Park Day

I LOVE taking *my* Bitties to the park! When their Mama was their age I took her and her sibs to the park so I've done lots of parks over the years.

Orem has a brand new park that is OVER THE TOP!  It is the All-Together Playground. It is 1.5 miles from their house so an easy walk for this Grammie and the Bitties in their trolley (stroller). Today was DE-lightful! One of those rare 65º days that come around one-in-a-while in March. We made a quick stop at Target for bagels and Bunny milk and arrived mid afternoon.

I've never seen a nicer park! Let's start with the fact that it is completely fenced in... only one way in or out! Always happy news for this Grammie! There is this wonderful composite soft cushion under every thing.

The kids found so many things that I couldn't keep up with photos of all of them... plus trying to keep an eye on this busy girl! She climbed up, around and exited all by herself.

She is absolutely fearless! She took off her shoes and socks to get down with some serious climbing!

My favorite was when three boys, all older than her watched her climb, successfully to the top of this beehive, ALL BY HERSELF and said to one another that they didn't dare try.

This little pixie-princess has me absolutely smitten!

On our way home, at the corner by Target, Fiona looked at me and nicely asked for a shake! Well, how could I refuse? We trekked across the parking lot to the Wendy's and got baby-shakes and a small order of fries. Were they ever happy little children.

Liam is not one whit behind his sister. He took his first taste of his requested (yes, just 2 and requested!) vanilla shake, smacked his lips appreciatively and said, "Yummy!" with a smile guaranteed to melt any Grammie's heart.

And even though this Grammie walks EVERY DAY I, stupidly, wore the wrong shoes and had barking piggies by the time we got back to their house. I drew up a basin of warm Epsom salts foot bath and IMMEDIATELY had two little foot sore companions, who, incidentally, rode in the trolley the whole time!

Let's just say there is now a damp spot on the carpet right about there!

When Mommy got home from work I showed her the photos and commented that Fiona is fearless. Her response was, YES! You'd never see Liam riding on the canopy of the trolley!

Wait? What??

Well, 10 days ago on Tuesday-last, when the Bitties were at Grammie's house we went for a walk (we usually do) but Grammie's trolley has oddly gotten too small for these two Bitties. We tried several different configurations but nothing was working. Finally Grammie had a bright idea. Fiona could ride on the canopy. It was great sport riding the trolley horse. We made it safely all the way down the steep hill, got this photo and then...

YEAH, IT'S ALL FUN AND GAMES UNTIL 

SOMEONE GETS HURT! 

I changed speed too quickly and that DANG trolley horse bucked her right off, straight forward and onto her beautiful little face. Everything went into slow-mo as I watched her skid and somersault on the frozen asphalt! I quickly scooped her up, called 911-Grampy, and we both, Fiona and Grammie cried! 

This poor little lamb! I was just sick! We got her home, got an ice pack, called Mama and put Healer-Harley on the job! (Fiona says, I love Harley! He helps me feel better!)

This was that brave little face on day 3. We've both agreed that we will never do that again!

Fortunately, we know about Vitamin E and her little face looks almost better today. Only one small scab left on her forehead and new pink skin on her precious little nose. (see photos above)

I'm so grateful that these precious babies are so close and I get to be with them frequently. I'm so grateful that this little precious girl was not hurt badly!!

Snow Day!

Way back in December 2008 I took a photo-a-day challenge that morphed into a 25 month-long journey of a photo AND a post everyday. So when I noticed that last year, 2016, I only had 17 posts I was more than a little disappointed! Granted now I do more on Instagram and Facebook but somehow many of the wonderful photos languished on the hard drive of my laptop and the stories in  my poor little brain!

So this year I hope to do much better.

This day is the second time in the last 10 days that we've gotten a *dumper* of a storm! And all I have to say about all this snow is HALLELUJAH!

Is it a stinkin' lot of work to move 18" of snow? You bet. Do I do it all myself? You bet. I spent the better part of 4 hours this morning moving snow, erm, and then moving it again after the snowplows came through the neighborhood and filled up the newly cleaned mailbox access and driveway.

The snow is so deep that it covered the exhaust manifold of my cute little snowblower. But this little machine is a real worker. I've used vacuum cleaners that are harder to use than this snowblower! Although I really have to put my back and/or legs into it to move through the deep snow. Ah, the disadvantage of being short in stature!

Our last 3 winters have been pitifully short on snow. Now did I enjoy those temperate winters. YOU BET! But I'm a smart enough girl to know that we NEED this wonderful snow to make it through the long dry summers.

I love how the snow made these darling little cones on top of my gate posts. And since we have our attention on this side of my house I have to add that I gave up today and moved the garbage and recycle cans into the garage. It will eliminate a big stretch of concrete that has to be cleared. Fernando can just have a pleasant winter home over there until March or April. (He only has one wheel drive anyway!) 

I love my happy little winter home. I'm so very grateful for a safe, warm, dry, comfortable home!

One of the tasks that is always part of my snow removal it a clear path for our mail lady. She finally made it to my neighborhood about 5pm! The thought occurred to me to leave her a little treat. I noticed when I was out on errands later that many mailboxes are just buried.

It always makes me remember my own dear Mama who drove the rural mail route in Greenville, CA for 13+ years before she had to take leave because of her ovarian cancer.

Poor Babies

You know that I have a love/hate relationship with the local deer. I love that they are right here in my yard and that we share a neighborhood BUT I hate that they vandalize my garden.

That being said, I can't help but feel sorry for them in the winter time. I know that the whole Bambi thing comes back to me when he says, "But I'm so hungry Mother!" I've never been hungry other than by choice! And the thought of any creature staving just breaks my heart.

I was sitting here in my perch-up-on-top (aka my office) when I caught some movement through the partially closed blinds. On closer inspection I saw that it was our neighborhood Mama and her twins. I've watched this little family all year. (On a side note, Bekah has a similar trio at her house and they literally sleep right outside their master bedroom window and have eaten her yard to bits!)

They were scavenging on the berries dropped by the *fat-flappers* that also share my neighborhood!

Now, help me understand how this works... there is this whole flock of robins that DO NOT fly south for the winter. They just stay here in their plentiful neighborhood all year long. Besides many trees that keep their summer fruit on the tree through the winter, nature's bird feeders, there are plenty of folks that have out regular bird feeders. As you can see they are not hurting for food-supply! But the deer? Well, they don't have wings yet so they only get the droppings or what they can reach from the ground.

This little deer-family stayed for quite a while and let me get some sneaky photos through the blinds (NEVER pull the blinds up!). Finally Mama ambled across the street to see what they were serving up over there today. And this little slow baby finally followed.

I have to tell you that I felt so bad for them that I dug out some of the ancient, sprouting carrots from my vegetable drawer in the fridge and horked them out under their feeder tree. Poor babies...

Shrunken Apples

This phenomenon frequently puzzles me!

• Why do these apples stay on the tree through the winter?
• Why don't the birds eat them?
• What happens to them when the new blossoms pop out? (I never see them on the ground)

By this time of year they've got to be pretty *ripe*, if you know what I mean.

What a Difference Three Days Make!

I posted a couple of photos back (way back) on the first... I would never have guessed this much snow would be melted just 72 hours later!

I'm just grateful to see some grass... even if it is covered with deer poo!

3/6/13 Edit...
I'm just finishing up my blog book getting it ready to print and ran across this statement from November 10

"It started snowing yesterday morning and didn't stop for the next 24 hours! Those of you who know me will remember that-

I LOVE THE SNOW!

Yes, if there is still snow on the ground in March it might start to wear a little thin but particularly with the first big storm of the season-

I'M JUST LIKE A LITTLE KID!"

And amazingly I've only had one day of *I can't stand this snow any longer!*

Lion-Day

I've always liked to keep track of the *March comes in like a lion- out like a lamb* thing. But it has only been since I started keeping a blog that I've really been able to remember 31 days later what the 1st of March was like!

This year, 2013, is an OFFICIAL LION DAY! All you have to do is look at the sky! But then we can add insult to injury-

A view of the side of my house, looking north (with Maple Mt wreathed in clouds)...

And the front of my house, looking south...

See that berm of snow to the right of my mail box?  That is the pile 15' beyond the mailbox that ate Fernando!  AND IT IS STILL HERE!  We may still have snow in June! Not really, but sometimes it feels that way...

So what of previous years?

2009- Lamb all the way; 62 degrees!
2010- Lamb day as well; high in the 50s!
2011- Lamb day again! Sunny and warm.
2012- A Lion-sort of day! 3" of new snow on top of 12" ( we got most of last winter's snow in March! and we were glad of it.)

Mare's Tail

We had one of those warm winter days today (read- 40*, but it's amazing how warm that feels!) I went on a little walkie at about 4:30 this afternoon. It was one of those lovely windless days! I could feel the sun baking through my charcoal-colored pants... Ah, lovely sun!

I hadn't gone far before the glorious clouds claimed my attention. Mare's tails- I love them.

Not 20 paces further and I NEEDED to capture this tree, I think it is a catalpa tree, hoping for warmer days... just like me!

Lone Robin

This morning as I was eating my oatmeal up here in my office with a *bird's eye view* I got to view the little birds eating their breakfast. This whole flock of black birds (I don't know if they ARE blackbirds just that they are birds and they are black!)  and one little fat robin were flitting back and forth between this flowering pear and the smaller flowering pear that took the place of my dearly departed beautiful willow.  I like how this one fat robin is the only bright spot on this foggy winter day.

I grabbed my camera and tried to carefully shoot through the blinds. They would always catch me and swoop away as soon as they saw me move... but I'm trickier than a bird (thank goodness) and went into my sewing room- the light off of that window camouflaged me and I could sneak some photos.

Then movement on the ground caught my eye...  more of those fat little flappers picking up what the ones up top dropped in their haste. (One word of caution fat-flappers... there have been swine-deer in my front yard!)

Maybe next time I will get on my super zoom lens and get some close ups. But I'm pleased that I can see these little birdies with berries in their beaks!

Pixie Dust

When I opened the blinds this morning I saw that the world was covered in hoar frost! It is always so magical when this happens; everything sparkles. It is so cold that there is pixie dust floating in the air glinting, just like glitter, in the weak January sun and I am sad that my camera cannot capture that beautiful sight.

I quickly pull on my shearling boots and coat, grab my camera and go on an 8° explore. I stay close to the house so as not to leave any footprints in the pristine snow.

All the trees, bushes, and even flat surfaces like the fence and deck are covered in pixie dust.

As it warms during the day this pixie dust will float to the ground, shimmering as it goes.

Perhaps it's because I was so obsessed with snowflakes this winter that the designs jumped off the computer screen at me.

There they are: perfect six-sided wonderful creations of our Loving Heavenly Father that I can only poorly imitate with my scissors and paper.

Lion Sort of Day

For some [OCD] reason I've always liked to keep track of March's lamb and lion days. I remember doing this as a child... but usually couldn't remember 31 days later what the weather was like on the 1st!

BUT... since I've kept my photo blog I do lots better!

I judge that today is definitely a LION SORT OF DAY!

So what of previous years?

2009- Lamb all the way; 62 degrees!
2010- Lamb day as well; high in the 50s!
2011- Lamb day again! Sunny and warm.

Hmmmm... so what's up with this year?

January Thaw

We had the January thaw! It lasted 2 whole days! We had sun! no inversion layer (aka smog)! High temperatures in the high 40s and low 50s!  Did I mention the SUN?

Today the cold returned. As I left the Temple this afternoon it was sunny, cold AND horizontal snow!  (It is the Utah version of sunny and raining.)

But the best part of the day was this...



a golden sunset!

1-11-11

How could a self-respecting, sequential/repeating number obsessed, winter-loving blogger, such as myself, let 1-1-11 get away without a post? Obviously... it didn't!

I don't know why repeating numbers please me, but they do.  

03-30-03 for example will always be a memorable day for me. And it is interesting that the Lord knows us so well that He will send us special gifts on such days; imprinted forever in our memory. It falls into the category of *Tender Mercies* for which I am so grateful. 



So what of today- 1-11-11?

Nothing memorable has occurred THIS day (so far)... but that is all right because I am aware of the Lord's love for me every day. What a great blessing in my life.

A Winter Wander

[You didn't really think you could get rid of me that easily did you?]

Today was one of those cold, crisp, windless, sunny winter days that I just love. And after spending way too many days sick [and in bed] in the last month I was grateful to be able to go out and take a little *walkie*. I took my camera along with me, somehow I just can't seem to leave it at home.

I thought you might like to tag along with me. I love how the sun plays off the clean, white snow.



Doesn't this look just like a Christmas card?



I mentioned that my tree yesterday was filled with fat robins. I suspect this is one of their many food sources. My friend Sheri intimated that the reason they DON'T fly south for the winter is that they are just too fat! Love that concept.



This tree... with these nests... I only see them in the winter and always forget to look when the tree is covered with leaves to see what sort of ginormous bird inhabits this! Now this one? Yep, he went south!



I also couldn't resist capturing this snow capped post. It just looks so cold and frosty.



I got back home and saw my tiny icicles. I had a moment of serendipity when I caught this drip.



But here is the best part: I'm standing in the drive way and here comes a whole herd of deer [10+] motoring up the street. They headed into the yard next door before the spotted me standing still and quiet. But the alpha-mama didn't like the looks of me... she pogo-stick hopped down to the cul-de-sac with the other babies [yearlings] and mamas in close order. This fellow? Yeah, they don't like him so much... he was all by himself.



And with all these photos do you really think that my 2011 photo-book will be any smaller?

355- First Day of Winter

The first day of winter has really lived up to its reputation today! It started snowing on Sunday evening and didn't stop until this afternoon!  There is another wave that is supposed to move in tonight bringing more snow.

These photos were taken this morning! I heard that this is the biggest storm in 16 years. I believe it!



I remember as a girl getting record snow falls in Greenville. There were a couple of times that people shoveled off their roofs there was so much snow... and my poor mom was the mail-lady!

334- Ice Encrusted

I saw this sweet little bush today. It was right under a roof-gutter and was totally ice encrusted. So pretty... so cold!

328-Fizzled Blizzard

Yesterday we had a forecasted blizzard, they closed many businesses early, encouraged people to complete their travel before the blizzard was due to hit. People listened, traveled early, and avoided disaster. I would much rather have them err on the side of caution than be caught unawares and unprepared.

KSL Weather-guessers define a blizzard as:

• Wind gusts 35 mph+
• Considerable blowing and drifting snow
• Visibilities less than 1/4 mile
• Lasts 3 hours or more
• Very cold temperatures

He told us tonight that our blizzard only lasted 1 hour 47 minutes so technically it wasn't a blizzard.  But it's plenty cold!  It was 5 degrees this morning at 8 am and it a balmy 9 degrees at 7pm.

325- The Last Leaf

Just as predicted the snow moved in about midnight last night. We have a blanket of about 1-2" of snow on the ground with slop on the roads (Fritz said it would be like this!)

From my bedroom window I can see all of the trees in my neighbor's orchard. He has several pear trees right along the fence that are just beautiful in the fall (they have been feature here before and, by the way, grow yummy pears that hang over the fence for me to pick and enjoy!) I was walking through my bedroom earlier and a flash of red caught my eye! What? A robin? Out in this weather? I did a double take and saw that it was just one of the flaming red leaves on the pear tree.



I couldn't help remembering the story The Last Leaf  by O Henry and how it has always moved me.

What a wonderful analogy of the Savior's love for us and the power of the atonement. All we have to do is keep believing and working towards that Heavenly goal...

121- Here's Your Sign...

We have been experiencing winter since last Wednesday... but this pretty much describes our weather. I have awakened to snow on the ground each morning.



The weather guessers say we won't see over 60 until next Saturday.

063- Rosehaven Cottage

Oh, my, oh my! I've only taken 330 photos in the last 48 hours! Shall I just post them all today and call it good for the rest of the year?

That, we know, won't happen... I will hoard them and pet them and look at them like I do my fabric! Well, that probably won't happen either. So for today I share with you my niece's wonderful Rosehaven Cottage.


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My sister's family lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, which is always such a happy place to me. My mom was born and raised here as was my granddad before her. My parents met and were married here. We always visited family here when I was growing up. My daddy died here. I lived here for 2 years, this is where Gordon and I met and married. This is where my sweet children, Tony and Amanda, are buried. There is so much of life and living and dying that is all wrapped up in this beautiful area. So much of my heart belongs here.

I will be back with more posts about my wonderful Bay Area visit in future posts. We came searching for spring and we've found it in the verdant hill of the Bay Area. As an aside, Papa and puppy are enjoying winter, complete with 8" of new snow back home in Springville... I think we chose the perfect time to escape to spring.

052- Rose Hips

This is such an interesting time of year! Anything left *on the vine* is sad, frozen and shriveled up. But I also see my black-hearted red tulip, sheltered by the house, starting to sprout up and remind me of its promised beauty.

We've had such a lovely mild winter and this year that is a very good thing; between basking and this mild weather I've had much less SAD problems. Happy thought!