BELIEVE IT OR NOT...

Snow Storm #1

For someone who is always complaining 

that not enough snow falls in the winter, 

believe it or not,

 we have actually had 

three snow storms so far...

Snow storm #2

...in our garden, 

we don't measure snow fall 

in inches or feet,

 we measure by how burdened 

the butterfly bush is.

Snow storm #3

The third snow fall

 was the heaviest 

and covered more of 

the landscape.

We get to see 

all the beauty and, 

because we live in California, 

the sun always comes out

 and melts the snow

 pretty quickly.

When it all 

plays out like that,

 we consider ourselves lucky.

Believe it or not, 

I can name two 

definite signs of spring, 

coming to life,

 in our garden...

...along with

 the tender leaves 

of a rose bush...

...and the soft moss

 at the base of the 

old redwood tree.

Even though those are 

good signs of the coming spring,

 I do need a little more color 

in my world at this time, 

so I've changed up a few pillows 

and added in 

some spring greens.

"Like seeds dreaming

Beneath the snow,

Your heart dreams of spring."

Kahlil Gibran

So, with the chill of the wind 

and the return of 

gray skies...

...and once I get motivated 

to take the Christmas tree 

down in the kitchen 

and erase the Captain's 

attempt at humor...

...believe it or not, 

I will be so 

ready for spring.

...Judy...

Here is an update 

that I just found out. 

For those of you who follow 

Diane of Lavender Dreams,

she has a new address: 

  lavenderdreamsnew.blogspot.com

Google/Blogger just shut her down

 for no apparent reason 

and she is trying to find out why.

 I wasn't aware 

that could be done, 

without, at least, 

 notifying you first,

 but I guess it can. 

The word is 

that we should be backing up our blogs.

(Go to Blogger, settings, other,

 back up content and save to computer).

 It's as simple as that and after the initial time, you need to do it probably once a month from then on.

(Thanks to NanaDiana for her help in all things Blogger and life!)

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SILENCE IS GOLDEN...

Sunday morning 

when I let Robin out 

it was like we were living in 

a fairyland 

where all my dreams could come true

 and the world was covered with

 a white quilt

 that kept all the warmth inside 

and all the noise of life out. 

 It was like a poem 

that I heard only with

 my eyes.

I'm only speaking for myself, 

as I am aware that 

this situation 

is a way of winter life for many 

and not always a happy one at that...

but, for me, 

that stillness that falls from the sky,

 that keeps the cars 

from driving by at race track speed 

and makes everything just plain clean, 

is a sight to hold close

 to my heart.

The branches of the butterfly bush 

are bending down but,

 at this point,

 Mother Nature is being kind

 and they will return 

to their graceful ways 

when she is through 

with them.

The crepe myrtle 

is made of stronger stock 

so it can hold the weight 

of all this beauty

 as it plays over

 her branches.

My new camera

 has a larger lens

 so I can take clear photos 

from a distance 

such as the one, above, 

through the

 kitchen window.

This is what my world was like

 at 7:30 Sunday morning. 

 By 11:30, 

the sun had come out 

and most of the snow was melting. 

 It stayed very cold, however, 

and throughout the day

 we had a difference of opinion 

between the 

snow, hail, rain, and sun.  

No one seemed 

to come out as

 the winner.

Throughout the night

 it remained cold and icy 

and now the frost

 is on the pumpkin...

...and even though

 this event was of great enjoyment,

 we still have high hopes 

that the harbingers of spring 

are not far behind...

...and for some,

 until then, 

a quiet spot before the fire 

will do just fine, 

thank you very much!

...Judy...

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ARE WE THERE YET?...

Although, 

the photo above usually sets the scene

 when the title question

 of this post is asked, 

but today 

it means something 

very different.

What it means today is: 

 Isn't it 

Valentines Day

 yet?

For such a short month, 

February is turning out 

to seem like a very long time! 

I will admit, however, 

that I did start our

 Valentines celebration

 a little early...

...the first posting 

reminded us of the garland 

and how it had looked before...

...the second posting 

showed the planning 

that goes into 

a labor of love...

...and in the third posting 

you could find beauty 

through gray skies

 if you looked hard enough.

Now 

we are at the fourth posting

 and it still isn't Valentines Day.

 Not until

 two days from now 

will we reach that 

auspicious occasion.

 But, 

since I won't be here then,

 I will show you, today, 

what I am fixing for

 the love of my life

 for his special 

Valentines Day dinner.

The candles are lit,

 the wine has been poured 

and the mood has been set...

...and now the food 

has been served.

 A porterhouse steak (for two), 

baked potatoes, 

fresh green beans and...

...fresh fruit 

to be enjoyed 

as a salad 

or as a sweet ending 

to the meal.

But, the puzzle remains:

 Since there is still 

two days remaining 

until Valentines Day, 

was the meal cooked ahead 

for a photo opp only, 

and then consumed 

at a later date, 

or was the day 

celebrated ahead of time?

  

If you answered 

"a little of both",

 you might be right.

 In actuality, 

the Captain had 

two teeth pulled on Friday

 and we didn't know

 how long before 

he would be able to eat 

anything of substance.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY 

TO YOU ALL...

"If apples were pears

And peaches were plums

And the rose had a different name

If tigers were bears

And fingers were thumbs

I'd love you just the same."

Anonymous

...Judy...

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