BRRR!!!

It's twenty degrees (and lower with the wind chill) but it is time to shovel and clear off the cars. Thank goodness the sun is shinning! So far, I have had no problems getting out and driving with my new four-wheel-drive Explorer. HAPPY-HAPPY-JOY- JOY!!!
We have been keeping the winter birds well fed and they have been gracing us with their splendor. I watch them outside my window tolerating the wind and snow.

As the wind drives the snow 

To blow upward from the field 

I see a new year glistening

 atop the mountain peaks

 Like a sparkling diamond 

When the wind subsides there

A clearing through the leafless trees 

The bright new year advances 

Now the possibilities are whirling endlessly 

Like a Dervish twirling just beyond my grasp 

MSW

FROM THESE COUNTRY ROADS

WE WISH YOU A HAPPY, HEALTHY 

AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS

                      

                      

                  FROM THESE COUNTRY ROADS

                       A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

I'M BACK FROM SICK LEAVE

The last couple of weeks, a nasty virus had me on cough medication, vitamin C, and Halls cough drops. With a hacking cough that kept me awake for too many nights, I continued to gargle with warm salt water and still managed to get laryngitis. But much to my husband’s disappointment, my voice has returned. I’ve also been drinking tea with lemon and honey and hydrating with lots of water. After feeling much better on Saturday, I aired out the house and wiped everything with Lysol.

I’ve only managed to do the least bit of Christmas decorating on the mantle and hung a wreath on the front door. I have no energy for more. The question is: Will I have time to finish my Christmas shopping?

I started a new crochet project while I was home. It’s a throw for my living room sofa. I like the neutral tones of it. I’ll post pics as it progresses. I also spent a lot of time watching and photographing the birds at the feeders. I’ve spotted a few new visitors this year and will post some pics.

As the holiday crush squeezes in, I’m off today trying to catch up on last minute preparations. With some luck, my car will start up with no problems, my day will run smoothly and I’ll be able to complete all that I have to do today. Well, that is the plan and I’m just putting it out there. 

THIS IS THE THROW I"M WORKING ON

BEAUTIFUL BLUE JAYS

THE TUFTED TITMOUSE

THE BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE

YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER

                               I'll keep you posted on more sightings

LET'S TALK TURKEY

Hurry, run for the hills!

In light of the up-coming Thanksgiving holiday, I thought I would re-post the blog I wrote in August. For the most part, the turkeys have been hiding away since the first shots of hunting season echoed through the hills. I'd like to wish everyone a safe, healthy and happy Thanksgiving Day. 

From a previous post: 

Before our domesticated turkeys were raised on farms, there was this ancestral species of wild turkeys that can still be found throughout the country. This week I was reminded of why I named our place,

THE WILD TURKEY RANCH.

Even before our house was on the property, we would spot the wild turkeys grazing and roaming here. After the land was cleared, they seem to visit often to take dust baths in the dry earth. Now, with the property being more active, they keep just beyond the taller grasses and they have been rather chatty lately. But they have come closer to the house this week, as they did when we first moved in, when we would find them snooping in the windows and gawking at my cat. I was able to get a few shots of them before they crossed the road to the farm. Later, I’ll be out searching the grounds for some beautiful turkey feathers.

FOR AUTUMN

While I acknowledge the beauty in each season and can easily be awed by whatever the weather may hold, my heart beats faster for autumn. With its spectacular fall colors that will soon fade and mute into grayer and grayer landscapes, its beauty remains with me still. October holds such a busy agenda with flourishes of brilliance popping up and disappearing each day, it is difficult to focus. Fall events and celebrations are everywhere on these country roads with happy harvests all around the mountains. Before the deep frost settles in, there are gatherings in the market places, village stores, and farms all displaying and selling their produce, art, crafts, home grown and home made foods. As I travel around this countryside, meeting new people, new landscapes, taking photos, sampling local goodies and writing my next story or poem, I would like to share an excerpt from my book,  

FROM THESE COUNTRY ROADS/A Journal And Selected poems. 

Here is the poem titled: 

MORNING AT ARGYLE LAKE

My eye shifted to the blue canopy

On the house across the lake

Where the trees burned red and gold

In a small corner of the garden

There grew Chrysanthemums

The deepest orange Chrysanthemums

Reflected in the blue lake water

Were geese gliding with no effort at all

And I heard the October air sing

The twinkling sun of autumn’s song

Now sparkled like diamonds

Upon the argyle lake

 MSW

AUTUMN, SIGHT FOR SORE EYES

A couple of weeks ago, a tear in my retina sent me to the ER for emergency laser surgery to prevent a detachment of the retina. But things are beginning to settle down a bit, at least in my left eye. My trips to Albany for eye laser surgery have lessened and my vision is improving.

Earthquake tremors sent my bookshelves shaking the other night around 7:15. I was at the computer when my pens and pencils started to vibrate and jump in their cup. Don came out of the bedroom saying that the bed was shaking. I called a neighbor down the road but they had felt nothing.  I checked the TV channels but there were no reports so, I called the local police to see if there were any other reports of earth tremors in the area. They said that they had not heard anything so far but would call me back after checking further. My imagination sent me wandering through old films like Poltergeist and The Exorcist; well it was close to Halloween.

Fifteen minutes later, the police returned my call and confirmed that there had been a mild quake throughout New England. I later learned that Maine had a 4.0 but I was surprised that there were no other calls nearby.  It makes one wonder about fracking. We’re living here a little over two years and two earthquakes already. What’s up with that? 

I believe that there are still some beautiful autumn views that I would like to share with you as I venture out along the road.  Being so grateful to have my vision restored, I rejoice in the glorious colors of autumn.  

APPLE SONG

 

The apples are seasoned

And ripe and sound

Gently they fall

On the yellow ground

Francis Frost

HAPPY PICKINS!

NATURE WALKS

I’ve been traveling to Albany to shop around for a new set of wheels, and it has kept me from writing. I also found myself busy this past week test-driving my new truck and getting familiar with all its gadgets. Finally, I’m on the road again! Until I can devote more time to writing, I’d like to share some photographs from the past few years while on my nature walks. 

Enjoy the view!

WRITING AND SHARING

On the last day in August, I waited impatiently for the summer heat to subside. There was not much relief till this morning, when I recounted a moment  from yesterday and wrote this:

 STILL IN SUMMER

Me and Nikon and shade

On this hot August day

Watching one dry leaf fall

From the young Red Maple

It seems to be a reminder

Of what’s to come in autumn

And that I should not forget

On this early summer morning

The beauty in this crimson tree

There the bird is ever watchful

For a break in movement

And waits for my stillness

To sneak a bit of water

That has appeared overnight

In the large ceramic pot

At last it descends from the Maple

While I remain motionless

To photograph the drinking bird

MSW

DOWNTIME

While the last few months of car troubles and heat have kept me close to home, I managed quite well on keeping myself inspired by life. It seems to have been a lazy, (downtime) summer for me. Although, most things like writing, reading and Internet, keep me indoors,  a small flower and rock garden has given me an outdoor morning project. Photographing also gets me out, even if it’s right outside my door, I always seem to find something to fascinate me. 

Here are a few things that have kept me inspired and grateful for this life. 

MIDDAY REST

MISTY MORNING

AFRICAN DAISIES

PRINCE IN THE GARDEN

PRETTIES THROUGH THE WINDOW

FRESH BASIL

FRONT GARDEN

WITH SUNSHINE IN THEIR EARS

PIECES OF HISTORY

PRAYING FOR WATER

COULDN'T HOLD ON ANY LONGER

FRAMING THE MOON

ATHENS SUNSET

AT THE END OF THE DAY........