Outdoor Tuesday's

Sunsets this time of year are absolutely spectacular.  This night it started with all the purple/pink hues and then went onto the orange hues.  While I enjoyed the sunset , Edna enjoyed her marrow bone.  The sunrises are equally spectacular!!! Be sure not to miss some of them .

Life 101 . . .

You are not called to be a canary in a cage.  You are called to be an eagle and to fly sun to sun, over continents.    ~Henry Ward Beecher

I saw this quote and thought a lot about it. What are we called to do? ( Fly like a Canary or Eagle?)  Don't we all ponder that through our lives? Don't we all hear that we can be more than what we are?  Then we get frustrated that just being who we are and what we are is not enough.

 I do believe that we should all aim high, that we all have great potential if we only apply ourselves, but on the other hand there are times when we should just be satisfied with who we are, doing what we are doing.  Did I have aspirations to do things greater than I am now? sure, but am I satisfied with what I am doing right now?- you bet. The path we take will twist and turn, be flexible, enjoy the scenery, we only take one walk through this world, lets make it a great one.  

What do you think? What do you believe?

Fall Postcard Swap

In late Fall I participated in yet another Postcard swap.  This one was hosted by i Hanna of Sweden.

I have participated in several of hers before.  This one was fun as the theme was empowering women and it was exchanging just 5 postcards which I liked vs the usual 10.  My quote for this was "There are two ways of spreading the light, to be the candle or to be the mirror that reflects the light".  ~Edith Wharton  Getting these in the mail right around American Thanksgiving and before Christmas was tight but it happened just fine. A good creative break to the otherwise task focused season of the year.  The top photo is of the ones I received and the bottom 3 are of what I sent. I have one at work as well, not in the photo.  I am about to send out another batch from another swap, stay tuned for those.

Fine Feathered Friends abound

Redbellied woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Carolina Wren

American Gold Finches  ( winter color)

Mourning Dove

Our feeder is very active these days. Lots of visitors, expected and un expected. The mourning Doves were testing out the ice for a little skate. Carolina Wren, Red bellied woodpecker and the rest of the usual crew. Links will take you to Cornell site where you can hear the Bird sounds and get all kinds of great information. Get out and feed the birds!!!  You will be  rewarded.

Elfing about the house . . . .

So what kind of Elfing is happening at your house?  We are making little Chocolate trees held together by Cornsyrup . . . Cutting lots of paper snowflakes , Oh so pretty!!!!  Getting the Gingerbread house preparation underway, cookie baking . . . Peppermint bark . .. knitting, sewing, stamping and so much more. Oh when we will ever wrap gifts or clean the house??

Christmas Past

If you grew up around Rochester NY, a trip to Mid Town plaza was what got the Holidays going . . . You could go there and see a Santa in Sibleys, Mc Curdy's, B Forman and of course in the Plaza where the Monorail was. I so enjoyed seeing the decorated storefronts and I can remember walking along in awe of the animated figures, the toys and Santa. One of the stores had a walk through that was similar up on the 4th floor.Of course nothing beat cramming yourself into the Monorail for a ride around the indoor plaza. The Christmas Tree that was inside was always the biggest I had ever seen. We would go for Breakfast with Santa at one of the Department stores with the Great Aunts and the Romper Room lady. We would get all dressed up for that special event. As a child I do not remember there being many decorations until after Thanksgiving. We looked forward to that every year. What do you remember most about Christmas past and if the Decorations arrived before or after Thanksgiving? Journal your Christmas December 2nd, 2012

Finally a sunny day!

So this summer in the Northeast has been one early on of little to no rain, beastly hot days , lots of humidity.  As soon as we go on vacation where we are near the Ocean and  a Pond, it is cloudy, overcast , cool and foggy.  A week on the Cape and this was 1 of 2 nice days.  We hightailed it to the Ocean for a morning walk.  I am not the lay on the beach all day kind of gal. maybe on a cooler day but I just do not enjoy the heat, and no where to get cool.  They were limited in letting people in the water today as the current and surf were very high and the Lifeguards were on high alert.  I counted close to 20 on the beach. I think this gull thought we were interrupting his morning nap.  Always amazed at teh immensity of the ocean.  the colors on a sunny day are like no other.  We saw 4-5 types of birds this AM including a large osprey out fishing in the open Ocean.