Hello New Year 2015 !

  Good-Bye 2014 and Hello 2015!

Some Inspiration for 2015

Thanking everyone who stops to visit
 and read in my little world.

Wishing you all a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!

  Until next time ...

Our first winter white out of the season

  Winter weather has been early this year. Darn cold! Brrrrr
I know in other parts of the U.S. weather has been worse than where I live (different for a change) but it is still colder than normal much earlier this year. As if last years freeze out and record snow falls weren't enough, this year is starting to show signs of worse things to come. I'm not one bit happy about it either. As if you haven't noticed from me by now, cold weather and I do not mix! It has never been a favorite, not even as a kid, who many hope for snow days, I did not want the snow or cold, just the days off, LOL.

Below is some of November 24 winter white out in my area...

a few of our big pines heavy with wet frigid snow

 heavy snow looming menacingly over the edge our garage

 as if to snatch it up and crunch it

looking down our driveway from the upper doorway -

we had just gotten home from driving in this white out 

and our tire tracks are already covered

The good news is that we had enough sun and just barely over freezing temperatures to thaw it out and is no where in site. For the moment. As here in Wisconsin weather can turn around in a minute and slap you again.

Has winter reared its ugly

 head by you yet?

Until next time ...

Thanksgiving Wishes

 

   I am thankful that hubby and I are relatively healthy this year, that we have the blessings of a roof over our heads and running heat to keep us warm. Thankful for the humble meal we will share together.

Although are sons and their families are to far away for us to visit, we are thankful they are happy, healthy and always have our love.

click any image to enlarge

What are you thankful for this year?

My wish for you ~ a wonderful Thanksgiving.

The Great Pumpkin Hunt!

  I have seen the fields and yards full of pumpkins,
    not to long ago.
Little kids and adults alike scurrying to and fro searching for the special gourd. A few brave Jack-O-Lanterns are still in view. Some just laying around sunning themselves in the sparse autumn sunshine, others trying hard to cling to the vine or hide behind dried crumpled foliage. The great pumpkin hunt has been going on for weeks and is slowing down as Halloween approaches.

Listen .. (okay, view really, LOL)
    to this frightening pumpkin tale below ...

click to enlarge any image

hunted down in their prime and loaded onto carts

some divided from their pack and caged 

like the wild beasts they really are!

one quick thinker helps his friends...

Is it too late for you?

Well there is always next year ...

 Until next time ...

Wombat Day 2014 !

It is here!
The tenth anniversary of Wombat Day! October 22, 2014.
So follow me and celebrate!

Who wants a big slice of chocolate cake and some winegums?

Lets stop over by Peter's " Wombania " site where all the wombies will be dressed in their party best. Where there will be lots and lots of chocolates of all kinds, winegums galore and more goodies than you can count!

I am heading over now, as I can never get my fill of delicious chocolate, YUM!
Those funny, playful wombies can eat fast, but are willing to share.

See you there ...



Until next time ...

HALLOWEEN in the Ladies Room ~

   The Ladies Room ~
     {overheard, laughs and snickers} Halloween edition

It is that spooky time of year,
when ghouls and goblins appear.
They haunt houses looking for treats and threaten tricks.
So what happens after they eat their fill???
Well, they head to the ladies (or gobbly-mens) room ☺

   






Ready for some naughty treats???

I don't have to worry about my "lead" foot with this beauty

click to enlarge any image

Maxine [©Hallmark] always know the right thing to say ☺

perfect costumes for this subject {winks}

The best one for us curvy ladies...

Keep the treats at the doorway in-case someone comes calling (chocolate is my favorite, what is yours??)

Are you ready for Halloween?

(Only sweet treats means no tricks)

original art belongs to respected artists

Falling grape vines on a spooky tree

Chill is in the air,
cold nights paint colors on the leaves,
frost will soon kiss the pumpkins,
As autumn falls away ~
(Faythe M. Anstedt - 2014)

  My grape vine and hops  covered  spooky tree is starting to dress its last finest before going into winters slumber.
Shall we gaze upon harvests call of color changes?

let your eyes climb up from greens to reds and yellows

click on any photo to enlarge

dangling dazzling reds adorn the top of the spooky tree

wild grapes await a nibble amongst some just turning grape vine leaves

red and gold grape vines pull away the bark of the spooky tree

look close and you can see the tiny roots left on the tree itself 

We have had a few sunny fall days surrounded by mostly cold, wet and gray signs of winters dregs soon to come. The nips of chill has slowly been changing the greens of summer into the glorious colors of autumn before they fall into masses on the ground.

How has your weather been treating you?

Until next time ...

(if you wish to see and learn more about my
 spooky tree click HERE.)

Hops towards autumn

  The signs of autumn are appearing.
The chill in the air has arrived early. Early enough that we had to turn on the heat.
That does not make me happy.
With the cooler and wet summer there is lots of vegetation that has spouted and already falling over into moldy allergy prone heaps. Making for itchy eyes and sneezing days ahead.

One area I can show this week is the ripe hops growing in my neighbors and mine yards. Neither of us brew home-made beer, but it makes a good growing vine for shade or trailing coverage.

So lets hop on to, the autumn preview!

fat (ripe) green hops 

click on any image to enlarge

fat hops head hanging heavy on a on trellis (good for shade)

hops in the process of drying

hops seed head, nice and dried

these will fall to ground and self seed and grow more plants, if wanted

If you would like to read more of what I have written on the history and uses for hops click HERE.

Is autumn showing its head in your part of the country. Or you in the part of the world where the new season will be spring?

Until next time ...

9-11 , thoughts for a day of Peace.

  Another anniversary of 9-11 is here.
My heart is still heavy, as if it just happened.
I have been saying lots of prayers that this anniversary goes by uneventful.
Let us all hope it ends that way.

Never Forget

click on any image to enlarge

To read some of my poetry and see more images just click on the 9-11 in the category/Tags right side bar search cloud. Thank you.

Prayers for Peace
and an very uneventful 9-11.

Bud to Bloom - Black-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia - Black-Eyed Susans, from bud to bloom

buds opening

black-eyed Susans buds and 1 blooming

many stages of blooming

fat, top hat shaped seed head,

once dried I can harvest for reseeding, 

if the birds don't beat me to it

 sunny faces reaching for the sky

What is blooming by you this week?

  Until next time,

    Faythe