Slipping away

The last leaves adorning any of my Japanese maples.

Fall, that is. More like racing away, when I'd like it to slow down and stay awhile. But this is the time of year when we go from birthday to birthday to Thanksgiving to birthday to Christmas – and that's just in our household! Throw in Rick's annual equine veterinary conference, Christmas parties, the MIL's birthday, and, well, it can feel like I'm being carried along by an avalanche to January!

So before I lose my footing, here's some* photos. First, proof that my husband knows me well; I give you my birthday presents:

The orchid is lasting longer than the chocolates did. 😉

When it's not raining, the sunrises, sunsets, and assorted sky shows can be magnificent this time of year!

But look down; there are subtler treasures to see:

The blue eggs we're getting from Spangle and Splash are just so pretty, I decided to make Christmas ornaments out of some of them! Rick helped me blow out the first dozen; I've done six more by myself after learning some lessons. Today I glued hangers on and applied clear fingernail polish for shine and strength. Next I'll use snowflake stamps, glue, and assorted colors of glitter to jazz them up. There's no hurry; we don't have a tree or plans to get one yet!

Rick did decorate our entry gate with some fancy new Christmas lights. I stood outside the other night and took this video, and still didn't capture all the patterns they cycle through!

*'Critter-cam' photos yet to come.

'Tis the season for many things at . . .

An ode to my sidekick

I couldn't agree more with Rodger A. Caras, whoever he is. My ability to cope with whatever life throws at me would be far more challenged without a dog in my life. Here's to Poppy, God's current gift to me: you are companion, cuddler, entertainment, eye candy, distraction, motivation, and unconditional love. As I have wished for with every dog who has shared my life, I wish you could live forever. Although when 'forever' comes, I truly expect to see you in a joyous pack of assorted canines dashing over glowing green to meet me. After all, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of (wo)man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him," 1 Corinthians 2:9. Amen.

For the good dog at . . .