Happy New Year!!!

Have a great one, eh?

From our house to yours....HAPPY NEW YEAR....may you find what you're looking for, needing, and desiring....and may God be a part of all of it.

Oh, and good health to each of you!!

Visitors on the 2nd last day of 2009...

A female Downy woodpecker, a Nuthatch and that illusive Blue Jay all came to the feeding stations at once today....and I happened to have my camera ready.

Whenever I hear the Jay screeching, I run from wherever I am in the house, grabbing the camera, turning it on while running, stopping abruptly before reaching the kitchen window so I don't scare the dang Jay away and ever-so-slowly aiming the camera in the general direction of the peanut feeder....I click. If I'm lucky, he's there.

I stood there at the open window with the camera clicking feverishly at the little Downy woodpecker though. She wasn't frightened in the least. I know it's a female because the males have the little red caps and this one had no scarlet in sight. She's a pretty little thing, isn't she? Clinging with her claws to the feeder she pecked and pecked like mad, eating the little frozen nuts within. I think I can see why they're called "Downy" too. Their feathers really do look like down....all fuzzy and warm.

The Jay flew in, grabbed a peanut and flew out within three seconds!!! I really need to get a shot of him in flight with all his blue showing. That will be a challenge...

If we have any more visitors tomorrow, I'll let you know.

Winterpeg....

I just took a memory stroll down the streets of Winnipeg and thought about our trip there last spring. It was a good trip...in so many ways, and very difficult in so many other ways.

I would still like to go there in the summertime and take pictures when the foliage is all full and lush. It's a very pretty city....and very photogenic. I think it needs a summer name like Windypeg....:-)

So many places to photograph...so little time......

Things I received for Christmas....

See that hurricane lamp up above in my "Rose of Sharon" header? Ya, that beautiful lamp with the candle lit up which was sitting so lovely atop our cabinet on Christmas Eve....that was from my Secret Santa at work. Isn't it cozy? I do love it ALOT!!! So thanks, secret Santa, whoever you are!!!

Some new picture frames. Perhaps one day you may be the (un)fortunate person who gets to hang it up in your office/home with one of my (in)famous camera pics in the middle of it!!! lol

Dill pickles and canned raspberries. My dear co-worker Twila, gave me a quart sealer of her famous dill pickles not to mention a pint of her marvelous raspberries. I will open the berries on a very "special" occasion....like Valentines Day or perhaps our anniversary. Thanks Twila!!! There is just something very special about receiving a gift that a person has put themselves into, don't you think!

Then my co-worker Carole, gave me a beautiful hand carved tree ornament from the West Bank in Israel. It was in the shape of a Christmas bell, carved out on one side with the Nativity scene in the middle. I hung it near the top of our tree and will admire it for many years to come...and think of her. Thanks for your thoughtfulness, Carole!

Another great co-worker Val, gave me a gorgeous glass tree angel with a snowflake for wings. She said it reminded her of me....who would have thought!!!!!???? I received it with much gratitude and thanked her for her love and friendship also. She is an angel to me........

Oh, and I received a gift certificate from Shananigan's Coffee Shop too. Someone will join me there one day and I shall treat them.

As well, my boss gave a gift certificate to the Bison Cafe. Very thoughtful and such good taste!!! And another co-worker gave us two "Chocolate Logs" with very expensive chocolates inside!! Yum.....

My good friend Eunice hand made a festive tree skirt a while back and it sat proudly around the base of our Christmas tree this year. I had the opportunity to thank her in person (and hug her too) when she handed it to me! Such thoughtfulness...for her to do that just for me. Even though we don't see one another much anymore, she remains a good and faithful friend...as always.

There were cards, and hugs and kisses and good wishes from family members. Those are the real things families are made of....not anything tangible....but things of the heart. Oh, it's great to receive material gifts of one sort or another....but receiving heartfelt words, to me, are just as meaningful....if not moreso.

I keep saying I am a blessed person.....and I am. How grateful I am to have family and friends who so generously give of themselves.....to me no less.......sometimes it's really difficult receiving that much love....but I accept it and take it into my heart which in turn, makes me a better person for having received a part of their lives.

That's how God's love goes too. He gives and gives and gives to us...and all we are required to do is to receive it....and it makes us better people.

So, I know I am a much better person this Christmas because of love....and bigger too....but that has to do with over-eating.:-(

I'm married to a senior citizen....

Sixty-five years ago today, Helen (then 36) and John Kent (then 39) had their fifth child and named him Kenneth Ted Kent. Their first born child was then 16 and their fourth child was 12.

And then along came Kenny! He had a ready-made babysitter with his only sister being 14. As he grew and his siblings began working at various jobs and his sister entering nursing school, he was never very far from pretty much anything he wanted. He said he was spoiled and who wouldn't be!!! Dimes and quarters were always just an arms length away and no one would dare harm their dear little Kenny! He grew very close to his mother as she was always the one at home when the rest of his brothers and sister were out working or getting married and having children of their own.

We were talking about all of this today and realized that his parents were the same age as we were when we had Matthew. Funny how things sometimes repeat themselves.

Anyway, being married to a senior citizen isn't all that bad.....so far. I'm sure that as time progresses we will experience the things that all seniors experience.....poor health, less money and watching for that particular time when nursing homes may be the only option. Depressing eh?

In the meantime, we will enjoy reasonably good health, living in a home that we have chosen and having a tiny bit of cash to give to those in need and buy ourselves coffee and toast at A&W on a Saturday morning. Life can't get much better than that.

So Happy 65th Birthday to my ever-lovin' man!!! I'll be catching up to his status in 3 more years, so I'll be his much younger wife until then!!! :-)

A Christmas blessing...

It's been a great Christmas.

Candle light service last evening...

We have so much to be thankful for...family, friends, food, fireside and apple muffins!!

Much was consumed. Very few gifts this year. It made more time for reflection....on what it's all about.

Phone call to son for over an hour was wonderful...

Now to sleep....perchance to dream.....

My wish for you.....

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright,
Round yon virgin, mother and child
Holy infant, so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

My prayer is that for each of you........that this night, the night of miracles, would come to you with tenderness and holiness and that you may catch a glimpse of heavenly peace found in the manger in Bethlehem.

Merry Christmas...with my love.....

I got my wish...

Yes.

After dreaming of a white Christmas and wishing and hoping and praying...it happened.

Yaaaaaaaaaaay!

It looks ever-so-pretty.

I even shoveled. It gets ones blood moving and thumping and warms the cockles of your heart!

It think that's what is supposed to happen at Christmas....even without a fireplace.

We even spoke to Matt in Nepal. The delay of our conversation was quite a bit more lengthy than what it was from Kolkata. Must have been those Himalayas!!! And then his sound went wonky and he wasn't audible and so we could speak to him but he had to type his response for the last part of the time we had. We managed. But even with him recuperating from Typhoid, he looked wonderful.

Even with my wish for snow coming true....my greatest wish would have been having him home for Christmas.

But I have learned that in this life you just keep learning the "how to's"....how to live without your kids close by...how to live with them coming back to live with you and keeping each other's independence at the same time...you know, change stuff.

So let's all have a merry little Christmas....let our hearts be light....from now our our troubles will be out of sight.....were you singing????

Two more sleeps 'til Santa........

The many faces of Matthew Kent!!!

He's a friend to his best friend, Kim...He's a great sibiling to his sister, Shannon...

He's an intellectual.......

He's a counsellor.....

He's a musician.....

He's a dreamer and a wanderer.....

Here's to our son, Matthew Philip Dale, born December 23, 1983.

This is the first year he will not be present in our home to celebrate his birthday! I'm sure he will celebrate the day in fine style....in Nepal....

Not sure how the Nepalese celebrate birthdays....maybe they go climb a mountain or something. I do think there are people over there that do that kind of thing....maybe not Everest or anything but a large hill at least.

So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY Matthew. May you find wings to soar over anything bad that comes in your way or at least that you find a good walking stick to help you around the difficulties of life and may every hill you climb offer you enough beauty on the other side to take your breath away.

We all love you....immeasurably!!

A matter of the heart...

Whether we have piles of presents under the tree or no presents at all...what really does it matter?

I understand that it is the season for giving but have we lost the real reason that we do give? Sometimes I think I have forgotten that real reason.

Do we realize what giving is all about? Does it mean giving to those we love? Yes, to some degree. Does it mean giving because we have a big paycheck and lots of loot can be purchased? Sure, because we've been blessed! Does it make us feel good by being able to buy gifts for folks and wonder what we will get in return? I must admit, it does make me feel good but I also wonder sometimes what gifts are under the tree for me.....:-(

The Bible talks about giving too:

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (New Living Translation)
" 6 Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”[a] 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others."

So ya....it's great to give....if we do it with the right spirit. God wants us to give with joy in our hearts...first! Seems like when we do that, God does the rest. He then gives us the things we need and even a pile left over for those that perhaps have nothing.

I'm going to be taking a second look at my motives for giving presents this year. And sometimes there simply are other priorities at Christmas, other than presents. Think of those out of work.... or struggling along on a single low-income with children to feed....or those that are trying hard to find a place to live because of various circumstances. Things are sometimes very difficult for people.

But if I look at what I have been given....and look at those that are in need....... and with JOY, being able to give away a portion of what I have, I think that is what Paul is talking about in 2Corinthians 9:6-8. Giving with joy according to what has been given to me.

Giving is an individual 'matter-of-the-heart" decision.

Blessings on your home this week.

Who's been eating at my house???

Mr. B. Jay.

That's who.

We feed peanuts to the blue jay who lives in these parts. The Raven joins in once in a while too when he feels like it.

But the blue jay is so shy. He flits to the feeder...grabs a mouth full.... and he's off into the nearby trees to feast.

Almost all pictures I've been able to catch of him are through our kitchen window, so not the greatest quality.

Although it is better than the alternative of sitting outside in the cold, acting like some kind of giant snowman and finding by the time the dang bird does decide to make an entrance, my fingers have frozen to the point of being immobile and unable to click the shutter.

Here's to the beginning of the Winter Solstice....tomorrow!!

Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming...

A 16th century Christmas hymn with music by Geistliche Kirchengesang, 1599.

Listen to it here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyuOIYCERc4

"Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming from tender stem hath sprung,

of Jesse's lineage coming as saints of old have sung.

It came a flow'ret bright, amid the cold of winter,

when half spent was the night.

Isaiah 'twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind,

with Mary we behold it, the virgin mother kind.

To show God's love aright she bore to us a Savior,

when half spent was the night.

This flow'r, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air,

dispels with glorious splendor the darkness everywhere.

True man yet very God, from sin and death he saves us

and lightens ev'ry load."

I do love choirs...sorry that this Utube presentation had another song attached to it but it was the most beautiful rendition I could find. It is and has been one of my most favorite Christmas hymns....ever.

The Christmas Party '09

Dick and Robert
The feasting table.

Dave serving Deb his great punch.
(non-alcoholic, of course)

Lois and husband Rod.

Earl and Rory enjoy loading up.

Everyone gathered to celebrate and feast.

Pat may just eat that Christmas napkin too....

April and Val going over important Forestry document?

Rory says it best....CHEERS TO ALL!!!

It was a good potluck feast at work on Wednesday. It started earlier than was announced as folks were really, really hungry and couldn't wait until 3 p.m. (me included). The Giggly Gift time was shorter than usual and that added to the earlier start to the eating frenzy.

The managers gathered some cash and Dave L. took the initiative and bought all the pop and ingredients for three delicious punches...all festive looking with ice rings, ice cream, yogurt and such. It was lovely....and I for one, appreciated their generosity and thoughtfulness.

The poor folks who brought their food on time!!!!....... as much of the food was gone before they arrived! But at least there was food right up until the end and it was all very tasty and good.

I appreciated everything that people brought....so now you know....I tried most everything, except DaveD's hot chili.

I'm off work now for a couple of weeks. Time is flying by and I have no shopping done...at all. I did give out some of my photography to some poor unsuspecting folks but that's all that has been accomplished.

And now to attempt to get ready for Christmas.....but right now I'm waiting for a call from Nepal.

I'm a mixed bag.....

Of emotions that is...:-)

Some days it would be nice to be like the little fellow above.

Just hiding my beak under my wing...if I had one...and sleep the day away, all curled up, safe and comfortable.

I get uneasy when I don't have control over my life or the lives of my family members. But these are the times, as I have learned many times before, that I learn the most. Those times when I need to let God do the leading and not me and my false motives and desires and hopes and dreams. They are all good but more likely they aren't what is best for me and those I love.

So, I'm hunkering my beak down into my wing for a while and just letting God do his thing.

Why should I worry about a son having Typhoid fever when there is God to help him through it!

I want.....

Ya, I want about 48,978,399,204,675 snow flakes to fall in P.A. during the next week. Not that many in the scheme of things, I should say. Not too much to ask for, is it? Not too much work for all the shovelers out there, I don't believe.

OK...I'd take half of that BUT NO LESS THAN HALF!!!

If B.C. could just blow all that snow storm they're experiencing over this way that should do it.

Am I being unrealistic?

I really don't think so. Let's see what the week will bring.

Of course, I then remember what I WANT and what I NEED are two totally different things and I think my want of snow could be included in there somewhere.

Changing times....

Last Christmas Matt, Kim and Logan were gracing our table during the holidays. Not this year.

Last Christmas granddaughter was a year younger!!! Soon it will be a driver's license.

Many things can happen in one year. Life is always changing. People come and people go, making lives for themselves in various parts of the world and taking off on their own life journeys.

It's important to be up for changing times. We cannot stay the same nor should we expect to. We get older. We experience more of life and hopefully we become wider....oops....that should read "wiser" along the way. ;-) Kids come and go and come again.....and leave again.

I wonder what changes will take place in my life and in our home during 2010?

Only the Lord knows....

Wicked.....

It's a good day to have a birthday. Husband made his famous (daughter's recipe) honey garlic wings for supper which I enjoyed very much. I received a lovely sweater and a card that said some beautiful things...about how much he loves me and how glad he is to be married to me and how happy I make him....you know, the regular stuff marriages are made of.:-)

Afterwards, we just sat and watched the lovely tree and listened to Christmas music on the telly.

I then sent my children a message from Santa. I hope it gets through with the wicked storm happening at the North Pole tonight.

But yes, the weather can knock your socks off when there's a windchill happening and will again be happening in the morning. Can you say "MINUS FIFTY" without your breath coming back on your face and slashing your cheeks making you look like a battle-scarred hockey player? I thought not!!!

Anyway, I share my birthday with my friends Phil Loseth and Joe Gaudry not to mention the great composer Charles Wesley (1757); the Nobel prize winner for writing, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (1918); famed violinist Leonard Friedman (1930) and "Motley Crue" rocker Nicki Sixx (1958). I am in an illustrious group of famous/infamous folk. There must be other people who have a birthday today, but I don't have the space to mention all of them. :-)

Stay warm and keep that wicked wind away from your person....OK?

The tree '09.....

The Tree awaits its transformation.

The glass and gold navitity scene is now displayed

on the shelf.

Home-made decorations from children nestle amongst
the branches.

Glass balls hang like spheres in outer space.

The Tree, all lit and twinkling and shiny.

From a bare balsam to a Christmas tree in two hours.

I like decorating the tree. The ornaments all mean something to each of us in our family. Some are paper, others glass, or metal and when they are hung and the lights and tinsel get to their rightful places the whole room lights up in celebration!

Such as it was this evening. A grand time it was.

Then daughter called us via Skype and I was able to show them the tree all lit up and twinkling through the web cam. It was exciting for them as they won't be having a tree at their place this year. And we are excited to have them come home.

'Nite, one and all........