Always let your inner light shine

By doing so, you not only light a path for  yourself,

but also light a way for others.

 Donald L. Hicks

A pretty day to sit on the front porch

Most of the time, I find myself sitting out on the back

patio because of the welcoming morning sun.

But there are pretty winter days and afternoons

where the front porch is a haven.

The woods surround the viewing area from the side

and all around the front.  It is quiet and peaceful

today. 

A great place to read a book,  work a few stitches,

or to just sit in silence and enjoy.

On the front of the porch the Pyracantha

is full of orange/red berries

On the side of the porch, the Yaupon Holly is full 

of red berries. 

So.......everyone.......

"Come sit on the porch with me

the drinks are cold and

the friendship's free"

Happy New Year!

The past few mornings,

just before the sun completely shows itself,

the sky has been in the most beautiful color ever! 

It is always different, every day.........and it's 

beauty is more stunning as each day arrives

The weather and temps have been pleasant, dry, 

and warm.  Christmas day was close to 70

I have not yet had to use my greenhouse heater and 

the little tomato plant that I moved inside in  early fall

is still producing tomatoes.

I have had this potted flower, going on 4 years now. 

It blooms constantly and brightens up the greenhouse.

Once in a while, it seems to die down........but within

just a few weeks, it's green and back to blooming.

These are flowers that I dug up and moved to the safety of 

the greenhouse in early fall.  They still have not bloomed, 

but remain sturdy thick and green. Anyone know

what they might be?

Sophie stayed outside with me as I removed all of the

Christmas decorations.  I never like to leave Christmas things 

up  after Christmas.  I like it all packed away before the new 

year comes.

Taboo is enjoying his new bed.  He has been stealing Sophie's 

bed and taking long leisurely naps.........much to 

Sophie's dislike.  So now, he is content and feels special.

I hope this finds that you all had a happy Christmas day with

friends and family, and that you are filled with goals and hopes 

for the new year to come!

Wishing you a very merry Christmas!

And, so, Christmas comes to bless us!

Comes to teach us how to find

The joy of giving happiness

And the joy of being kind.

Gertrude Tooley Buckingham,

 "There Will Always Be a Christmas" (1940s)

Merry Christmas dear friends!  Stop by my cooking blog for

a wonderful rich Christmas cake recipe!

at this link..........Cranberry Layer Cake

When a chicken coop is not being used any longer.............

Most of you already know that I have a small group of little chickens

and for the first couple of years, they have used this little coop .

But recently, I had the large kennel pen that was over this coop, moved and 

attached to a larger hen house.  Now my chickens have a nice roomy

coop/hen house and a safe yard to wander around in. 

I did not want this coop to be tossed away.........

so I moved it to my corner garden to use as 

a decorative feature for my cement and yard decor

chickens

I placed a colorful resin/plastic rooster on the inside of the coop

along with a pretty black resin/plastic hen sitting on a nest

the empty nests have fake ceramic eggs

underneath  in the pen area, I have a vintage ceramic rooster

and a cement hen with her chicks

I also put in my handmade cement hen and rooster set

Standing proud on the outside roof is a plastic rooster.

Now my garden has chickens in it......ones that wont scratch up or 

eat away the plants!  I plan to decorate the coop more with flowers in 

the spring time.

I am sure in time, this coop will get weathered and wear down from

the outside elements.......but for now, it has 

another life.  

So tell me...........do you like yard art?

Do you like chicken yard art are some other kind of decor?

I would  love to hear! 

Taboo sits in front of the large, dining room window.....

something has caught his attention...........

let's see.........what kind of bird is this?

It is a good sized hawk, enjoying the water 

and having the best time, splashing around...........

but wait...........what is that sound??

a tiny woodpecker is tap tap tapping

on the tree in front of the window

it is almost too much for Taboo to have to  be stuck inside....

only to be able to watch.  Just when he thought

this fun was over

up comes a hungry buck to enjoy some of the feed 

that the birds have not yet discovered.

All of this excitement can wear one small black cat out.

Now Taboo sleeps.........flicking his tail and paw

now and then......dreaming of what is in front of the window.