Hello February

February, having just made her arrival is about to dump some more snow upon this soggy land. At this point, I haven't even bothered to listen or look at how much is expected. I am just happy that January has ended.  It was not a great month, and I am glad to give February the chance to live up to Shubenacadie Sam's prediction of an early Spring. I realize that there are differing opinions from the various rodent forecasters, but I prefer the idea of an early spring. Spring....ah......C'mon Sam, I'm trusting in you. Hah!

January really wasn't a very pleasant month in several ways. The weather went from snow to rain to blizzard conditions to wind warnings and heavy rain warnings to heavy snow and back to rain, in any order you choose.

I lost another special friend in January, as well. It was one of those times where because of how badly she was suffering with bone cancer, you wouldn't want her to suffer anymore, and yet the thought that she wouldn't be around anymore was so sad. She was a delight, a very strong woman, 84 years young, and with a great outlook. She was the one who cajoled me into joining her in teaching Sunday school, where we spent a lot of years together, and then resigned at the same time. She and her husband raised 6 children on a big farm in our community, and she could master anything that had to be done on that farm, it seemed. She milked cows, worked in the woods, drove tractor, ran a Farm Guest House for years, and had boarders at different times, and was always busy in the church. She will be missed so much.

After having a good checkup with the eye doctor, I was laid low by something that sort of started out as a cold, which is lingering on, but worse was spending a whole day in whooziness, and being unable to stand or sit up for very long at all. It only lasted a day, and I think I was just worn out, and perhaps a bit dehydrated. My choir folk diagnosed the dehydration part, after spending a good 10 minutes laughing about the reason for my being dizzy. The upshot of it is that I am trying very hard to drink a good amount of water each day, and since then I have felt ok.
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These pictures have no other reason for being posted here other than the fact that I was looking at them a few days ago. They were taken on Grand Manan last summer, and I was just remembering how nice it was.

 

I have others which I may post if I haven't already done so. I will have to check. Any excuse to not think about our present weather.

And, I am glad to be back posting. I has been a while.

Snow, Wind and Water

I have a few pictures to show of our changing weather, but I have been thinking a little about our church choir.  It is getting close to our annual meeting at church, and the nomination committee has been busy. The reason I mention the choir, is that as I thought of each one, I realized that besides being in the choir, they are also on or head a committee, sometimes two, or have another position such as bulletin editor, or Food Bank person. They are a great group of people who volunteer their time in a number of ways. That may change, when the nomination committee finishes their job, but from past experience, it won't change much.

Now on to the weather.....

This is the end of last week,

and

This is today

there is still some snow where it has been plowed into a pile

but the ground is soggy because of heavy rainfall on the

weekend.

Needless to say there is a bit of a pond in my basement, and it

will take a while for it to dry up. More rain is expected tonight

I think, or tomorrow.

The sump pump is earning its keep.

This is a painting I did back in 1983 of Birchtown Bay,

and Shelburne Harbour, in Birchtown NS

where we lived for three years.

This scene could be seen from our dining room window.

I reminds me of my basement floor the way the water hugs the beach. I

have some water areas and some dry areas.

 

Sadie and I took a little walk around the property, picking up things that had blown around in the past wind. I'm sure I missed some things. I was surprised that there were some things still standing, like the little shed out front. The wind blew very hard, and I thought perhaps I would end up in Kansas.

 

I realize how little walking I do, because when I came in, I hurt all over. I like to blame that on the weather, but I know it's the fibro acting up. You would think that going up and down steps each day to the basement and the bedroom would count for some activity, but apparently not. I sit to do my painting and crafts or at my laptop, but I have to get up and walk around after a while to walk off the aches. I know sometimes I sit too long at one thing, especially painting, but I sure know it when I move. I just remembered that I need to go and tidy up my bird food and containers. I just left it when I came in from outside.

 

Last night, just at dusk, there were six deer in our backyard. They were there for about 10-15 minutes at least, munching apples on the ground around the 2 apple trees, and also eating a few of the young branches. I couldn't get a picture because it was so dark, and eventually something startled them and they headed back to the wooded area.

Blue Sky

Yes, I can hardly believe my eyes, but I'm pretty sure that right up there, up there above the trees is blue sky, and wait, yes, there is hardly any wind. A little respite from the past days of cloud and snow and cold, cold, cold.

Not that it isn't cold out now, but it is not as cold. The great pile of snow has gone down quite a bit, and best of all the road is bare. There are 'warmer' days ahead, well relatively warmer.

Poor Sadie, has had a terrible time trying to find a place to do her 'business'. Walking on ice is definitely not her favourite thing.

Normalcy has returned, after the Christmas/New Years celebration, and it is back to routine, which I welcome.

Our Pastor and wife have a new addition to their family. A daughter was born on January 31st. So wonderful. The little one was oohed and awed over, by her church family last Sunday. It will be so nice watching her grow, as we did their first daughter. It is going to be fun! Can you imagine it? A two year old and a baby........

I am having a hard time settling into one thing, since Christmas. I have painted some bookmarks, done some writing, needle felting, and reading. I have also been playing my uke. Love it! My young fellow has started back at piano lessons, and pleasantly surprised me by showing how he had worked very hard over the holidays learning to read the notes and know their names.

I have a little squirrel invading my bird feeders, and am not too pleased, but it can't be helped, just so long as it doesn't GET IN THE HOUSE! Pheasant have also paid a visit a few times, during the worst of the days past. I haven't seen them in a while.

Appointment with my doctor, has been cancelled three times, due to weather, and now he's sick. I am not all that disappointed, but felt bad for his secretary who had to make all the calls and change appointment dates. I wouldn't want her job, but she told me, most people are understanding.

New Year's Day at Ironwood

Would you believe I took my camera and didn't take one picture. Well that's what happened. Tsk. Tsk.

It was just so great to see Heather and Rupert, and Rupert's mum. Even the weather behaved well, and actually the roads weren't too bad. The wind was blowing and so there were a few places where snow was blowing over the road, but all in all, not too bad. The worst roads are the ones closest to home, especially the one that runs in front of this house.

The sun shone after the day began with snow showers, off the bay, as the saying goes. I just love the showers off the bay....... Dawn did the driving, and was cautious, which pleased her mother very much. You just never know when you are going to find ice. Some drivers, however, seem to throw safety into the backseat and drive like fools. They are the ones that you expect to see in the ditch, just around the curve.

We spent just a few minutes with the sheep, because it was really, really cold. My, I wish this freezing weather would ease up. I think it is going to be even colder tomorrow.

                   Icicles hanging from the roof eaves

 

 

And this is my gift from Heather, Rupert and Dawn - A Ukulele!!!!!!!

LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT!

And it has it own case!!!!

It was a marvelous surprise.

 

So my day was lovely, and I am thankful and blessed.

Thank you Dawn, Rae, Lindsay, Heather and Rupert.

New Years.....

    I have never been 'into' a big celebration for New Years, not since our early years in the air force when there were lots of young couples getting together to celebrate. As the years moved on, past the time when our daughters wanted and tried so hard to stay up past midnight, and most times failed, on to the post air force period and into the farming phase, and the captain, not being very social, our New Years Eve was spent watching the TV and the Canadian Air Farce.

I sit here today, thankful that a dear plumber came and fixed our water pump. Not till you don't have it, do you miss being able to go to the tap and turn it on. Some fixtures were replaced, but there is still the possibility that dirt will again get into the system. New pipes need to be put on, but that is a job for spring.

I will be on the road tomorrow, heading to Ironwood to see Heather. Dawn and the girls and I will make the trip. The captain does not do Family. It will be great to see Heather.

I have managed to take down the trees, but the decorations are sitting on the chair and piano bench, awaiting the time they will be put away, and that won't be today. The first order of business is laundry, since I now have water.

I am not in the greatest of moods today. There are a number of reasons why, I suppose, but where the start of a new year should be something to look forward to, there are some things that I do not look forward to. Perhaps that is just because I need to take one day at a time. I also need to stop comparing my life with others. I'm sure someone famous or infamous said you have to play with the cards you are dealt.

That being said, I am glad that we will be getting back to normal activities, like choir practice and Bible Study, and my little piano student coming for lessons. The dear little guy gave Sadie a toy for Christmas. It was sweet of him.

I guess that's it for this year. See you in 2014, I hope.

Things happen.....

There are some things that don't take into consideration that this is a holiday period. It could be snow storms that throw lots of folk into the darkness, with no power for days, the people who work on the downed power lines, those who organize the ones who work on the lines, the snowplow drivers, who didn't get to spend Christmas with their families,and last but not least, water pumps decide to quit....affecting me personally.....

Oh yes. My water pump decided to not shut off when it should, and so we had to flip the switch off. Hopefully, I will have a plumber come tomorrow morning, and find out what is wrong. It has been interesting to not have running water, but not really that bad. We always have water jugs on hand, in case the power goes out, and so we had water. Dear daughter lives down the road, and so we could get more when needed. It is amazing how often one goes to the tap to get a drink of water. I hope that tomorrow I shall be able to go back to using the tap.

We finally had a church service, yesterday. It was so nice to see everyone again. My dear, fantastic choir did themselves proud. Having missed two Sundays, we decided to do three songs yesterday, since they were all Christmas songs. This choir is not very big. When all are present there are nine members. Yesterday we had seven. They sang the specials beautifully, one after another, like a mini cantata, and did a wonderful job. I was so pleased with them. They are a very special group of people, and I love them dearly.

Now the year is quickly coming to a close, and a new one soon to begin. I do not make resolutions, so will not be making a list. I think I will soon take down the Christmas tree. (That will be when I think I have enough energy). I decorated for Christmas over a period of two weeks. Now I'm thinking it will take me that long to get things put away.

There is still ice on the trees, and a lot of the birches around are drooping right to the ground. I wonder if the past two weeks are an indication of the winter yet to come.

Some of the things I have painted and gave as gifts

 

 

                                           I just think this little guy is cute. Have had him a long time


Wishing everyone a Happy New Year from Sadie and I.

Look out world, here comes 2014...........

Christmas Day

 

Early Christmas morning, with snow falling on the

already ice-laden branches.

 

 

 

Quiet and lovely

 

 

I am waiting for my girls to arrive for presents and Christmas goodies. We survived quite handily a power outage on the past Monday. The Youth Christmas presentation was cancelled on Sunday evening, and even though the power was out on Monday, they decided to go ahead. Everyone was asked to brings flashlights and other battery run torches, and the service was on. It was most beautiful! The Young People really did a wonderful job, and it was very meaningful. We had a gathering time after the service with refreshments which was also lit by lanterns. Sorry, no coffee, which I sorely needed. As I was chatting with a dear friend, I spotted something quite peculiar. Then I realized that Rudolph had joined us. I knew it was him, by his bright red nose, and his prancing across the floor. He disappeared just as fast as he had arrived, but it was so nice of him to drop by.

 



Because we had missed two weeks of services, we also had a short Christmas Eve Service, then it was home for many, to spend time with families, gathered to celebrate.

I appreciate so much, all my blogging friends, whose blogs make my day. It is so nice to see the similarities and the differences in other places in the blogisphere. They are such wonderful, interesting people.

And so to my blog readers, Sadie and I wish you a very wonderful Christmas, and may you be filled with the love, joy and peace of this special time of year.