Happy New Year!

A blog post that goes from the sublime to the ridiculous!

A painting of Auld Lang Syne by John Watson Gordon (1788 – 1864, Scottish)

Here's something for the cat lovers ~

Here's a wee mousie ~ can't forget him!

and look, here comes frog, hedgehog, squirrel, ladybugs and the gang ~

Have I forgotten anyone?

Oh yes, for a certain person who loves elephants ;)

What's New?

Have I lost my head?

Nope!

I've retired!

Not from blogging, but from work ~ The time has come for me to stop and smell the roses, and take some time for myself.  

Now if only the roses were blooming ;)

Merry Christmas

A couple of days ago, a peek-a-boo action caught my eye on a utility pole down the road.   I figured it was a couple of woodpeckers, and sure enough two red topped pileated woodpeckers were tapping away on each side of the pole. The males have a red moustache, but I couldn't tell if they were a male/female combination since they were so far away. Perhaps they were wearing Santa hats and sending ho ho ho messages down the line :)

The next day was quite bright and sunny, so I caught a snap or two out of the car window on my way into town.

This Christmas, unlike last one, we have no snow, temps. around 4 or 5 C, and fairly clear and bright.

I picked up my turkey from my friends at the farm, and it will be stuffed and cooked tomorrow in readiness for my sons to devour it over the next 3 days.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and hopefully will have time to take some photos during the next day or two!

A Cool Yule

Catching up, once again!  Hope everyone is getting in the spirit of the season!  Let the love inside each one of us shine!

I had another visit to where the river meets the sea.  It was a cool, clear, bright and windy day. 










The sea birds gathered together to welcome the Trumpeter Swans and perhaps rehearse their version of the Twelve Days of Christmas. 

Twelve mallards dipping

Eleven seagulls flying

Ten salmon leaping

Nine seals a-peaking

Eight cormorants standing

Seven swans a-swimming  

Six geese a-laying

Five golden eagles

Four calling birds

Three oystercatchers

Two Great Blue Heron

And a bald eagle in a fir tree!  

According to this site, and in reference to the Trumpeter Swan:    An aristocratic bugling call and response rises among them that makes the homely honk of Canada geese and the quotidian quack of mallards sound decidedly plebian.

What an apt and delightful description!

The wind held the gulls in place long enough for a few photos!


















 Here's a fish out of water ~ (litter-ally) ....sorry;)

The temperatures have been dropping and as I was looking out of the living room window, something caught my eye --- in the birdbath!

Mr. Sneaky, what do you think you are doing in there?

Once Mr. Sneaky departed, I went outside   I took note of the winter jasmine and a primrose and a junco keeping well out of the way!  Maybe he was trying to ring the seed bell in alarm!

Look closer!  Do you see what I see? 

Is that Mother Nature's idea of teasing and tempting a cat?  

Can you see a bird created from pine needles and leaves amidst the ice in the birdbath?

I have been working, baking, putting up the tree, watching the Christmas Concert and even going for a walk in the snow!  Yes, it snowed yesterday, but today it has been washed away. ~ Oh, and eating warm gingerbread with custard...No photos of that, either ;)

I bought new boots!  My old winter boots have done me well, but were not quite up to the depths of snow that fell last year, so I decided to treat myself to a new pair that are OK to -32 C.  That ought to do it!  They took me for a walk in the snow last night.  Unfortunately, I didn't take my camera as it was snowing quite heavily.  So just imagine the magic of scrunching snow under warm treaded boots, and looking at all the bright Christmas lights and decorations as I walked starry-eyed around the block.  I felt like a kid!


Until next time ~ 

Happy December!

Just a quick post while I'm waiting for mincemeat pies to finish baking ~ so it's 12:30 in the morning!  Doesn't everyone bake at this time?

I'm up late baking up a storm ~ to thank some community members for reading with the students - tomorrow at coffee break.     I have baked a cake, ginger cookies, shortbread fruit tarts, lemon squares, and am just finishing up with the mincemeat tarts in the oven.

Last Sunday I put the new flooring down in the bathroom, and I'm pleased with it.  I just have new baseboards to attach and then a bit of shining and polishing!

It's amazing to think it's December already.  I have a turkey ordered from the farm for Christmas and I guess soon I'll be putting up the tree.  

The weather has cleared up nicely, however it is chilly.  Smells just like winter!  It's nice to have a break from the rain.  

So that's my little post, and I'm off to dreamland accompanied by yummy smells permeating the household!