lake...

and you are in another country...

a clean barn porch where you can enjoy a cup of coffee or tea...

eating one of the very best fish fries you have ever had...

prepared by your local fire department...

in a facility that they had decorated ever so sweetly...

receiving a gift in your mailbox from your post woman :)

and ending your evening being mesmerized by lighted forsythia branches...

And, beginning the next day admiring your grape hyacinths...

watching for the Easter Bunny...

decorating with the old...

and colorful...

enjoying the view of the blue sky out your freshly washed windows...

and the enjoying the green of your plants...

and the smile on your son's face...

I know this post may be corny, but so what.  These are the things I am grateful for and these are the blessings of my life.
Happy Holy Saturday :)