Female Cardinals

A flock of Cardinals visit the deck every day.

There are males and females.

I know the birds.

They know me.

Each one is different.

Each one is charming in her own way.

This one has a bit of white on her checks.
Mine is at my temples.

I enjoy their company while I read.
Today I focused on the females.

A new to my deck Female came today.

She is shy. Smaller than the other females I think she is young.

I fell in love!

The Magic of Friendship

The postman rang our bell.

There was a package for me.

My friend in England sent me birthday greetings.

She knows me so very well.
She made me a photograph album of her gardens

her butterflies and her birds.

I now can look at her photographs
 and dream of walking in her gardens.

One of these days I will travel to her.
One of these days I will smell her flowers.
Until than I know we are connected.

She sent lovely treasures.
A butterfly for my collar

and a wee Teddy to inspire.

A way to mark my place

and to find my way to her village.

I hear her voice as I read her words.

We treasure seeds.
We treasure the sound of the wind.

I am singing songs of Thanksgiving today.
My friend has given me
 the gift of joy.

Artist Date

We had a very fun Artist Date.

We had savory crepes at our local creperie.
Delicious!

We went Christmas window shopping.

This tree reminded me of my Cardinals.
I just need snow.

On our baking day this week
 we baked gluten free Gingerbread boys.

We made big and small boys. They are very tasty.
It has been too many years since I had Gingerbread cookies.
I am finding much joy in gluten free baking.

I have a new friend.
We have added the good Pterodactyl to our Christmas.

They may be extinct in the wild

but they live on in our imaginations 

and under our Christmas tree.

My book says fossils have been found in Germany.
I will do some research to see if I can find out where.
It would be a treat to see these fossils!

Seed catalogs are beginning to arrive.
We are talking about our 2012
gardens.

I am reading about victory gardens
during W.W. II.

I am learning lots of ways of
full use and recycling.
We are in Halcyon Days.
These calm days surrounding
 Winter Solstice are a perfect time for me
to find the peace that passes
all understanding.
Thank you Pterodactyl.
Germany sound like an amazing country.

Artist Date

For our Artist Date today we went to a few shops.

These independent shop keepers have lovely wares
for sale

and lovely shops.

They were decorated beautifully.

I bought a few wooden cutout ornaments.

I found them charming.

The baby things warmed my heart.

I just might have to make a pair of these.
Linen slippers for me! Oh yes!

Wonderful Unicorn

and  paper pulp sheep have me dancing with delight.
I can do those.

In another shop we looked at 2012 calendars.

I fell in love with a few.
The shop keeper encouraged me
 to make my own with my photographs.
She said if I put something together she would be interested
in ordering for her shop. 2012 could be my year to do a wee bit more with photographs.
I have lots of butterflies and bird photographs.
We will see what I come up with.

This calendar is exquisite.
I just might have to clean my desk off
and pick one of these up. It is hand letter pressed.
Amazingly gorgeous! Kind of pricey too.

We walked along the rows of shops.
The snow from Wednesday is almost gone.

The shop windows were so pretty.

I always ask a shop keeper if they mind before I take photographs.
Some do. I respect their wishes.

Often I see things and I have the desire to create.

A snap shot helps me remember.

Simple needle work makes for charming wall art

or pillows.

Simple snowflakes on windows
inspired me.
I have my spray snow.
We will make snowflakes.
Mother Nature has snow coming my way tonight.
Let it Snow!