Settling In To Winter ~ December 12, 2016

It looks as though Winter is here to stay. For a while anyways. (You never know with this crazy weather that's been happening all across the country.) And before we know it, Christmas will be upon us!

I finally took the time to decorate our tree. I didn't pull out the big tree this year, but our medium sized one will do. I also have two smaller trees on display this year - one in the dining room, and one in the kitchen.

Here's the main tree in our living room. It's strung with both colored and white lights. In this picture I only had on the colored lights.


And here it is with just the white lights. 


Lastly, here it is with a mixture of both.......


I really enjoy just the glow of the colored lights in the morning and evening. Sometimes the white lights are pretty by themselves. I guess it depends on the day and my mood! 

During the day, I like to see a more festive look to the tree, so I usually have it lit with both the white and colored lights. This year my ornaments are lots of birds and gold, silver and white globes.... This often attracts the more mischievous one of all my kitties - Ziva. She is a sly one, that precious little girl! The birds, and globes, and oh, those pretty, twinkling lights are just too tempting to bear....She can't seem to keep her paws off of them! :) 
"Is she looking? 'Cause if she is, I can't steal a darn thing from the tree!"
~ * ~

A Change of Season ~ December 3, 2016

While Checkers napped, the cold winds blew, snow began to swirl and accumulate, and Autumn gave up its last long hold to Winter. Just before Thanksgiving, Winter made it's frosty presence here in the Northeast, howling and blowing, making a mess of the roads and cancelling school for not only ours, but many of the neighboring districts. There's just something about that first, wild, crazy snow storm that gets everyone kind of excited about what's going on outdoors, despite the chaos.

I had hardly just finished raking up the leaves strewn around our yard, when the storm winds blew leaves from yards round about us back into our own yard. As the snow began to accumulate, I found the two together made for a pretty picture.
But when the winds picked up later that afternoon, howling through our trees, visibility was quite compromised, and I was glad for our safety indoors and the cozy fire crackling to keep us warm. 

Shortly after Thanksgiving, the air warmed again, melting all our snow, and bringing out some Bluebirds that I haven't seen in at least a few months! One was checking out the clay pot Dean and I made into a simple nesting spot for birds such as Sparrows and Robins. Hmmm, who knows? Maybe the Bluebird will decide that's just the perfect home for it, and will plan to move in next Spring!




No matter the season or weather, I always enjoy those times when I can capture pictures of moments of all that's going on around me, both indoors and out. ☺

I hope you're all happy and well, my friends! What's been going on in your world these days?

 ~ ♥ ~

Recent Autumn Beauty ~ November 10, 2016

Just a few pictures of the beauty I saw while out and about in our yard the other day. ☺


I actually saw this handsome fellow from indoors while looking out the window!









Just Browsing - November 9, 2016

 
This evening is a perfectly quiet evening to enjoy a few moments of image browsing on Google. 

The thought that came to mind was "THANKFULNESS"

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Yes, I can certainly see the truth in that....

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It really comes down to this ~


.....even if that means some days I work harder at it than others. 

I am healthy. 

I am alive.

Everything else is just icing on the cake!

~ ♥ ~

Summer Means Beauty ~ July 29, 2016

Summer has been sultry, beautiful and amazing! How have YOU been, my friends?

You know I never tire of taking photographs of all that goes on around me in my day to day life.

And you know that nature is especially my favorite subject.

But every once in a while, my family gets tossed in there, too!

Here's just a glimpse of my world over the last month or so.....

Checkers taking an afternoon nap


Lots of different butterflies visit my butterfly bush

Simple beauty in my favorite glass "vase"

Our dilapidated shed is still beautiful to me

One of our lovely chestnut trees

This female and her mate frequented my feeders every evening


My front porch in June

Sweet Joanna
 So glad I've had this chance to catch up with you!
~ ♥ ~


No Bake Peanut Butter Bars ~ July 29, 2016

The other day I was watching Food Network's Pioneer Woman - Ree Drummond.

I knew from the moment I saw her make those peanut butter bars, that I'd want the recipe for my very own collection.

Simple. Quick. Sweet. NO BAKE.

Can you even go wrong with that combination?!

So, yesterday I actually made the recipe, and I was absolutely NOT disappointed. Nor was my family.

BINGO!

This is the perfect recipe to bring for a family get together, a picnic, a holiday or even to stash in the back of the fridge for your desperate, late night sweets craving! I shared some with friends, and they even suggested that it was equally delicious as a frozen treat. (I was kind of thinking the same thing, but I hadn't gotten to trying that yet!)

Go ahead and try them for yourself. I promise you won't be disappointed, and you'll want to make these again and again!



No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars
Recipe courtesy of Ree Drummond

Yield: 20 bars

Ingredients:

Filling:
2 sticks salted butter, softened, plus more for greasing the pan
1 cup chunky peanut butter
2 cups powdered sugar
One 12-ounce box vanilla wafers
One 12-ounce bag mini semisweet chocolate chips
Frosting:
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup chopped peanuts
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Directions:

For the filling: Grease a 9-by-13-inch pan with some butter.

Using a stand or electric hand mixer, mix together the butter and chunky peanut butter until smooth. Stir in the sugar a cup at a time.

Add the vanilla wafers to a food processor and process until they are in small chunks. Then add the wafers and mini chocolate chips to the peanut butter mixture. Spread it evenly into the buttered pan and set aside.

For the frosting: Using a double boiler or a microwave, melt the chocolate chips and creamy peanut butter. Allow to cool for a couple of minutes, then pour over the base. Spread the frosting out evenly and sprinkle over the chopped peanuts. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, then cut into 20 bars.


© 2016 Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.

Colorful, Quaint and Loaded With Flowers ~ May 16, 2016

Lately I keep coming across images of this adorable town in France called Colmar.

It's nothing short of pure happiness for me!

Who wouldn't, or shall I say couldn't, have positive vibes and an uplifted spirit living here?

My eyes drink in the beautiful colors, the cheery flowers and fairy tale quaintness of this lovely town!

Just thought I'd share some of what makes me happy with you today.....

~ ♥ ~

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Here's a bit of fun information on colors and the moods/emotions they are associated with.


I'm a color loving person! How about you?

Enjoying the Beauty Around Me ~ May, 15, 2016

Hello Friends!

Here's a glimpse of what's been going on in my yard these days. 

I'm happy to report that the wrens have moved back into their home. ☺

Just within the last week, our Baltimore Orioles and Hummingbirds have returned. Makes my heart so happy. The Orioles have really increased in number this year!

Still struggling with up and down weather, but I hear that this weekend should surely be the last of it. Phew!! I'm so looking forward to all that Spring and Summer has to offer, aren't you?






It's been wonderful to enjoy some previous days of sunshine and warmth. I've started mowing the lawn again, and got all my flowerbeds covered over with new chips.

Any day now I'll be going to get some lovely, colorful annuals to plant in my flowerbeds and pots.

Wishing you happy days and lots of sunshine!