Thanksgiving Weekend at the Walnut Tree

Thanksgiving weekend was busy, fun and relaxing. The family gathered here for a fun and filling holiday then the rest of the weekend was quite. It was a gift to NOT set the alarm for 5:15, especially today - it is my birthday! I normally don't go around announcing my birthday, but I have the day off from work and I am thrilled! It is very rare for our school district to not have school the Monday after Thanksgiving. It sure was nice to sleep in one more day! To the powers that be who make that decision, I thank you!

This weekend, before the rain settled in, I did take some photos of the birds who visited our walnut tree. This tree is only about 15 feet from our dining room window so it is a great place to hang feeders. The birds love the buffet. We love the birds who visit the buffet! Here are some of my favorite weekend pics from the walnut tree. Enjoy!

A Winter with John Burroughs

"I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see."

John Burroughs


It is somewhat comforting to know that in the quieter times at the turn of the last century, John Burroughs also had a long to-do-list. A list of desires that is similar to my own. There seems to be never enough time to read the ever-growing stack of books and list of favorite blogs, to have that party, to hike in Cook's Forest, and even to write on my own blog.

I've read about John Burroughs so much I feel like I've read a lot of his work. I have not. Maybe an essay here or there that was in a collection of other works, but I've not sat down with the intent to read his words. Until now. I've recently been focusing my reading on nature writing, thank you Julie Zickefoose for this wonderful new addiction, and Burroughs name keeps popping up everywhere.

When I read an article about a local estate auction a few weeks ago and saw a listing for The Works of John Burroughs, Appleby Edition, I knew I was going to buy those books. Seventeen volumes with titles that begged me to hold them and gently caress and read each page. Titles like, Winter Sunshine, Locusts and Wild Honey, Birds and Poets,and Leaf and Tendril took my breath. Lovely. They were coming home.

I will winter-in with this set of beautiful blue books. It will be a joyous adventure to develop a relationship with this special nature writer. I will learn more about him, his world and myself.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Enjoy a Wonderful Feast!

Meet Missy

Meet Missy, my beautiful Arabian mare. She is a 1980 model and will be 29 this spring. Well cared for horses generally live between 25 and 30 years so Miss. Missy is an old horse.

I bought her in 1981 as a yearling. I was living at the Windstar Foundation in Snowmass, Colorado for the summer and read an ad for Arabian horses. After learning about her bloodlines I had to see her. She is out of a Serafix mare and by a grandson of Bask and her sister had just placed in the National Championship. Those details were important to me then. That was another lifetime and yes, I wanted to see this horse. After a short visit to the Denver farm the deal was struck and she was coming home to Pennsylvania!

Well, I can't believe how many years of my life I spent riding around in circles training and showing horses and teaching equitation. Eventually, my horses got old, Missy is the last survivor, my interests changed and I got tired. Horses are A LOT of work. Missy is now boarded at a lovely farm where she is enjoying retirement. I am also enjoying her retirement. I plan to never again stack bales of hay or haul 100 pound sacks of grain, or clean stalls, or groom, or break ice in the water buckets before going to work in the morning. Missy's life is better and so is mine.

Horse are magical. I am grateful for sharing so much of my life with these majestic creatures and I have many special memories. Thanks, Missy, and all the horses and ponies who have blessed my life.

A Brief Visit

It has been over a week since I visited my own blog. Pathetic!

Grey clouds and short days arrived and malaise joined the party. I wish it were a party! By the time I get home from work I'm too exhausted to even think about writing. I've been a bit under the weather, under those huge grey clouds. Moments slip by and suddenly a week has passed.

I'm looking forward to blogging and visiting my favorite blogs soon. See you this weekend.

Winter Ready

The brightness of the male goldfinches vanished weeks ago, but it was just this past weekend that November weather arrived. The first cold always shocks me into reality. It hit me yesterday like a Mack Truck. The high was a mere 35 degrees and it was time to dig gloves out from the back of the drawer. Grey skies arrived and settled in to stay awhile.

I am looking forward to the quite and stillness of winter. There was a time in my life, or maybe it was a past life, when I loved to ski and play in the snow. I won't give up the hope of skiing Aspen Mountain, but not this winter. I will be content and happy to pursue other passions and to go into my own form of hibernation as the snow falls outside. It is time to make divine soups and reflect upon life, to take winter photos, and to get lost in books, many, many books.

I am ready. Let the snow come.

Robert Kennedy may head the EPA

Did you hear the newest rumor? Robert F. Kennedy may be asked to head the EPA! Imagine! An environmentalist running the EPA and enforcing regulations to actually protect the environment! Imagine.

My prayer is that the EPA and FDA be staffed with individuals who are committed to the intended missions of these organizations. While I'm making requests, Mr. President Elect, might we have a new cabinet position? How does Secretary of the Environment sound?

Celebrate!

Feel it. The earth has tilted. America has risen to a new beginning. Oh, glorious day!

We have joined together to demand a new world. A world where education is valued, health care is easily available to all, and individual dreams can be realized with work and commitment. Oh, glorious day!

We have hopes for a future where science is encouraged and held with high expectations. A future where wild places and those who live there are protected with reverence. Oh, glorious day!

We now join together to support each other, honor the hard work ahead of us and stand committed to great achievements. We will stop climate change, protect our environment and deliver an era of unity to the world. Oh, glorious day!

The world rejoices in a vision of a new world. Oh, glorious day!

My Name is Bliss

Hello,

You can not imagine how grateful I am to meet you. My mother rescued me just over two years ago. I was by the side of a busy road, wet from an all-day, spring rain, and I was only a little fuzz ball. I was about five weeks old.

She took me in, dried me off and gave me a bowl of warmed milk. I have been here ever since.

Look at me now! I am the Queen!


I have grown up to be a gorgeous child. My Dr. Ashby says that my genes didn't know if I wanted to be long hair or short hair, so I'm a bit of both. I don't know what genes are or what the heck he was talking about. But, sweetheart, I do know that I am beautiful!

Mommy said she named me Bliss because of the joy I brought to her heart, but she has other names for me too. I answer to Blissie or Miss. Bliss, but I don't care for it very much when see calls me Smart Ass. Even though she says it with love and affection.

I love to spend time looking out windows. I wonder if mom is going to finish raking all those leaves.


My favorite spot to sleep is on my mother's best chair in the living room. She put a fuzzy, yellow blanket on the chair so I can be more comfy. She doesn't care how many of my black hairs stick to the blankie either. She is the best!


I have the best life! I play and sleep every day. My bowls are always full and my mom loves me. I love her too.