December Events

I went to Cades Cove on the 2nd because it snowed a little and wanted to capture some photographs of that snow. I have posted lots of photographs from that trip.

On the 4th Mason (10 month old grandson) had minor surgery. I was worried way too much, I know God is in control. Mason did great, slept a lot that afternoon, but after that couldn't even tell he had anything done. God is great, and I need to remember that at all times.

The 2nd weekend we had all my husband's siblings and their spouses for Christmas (there are 9 siblings). We had a great time.

Middle of the month Wendy and Lukas found out their baby is a boy. Wendy has a blog and currently she doesn't post much else, she (they) are so excited about this baby. You can visit her at http://www.articulateonpaper.blogspot.com/ to see her latest photographs. The baby is due early May 2009.

The weekend before Christmas we went to Georgia for my family Christmas, and as always there was a large crowd. We love seeing the little ones opening the packages. My nephew, Trip, always gets so excited about his John Deere item I always get him. You would think it is his first John Deere tractor or wagon, etc. I get him something John Deere every year because it is so much fun seeing how excited he gets. Someday I am sure he will outgrow it, but we will still have these memories. The other children all enjoy theirs too, but Trip is so excited that it excites us all.

Christmas is always great, and this year was no exception. With Mason's first Christmas we were all excited, and Jimmy and I were at their house when Mason got his Santa gifts too. Just think what it will be like next year with 2 grandsons.

For Mason's first Christmas they had to have Christmas cards with a family photo. You can click here to see their family portrait I took for them to use. The day I took these portrait shots Mason was just beginning to stand without holding on.

I asked for a photographer's blind for Christmas. I got a 2 seater, hunters blind. Told Jimmy since he bought a 2 seater he has to go and sit with me and be quiet. Not going to happen! He doesn't know how to sit still. In time when I learn enough about the proper place to be with it, and I get a lot of activity he might be willing to go with me beacuse he can see the birds so good and doesn't have to use binoculars. Until then, I am sure I am on my own. I have already been trying it out, the photographs shown here were taken from the blind. The blind was sitting in the middle of my deck, because I haven't trained the birds where I want them to be. Working on that one.

The day after Christmas Jimmy and I applied for passports, and both gave blood at the local blood bank. If we are going to leave the country we figured we should give blood before we go, so while it was on our minds and we had some time off we went on over to the blood bank. More about that if the trip does happen. Still waiting for Jimmy's time off approval, which hopefully will happen on Monday when his boss returns to work.

And of course the work on the home 'away from home' is progressing. This month we got wiring redone, public water and gas to the house, indoor plumbing , including a hot water heater,toilet (YES!), and bathroom sink, roof, gutters, a heat unit installed. It is becoming more than a COLD shell of a house. Not quite livable yet, but it is getting real close. Did I say toilet? Oh yeah, already said that. I have been checking out the bird population and am happy to say it looks like I will be keeping my camera at ready.

While Jimmy was working on the house I finally went through the photographs I took at Perry's Water Lily Farm on July 4th. Have posted some to help us through this dreary looking December. And will probably be posting some more shortly.

This is my 548th post for 2008, and my last. Not bad since I started in late April. I hope I have added some joy to your blogging adventure this year, and hope to see all of you in 2009.

Happy New Year to all!!!

Telephone Days Gone By

This is an old telephone in my hallway coming from the garage. I wish I could say it is an old family one, but truth is my grandparents did not have a phone until much later. I am sure when they first purchased the farm there were no phone lines that far out of town. But they did not get a phone when it was available. They got it after my Papa had his first heart attack in 1958. I remember that day so well, I was 5 1/2 at the time, and my mother was pregnant with my brother, Gerry. It seems like it was a special day, like Easter, but not necessarily, we were always there on Sunday for Sunday dinner. And dinner was the the meal right after church. I say that because dinner is different to different people. The definition of dinner is the 'chief meal' of the day, whichever time it is.I found this bargain at an architectural antique store in Green Bay, and I mean WAY up in there, one way in and one way out. Reminded me of the Keys of Florida in that respect.

Red Bellied Woodpecker

A female Red Bellied Woodpecker.

As with the earlier post today (Cedar Waxwing), these photographs were taken at our house in Rockwood, Tennessee. The bird activity is more than I could have hoped for. I have already put out 2 feeders with plans to take more when I go back. I hope to draw the birds down a little bit. Right now they are staying high up in the trees, but very active.

Lynne, Rockwood may become my Hasty Brook.

Cedar Waxwing

This is a Cedar Waxwing. Not only is it a new bird to my life list, but I photographed it in the backyard in Rockwood.

The 3rd photo shows the coloring if you enlarge. You can see the red tip on the wing and the yellow at the end of the tail.

The 4th photo is partially blocked, but thought I should keep it for identifcation purposes.

Sunshine in the form of a Waterlily

A little sunshine for today with this Waterlily.

The photo was taken July 4th, when we visited Perry's Water Garden in North Carolina.

Squirrel at Lake Seminole Park

Looks like snow all around these squirrel photos, but they were taken at Lake Seminole Park in Seminole, Florida in October 2008.

Mockingbird in the tree tops

These Mockingbird photographs were taken last summer. Just looking through photos and thought I would post these.

More Goldfinch on the back deck

Notice in the first photo of these Goldfinches the bird in the back appears to have 3 parts to his bill. Caught him right as he grabbed up a seed. Monday I posted Eastern Bluebirds, one photo showed the Bluebird at the frozen birdbath. The blue dish is what I put water in when all of the birdbath's water are frozen.

When the water in this dish freezes I just dump it out and fill again.

Goldfinch on the back deck

The Goldfinch came for a visit earlier in the week.

The last one has a House Finch visiting with the Goldfinch.

Tufted Titmouse at feeder in backyard

Look how straight that top hat is on the Tufted Titmouse.

That is until he sees me, then he does his little trick of hiding it.

Merry Christmas - The Reason for the Season

This nativity is Lindsey's. John bought it for her the first Christmas he knew her. We are at their house for Christmas morning breakfast. Wendy and Lukas will be there too. And of course, it is Mason's first Christmas morning. Hope everybody is having a wonderful day with family.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Stockings

I made this stocking for Jimmy in 1997,

the Christmas before we were married in February 1998.

Then I didn't make Wendy's until 2003.

I also made John's in 2003, and then one for his wife in 2004.

(John and Lindsey had married October 2003).

I finally made mine in 2005. The problem now is, I haven't x-stitched since then. Wendy married Lukas in 2005, and I have not made his stocking yet. Now I have one grandson and another on the way. Something tells me I really need to make 3 stockings in 2009.

If you have not noticed, all the stockings have the same 'wallpaper' style on the walls of their room. When I made Jimmy's I did not know there was a complete book on these stockings. If I had this would not have been the stocking for Jimmy. There actually is a stocking for the woodworking man, that would have been the one for Jimmy. Wendy's is the little homemaker, baking and such. John's is all about music. Lindsey's is the girlie girl room. Mine is the sewing room. These all suit us and are made 'to order'. There are not that many more to the book, so I am going to do the grand children's differently. That is if I ever get started on stitching again. At least this year we are having Christmas as John and Lindsey's so they won't see Lukas still does not have a stocking.

Merry Christmas to all!

Christmas is coming - ready or not

The collage is a very small portion of my Santa collection. We don't mean to start these collections, they just seem to happen. The 2nd from the right on the bottom is one of my favorites, a gift from my daughter. The left bottom corner is another favorite, also a gift from Wendy. This one stays out all year. I have a bedroom decorated in American flag and eagle 'stuff', so this Santa gets to stay in it all year. Some years I forget to move it to be with the others Santas.

Jimmy and me the first Christmas after we met. We were not married yet.

Jimmy and me in 2000. It was our first year in the first house we built. Not sure why I did not do this again in 2006, for our first year in the house we built then, which is our home now.

The bottom ornament was made by a dear friend's mother. She is no longer with us, but the ornament reminds me of her and her daughter as I decorate the tree every year. As you can see by the date, I have had this one a while.

Merry Christmas to all!!!!

Eastern Bluebirds in backyard today

Several different birds at the seed this afternoon, but I only captured the Eastern Bluebirds.

Yes, that water is frozen, but the little bowl has fresh warm water. Didn't capture a bird at the warm one. Didn't say my Eastern Bluebirds are the smartest on the block. By now the warm water is not warm. Doesn't stay that way but a very few minutes in these temps.