Winter Beauty

House Finch

Blue Jay

Starling

Pheasant

Downy Woodpecker

We've had a relatively snow free winter but just lately there's been a downpour of the fluffy white stuff. I like to put out seed and suet cakes for my feathered friends. Here are some pictures of the critters that frequent the yard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barn Owl

Chickadee

 

 

 

 

 

 

Auto potties..................

Can I let you in on a little secret? I hate, I mean hate, auto-flush toilets. They are never adjusted right. They flush when you barely walk into the stall, sometimes they never flush at all. But the most evil of them all are the toilets that flush when you are not ready for them to do so. All you have to do is move a fraction of an inch and the dang thing flushes! You’re tucking or un-tucking your shirttails and the fool thing flushes! I mean really, do you want to get splashed with droplets from whatever has been inside that bowl? The employee bathroom at work has those auto-flush monsters in it and I am tempted daily to just hike down to the other end of the building and go to the ‘normal’ bathroom, where the flush gremlins are not laying in wait to pounce upon me when I least expect it! 

            

Another new year...

Life has been a whirlwind the past few weeks. Not only has work been incredibly busy but home life has been too. We had 5 house guests over the holidays, and numerous other guests here and there depending on what was happening. On New Year’s Eve we had 13 people for dinner, and it turned out just wonderfully, even though I was worn out by the time all the guests left. The end of the year is a time for reflection, and I am still doing my share of that.

Sadly, having Christmas over is a relief, because it takes so much preparation it seems. I have simplified over the years by not transforming every room of my house into a winter wonderland, and cutting down on the baking and card sending. I am just too exhausted to do it and my health is not the best. I prefer to contemplate what the birth of the Savior means to me, but I get conflicted wondering why we celebrate in Dec. when he was actually born near Passover which is around Easter. I guess through the ages it has just become the time we celebrate it. I don’t want to delve into a history lesson about it right now.

I do hate how right after Halloween the stores are full of Christmas stuff and the resulting commercialization of an amazing chapter in the history of mankind. I also dislike the ongoing fight between the “Happy Holidays” folks and the “Merry Christmas” folks and how it is a cardinal sin to even play a religious Christmas carol in a store. Come on people, it is a religious holiday, you can choose to participate or not participate, or just participate in your own way but please don’t try to wipe the reason for the holiday off the annals of the planet. If you were in Egypt during Ramadan, I can assure you they would not tolerate you trying to change or obliterate what Ramadan was all about. It brings to mind a saying…when in Rome….

Another new year, it is a fresh start and a new time to get your life in order! One of my goals is to get out of debt (except for the house) and we are well on the way to accomplishing that in a matter of a few months. Yay! I will tackle the house after reaching that debt free goal just mentioned.

Things to look forward to in 2012: Anthony returning home from his mission in Japan, getting my senior tech certification all done, Brianna turning two, a trip to the Florida panhandle beaches before Angie leaves the area, enjoying the 33^rd year of marriage to my wonderful hubby, and celebrating another Christmas with loved family and friends!