I am dreaming of a white Christmas...

 We got a little snow this week.

They name snowstorms now.  This one was called Diaz.

I don't know what the final tally was.  Some reports say we got five feet, but I think four.

It started snowing and blowing Tuesday afternoon and finally blew out late Friday.   

Our students were supposed to go home on Winter Break Thursday.  We got some out Monday.  A few here and there through the week as some flights were able to get out.  Hopefully, the busses were able to get out Saturday.  The last of the flights are Monday and Tuesday.  

Overall, they have taken it well. The staff did an amazing job of covering shifts.

The snow was super light.  If you fell in getting out was a deal.  There was nothing solid to push against.  To get out you had to swim.  

My bears came in handy for drying my hat between shoveling sessions.

All in all it is over.  We will wait for the next one.  The good news is Ella is doing great.  A relief to us both.  

Are you ready for Christmas?  It looks like it will be a white one for us.

Thankful...

 We had a scare this week.  Last Sunday, after our run, Ella slept.  That isn't unusual as she is 14, but the next day she wouldn't move.  She was exhausted, wheezing, and there was no life in her eyes.  We got her to the vet and found out she had pancreatitis and pneumonia.  She had to spend the week at the vet's.  It was a long lonely week.  Luckily, she is home and healthy.  Almost back to her old self.

We took it easy this weekend and kept her quiet.  Our biggest event was making Christmas cookies and getting my brother's Jeep ready for him.

The Jeep has been sitting for 15 or so years.  Our local mechanic gave it some TLC and it has roared back to life.  He fixed it before our impending blizzard, since it doesn't have a top.

Other than that not much is going on. I'm sent Christmas cards and am done with most of our shopping.  I'm anxious to see if we really get the big blizzard as predicted.  

Are you ready for Christmas?  Please, do me a favor and give your pet a little extra love this week.  

A little of this and a bit of that...

Actually, there isn't much of this or that.  We didn't do much this week, except some Christmas shopping.  I am now working on my second graduation quilt.  

 I actually went bowhunting.  It was absolutely beautiful out.  I saw quite a few deer, but nothing got close.  That is ok.  I just enjoyed sitting outside watching the world go by.

We took Ella for a long run.  She was super happy to check out what was going on in the neighborhood.  We appreciated the fresh air and stretching our legs.

We are all wore out.  Walking in soft snow is a lot of work.  We're you able to get out and enjoy winter?  I hope so...

Thankful...

 I am thankful for my family...

I am Thankful for leftovers in a turkey pot pie...

I am thankful that I am caught up quilting and have the front and back of one graduation quilt done.

I am thankful to be married to a wonderful man who helps me light up a random tree on our road to spread holiday cheer.

Sorry for the poor quality.  I'm not much of a film editor.

The movie had it right, it's a Wonderful Life.

I hope you had a fabulous Thanksgiving.

verse same as the first...

I spent this weekend exactly the same as last weekend, quilting and butchering.  I did have a pleasant surprise.  I have a good friend who is a phenomenal quilter.  I asked her to keep her eyes open for some fabric I passed on about three years ago.  Something I regretted.  Well, I found out my friend is a top notch investigator.  She not only found the fabric, but got some for me.  I am blessed, I don't know what I did to deserve such a good friend.

I spent Saturday hunting.  It was a fabulous morning.  Yes, it was -1 when I went out out.  No, I didn't see a deer.  I did listen to the ducks and geese as they headed south for the winter.  I watched the sun rise.  The frost rained on me like snow when the sun came up.  The was a monstrous golden eagle in one of the trees next to me.  Some people think hunting is about killing.  It is really about the experience.  I didn't get anything, but I loved every minute.

I tried to capture the experience, but fell short.  My husband did get a beautiful buck, so Sunday was spent butchering.  I also spent Veteran's Day quilting.  I'm pretty nervous about getting two quilts done by graduation.  I'm really behind.  I'll figure it out.  

Well, that was my weekend in a nutshell.  I hope you had a great Veteran's Day.  My thanks to those that served.  Freedom is not free.  

Exhausted...

 Egads, I am tired.  This weekend flew by.  My husband harvested a nice buck on Thursday.  

Luckily, it has been cold and I let the meat hang until Saturday morning.  Some people say you should let them age for a week.  I have never noticed a difference if I butchered that day or a week later.  As long as the meat is handled properly.

I absolutely enjoy butchering our harvest.  I canned 8 pints of stew meat.  We made six 1 lb. summer sausages and 30 maple breakfast sausage patties.  There are six roasts and five lbs. of jerky. It took me two days.  I don't know how people can process meat for a living.  My hands ache and my back is killing me.  Still, it is worth the trouble.

That wasn't all I accomplished. One of my teachers had a baby shower. I have no children, so I had to ask my sister (she has five kids) what a new mom would need: lotion, diapers, and onesies. I got a cute little bear coat too. 

Last, but not least, I finished cutting out the second quilt.  There were a lot of pieces and it took way longer than I anticipated.  I hope it goes together faster than it took to cut.  I'm getting nervous, as I am a bit behind schedule.  

I'm afraid winter is here to stay.  Did you tackle any big projects lately?  Have you ever eaten venison?  What is your favorite way to enjoy it?  It is by far my favorite meat.  I hope you had a productive weekend.  I can't wait to go to work tomorrow and get some rest.

Halfway through...

I celebrated my halfway point this week.   My husband and I also celebrated our anniversary.  This one was important because now he has been married longer than he was unmarried.  It was a great week.

I guess I am odd since most people don't look forward to getting older.  Heck, I'm fine with it.  My life is fabulous, why wouldn't I be happy?

I'm afraid I don't have pictures for the week.  I was pretty busy going to doctor appointments, dentist appointments, met with my nieces and watched them rodeo, cleaned up the yard, met a friend for yoga, broiled tomatoes, took the dog for a run, went duck hunting, made wine, put a winch on my Jeep, fielded various calls from friends and family, and of course spent quality time with my husband.

I dare old age to catch up with me. 

Do you enjoy your birthday?   Do you do anything special to celebrate?  

And that is the end of that...

 We took Ella for a walk this morning.  It was beautiful and the weather was perfect.

The colors in the grasses are so intricate and breathtaking.

There is a bright splash of red here and there.

Everything was peaceful and perfect.

The cabin looked cozy snuggled in among the colors.  Then BAM.....

It's snowing.....

Hope winter hasn't found you yet.

It's the great pumpkin...

 There was frost on the pumpkins this week, so yesterday was the weigh in for the Great Pumpkin Champion.

Here is the winner.  Weighing in at a whopping 21.2 pounds.  But, whose pumpkin is it?

Here are all of the contenders along with a few squash and some mum's.  

Second place was 16.8 pounds.  It seems it wasn't done growing, but Mother Nature said it was time.

Yes, it was my husband's pumpkin.  He earned it.  He watered Zeb every morning and evening.  Tarzan (my pumpkin in the woods) was treated like everything else I plant.  On the brink of death before I water.  I may have to change strategy.  Honestly, Kelly watered my pumpkin more than I did.  I do think two more weeks would have benefitted me.  

As for the rest of the garden.  I pulled everything up.  All that is left are my herbs that need repotted and brought in.

I was pretty happy with how amazing my mini sweet corn tasted.  The carrots were also fabulous.  I had enough turnips and beans to can two pints of stew vegetables.

I made a pumpkin cheesecake last weekend and today used the leftover canned pumpkin to make pumpkin bars (looks more like a cake).  

I have all of the feathers cut out for one of the graduation quilts.  Now I need to cut the pieces for the other graduation quilt.  

The beekeeper stopped by and dropped off some honey.  One of the hives lost it's queen and a bear stole the honey from two hives he had elsewhere.  I also bottled my dandelion wine, so it was a productive weekend.

It was a great weekend.  The leaves have held tough despite vicious winds. The colors are a feast for the eyes.

Are the colors still grand where you are? What harvest do you look forward to the most?  I think mine is the dandelion wine.  I hope you have a fabulous week.

Autumn actions...

We still have beautiful autumn weather.  The leaves are taking their time, which is fine by me.

I have started working on this year's graduation quilts.  My goal for this month is to get the feathers for one cut out and the pieces for the second one also cut.

The background won't be black.  Finding the perfect background is on next month's goal.

I cleaned up the garden and harvested my carrots, corn, beans, squash and jalapenos.  If someone can explain why my sweet corn is has such small ears I would love to know.

Don't you like the colors of my acorn squash?  Oh, I almost forgot.  I also had two turnips.  Tomorrow I am going to cut the corn off the cob and can both the corn and carrots.

Today, I went to hot yoga with a good friend.  Afterwards we had coffee and solved the world's problems.  I cannot say enough how grateful I am for my life.  It is filled with amazing people and beautiful places.

What are some things you are grateful for?  I hope you are also enjoying autumn.  What have you harvested this month?