Winter Celebrations................

Winter Celebration.

Here comes the snow in a Wintery blast,
Here we go.......it's Winter at last.
Cold cold days December brings,
Very soon the silent sleigh bell rings.
Horses breath hangs in the air,
Under foot is ice......beware.
Children skate on a frozen pond,
While adults roast chestnuts on fires beyond.
The bandstand waits to hold the band,
People gather in a wonderland.
The band strikes up a joyful refrain
It's time to celebrate winter again.
JKS 2012


(picture found on the web)

The Last Days of Autumn.............

Its over, the leaves are gone. This wind that is the tail end of Hurricane Sandy will finish them off. My neighbours have been busy raking and putting leaves to the side of the road for pick up. Yes well that was a waste of time folks because it will all be back tomorrow.

The fields are almost bare of pumpkins already but the few left look pretty.

The squash and pumpkins always look pretty.

Make the most of these next few weeks, the snow will soon be here, at least here in Michigan.
Here is Tristen playing with the leaves in my garden.....probably the last day without a coat for now.


The last of the garden flowers........The Mum's are blooming well











Make the most of these pretties, there wont be many more I am afraid. Not from my garden anyway. The pansies are still happy.



I collected some leaves and they were quite a variety, so pretty. Bud's Japanese Maple is now bare but I got this picture just before it was stripped.



I am not at all sure what is coming next, the wind is howling. I feel bad for those in the direct path of this hurricane, Sandy. If it's windy way over here in Northern Michigan, I can only imagine those in a direct path. I pray for them, for the animals and pets. Stay safe everyone and take care of those who can not help themselves.

I am linking this post with Pink Saturday over at How Sweet The Sound




I will be linking with Mellow Yellow Monday thanking my hostess

Pink flowers for pink Saturday...........

All flowers are beautiful in their own way, pink ones are especially beautiful. There is such peace in the paleness of pink. I can't say that pink is my favourite colour but it is close. I like the paler shades, the icy pink and I would like to share a few of the lovely pictures that I have found on the web and on Photobucket. I thank all the owners of the pictures and I am sorry that I do not know who you are.



Pink roses are so pretty


Especially the pales of pinks




Not only roses but roses in teacups



And to decorate cakes



yummy!!! don't they look luscious?


Take a look at this........lovely.

It makes me want to go in the kitchen and bake something pretty




So many lovely things I found but I can't show them all........enjoy this selection and THINK PINK?
I will be hooking up with How Sweet the Sound and Pink Saturday.............thank you for hosting us.

Farm Markets.............

I really enjoy going to farm markets. There is something reassuring somehow in looking at all that food, all home made or locally grown. We took Tristen to Gallaghers farm last weekend to play, see the animals and get donuts. Well I think we will be going back this weekend as I want some vegetables. I love the home made bread that they have there too and they have a room full of jams, pickles, jellies and all sorts of home made things. In a different location they sell meat and milk. The cows are raised there and live a good life so I would rather buy there and maybe pay a little more. It's good to see the cows enjoying life in the fields, even in the barns they come and go as they please. Not confined to a small area.
In any case I am sharing some of the beautiful veggies I saw last week.



Many kinds of Squash

Many I do not know the names of....

I think this week I will ask and find out what to get for something different. These remind me of Marrow's that we got in England but so long ago I forget what they looked like


The Indian Corn........not sure if they are selling it to eat or for decoration. I know most people decorate with it but you must be able to eat it?


The were crates and crates of apples out the back and in the stall different varieties.


I have to show the chickens............pretty ones.


He was being shy, he does have a head. The others were squabbling over a scrap. Chickens are not the nicest of beings



And the winner struts off



I will see about going to a different market this weekend so I can find a few different things.

I am linking with Mandarin Orange Monday.......thank you to the hostess I love the cat (smile)

English Spirits Pretty Things: Pretty bedrooms.............

English Spirits Pretty Things: Pretty bedrooms.............: I have found some wonderful bedrooms on the web and collected them in my pictures. I would like to share a few here. When I was a child I...

More weekend shots..............

I saw someone looking at that mushroom or toadstall whatever it is. It was so pretty I had to have a picture of it too.
This was very pretty and I hope its edible for the birds because it looks delicious for someone.







There were some lovely grasses on the Dunes and I got some nice pictures of those as well.

The dunes are beautiful.

The top here is over 300 foot from Lake Michigan below.........


Deer tracks across the dune...........remember the lake is fresh water, but don't worry there is water closer than that.



Then back home.........well we cant get much prettier than this can we

Another Fall Day.....................

We had a great day out yesterday. It was warm, sunny and beautiful. We should have stayed at home and raked leaves and did clean up in the garden, it was just too pretty.
So we got Tristen in the car and headed out to Gallagher's, as we did last Fall. Tristen remembered and was thrilled to go. He did avoid the pigs this time around saying they were stinky. Well they were not, they were napping in the sun. One decided she was hungry and started rooting around in the mud, oh boy.............then it sure was stinky. Don't they look peaceful?



Tristen hit the floor running, didn't know what to do first. He headed for the hay bales.

He is not shy, he loves to play with other kids. He will watch and copy and do what they do. So it is a bit worrisome sometimes. He is not as old as he looks having just turned 3. He looks to be 4 or five. That's it Tristen, play with the little guys.


He will run off and go where he wants, we have to watch like a hawk and yet give him some freedom. I notice when he is in a crowd he will look around for us and stand and watch until he spots us. If he looks worried I call him and he comes for a hug.

There were the usual good stuff there. I bought apples and pumpkin donuts. I knew it would be a struggle to get him away and so I bought him a toffee apple. that did the trick.

Off we went to the sand dunes. He walked on walls......



Found the Alligator


Climbed the dunes





Played in the sand



Some day we will tell him the legend of the sleeping bear but today we went to the park before going home.

A family was there picnicking and so Tristen rushes out and announced "Hi guys I am here"
He soon found a friend to play with. Again, he shows no fear, saw the boy go head first down the slide and proceeded to do the same. Planting his face in the sand. Second time though he put his hands down first.


It was not quite so easy to leave this time, he said "No, you go, I stay here" .......well that was not happening so

Then the carry off to the car...........he was yelling "Help me, help me Someone help me" ....now that could have been interesting if someone had not seen us arrive.



And so we went home. One very tired little boy and two very tired grown ups.............it was a good day.