The eggs in my pocket have been cracked and the needle in my hand is bent.........

what started out as a routine trip into town ,

ended up with my car being ruined........

and for us in the car........

badly bruised and bent...........but  all able to walk away.

We have much to be thankful for. 

No other cars involved........just a sturdy tree on an embankment to challenge my car. 

Only 2 miles from our home........although it was a freezing day,

the roads appeared to be fine.

While my husband drove along, I was busy making out the grocery list............

our daughter.........home for a visit,  was in the back seat............

then..............one small patch of ice

and the car turns into a tilt a whirl ride.

Now the year is at it's end, and we try to get this behind us 

and  face the new year..............with new hope.

My spirit is as badly bruised as my face and ribs............for somewhere

in the spinning and smash......

my joy and enthusiasm was jolted out of me.  

but I will soon search for  fresh eggs to place in my pocket 

and I will place a new needle in my hand.........

and joy will once again return with it's enthusiasm. 

Life's lesson.........

seat belts really do save lives..........

and if it is icy outside.........everything can wait until it melts.

Wishing you a safe and blessed new year!

Another year of wild creatures, seasons, planting and planning, has come to an end

and I find myself looking over at what has come to visit the grounds,

 and all I have told you about here and 

pondering on what I would like to do differently this coming year. 

Here is a glimpse back over the creatures and plants this past year 2017

a dear blogging friend created a painting of our sweet Sophie

I found Homer ( who had been dumped on us) 

a great home with a local veterinarian 

Homer's 8 kittens arrived in march, and somehow,

I was able to find homes for the mother and all kittens

our damaged meadow has restored itself and the wildflowers

were beautiful!

the yellow headed blackbirds made their  annual visit

Three small owls stayed in our front yard tree for weeks

the tough horned toad helped get rid of ants

Gertrude got a new dress 

a hot and tired hawk  came to rest his feet in the bird bath

a very dear aunt filled our home with music and happiness

I showed a bit of my vintage kitchen

I gathered the last of my tomatoes on the vine

As I put the Christmas tree away, I am already focusing my 

attention on garden books, garden catalogs, and spaces outside

where I want to try to grow vegetables and flowers this 

next coming year.............

Tell me, what have you accomplished this year in your gardens?

What are your dreams and plans for the new year?

Lord, as the New Year dawns today,

      Help me to put my faults away.

      Let me be big in little things;

      Grant me the joy which friendship brings;

      Keep me from selfishness and spite,

      Let me be wise to what is right.

A Happy New Year! grant that I

      May cause no tear to any eye.

      When this new year in time shall end,

      Let it be said: "I've played the friend,

      Have lived and loved and labored here

      And made of it a happy year."

Edgar Guest (1881–1959), "Prayer for the New Year

Wishing you a very blessed new year!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas is forever, not for just one day,

for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away

like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf.

The good you do for others is good you do yourself.

Peace on Earth, good will to men,

kind thoughts and words of cheer,

are things we should use often

and not just once a year.

Remember too the Christ-child, grew up to be a man;

to hide him in a cradle, is not our dear Lord’s plan.

So keep the Christmas spirit, share it with others far and near,

from week to week and month to month, throughout the entire year!

~Norman Wesley Brooks (1923–2002), “Let Every Day Be Christmas,” 1976

Snow fell ,only slightly, the other day

and I loved watching the large lovely flakes

softly float across and down onto the ground.

it never accumulated and it melted away quickly,

and even though the days have gotten much colder,

I  still have a tomato vine, growing  and crawling 

wildly along the green house fence.

Ripe tomatoes along with green ones, still hanging on in 

December. 

I gathered a good bunch for the day's lunch

The lantana, even though it is still green, knows that winter is

coming and now has it's green pods that soon will turn black.

I have no idea  why they produce these.........they do not sprout

from these pods..........or perhaps, I am just not successful at

getting them to sprout that way

Yet, among the remaining green........the end of summer and

the time for everything to go into slumber, is starting to show up.

The oak tree out back has gone from vibrant orange

to a darker red........it's leaves are starting to fall.

The pomegranate tree leaves have all turned yellow and gold

So I finally bid farewell to summer 

and enjoy the glow of the fireplace

as well as  the cheery Christmas tree in the window.

Christmas is almost here.........

and I am ready for a table full of family.

How about you?  Do you have a blanket of snow

in your yard?  Is any plant still hanging on your gardens?

I would love to hear!