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