Winter in the garden...............

Today is Winter solstice. The first day of Winter.

My garden is sleeping under a blanket of snow. It's already deep. It will be a long winter I think.
The pine trees are beautiful and where they lay on the ground they provide a warm place for the bunnies out of the wind.

The sky is so blue on this day.

Beautiful sky and white white snow.

My street has a lot of snow, and everything is covered and clean for today.

My garden is asleep.

My porch is in winter mode now

Tristen is enjoying shoveling snow, and making pathways out the back. His play house is covered in snow now. Its been so cold he does not stay out long. He takes his trucks out and comes back with them full of snow, yup, my floors are full of snow and I keep a mop by the back door for now.

Yes it is beautiful, but I look forwards to Spring. This is just the beginning.


Happy Winter Solstice...........

The snow is so beautiful.................

I love the look of snow. No so much the reality of it. When I worked I really didn't like it at all. The roads around here can be treacherous, it is after all Michigan. We live in the great white north.

Well there is Canada further north but they don't get much more snow than we do, it lasts a little longer maybe but we have our share. I remember when we first came here, some winters were 6 months long to me. I mean, when it snows in October and lasts till April thats pretty long. I am counting flurries and not deep snow but back then I could not get over it..............I would call mum,"hey we are in the Upper Peninsula in September and I saw snow in the rain." ......we would get Indian Summer but still we knew what was coming.

It took a long time for me to get used to it. When I turned 40 I got a horse. Well, that was great in summer (another story) but once that snow started to come down and I had a 20+ mile drive it was a bit dodgy. I do remember one evening when my friend Mary (was driving) we got almost to the barn and there was a tree across the road. There we were in a blizzard trying to move the dang thing. Well some guy stopped in a big truck and pushed it away far enough so we could get by and the barn was just down the road from there. We went thankfully into he barn, gave our horses carrots and apples, made sure they were snug and comfy and headed home. By then the guy had that tree all cut up and stacked by the road. It was a small tree.

At first I loved the snow I had fun blasting through drifts, wooooo hooooo and was not afraid at all. Then one day coming down a hill I lost control. That did it. From then on I really did not care to drive in the snow. Its all about the what if's....well sometimes "What if" can keep you safe. So I was more cautious after that. There were many times over the years when Mary and I would take a quick trip out to the barn, bring in all the horses because no one was there and set them all inside in the warm. Then leave and start home again. We got in some pickles out there, that much I can say. We rode out in the snow back in those days. The horses loved it. Then one day coming back Lady and I got out onto a sheet of ice. She froze, I was scared witless. I was afraid she would fall and break a leg (to say nothing of me) so I let go of the reins, let her figure it out and stayed as still as I could as she picked her way over the ice. My heart thumping. The other two, Mary and her son, they found a way around it after we made if over. She was a good old girl that horse.

It was that same ride that earlier Mary fell off. Mark and I were out ahead chatting. Mary was riding our shared horse named Spyder. Well Spyder was a slow poke and they were hanging back. Mark and I were side by side and rounded a corner in the woods. All of a sudden Spyder with Mary clinging to his side came bounding around the corner. We stopped and watched as in what seemed like slow motion Mary ever so gracefully got lower and lower on his side until she plopped off into the snow bank. Spyder stopped and munched on a branch. Now I would have thought that Mark would have stopped and helped his mum but nope, he just carried on as she dusted herself off and clambered back onto good old Spyder. Not a word was said.

Well winter holds its wonders, it is not all bad and it is certainly beautiful. It's just so dang long

A band called Angel.......

A band called Angel that I liked many years ago. The song is hauntingly pretty. After all these years it sounds rather tinny. Still I have some fond memories and thats what songs do isn't it? Reminds us of times gone by, of people we once knew, some we may have loved. Times that were good or bad. Well this one doesn't mean much except that I used to like it.......many years ago.
The Winter Song by Angel

Songwriters: EDWIN L. MEADOWS, FRANK DIMINO, GREGG GIUFFRIA

Winter is here, and it's cold this time of year.
There's snow everywhere in sight, falling on this winter night.
By candle light, we share this chilly night.
There's frost on the window pane, winter nights are here again.
There's a feeling in the air, feel the spirit everywhere.
Winter winds on heaven and earth.
By the fireplace, there's a smile on every face.
The ice begins to cling, listen to the children sing.
Looking outside, the city lights all come alive.
People running all around, they fill the streets with a happy sound.
There's a feeling in the air, feel the spirit everywhere.
Winter winds on heaven and earth.
Hear the Angels join the choir, let them take the music higher.
Through winter days on heaven and earth.
There's a feeling in the air, feel the spirit everywhere.
Winter winds on heaven and earth.
Hear the Angels join the choir,let them take the music higher.
Through winter days on heaven and earth.
There's a feeling in the air,feel the spirit everywhere.
Winter winds on heaven and earth (heaven and earth).
Hear the Angels join the choir, let them take the music higher...
Through winter days on heaven and earth.
There's a feeling in the air, feel the spirit everywhere.
Winter winds on heaven and earth.
Hear the Angels join the choir, let them take the music higher...
Through winter days on heaven and earth.

Language of flowers..............

I really dont know too many people who do not like flowers, or like to be given flowers. Traditionally men give flowers to women but really what could be nicer than to give a man a plant for his garden. If he is a gardener. Or has that like everything else come to an end.
In Victorian and Edwardian times it was an art, the giving of gifts, of giving flowers. It also could have meaning............. A rose, we all know signifies love. I could get more complicated if you break it down by colour but............a red rose is love.

Victorians were all about appearance, about formality and romance. Visitors cards delivered on a silver platter. Or a flower for the lapel, did it have a hidden meaning? They liked intrigue. Forget me nots.........obvious right. OK so these are not real forget-me-nots but they are so pretty can we pretend they are?

Bluebells are for Humility

Violets are for modesty

It seems the simple flowers have the most desirable of attributes, at least to me they are. My favourite flowers I am happy to say have meanings that I like.
The blue violet is for faithfulness.
Sweetpeas are for goodbyes..........I dont like goodbyes.........

Well I could go on but you get the idea. Today, in today's world, we seem to have lost so many of the little niceties of life. No May Day any more where we deliver baskets of flowers to hang upon the door. Or here in America, we don't even celebrate May Day. The May Pole and Apple Blossoms I miss that.

It was a tradition to go A Maying for centuries......again in Victorian days and maybe Edwardian times too, people were more inclined to show in small ways how they felt. They tried to please. to show off their romantic skills for want of a better word without loosing face if the feelings were not reciprocated. They took time for the small things. Probably because it was a more refined and prudish society. Oh just as much hanky panky went on you can be sure of that, but on the surface they were gentile and refined. Besides they didn't have emails and the internet. I don't think I would want to go back, but I can still think its beautiful and that we have lost something.

Amish Country.....

On Saturday my friend Edna and I went off on an adventure..........well to me getting out of the house these days is an adventure. We went to Scottville. A very small town in the southern regions, well maybe more middle regions of Michigan but on the coast. Well anyway it was away from here. The day started out sunny. We had expected storms. Well it did get overcast but remained quite nice considering. So we headed down to Amish Country. I love old barns and we saw this one on the way


There is a store down near Bear Lake that Edna loves and now I do too. Been there several times now. It is run by Amish people and so the products are awesome. It smelled wonderful because Saturday is baking day, but I didn't buy that this time. Last time I got butter, ooooooh boy. I can't do that again, I ate it too quickly. It's so good. A couple of weeks ago when we went to see Nancy I got butter and cheese. Two of my favourite things. This time I bought Tristen some wooden puzzles (hand made) and some pickles. I also bought some cook books and a skillet. There is so much there, so many great things. I love to buy the herbs as well as dairy. This is not my picture but this is what we saw last time we were here

The trees were bare of leaves but full of apples.

They were thick on the floor

We had a look inside the little one room cabin that was for sale. The people there make wonderful things. I stood inside and planned it all out where everything would go and how cozy it would be.

Across the road was a quilt shop so this is always a good place for us to stop. We continued on to our destination. A craft store of sorts that sells things for bargain prices. We had lunch in a small cafe and looked at the antiques in another part of another variety store we went to. We found another quilt shop and although I didn't buy fabric I bought a tea set that was on display. Could not resist. It was more of a chocolate set I think. White with small rose buds 4 cups, a teapot, sugar and creamer. Cute as a button. I also found a glass flower vase organizer, you know those things with holes in them that help you arrange flowers nice. Do not know what they are called. I would take pictures but its too dark now.
All in all a nice day out. We miss Nancy but we sure didn't run out of things to say. We stopped in at The Pig Patch, another favourite quilt shop before heading home.

It was raining by the time we got home but I carried a box full of goodies into the house. A great day out and certainly relaxing.

First Snow............

We have had a few dustings of snow but today it has stayed. Well its sort of slush now but its cold and so is slick on the roads. I can not believe the number of accidents last night.
So in my garden is a dusting of the stuff and Tristen was eager to get out in it.

So off he goes, no gloves and no socks. Just his coat and shoes. Look at those fingers

Frozen roses


Next he tries his snow pants and a hat.........by the way, he was told to stay inside and so he is sneaking off to do this. I am watching from the open window.

He wont come in to dress properly he says he has to clear the path

The Blue Jays are back

There are plenty of grapes for the birds. They are looking pretty good.

Its hunting season so I hate to see any snow on the ground to make tracking easier for anyone. Its inevitable though......it is November after all.

Berries for the Birds...........

If the number of berries this year is any indication then I am thinking it might be a harsh and maybe long winter. I sure hope not. I am not ready for winter.

The Robins love the Mountain Ash and there must be a lot this year because we still have a lot on our tree, the Robins must have loads to choose from.

The Holly is full of berries, I am not sure who likes to eat those but the small birds love the Deadly Nightshade, hmmmm I wonder why it does not harm them?

The the Rose Hips and Haws.........those can make great tea and other good things.

The birds really have not been too busy at the feeders yet .....must be loads of food out there for them at right now. Won't be long though. I have filled up the feeders, I know they will soon need the seeds and other foods. Once they begin to come back I will put out suet and other goodies but not yet.

Autumn Leaves.....

Leaves.....

"How silently they tumble down
And come to rest upon the ground
To lay a carpet, rich and rare,
Beneath the trees without a care,
Content to sleep, their work well done,
Colors gleaming in the sun.

At other times, they wildly fly
Until they nearly reach the sky.
Twisting, turning through the air
Till all the trees stand stark and bare.
Exhausted, drop to earth below
To wait, like children, for the snow."
- Elsie N. Brady,

Colours................

The Winter is on the horizon, I see it coming. Snow in the forecast............we had a great trip downstate to visit a friend and the colours were at about the peak. Its been raining since getting home so they wont last much longer.


Such brilliant colours. Remind me next year to be sure to plant some Kale and some of these



This is a small memorial garden in Blanchard


Beautiful colours


Enjoy whats left of the Autumn........I love for Indian summer to come yet..........I need a nice weekend with some blue sky to go to the beach again.