Snow Birds of a Feather...

I am so thrilled that the birds are not as skiddish as they have been seeing me in the window with my camera and this morning the Cardinals were so beautiful on snow covered branches!

The female still shy of seeing me.

 

This male Cardinal photo was taken in the morning.

 

This one is my favorite!

 

And finally, I caught the male at the feeder, maybe he is getting used to me in the window! Ha!

 

I am linking today with Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday, check out all the other links for Saturday at the bottom of her post!

Thank you for coming, see you next time!

My wild heart to yours....

 



♫♫CHRISTMAS TREE, O' CHRISTMAS TREE...♫♫

Good Morning Sweet Bloggers!! The season is upon us and I marvel at how fast the days go by!  My little tree has ornament overload because I cannot leave any little sentimental ornament in the box! Ha!

My Mom, my Bill, cousins and friends as well as my grown children have contributed through the years.  My favorite is the Madonna of the Poor ornament by far...

 

 The Milkweed pod ornament was made when my children were little and it has survived many Christmases.

The little Moon Santa below is one of our own creations.  I would draw a pattern, Bill would cut it out and then I would paint it.  I have several that are very large for wall deco.

Although this is a little blurry, it is also one of my favorites, my original Santa face painted on a light bulb that is shaped like a flame.  I covered the threaded part with a bit of red plaid fabric for his hat.

 

This one is one I drew and then Bill had cut out of roof flashing metal!  Love it!  I miss my Bill so much and it was hard decorating without him.  So many memories!

 

And Last but not Least, a photo from outside when done.  It is only a 3 ft. tree but I hung just as many ornaments on it as if it were a large floor tree-ha!

 

And here is my little Lilly in her new doggy Christmas neckerchief that my cousin sent in the mail today.  Love it!

 

Thank you so much for stopping by and do check out the other Pink Saturday posts to see what others are sharing at Beverly's How Sweet the Sound! 

My heart to yours...

WINTER WONDERLAND

Okay, so I woke to a foot of snow! I'm ecstatic but my car suddenly realizes this isn't South Carolina any longer...I haven't bought my shovel yet so I sweep a path for my little Lilly Chihuahua and she tries to blazen her own trail through the snow until it is up to her pretty little chin and then she decides to wet on the sidewalk. I sweep a path to my car and barely make it to church on unplowed roads. 

What? The pianist/organist got in a fender bender last night and I am grabbed to play?  They overlook the news that I do not sight read notes-LOL!   However, I muddle through several hymns telling myself I am doing my best to make a Joyful noise unto the Lord. Well, I did get the noise part down pat! 

Leaving church, I drive to Lowe's on now plowed roads and buy a snow shovel, and 2 huge bells to hang on the front door, a scraper/brush for my car which is still looking for South Carolina.   Arriving home, I see that my wonderful neighbor has snow blown the front public sidewalk- Hurray! I then shovel where I swept before and am pleased that no heart attack ensued while executing this task.   Life is good, God is better...
♫♫Sleighbells ring, are ya listenin'? ♫♫

The view taken through the window screen of snow-covered Rose of Sharon Branches.

Thanks for coming!  Happy Thanksgiving Week to all of you!

My wild heart to yours...

♥

Kerrie

GIVE THANKS TO CAREGIVERS

'TIS THE SEASON OF THANKSGIVING... I am thanking God for Caregivers.  My house is decorated with the colors of Autumn and harvest in browns, oranges, reds and yellows.

 

 

I have a friend who had a stroke several years ago and she is in a wheelchair and for the most part housebound.  She lost her dear husband the same year I lost my Bill to cancer.  We have always had a common bond...

 

She gave me this beautiful fall bouquet as a surprise.  I bring her some homemade suppers once a week and we visit.  She raises amazing flowers and plants with just the use of her one hand.  She manages to live alone with her dog and except for a son who sleeps in the house, she is quite alone.  She never complains and I cherish our visits as we share our memories and her youth which is quite remarkable.  Here are some of her beautiful plants:

 

Don't foget to see other pink wonders at Beverly's How Sweet the sound because it is Pink Saturday again!!

I am blessed as much by our visits as she is and I treasure my times with her.  I remember how hard it was when I was caregiver for my Sweet husband for the eight long years he suffered with Multiple Myeloma and I know how taxing emotionally and physically it can be.  If you are a caregiver, I am sharing some tips from United Healthcare and hope it helps you in your journey...

Thanksgiving for Care Giving

Take a moment this holiday season to give thanks to the caregivers in your life. Even family members who are pitching in could use a few kind words for their extra efforts.

If you are the caregiver, give yourself a pat on the back. It's only very special people who can serve the special needs of others. Caregiving can be rewarding but it can also be stressful. While caregiver stress is very common, people may not pay attention to the warning signs. Warning signs can include feeling tired, depressed, and unhappy. Sometimes when you feel stressed, you may not take care of yourself and forget to exercise, eat properly and rest.

Caring for Caregivers

If you're feeling stressed, try these tips:

• Accept Help — Make a list of the ways other people can help you. Picking up groceries and bringing in a meal are easy tasks to assign someone who wants to help. • Take a Break — Go for a walk with a friend, read a book, or call a family member. • Seek Advice — Ask your doctor about support groups and other resources to help.

Practice good self-care. This may improve your quality of life and create positive energy. For more tools and resources, visit the AARP Health & Wellness Caregiving Learning Center. Thanks so much for visiting today and may  God's love and blessings go with you. My heart to yours...   For an update on Little Rylen Lynch, a  living miracle, visit my christian blog that  I will be sharing today: http://kerrieshomejournal.blogspot.com    Thank You!

FALLing Fast for Autumn!

November!  Can you believe it?  I have been enjoying every minute of Autumn in Central NY and yesterday was no exception.  Head in curlers (yes, I do that occasionally-ha) and a kerchief to cover them, I took my little Lilly Chihuahua to Hoopes Park in Auburn, NY.

 I have been walking in this park since I was a teen and this day I was remembering when I skated with my Bill on the pond when frozen so long ago when dating...

 The fountain now silent for the winter...

 The beautiful Gazebo with the wonderful colors of Fall all around...

 The little stone bridge over a small stream...

 And of course the many Mallard ducks that reside here year round were basking in the Autumn sun.

I love the stones that line the pond and all the beautiful leaves on the many species of trees!  I pick some up, some Oak leaves as I have always done when walking with my little children so many years ago....

Oddly, I do not remember the twisted trunk of this tree.



 And I take home my treasures to draw later on and photogragh them on my lace tablecloth.  I am at peace.
 I passed an older couple more than once going around the Pond and I observed them perching on different benches as they walked hugging and holding hands... I asked were they "still in love?" or "new" in love?" And the woman answered, "still in love." And the man added, "isn't that wonderful?"  They were like my Bill and me and though Bill is gone from the earth now, I am still in love...♥♥♥

My wild heart to yours...

 

  Kerrie

OCTOBER IS HERE ALREADY!

My goodness, the days are going so fast my head is spinning!  Life is so busy here in my hometown!  Lots of Fall gatherings and decorating going on!  I joined the library and renewed memories of when I joined the library as a child about 2nd grade.  I felt so puffed up as it was the first place I was allowed to walk alone besides school.  I also smiled as I walked through piles of colored leaves that "swished" as I stepped through :)  I have been taking rides to view the wonderful scents and scenes of Autumn in Central NY.

 

RR tracks the other side of Port Byron, NY before turning on Oakland Rd.

The fall blue sky with fair weather clouds are just beautiful!

All of the houses that I have lived in as a child are all gone now except for the house I was born in.  But I took a side road, Robinson Road in Throop NY where I learned to walk in a little house that no longer exists.  But I found a wonderful Barn which is one of my favorite subjects for photography and artwork.

 

 

The Silo was just wonderful with vines growing up the side to the roof and the roof askew from weathering and age.

Just wishing walls could talk!

 

 



And on the main road a swampy area so pretty in the sun with Canadian Geese swimming in among the growth.



 

The sights and sounds so pleasing to the heart....

 

 

No need for enhancement here!  Just true, rich colors of Autumn.

 

A little girl from down the street has invited me to her Halloween party today.  How sweet!  Not sure if I will attend or not-ha!  It has been a very long time since I dressed for Halloween!  But her invitation made me smile. :)

                                       My wild heart to yours...

 

Kerrie