Christmas Cheer

We all need a bit of Christmas Cheer and I find myself turning to the internet and YouTube for entertainment more than ever. I've lately been binge watching the Jamie Oliver Christmas Specials on the Pluto channel on my Roku. I've also learned all about Cher and the Loneliest Elephant, (not so lonely anymore), scrap-booking, junk journals, Keto cooking and all sorts of other stuff I won't go into.

Anyway, I've always enjoyed locating old public domain images and doing digital creations. Some of these images have been in my files for years but I found the old French Carol and it got me started on the one below.

It is for you to download and enjoy as a desktop image or for other personal use, I just ask that you don't sell it.  Right click on image, click view image to enlarge then save image to your computer. I spend a lot of time fussing around with the editing and manipulations of the photos, hopefully as I get better at it I might start putting in my shop for digital sale. Hope you all in blog land are finding some interesting ways to spend your time. We are pretty much staying at home for the next month as Covid is raging in this area. 

Please stay safe. We will get through this!

🎄✨ Diane 💖🎄

 

Christmas Thoughts

Hello friends! It's been awhile since I posted here. It feels as though everyday activities have taken much more time to accomplish than years before. This year has been especially difficult for everyone. But finally it seems there is light at the end of the long and dark tunnel. 

Our snowy backyard last year.

There are many things to look forward to this winter. The first December snowfall, the Christmas lights on every one's homes, the Christmas cards that arrive in the mail. Enjoying a quiet night by the fire.  Watching the fun antics of the squirrels and birds at the feeder. Stepping out into the snowfall with a hot mug of cocoa. Seeing a pink sunrise and sunset against the white snow.  All simple pleasures. 

A squirrel nest covered in a snowy blanket.

Sunny days after a snowfall are beautiful!

The photos were taken last year. I'll be waiting for some lovely Christmas snow to arrive soon. Take care all of you out there. I'm feeling much more optimistic about things now, I think the world has turned enough times that we are finally heading in a new direction. 

Stay safe and well!  ~ Diane

Leaves of Change

As Autumn arrives the leaves change in colors some times as if by magic. Depending on the sunlight and temperature there can be a drastic change in their appearance. Green leaves yesterday may be a bright yellow or red today. Nature never reacts the same each time, so it's always a bit of a surprise. 

As an observer, I find delight in the subtle and not so subtle details of nature. Our chipmunks and squirrels are very busy now hiding their winter treasure troves of food. Many trips are made to and from the bird feeder.  They find a plentiful variety of wild berries, seeds and nuts on our plants and trees. We humans are busy this time of year completing our outdoor projects while we enjoy these warm days of the season. 

Change is in the air though, the crisp mornings are followed by warm days and we are trying to enjoy them as much as possible.  They've predicted a cold and wet winter, but we shall see! 

Tonight we'll see the Harvest Moon shining bright in the sky. The days are growing shorter and I think we've had our last summer like day until next spring. The consolation is that cooler days are tempered by the warm sunshine. The young ducks and geese have all learned how to master flying and will soon be leaving us too. The changes continue. 

 

No Trick or Treating this year so no excuse to buy all that candy. So many changes, yet so much stays the same. I'll be making a wish on the Harvest Moon tonight for only good changes from now on!

Take care, wear a mask and stay safe. ~ Diane

A New Season

A New Season is almost upon us.  Autumn will be here soon and the last days of summer are being enjoyed and treasured. They'll be locked away in our memories and brought back mid-winter to revel in again. 

Last year many things were left undone as both myself and my husband had health issues. It was very difficult getting the normal summer projects finished so this year we are playing catch up. We've had time at home to work at our own pace. I won't dwell on our health problems but if you weren't aware my husband had two eye surgeries to help with his Grave's disease.  I had a hole in my retina and had laser surgery on one eye.  Needless to say these were set backs for both of us.  We were looking forward to a nicer year that we could get out and enjoy things we'd missed out on last year.  Covid had other plans. So far we have avoided it by being extremely careful when we go out, (which we do rarely).

 One thing I've noticed is the many birds we've had this year. Just last week these little guys were flying all over the place. Not sure what type of bird this is but it's sure cute!  The flowers were let go last year and this year they have co-mingled in a wild and crazy way. The Phlox, wild Boneset (Eupatorium),and the Chelone (Turtlehead), Virginia Creeper and Hosta have all mixed in with the Zigzag Goldenrod. 

I love the gardens though. They are not manicured and maybe a bit wild but I appreciate how nature sometimes just takes control and goes on. Nature finds a path forward no matter what.  It's a good lesson for us to understand during these wild and unpredictable times. 

Autumn, a new season, I'm looking forward to it. 

How about you?

 

Summer Days

Spring has gone and summer days are here. The past few months have been filled with turmoil and sadness in this area but we all must make the best of things and move on. Here's a glimpse at the past flowers of spring in my garden.

Summer's here and the living is pretty much like the last several months but greener and warmer.  Stay home, be safe.  Go to grocery store, mask up, stay safe. Talk to friends on the phone, tell them to stay safe and well.  And repeat! My husband and I are asking each other, "What day is it?", way too often!

Guy in the Buttercups!

Of course everything about going to the store takes twice as long.  We both are taking all the precautions we can to stay healthy and o far we have not shown any symptoms.

We've been enjoying the garden and catching up on things we left undone from last year because of my husbands health issues.  His surgery for this spring was canceled and may not happen now until next year. Every day is a new day and we enjoy each one.  Guy loves to be outside in the warm weather and as you see below he thinks in is in the wilds of a meadow.  To keep him safe he always is on his harness and we keep a close eye on him.

I haven't been very active in my Etsy shop these days as going out to buy merchandise is not as simple as before. Sales are slow but I have been lucky enough to have a few.  The feedback from one customer was so sweet and sentimental, it makes it all worth it. Every time I read his comment I tear up a bit. Thank you Michael, you made my week!

Here's what Michael wrote regarding a purchase he made as a gift for his cousin....

"This light set was on my Grandmothers Christmas (tree) every year in the 1970's. My cousin Tim and I were obsessed with this light set. When our Grandmother passed in the 90's I inherited the light set. I always wished there were 2 so Tim could have one. I have been searching for a set for over 20 years that worked and was intact and only came close once. I was on Etsy looking for another gift and did a quick search for the lights and there they were. Finally found them. Tim loves them. I hope Grandma will see them on our trees this Christmas. The item was exactly as described and shipping was perfect."

Peace be with you friends and stay safe out there!

Diane and Guy Noir

April Showers bring May Flowers

The Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis ) is the first flowering plant we have around here. It is native to the eastern part of the United States and Canada. When cut, the root and budding rootstalk (called the rhizome ) secrete a red fluid that gives the plant its name. Such a pretty flower! 

Bloodroot

A few other favorites are springing up too, the violets and the scilla are feeding the hungry bees!

Violets

Scilla Siberian Squill

We're still staying very close to home.  I went out to the grocery store the other day, it had been three weeks since I'd left home! And you know it really doesn't bother me much. Almost all of us at the grocery store were wearing masks and I kept running into one gal in the isles, and we had a couple of quick pleasant conversations and that was the most socializing I've done for a couple weeks other than emails and phone calls. 




On the nice days we're getting outside more, but in the mean time I've been watching YouTube way too much. Here is a favorite... Chunk the Groundhog. We watch on the big screen TV and even Guy likes to watch!

Hope this brings a smile to your face! 

Wishing you all good health and happiness! ~ Diane

The First Chipmunk

Hello friends, hope all of you are well. Our stay at home order for Minnesota is in effect. My husband and I have been trying to make the best of it by cleaning up the yard and getting ready for the warmer weather that will be here soon.

My cat Guy made me aware that the chipmunks are out and about.  Their cheerful little calls make me feel better.  I'm so happy that we have a nice backyard to hang out in.  We're supposed to have a lovely sunny day on Monday so it should start to green up the grass a bit.

Stay well and I'll be back soon!
Diane

Bird Song

Spring is on the way....

We still have the beauty of nature to boost our spirits.  The early morning bird song 

reminds me that spring is on the way.  

Peace be with you,

Diane

Watching and Waiting

Every year around this time a Mama Raccoon starts showing up and hangs around in the big trees.  She's getting hungry from her partial hibernation (she is in the bear family after all).  We call her Big Mama Rac and we really don't know if it's the same raccoon each year but she seems to know us so we suspect that at least she's in the same family, perhaps a daughter of a previous Big Mama.

The female raccoons are going to have their kits soon and they are really hungry, so they show up early in the evening or mornings and watch and wait for us to fill the bird feeders.  We have a squirrel proof bird feeder which worked for awhile until the raccoons literally tore the top off. We gave up on trying to keep them out, so now the food is available to all who visit.

I saw Big Mama Rac in the tree and took her picture.  She ignored me for a bit but then woke up and stared at me.  I took a few more photos and then put the bird seed out.  After I went in the house, she climbed down the tree and proceeded to eat all the nuts and peanuts out of the mix before she climbed back up the tree for a nap before she headed back to her den.

We are like Big Mama now, watching and waiting for what is to come.  We are already practicing our social distancing. We started hearing the alarm that some of our friends in the medical field were voicing about the novel coronavirus and started stocking up weeks ago.  We have food, medicine and supplies to last for several weeks.  We both have risk factors for complications from the virus so we are trying to delay unset for as long as possible while the medical community figures out their plan of action and find the best treatments for people like us, (over 60 with risk factors).

Events all over our area are canceled, schools are closing. We were supposed to travel out of state for a wedding in April and have sent our regrets. In my wildest dreams, I really never saw this coming.  I really thought that this year was going to be better for us. I'm still hoping it will be.

My quote at the top of the page still stands...

“In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It Goes On.” 

~~ Robert Frost

Stay safe and healthy my dear blog friends.  💗 Diane

New Year Musings

A New Year has begun and everyday is a day to reflect on the past while moving forward in the moment.  Somehow looking back helps me to set new goals for the future and that's what I plan on doing for this year.

Right now we seem a bit overwhelmed by the weather. Cold and snow keep us busy just clearing out the paths and driveway to  continue on with our regular activities. Oh how simple it is to just jump in the car and drive away without thinking about all the snow that has settled overnight onto everything you just cleared off the day before! The joys of winter!

But there's this....

The beauty of winter and fresh snow at a nearby park.

I know I'm a bit late in wishing you all a Happy New Year, but I wanted to share this gorgeous vintage card I came across. I love the blue and gold color combination and I think it's such a sweet composition. 

Anyway, I hope you have wonderful plans for your 

brand New Year!

I'll be checking in on your blogs to see what you're up to! ~~~ Diane