The morning has a calmness to it.......although the sky looks heavy

and I dread the bad weather that the news has reported will be upon us in just a matter of hours.

As Sophie and I walk around the grounds........I am surprised by what I see.......

is that really?..........can it be?..............

yes, it is!

 A barn owl.....the same kind that came down the chimney a few weeks back, 

is perched on the front porch beam

sleeping.........

It must have had quite the Christmas party last night to not even hear or see me as I creep up close for a better photo........

and then........it opens it's eyes, spots me, 

and slowly, un-worriedly flies to the tree in the front yard, glancing frustratingly at me......

to have ruined it's nap. 

It's feathers rustled by the breeze that is starting ..........

the announcement of the "blizzard warning" that is to come.........

blizzard??  We live in the western part of Texas........

where the word "blizzard" means a great treat from the local Dairy Queen.....

with bits of chocolate!! 

It is predicted that we are to get 6+ inches of snow this weekend......with temperatures dipping down to 12 degrees............

I'd rather have the frozen treat..........wouldn't you?

Some of you confused my words to my last post

that I might be thinking about not blogging here any longer.........

however, that is not what I meant and I am sorry for the confusion.

I was just stating that some are not blogging here any longer and are choosing Facebook, 

and I miss them.

So with the door closing on this year, I am looking forward to a new year full

of new opportunities, new possibilities, and new doors opening!

Here's wishing you the very best in the new year to come!

The last days of this year are getting quiet and still

as the grounds, the trees, and all else that grows green

sleep.  

I look back over this year at the things that I have gotten accomplished,

and at the things that I haven't .

Seems like my "not accomplished" list is always longer than 

my "accomplished" list every year.   

It's at this time of year, that I am always planning

on what to do next year.......wishing I had already done some 

of my tasks......a lot of years ago. 

It's not just the grounds, and my tasks,  I have let slip by my idle hands,

but also I have lost touch with so many here on blogger.

Do any of you feel that way?

Some say it is because Facebook is the new blog of the days........

maybe that is true.

However, in this idle time of mine,

I am going to check in on all that I used to keep up with

many weeks, months, and years ago.......

just to say " hi" ........"I've missed you."

And then I am going to do my best to stay "in touch" as the 

new year comes settling in.

I have also done this with family..........and friends................we get lost in our own lives,

 always too busy to 

keep in touch..............what blessings we are missing out on when we do that!

I really became aware of this as with each year........a dear relative.........or friend ........... leaves us........

with each holiday.........an empty chair at our table.

So in saying goodbye to this year.........

I am saying hello to each new day of the new year 

and to say hello to all of those who are near to let them know how much they really do matter.

That's my new year resolution.

What is yours??
I would love to hear!

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas 

and a peaceful New Year!

I have a new friend...........

Every day, while I am stitching away in my shop,

this road runner comes up to the screen door, 

looks in and makes it's drilling sound. I step out to say hello and it  hurries away.......

but only just a few feet from me.

While I am tending to the chickens.......it sits on the bed of my husbands old truck and 

fluffs it's feathers to catch the heat and to ward off the early morning chill. 

It doesn't mind if I get close to take a photo

or two............ I tell it how very pretty it is

and how pretty it's head feathers look

and it stretches out on the beam of the truck bed as if to impress me more

I am always in awe of the wonderful wild visitors that seem so friendly...........as I walk the grounds of our prairie home.

I hope this feathered friend stays safe and warm as the cold winter days close in.

And the same wish goes out to you.......

stay safe and warm!

Then comes Winter, with bluster and snow,

That brings to our cheeks the ruddy glow...

~Gertrude Tooley Buckingham,

 "The Four Seasons" (1940s)

Stay warm everyone!!

Extreme high winds and heavy rain blew it's way over the prairie

and onto the grounds last night..........

yet, through it all, Gertrude, managed to hang onto her new fall wardrobe.............

even the flowers in her hat...........remain.  At this time of year, she is guarding  gardens that are starting to show their weariness of a long growing season.

The large very old Lantana, that began it's life from a cutting from my grandmothers bushes...........so many years ago........and adapted to being moved from the busy town bed......to the country bed I 

transplanted it in when we first moved here.........also many years ago.

It is still in full pink and yellow blossom.

The Ocotillo , although it's leaves are fading ,is still giving just a few more blooms before it takes it's winter sleep.

Meanwhile, the large Pyracantha is full of orange berries

and the Yaupon Holly is full of red berries. 

Adding color to the front porch.

Because of all of the rain and the warm temperature that we have been having, the Larkspur seed has already sprouted and have almost filled one of my flower beds. 

 The seeds usually lie  quietly in late fall and do not sprout until spring........now I worry that these young plants might die when the ice and snow come. I might lay plastic over them to help them survive the winter.

The Mexican Petunia is also still in bloom and look so pretty this time of year

and the Morning Glory in front of my shop entrance delights everyone that stops in to visit. 

While I am out visiting my gardens.........I am never in need of company.

Homer has made the farm "home" and follows me endlessly. 

He has turned out to be such a sweet cat.

Sophie.........who will be 9 in just a few short weeks......still joins me on my walks.........but when the wind is cold and blowing......

she prefers to take a nap. 

Taboo..........who has grown from kitten

to cat in such a short amount of time

waits for me at the back door.......eager to smell........."the outside" 

on my jacket. I have not let Taboo outside ............

he wants to fight the other cat............

and the  rattlesnakes have been so plentiful......

I don't want him to be injured.

He is such a good indoor companion to both Sophie and I.

So ...............tell me

What is the weather like in your area?

Do you still have things blooming?

Are you under a blanket of snow yet?

I would love to hear!

A teddy bear lies motionless on the living room floor.....................

such horror!!..........who could have done such a thing??

Sophie................why will you not look at me when I ask this question??

sigh

After a heavy rain passed..........

I decided that I needed to take Sophie for a walk .......to relieve her of her........."killer mood"

and on the walk way was this wonderful colorful creature........a salamander. I have seen them only a few times here........always after a heavy rain.

I scooped it up and rushed it inside for a "photo shoot"

and then returned it to it's soggy happiness outside.

The next late afternoon........on another walk with Sophie.........

this very large bobcat crossed our path just a bit beyond us.

We all stopped......to stare at each other.......the cat and us........

just long enough for me to snap ......not a very good picture........

and then it quickly went on it's way. 

How lucky I feel to have seen both unique creatures in the space of just a few hours!

Sophie has since re- made friends with her worn out teddy bear and 

has it in her bed.........where she is sleeping.

So tell me...........does your dog get overly rough with it's toys?

What creatures are popping up in your back yard?

The goal of life:

simple but not empty. 

Terri Guillemets

Here.........in October.............the fields lie in thick, white

cotton

looking at the whole area from a distance makes one think that it is snow

the woods is a mixture of dry, green , and blooming native plants

One particular flowering plant is so pretty. It is almost like baby's breath that is used in bouquets..........but in a cheery yellow.

It makes a beautiful accompaniment with the sunflowers that are also in bloom.

Also during this time of year.....the fog settles and envelopes the house.......

the grounds........

and lingers even after the sun has risen in the morning.

October is also the time that I search for new dishes and desserts to serve on my holiday table.

This is a wonderful pie recipe

Cranberry Cheese Crumb Pie

You can get the recipe on my cooking blog

My Country Kitchen

The cat " Hobo" has still called our place " home" and I have changed his name to 

"Homer"

The nights are getting chilly and the coyotes are getting closer in their search for food.

I have been worried about this tough old cat's safety. 

There is a large  hatching/brooding crate in my chicken house, full of fresh hay...

and unoccupied. During the cold winter days, the chicken house also has heating lamps to keep the chickens warm

 I decided that I would put Homer out in the crate over night for his protection.

I was amazed at how easily he has accepted this " night time jail"

As long as he has a big bowl of food......he is quite content and is glad to see me each morning when I open the door and let him out.

So what has October brought your way?

I would love to hear.

It's butterfly time here on the grounds

every year the Monarch butterflies flutter their way from South Dakota on their way to southern Mexico. 

They land here and hang around in the trees for only a few days and then the glide away to their destination.

It is a delight to walk underneath the mesquite trees with hundreds of these winged beauties fluttering above and all around.

How about you?  Are they fluttering around you as well?

What other creatures are migrating your way?

A bird does not sing because it has an answer. 

It sings because it has a song.  

Chinese Proverb