Wordless Wednesday: Icicles

Thankful Thursday

The wreath is on the door
and the snow is on the tree.
God has laid His holy hands
on all that we can see.

Be quick to raise your voice
and praise what He has brought.
Keep now His love in every choice
and Christmas in every thought.



Thankful for the beautiful colors and simple joys of preparing for Christmas during Advent.

Almost Wordless Wednesday

Shopping? Out there in the cold?

I will wait here.

Too Cold for Tuesday

The excitement of the first few flurries of December was an understatement compared to the first snow storm we had just a few days later. We haven't seen this kind of snow for a very long time so you can imagine our fun of watching the snow falling and then getting out in it...wonder what was going on in Emily's mind as she watched from inside the house? We live on a road that doesn't get plowed so this will be a fun winter, I can tell already, but the field, blanketed in snow was beautiful. The simple joy of a snowy day is like nothing else and I haven't seen anyone so happy in zero degree weather (my daughter.)

Thankful Thursday

Again That Time of Year is Here

Again that time of year is here
when wreaths, elves, lights appear.
The hue of Santa's suit and sleigh,
adding color the wintry skies of gray.
Until pansies, roses, tulips grow,
melting all of the Season's snow.
But I like holly, gifts, Advent more
than all that springtime holds in store.
For it's this I tell you I adore:
Again that time of year is here
when wreaths, elves, lights appear.

Thankful for the simple joy of decorating for Christmas today.

Few Words on Wednesday

Frost in the mornings makes everything more peaceful. These were taken a few days ago, when it was still fall in November.

It's snowing today. They call it a few flurries here. I think it's time for hot chocolate...welcome to December.

Frosty Christmas Parade

Some highlights of our Christmas parade this weekend...it started as all of our parades begin, with the VFW leading the way and then the usual characters followed. They were making all of us laugh. The theme this year was Frosty the Snowman and it was certainly a frosty day, but we also had some beautiful blue skies to enjoy this year's Christmas parade.

This was the cutest little "gift" being pulled in her wagon...by a Christmas elf!

There was a "bag lady" walking around, handing out big grocery bags with coupons!

My parents riding in their 1950 Chevy, all decorated for the parade.

The boy scouts braving the cold.

My nephew with the boy scouts...he has on some Illini earmuffs!

Happy Thanksgiving

Emily reminds me to be thankful for all the simple joys this fall...crunching leaves, the crisp air with the scents of autumn, walking and enjoying autumn colors and nature all around. I can clearly see how thankful she is for her sunbeam, especially after another round of storms and windy weather. She also likes looking at my treasured photos with me, usually sitting on my photo albumns to make sure I don't miss anything. This treasured photo is of my kids, much younger then, when they all had to be Indians (actually only my son was an Indian for a school play, but the girls couldn't be left out for Thanksgiving photo!) This photo is a simple joy that makes me smile...Emily too. Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

For each new morning with its light,

For rest and shelter of the night,

For health and food,

For love and friends,

For everything Thy goodness sends.

Fingerprints on Friday

Emily is more of a bird fancier than I am and she can be seen bird watching quite often...ears flat, eyes squinting in the sunshine and laying low on her perch on the back of her couch. So I'm sure she must have noticed this bird much quicker than I did. It was perched up high on the lamp post near the neighbor's house. There were 3 very noisy crows trying to shoo it away, but it just gave them this look. I'm guessing he was looking for a snack in the field. Did you know their eyesight is 8 times as powerful than humans? Beautiful bird to watch in flight, and their scream is a little haunting sometimes as they soar. This hawk is a beautiful fingerprint of God, found in nature, to be enjoyed on this sunny autumn day.

Psalms 119: 105

Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.

Wordless Wednesday: Fire and Ice

Manly and Merry Monday

Time for a proud mom moment and more treasured photos...this is my daughter, all ready for her chorus concert. She sang a medley of Beatles' songs with her group and there were quite a few talented kids with solos, duets and quartets on that stage. They all did a great job of entertaining us. I don't think she realized the significance of the Beatles' influence on pop culture and music until now. I'm just happy she's learning here and having fun too. Then there is my son with his suit and tie, all ready for his speech competition. The last time he was seen wearing a tie was for his first communion, in 2nd grade. I thought they were both cute then too.

Thankful Thursday: Veteran's Day

Some of my treasured photos to share on this Veteran's Day...my dad in 1954 and a sweet one of my dad holding me...long time ago. Then there is a recent one of my dad and my son, another treasured photo. Thank a Veteran and it will make both of you smile today.

Wordless Wednesday: Bird Watching with Emily

Touch of Sunshine on Tuesday

Days like this one don't happen very often around here in November...warm sunshine, bright blue skies makes me smile on my walk and notice the simple joys of nature.

Sunlit Interrogation by Judith Pordon

In an empty lot,

with motors, tires,

a congregation of tired feet,

beside bougainvilla

and once a week watered palm,

a lone chair waits.

Sink into white

plastic. Balance heels

on brazen cement.

Your shadow

will hint

of right or wrong.

Look closely,

Your sermon

is under foot.

Fingerprints on Friday

This is one of the last of the beautiful hydrangeas this fall. Luckily, I took this photo before the hail storm we had yesterday. Most of the beautiful colors of autumn have all turned to brown now, but when there are sparks of colors like this, you have to take notice. My daughter likes these flowers in blue, and because they can be in shades of blue or pink, I think it depends on the acidity of the soil. I think they are pretty at the end of the season, their colors get muted as they become dry in autumn, a very nice fingerprint of God, and a simple joy.

Wordless Wednesday: Morning View

Thankful Thursday

Today I'm thankful for getting through the big storms and destructive high winds this week. I have been looking at the clouds a lot lately, and they appear different every day. This cloud formation may not look like anything special, but it also had what looked like a cross to me, so I took that as a good sign.

Wordless Wednesday: Max, the Library Cat

Chief Illiniwek

Chief Illiniwek, the Cherokee mascot for the University of Illinois' Fighting Illini, did his traditional dance at the Assembly Hall (the building that looks like an alien ship landed.) He had just made an appearance at the Homecoming parade the night before and again that afternoon for the Homecoming game...Illinois won 42-13...he was still very energetic and gets the crowd to rally around him, although there is a big controversy surrounding this mascot. The band performed, there were speakers in support of the chief and then there was also his dad, also a Cherokee, who spoke very well on the controversial subject and introduced the former chiefs and his son, before he gave his performance. He is a wonderful example of keeping a tradition alive and I enjoyed sharing that tradition with my kids too.
(the chief shouts) I-L-L (the crowd answers) I-N-I! The Chief Lives!

I had the privilege of meeting Chief Illiniwek and his dad after the chief danced. He does all his dances barefoot, whether inside the Assembly Hall (concrete floor) or outside on the football field.

It was an awesome performance. The Chief Lives! There is a website you can visit...it has better videos than mine and you can see lots of dancing...http://www.thechieflives.com.