The greeting cards have all be sent

the decorations, gift gathering, and planning are done.

As the days towards Christmas start winding down, 

so do the days that mark the end of another year.

While I did not get as much as I had hoped accomplished in this one year,

I can say I am happy with what I did accomplish and with what I have learned on what I do want to accomplish in the year to come. I am not one for resolutions....but I do have plans and hopes of what could be possible.

How about you?

The outside grounds are just now starting to die down for a long winters nap.  As much as I would like to stay inside and stitch by the fire during these days, these cold days allow me the opportunity to clear new garden spaces and to get" hard to manage" projects out of the way.  Simply because there is not 100 degree heat to try to tolerate and the rattlesnakes are a little less aggressive.  I feel a little bit safer working on a chilly day and I can get much more accomplished

I have the  reward of my needle waiting when I am through.

As the last days of this year pass one by one, 

here's wishing you joy, peace and contentment.

Have yourself a Merry Christmas!

So remember while December

Brings the only Christmas Day

In the year let there be Christmas

In the things we do and say

Wouldn't life be worth the living

Wouldn't dreams be coming true

If we kept the Christmas spirit

All the whole year through.

Author unknown, c.1962

visit my country cooking blog for the recipe for this  delicious chicken meal.

you can find the recipe at this link:

Skillet Chicken Florentine

 

  

A Visitor

 

" Allow yourself time to appreciate the little things. 

 Because, of course, they really are not so little after all"

                                            Margaret B Moss

***Western Tiger Salamander 

As I sit outside on the pleasant early November days,

 I watch the leaves of the twisted mesquite trees, falling to the ground, drifting with the breeze.  These are small, long , narrow, leaves and in the early sunlight, it looks as if it is raining  golden raindrops. 

The woods and much of the trees are still green in color at this time of year..........yet, the ground is getting covered by the leaves that are turning gold and letting loose .........they know, it is time to go to sleep for the long cold days ahead. 

Amazingly, there are still butterflies and large fuzzy bumble bees lingering in and out of the  .......still blooming, remaining summer flowers......gathering what they can from the lovely petals that soon will be gone. 

In the,  what seems to be, slowing down time, it is actually a hurry up and get things done time.  With the daylight ending early, the outside matters need to be tended to.....from clearing garden spaces for late fall flower seed planting,  and bulb containers waiting for bulbs to be planted, to wrapping plastic housing around plants that stay outside of the greenhouse to endure the winter months. 

Inside, a quick survey and a list is to be made for things needed in the pantry and for the ingredients to make  meals for the upcoming holidays.  Even with a year of me knowing the holidays are coming........I am still in a rush mode when it gets down to just a few weeks left to be ready.  

In spite of the rush, these are pleasant days  to enjoy...........full of long walks, amazing morning skies, and calming golden sunsets.  

Tell me, are you busy getting outside things prepared for the cold days ahead?.......are you planning on fun gatherings around your holiday table?.......are you taking time to enjoy these pleasant and calm days?  

Here's wishing for you much pleasantness and peace these November days. 

Wishing you a happy Halloween

 

Gnome and elf and fairy,

Witch and ghost make merry

On this last of dear October’s days.

Lettie C. Van Derveer, Halloween Happenings, 1921

The lovely days of October are here............

 and fall is taken over summer, yet,

here in Texas, it still feels like summer.

The days are sunny and most of the time in the 80s and low 90s.

The flowers in the garden are still as lovely as can be.

The morning glory is full and a beautiful blue

and the most beautiful creatures hide within it's leaves.

The rose moss is still cheery,

the zinnia is still showing off it's vibrant colors

They are such a happy flower it seems

The cosmos are the loveliest ever this year

The wild prairie aster that grows along the grounds, 

has chosen a section of the garden fence to grow.  

They are such a cheerful flower.

Nature knows that cold weather will soon be here 

and  many creatures have been discovered hiding underneath

any kind of covering on the ground.  It is a time 

that we have to be very careful and observant to avoid being 

bitten.  Thankfully this is a checkered garter snake.

A very shy and gentle creature.

And with October being a favorite time for the taste of pumpkin,

it is also a time for the warm wonderful flavorful dishes 

that apples can bring.  I have a recipe for a wonderful treat 

for just this time of year.   You can find it on my cooking blog  

at this link:  

Apple Crisp

Here's wishing you lovely and pleasant autumn days!

 

From my garden.................

Flowers are the music of the ground,

From Earth's lips

Spoken without  sound

Edwin Curran

 

I'll tell you how the Sun rose –A Ribbon at a time....Emily Dickinson, c.1860

 

Slow buds the pink dawn like a rose

From out night's gray and cloudy sheath;

Softly and still it grows and grows,

Petal by petal, leaf by leaf...

Susan Coolidge, "The Morning Comes Before The Sun"