Phew! That's that for another year. Now off to check recent posts.
Do check last couple of pages of previous thread for some lovely photos and posts.
Alan: Thanks for the Phoebe update.
Alicat: I wondered about you - lost a stone!!? Amazing. Of course, now's the perfect excuse - Christmas - to pig out - doubt you'll regain even half of what you lost. Hope you've managed to kick that bug.
Kellogs: Missed your post but see OG didn't - hope you had a nice holiday.
Heather: Hope you had a good Christmas too and that things are good at your house. Always nice to see you pop in!
LizLFW - A view to kill for! Lucky you.
Tiger: Good to see you - Happy 2011.
TerryM: Gorgeous photo of your garden.
Wendy: Lovely shots of river - hope the wine was well chilled.
Heron: Very nice post - thanks so much. Loved the Christmas Chaffinch. :-)
OG: Hope you're enjoying visit with son. Oh. I see the dirty socks post - as Gary noted, not Santa's! Well my grandson arrived with a huge bag full of laundry!! He did it himself and even ironed his shirts (after I gave him a refresher course on the first one). How nice to hear son play guitair and mandolin. Lovely flowers you've shared with Margo!
Rain has set in again here, but we're all home and safe. Just me, OH, leftovers and some wine. Hope everyone else had a good day. Take care. Special thoughts to Margobird.
Happy Birthday, Margobird. My thoughts are with you.
Happy Boxing Day to all. I hope everyone had a lovely holiday. Very quiet here (by my choice).
The deer are eating the remaining crunchy leaves and some of the bark off of the apple tree. The snow is full of animal tracks. We had another 4 inches of snow on Christmas Eve night, so food is scarce for the wildlife. I don't think I can get the car out of my driveway lane, but I'm not worried about it; we're supposed to get a warm front at the end of this week (very strange for this time of year). I'm glad for the wildlife; if the snow melts they'll have more food. I still have plenty of groceries so I'm not going to pay for plowing/ploughing. I might walk up the highway to the gas station/convenience store and buy some milk. The red cardinal birds look so beautiful against the snow; I wish you could see them.
OG: Glad that your son got home. Hope you have a good visit. I love to listen to mandolin music. Your flowers are gorgeous. Alan: Hamish looked dashing in his new coat. Thanks for the Phoebe photo! Chloe: Lovely Christmas card you made. Heather: It was so good to see you! Thank you for your kind words. I appreciate your caring. Alicat: Feel better and take care of yourself! Paul: Lovely chaffinch! Liz: Beautiful photo of Ben Nevis. Terry: Lovely photo! Annette: I'm so glad that you had a good time with your family.
Everyone have a good day!!!
Happy Boxing Day all! Thanks for every post, pic and card! Had a nice Christmas Eve at my sister’s (in Finland Santa comes the evening of the 24th) there were ten of us eating, caroling and just enjoying each others company. It was minus 27C when driving back and the sky and everything looked just magical. Today the temp has risen up to -8 but a very, very nasty wind and it is snowing. Because of the Boxing Day there might be fewer snowploughs doing there jobs, so must prepare to use few extra minutes when driving to work. I hope everyone is safe and enjoy your holidays wherever you are. Just read ~14 pages on last weeks thread - just can’t reply each of you individually, sorry.
Margobird, so sorry to hear your sad news, I am thinking of you and all your near and dear. Cirrus, great to hear from you, but sorry that you have had so troublesome time, hugs and kisses to you too! Dibnlib, I bet you don’t miss that stookie! Trish2, the osprey in my Chr.card is a Finnish juvie. Linda, great Twelve Days version! Hi, Diane, I can only imagine the red cardinals against the snow - must be a sight!
my photos in flickr
The-Day-After / Sunday / Boxing Day. All is quiet. All is peaceful. Not a bike or skateboard to be seen being tested in the street. Ah, we are an old suburb now and anyway all the young ones have indoor gifts such as Wii and Nintendo. It was 32C max yesterday but it hasn’t reached 22 C today. Much angst in South Aussieland for those who only live for shopping as our shops are closed today (for Boxing Day) and tomorrow (for Proclamation Day which actually falls on Tuesday). Three days to survive before the post-Xmas sales! Whereas other states’ shops were open today. Oh, what a backward state we are, they claim. Our house has been restored to its usual layout; excess dishes & glasses hidden away for another 2 years; leftovers stashed in fridge; chocs & bics (gifts) piled temptingly on bench. As I served lunch, OH said "Not leftovers again?" I have news for him; I plan leftovers, in various combinations, for many more meals!!!! I notice his complaint didn’t apply to the cherry truffles . . . . .
I hope EVERYONE had a great day whether with or without their family. (Terrible news that people were still stranded by weather in northern climes.) Special thoughts for Margo’s sister and anyone else who is not feeling 100%. Diane - It sounds as if you are coping with aloneness - thinking of you.
Latest news from NZ. Another tremor in Christchurch measuring 4.9 four months after the big one. Dau#1 said when they were in CC the main street was still closed off. BTW the newlyweds gave us a book & calendar of NZ birds. Yea, the kakapo is featured.
While I washed up yesterday, Dau#1 & Sil#1 wiped, until we reached the pots & pans. Then I was banished while Sil completed the washing up, even those nasties I had intended leaving to soak until today. He can stay. LOL. The "young" ones then spent the afternoon on the floor playing Miss14’s new game called "Sorts". The questions required them to put things in order. Quite funny as those not playing smugly pretended we knew the answers, and husbands were seen sign-languaging answers across the room to assist their beloveds. Soon I must decide which combination of leftovers is for tea.
margobird - I hope you managed to enjoy a little bit of Christmas yesterday ... not easy for you, I know. Try to enjoy your birthday ... if little Rhys is around I'm sure it will help.More hugs from me!!
Will catch up with everyone else later!
Joan - avid bird and nature watcher in Northumberland!
Index Thread
Happy Birthday, Margo, and Big Hugs xxx
Diane, red cardinals on white snow would be a stunning Christmas (or anytime) card.
OG, lovely table arrangement of those red flowers.
Off for another walk now, aiming to do a local walk every day I'm off work, without driving anywhere.
Terry in Cumbria
Morning all,
Happy Birthday Margobird. Our thoughts are with you.
I am glad everyone had a nice Christmas as did we. Fairly low key over at Lady Ps daughters. I think Lady P missed her sister as we would normally have taken her there on Christmas Day.
Weather is the usually frosty start with temps at -3.4c. Bright and sunny.
I thought Vince Cable was brilliant on Strictly last night. Fab - u - lous.
WendyB. I think this picture may have been taken from the Ballindalloch bridge in less snowy conditions:
Morning all:) Hope everyone had a lovely day yesterday.
We had a lovely day yesterday. Taking OH's cousin back to catch a train today , before some forecast snow.
Margobird, a very happy birthday to you. I'm sure its not on you're mind at all. Do hope you hear some "positive" news about your sister soon.
Annette, glad you had a nice day and didn't have to do too much laundry! lol Glad it's drying out a bit for you.
Diane, you take care in that snow. Sounds a lot, again! Glad you had a quiet day yesterday.
Auntie, glad you had a lovely time and the evening sounds super. Stay warm and safe. That is seriously cold!
AQ, very witty post as always. Love the quips about leftovers:) Love the family picture. That;s what it's all about.
Terry, enjoy the walk:)
Alan, thanks for the picture. That does look different! Sorry about Lady P and her sister. Always a time for thinking about those not with us.
Anyway, I'm up and at them today, the horses are bound to be hungry so catch up later.
Afternoon All. Newly back from a trip to the coast minus 4.5 when we left and minus 2.5 at Burghead. Every where is so slippery underfoot it is hard to get a good walk. The tide was up so even the beach was a no go. They were getting ready for the annual jump into the harbour but as it wasn't going to get any warmer be decided to come home for afternoon tea with a nice scone. No sun today so it's feeders done and woodburner lit.
Alan you have given OH and myself something to think about with your river view so could I ask the question were you on a stone bridge?