First Spring Walk

Today is the first day of Spring and it is beautiful out. Although there is still snow on the ground, the temperatures are mild, the snow is melting, the sun is shining and the birds are singing. I went out walking with the dog down main street.

Sherman just loves people. He thinks everyone is a long lost friend and treats them as such. Here he sees some people coming up the sidewalk. You can't tell by the picture, but his tail was wagging in anticipation of greeting them. I didn't know it until they came closer that it actually was some people I knew from church. They gave Sherman exactly what he wanted. Attention!

Here's one of Sherman's favorite stops: Ken's Hot Dog Stand. Ken has been faithfully setting up this stand every day of the week except Sundays for about 25 years or so. It's a great place to grab a quick lunch. Sometimes we come down for a hot dog in the summer. Invariably, Sherman will end up with a bite (and sometimes more if one is careless). No such luck today. We only got to savour the aromas!

Happy Spring everyone!

Icy Lake

Stopped by the lake on on of those warmer days last week. This was taken on the northern tip of Canandaigua Lake. That is all ice you see out there.

Traveling south along one of the lake roads, I stopped again to take this picture. This was taken on the east side of the lake. I liked the sign. It would have been a pretty brisk swim!

The only ones crazy enough to try it were the canada geese. There were large flocks of them out. I tried to get close to these guys...but they all started honking and some started flying away. I was about 30 feet from them.

I zoomed in on these two. Don't they look like they're having a conversation? Probably about the crazy woman with the camera!

Meeting Hope

Yesterday I went to visit Dunja. We had a lovely time together...drinking tea and eating some amazing chocolate brought over from Germany. (I don't get why American chocolate makers can't figure out how to make chocolate like that. Can't they take a trip abroad and learn some pointers?... but that discussion is for a different post) Anyway, I got to meet her new little kitty named Hope. She fell asleep on my lap. So little and so cute!
And here is a big yawn just before drifting off.....
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Speaking of Horses...

Yesterday while looking for a picture of a horse to draw, I came across this picture of Alicia and I at a horse farm down in Ovid, NY. (I can't remember the horse's name) It was taken in June of 2002...which makes Alicia a brand new 3 year old and me 35. Alicia wasn't sure what she thought of these big animals. Notice her leaning back away from the horse. I thought it was a cute picture. I miss having a little one (sometimes).

Draw This

Anyone is invited to view and participate in http://drawthis.blogspot.com . Just follow the directions at the top of the blog.

Trust that the Lord is doing His work

What might appear to some as a piece of junk...

can actually turn into quite a treasure.

Remember what God can do for you and for your circumstances.

"But He knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold." Job 23:10

"...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6

Dad

Here's my dad!

12!

Today was Allen's 12th birthday. I can't believe that 12 years has gone by already.

He prefers banana cream pie to any cake so that is what I made him. It was delicious if I do say so myself! I just love my boy and am thankful to God for him.

Off to School....?

This is a scene that commonly occurs at approximately 8:05 AM each weekday. My two girls bundled up and going out to the bus. But, not today! It was -2F out today...with a windchill that was somewhere around -25F or so. School was cancelled. Audra and I braved the cold to go see her dermatologist this morning. Brrrrrr! Not a good day to be outside, although it looks beautiful because the sun is shining.

For Mellimouse

This is a post for Mellimouse...because she loves horses. I drew this picture 2 years ago from a photograph I found in a magazine.

I hope you like it.

Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening

Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.

His house is in the village though;

He will not see me stopping here

To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer

To stop without a farmhouse near

Between the woods and frozen lake

The darkest evening of the year

He gives his harness bells a shake

To ask if there is some mistake.

The only other sound's the sweep

Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

Homemade Ice Cream

Tonight was our second attempt at making homemade ice cream with Jamie's new ice cream maker. The first time was last week and the results were not that great. We learned some things and tried again. Here is Alicia cranking away. She's a trooper! Even Sherman was quite interested.

It was a success! Everyone enjoyed it! The flavor? Chocolate of course!

Squared Circle

Steffan shared his "squared circle" photo link today on his blog. I was somewhat intrigued so I took a few of my own.

The spell continues

Went to visit Mart last Saturday. This is how my hubby and a "friend" spent part of the visit. Did Martha slip something into his lasagna? What do you think? Click to enlarge,...he's "reading" Calvin & Hobbes!
(by the way, Mart...it was a fun night. Thanks!)

Winter really can be fun!

We had a great time yesterday at a friend's house. There was a fairly good sized group of us from church who gathered for a brunch and some fun in the snow.

There was snowmobile riding.

Sledding. Here Audra has come down the hill and then capsized.

Jamie and Alicia coming down. My husband is a pretty good sport. We all had a lot of fun!

Here is Stephanie on her horse.

Even the goat seemed to enjoy the company. I admit that I'm not quite ready for winter to end. I'd like to go cross country skiing before it is over.

Audra Paints

Here Audra is, working on the last letter of her name.

I found an old project of my own to work on today. Audra seemed a bit down so I asked her if she'd like to paint with me. She just got these wooden letters for her birthday. The perfect thing for her to paint! I like how they are turning out.

I have a lovely and talented daughter.

Ice Skating

Took the kids ice skating today.

Wish I could say that a everyone had a good time.

Probably the less said, the better.

A painting day with Martha

Today I went to Martha's house for a visit. She had all of her painting things out, which made me really in the mood to paint. We went out to her barn to look for some wood. Didn't find any, but I found a birdhouse that she had started painting about 6 years ago. She had painted the roof, but that's as far as she ever got. She said she didn't mind if I worked on it.

Here is the finished project. I had a lot of fun! Thanks, Mart! Enjoy your new birdhouse! I just remembered that I forgot to sign it. Oh well!

Besides us two women painting, the kids had a good time playing with cousins, building snowmen, and eating dinner there.

My parents

After church yesterday we took a ride to see my parents. They still live in the small ranch house I grew up in. It was good to see them. They will be 75 and 73 this year.

My Son, the photographer

Sometimes I pick up my camera and discover that someone has been taking pictures.
Here are some pictures I found today.

My son takes pretty interesting pictures sometimes.



What do you think of them?

My house in the snow

Here's my house. This was taken this morning. Just to give you an idea of the size of the snowbanks, I am 5'6" tall and the snow banks at the end of my driveway come up to about my chest.

Digging out

Everyone is digging out here after about a foot of snow fell overnight. Here are my neighbors. George (far left) was nice enough to allow the use of his snowblower to clear some of the sidewalks on our street.

No school today. Allen had to clear out the entrance to his igloo. Here he is with his legs sticking out of it.

Dog Days

This is pretty much how I spent my time today too.

Snow fun

This morning 2 of my children and our next door neighbor are being quite industrious. Allen is determined to build an igloo of his own. He has employed help from little sister, Alicia. I'm very impressed with the progress they have made.

Cold Delivery

With temperatures hovering just above zero...and a windchill well below that, I have been driving my otherwise walker son to school in the morning. Today I felt sorry for him and even picked him up after school.

This is Allen getting out of the car at the middle school. Brrrrrrrrrr!