A day on our land

We left early this morning at 5:45 and drove up to our land.  We had a couple of rain showers on the way up but it was supposed to clear up and be nice.  It stopped raining but we never saw the sun. 
Still we had a good time trekking all over our land.  We found the borders for the second piece of land which we really don't even own yet.  We go to closing this week!!
Picked out a couple sites where we would like to build our cabin and a shed though these might change again.  But we are happy with our choices so far.
See Ken in his orange sweat shirt?  He's marking a tree on our property line.

This one is looking down our driveway to the road.

And here i am walking up the driveway.

Here's a mini falls in our little brook.

In the middle of walking around and planning we took a break and ate lunch in the truck.  I  made chicken salad sandwiches on rolls and we had pumpkin bread for dessert. 

Around 2:30 the fog started rolling in.

And we headed back home at 3:00.  When we first started home the fog was pretty bad.  I took this picture through the windshield.

Luckily it only last a little while and soon we were in the clear again.  

So we are home safe and sound once again and enjoying a nice quiet evening at home.  

Though i had no morning walk today we walked just over 4 miles on the land and i'm sure i used up more calories walking up and down hills and over rocks than 6 miles on a morning walk. 

Hope you enjoyed your day!!
Happy New Year!!
Happyone : )

A beautiful sunrise

I left my usual time today and walked in the dark.  I figured i knew where all the ice was from yesterday.  I'm glad i left before sunrise because it sure was beautiful this morning.

It was 26 degrees and i walked around the lake.  No wind and it turned out to be a nice sunny morning.
Very quiet around the lake.  I only saw a couple of people.
The heron was around again as well as the usual ducks and geese.  I saw five deer.  These three eating in the back of a yard which they have food for the deer and birds.  They have made it an animal habitat.  It is across the stream that i walk along on the way to the lake.

I saw two more deer farther along the path later on.
I walked 6 miles.

Sunrise 7:27

Sunset 4:53

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Had a good time with friends Jackie and Kerry while we all ate pizza last evening.  It was nice to catch up.  We plan to do this again soon.

Ken gave me two scratch off lottery tickets for Christmas and i won $15, so today i walked up the street to the liquor store to collect my winnings.  I also entered  Ken's Power Ball ticket again for the next five drawings.
As i was walking home i realized that i had forgotten to buy some more scratch off tickets with my winnings.  I'm thinking that maybe i wasn't supposed to buy them today and when i buy them another day i will have a wining ticket with the big prize of  $50,000.

All this year i have been keeping track of the books i've read.  I joined the Library Thing Challenge to read 75 books.  I didn't meet the challenge but i did read 59 books.  You can see all the books i've read this year at the LIBRARY THING tab at the top of the page. The last one i finished this morning, which was the Bible.  I read a bit of the Bible each day and at the end of the year read the whole thing.  I've done this for many years and every time I read those last two verses it gives me the chills which reads:

He who has said all these things declares:

Yes, I am coming soon!"

Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ 

be with you all. Amen.

Revelation 22:20 & 21 

I'm not joining the Library Thing challenge for 2012.  I'll still keep a list of all the books i read but i just don't want to have a number of books hanging over my head.  Once i finish the first book for 2012 i'll take down the Library Thing Challenge tab and put up a 2012 Books tab.

Just doing a bit of this and that around the house the rest of the day.  I'll probably read and do some knitting in there somewhere too.

We are hitting the road early tomorrow morning and heading over to our land.  We just want to walk around on it and do some planning.  We will pack a lunch to take with us and eat in the truck.  It should be a fun day!!

A happy day to you!
Happyone : )

Before you put on a frown,

make absolutely sure 

there are no smiles available.

~ Jim Beggs

Finished

I left an hour later this morning for my walk.  It was 25 degrees and i wanted to wait until it was light so i could see where the ice was.  I walked around the lake.  I'm just getting to the lake here when i took the picture.  The lake is to the right and i will be turning right here instead of going straight.
The sun was out but then a few clouds came along so it was cloudy most of my walk.  No wind though and it was really nice walking weather.  It doesn't happened often when i'm walking but sometimes my toes get cold and today they were.  I started running for a little bit which made me warm and my toes warmed up.  Then i was back to walking.  By the time i got home the temperature was already up to 32.
Just a few people about the lake.  I thought there would be more because it was later but i must have been in between the early and the late people.
There were two male goldfinches sitting in the trees and i saw a few cardinals hopping along the ground.  Of course they all flew away when i tried to take pictures.
Three lucky pennies this morning - all in the Giant parking lot.
I walked 6.3 miles.

Sunrise 7:27

Sunset 4:52

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I didn't know it was supposed to snow today but as i look out of the window now the snow is really coming down.  So far it isn't sticking and i don't think much if any of it will.

Just puttering around the house today.  I've picked up some of the Christmas decorations and put them away.  I still have the tree up though and will take that down Monday.

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I have finally finished sewing all the weave-it squares together and have turned it into an afghan.  If you would like a chance to win this by donating to the American Cancer Society, check back here next week for the details.

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We are meeting friends this evening at one of the pizza places we frequent.  Haven't seen them for quite a while and it will be nice to catch up with them. 

Enjoy this day and make a happy memory.

Happyone : )

A smile confuses an approaching frown.

~Author Unknown

Planting some herbs

It was 40 degrees this morning but the radio said it was going to be very windy so i wore all my layers because i thought it would be cold with the wind.  I walked out the door and there was no wind at all so it didn't take very long for me to feel quite warm.  I took off my hat, unzipped my jacket and sweat shirt and felt better.  There was a breeze kicking up by the time i got home but not the wind that i thought.  It was a nice clear sunny morning, at least once the sun came up. I walk for about 45 minutes before the sun rises.

I walked my connect the path route.  I saw a couple of deer and some kind of a big bird fly by with a huge wing span and land up at the top of a tree.  I don't know what kind of bird it was and couldn't find it in the bird book.  Must of been some kind of hawk.

Not many people out again.  I saw two people walking dogs and my walking friends Petey and John were out along one of the paths.  I walked along the way a little while with my son David.  He called me while he was out walking too.  So even though he was walking in NJ and i'm walking here we still get to walk together once in a while. : ) 

I walked 6.4 miles

Sunrise 7:26

Sunset 4:52

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One of my Christmas presents was this Chia Herb Garden. It comes with everything you need all in one box.
I got it started today.

It comes with six herbs but just three pots so i picked Basil, Dill, and Chives to grow.
I wet the sponges and put them in the pots.
Then added a little more water until there was about a half inch in the saucer.
The basil and dill seeds just get sprinkled on the top of the sponge.
Had to make a little hole for the chive seeds and then covered that up. 
Then in went the plant makers.

It was suggested to put sandwich bags over the pots to encourage germination so that is what i did and put them on the window sill over my kitchen sink.

Now i just have to wait for the plants to grow.
The basil it says should take about five
days.
The dill should take eight days.
And the chives about two weeks.
Hopefully i can now look forward to cooking with some fresh herbs.
I'll be posting more pictures if and when they grow!

I baked some Snickerdoodles.  Well, i really didn't bake them.  They came frozen in a box and i just had to bake them in the oven for 15 minutes.  They were bought as a fun raiser for school.  I didn't eat any of them though, because each cookie is 150 calories and that just seems too much for one cookie.  I'll wait and have my ice cream snack tonight.  Perhaps i'll send the Snickerdoodles along with Ken tomorrow to work and they can eat them.

I'm still working on sewing the weave-it square strips finishing up that afghan.  I've sewn two strips on today and only have one more to go!!!  I'll soon have details posted how you can give to charity and get a chance to win the afghan. 

It may not have been windy this morning, but it sure is this afternoon.  But the sun is out shining brightly too.
I wish a happy day for you.
Happyone : )

Your success and happiness lies in you.

Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you

shall form an invincible host against difficulties.

~ Helen Keller

A rainy day

A cloudy morning with no wind and a temperature of 38 degrees.  I headed out at 6:30 as usual and walked around the lake.  Very quiet morning.  Only saw a handful of people out.  I watched the heron flying low over the water and a few cardinals in the trees.  The geese were all just waking up and making their usual racket!  Once again there are so many of them on and around the lake.  Their numbers vary quite a lot.
It was a dreary morning but still i was glad there was no snow or ice and i could be out there walking. : )
Nothing caught my eye to take a picture of so i thought i'd post an aerial view of the lake and surrounding area where i walk.  You can see the lake in the middle of the picture.  (ignore that red triangle) When i made the picture bigger it rain over into the sidebar so had to keep it smaller.  You can always click on it to make it bigger if you like.

I walked 6.2 miles.

Sunrise 7:26

Sunset 4:51

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It started raining just as i left for my Tuesday morning knitting group.  I forgot to take a count of the people that showed up but i'd guess around a dozen or so.   I knitted on the same baby blanket from last week.  I'll post another picture of it once i have a bit more of it done.  Right now it is only a quarter of the way finished.

Still raining when i left and went to the library.  This week again i dropped off a few items for Ken.  I practically pass by the library on my way home which is why i usually stop there after knitting.  I just dropped the books off and turned around and walked right back out!!  Didn't even look around.  I am really serious about finished some of those four shelves of books that i have at home.

I played around with a few different looks for my blog.   I started out with one of the templates offered and then just changed around the colors and fonts until i ended up with this.  I tried to go for a bright look that is easy to read.  Hope you find it so. : )

 Well it is still raining out and has been a pretty dreary day.  I'm glad i got out for a bit to be with some friends.  And now i am going to read some blogs and have a little visit with you too.

A happy day to you.
Happyone : )

A happy New Year!

Grant that I may bring to 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

Monday

Didn't walk yesterday on Christmas but i was back to walking this morning.  I slept in a little bit and didn't leave until 7:00.  It was 38 degrees with a bit of a breeze kicking up but the sun came out and i had a great walk around the lake.  There were a few other walkers and runners scattered around the lake as well.  The main gates were closed so it was people who lived close enough to the lake who could walk there.  I did see a few cars parked along the road by a couple of the entrances though.

I saw the heron standing at the waters edge when i walked over the red footbridge.  A couple of mocking birds where flying about and i also saw a few chickadees.

There are many benches along the path around the lake and they have plaques on them honoring or in memory of someone.  For the past three years that i have been walking here each Christmas a wreath like this one has been placed behind this bench on the little hill.  The ornaments on the wreath are made of bird seed.  It always touches my heart to see this and to read the plague.

I walked 6 miles.

Sunrise 7:26

Sunset 4:50

The daylight hours will now be starting 

to get longer minute by minute. : )

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When i came home from my walk there was a little gift bag sitting in the wreath on my front door.  Inside was a card that said Merry Christmas and these five mini candles.  The card was not signed so i have no idea who it is from.  A nice little surprise. : )

Ken and i had a nice and quiet Christmas.
I'm always glad when Christmas is over.  I am not a big holiday person, and not sure why.  Maybe because i expect it to be more than it is and it really is just another day.  I prefer the ordinary every day goings on in life.  With no expectations every day is great just in itself. 

I took advantage of the sunny day and did a load of whites and hung them outside.  There is still a bit of a breeze so they should dry fast.  I've already done my Body Electric workout and a few other chores around the house.

Ken is off own his own this morning but we are meeting up later for lunch and then i'm not sure what the rest of the day will bring.

Hope your day is a happyone.
A smile from me to you.
Happyone  : )

People are so worried about what they eat 

between Christmas and the New Year,

but they really should be worried about what 

they eat between the New Year and Christmas.

~Author Unknown

A walk and Merry Christmas

It rained last night but had stopped by morning when i left for my walk.  It was another warm morning with a temperature of 47 but there was a bit of a breeze which made it feel a little cooler.  Still, not cold and it made for nice walking weather.  I walked my original connect the path route.  It is one of the first routes i mapped out when first moving here.  Haven't walked that particular route in a while.

We had more rained than i thought last night because the little stream has overflowed its banks here and has spread into the woods as you can see by these two pictures. This is the same stream that runs along the other path i walk that takes me to the lake but just up a lot farther away from the lake.

I haven't seen any deer for a while so it was nice to count five of them this morning. They didn't stay around for picture taking though.

A very quiet morning along the paths.  Two people were walking dogs and i saw my friends Petey and John.

In places there was a coating of mud over the path and as i slipped i was reminded that  mud can be as slippery as ice.  Thankfully i didn't fall, only slipped.  Not only would i be embarrassed, hurt or both, i would be very muddy too!!

Another lucky penny day. : )
I walked 6.5 miles.

Sunrise 7:24

Sunset 4:49

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I'm all set for Christmas.  Baking finished, presents bought, wrapped and sitting under the tree.  Now we can relax and enjoy the next couple of days and remember why we celebrate the day.

 A Christmas card for you.

May you all have a Very Merry Christmas! : )

Love,

Happyone : )

Taking the next couple of days off from blogging.  See you on Monday.

Light show

Another one of those warm mornings and this time the sun came out too.  Temperature was 45 degrees.  Today i stayed walking on the sidewalks and walked down to the end of Gray Rock and then turned around and walked back home.  I walked on one side of the street on the way there then crossed over and walked on the other side back home.  I don't usually like to backtrack but if i walk on opposite sides of the street at least i'm walking on different sidewalks!
A lot of people keep their Christmas lights on all night and since it was dark for the first part of my walk, it was nice looking at all the lights.
Only a few other people were out walking but there were a lot more cars than usual.
Looks like a lot of airplanes flying around too.  Look at all the contrails up in the sky.
Looks like they made a tic tac toe game.  Now i'd like to see them put the x's and o's in it!!

I walked 6.4 miles.

Sunrise 7:24

Sunset 4:48

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Yesterday afternoon when we went to the movies we saw Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.  It wasn't the best movie i've ever seen but it was good and entertaining.  Lots of action which was totally unbelievable!! Not the Sherlock Holmes that Conan Doyle had in mind though.  A cool thing i liked about the movie was that the camera shot around looking at all the details that Holmes saw and then seeing the options he thought of before taking the course of action he did.

We got out of the movie a little after 5 and then headed across the street and had dinner at Bertucci's.

Then it was time for a drive through the Symphony of Lights.  It cost $20 a car (doesn't matter how many people are in the car) and all the proceeds go to the Howard County General Hospital. The road winds around quite a lot of displays and some are pretty elaborate. Lots of them have movement in them so it was hard to get good pictures but here are some that i took.

It was a fun time and things like this always make me feel like a kid again.  We really enjoyed driving though it.  There were only a few other cars there.  But we saw plenty of cars when we left. Traffic was horrendous when we left, but that was to be expected since the mall is right across the street.

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I'm staying home all day today.  All my Christmas stuff is done and i'm staying away from the crowds.

I finished reading Gulliver's Travels by Jonathon Swift.  The first half of the book was good and that is what i remember the movie being about.  I just remember from the movie that he was ship wrecked and spent some time with little people and then with giants.  The book continues with him spending time also with people who live on a floating island in the sky and a place where horses are like people and the people are uncivilized.  I can understand why the movie was just about the first part of the book because the second half of it is not very good at all.  At least i didn't think so!!!

Spent the morning doing the usual house stuff - nothing too exciting but getting things done that need to be.

I'm taking a break now to write a post, read some blogs and then either, knit, read, or sew squares or maybe a little bit of everything! 

Hope all is well with you on this Thursday, three days before Christmas!
A happy day to you.
Happyone : )

 Unless we make Christmas an occasion 

to share our blessing,

all the snow in Alaska

won't make it 'white'.

~ Bing Crosby

Another day in the life....

Another warm morning like yesterday.  48 degrees, no breeze and cloudy.  I walked over to the lake and walked around it but didn't walk on the upper path which is about a half mile less than if i took the upper path.
Not all that many people around the lake this morning.  I'm sure it's because of Christmas and people are just busy doing other things.  The people i did see are the regulars who have to get outside to walk. : )

I passed up my street on the way home and walked down the road a bit to one of the  paths and walked down there a bit and over the footbridge in the picture.  I didn't see anyone at all down the path.  I actually like when i don't see anyone along my paths.  I like being out there alone.
It was a quiet uneventful walk but i felt good to be outside walking.
I walked 6.9 miles.

Sunrise 7:23

Sunset 4:48

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I really enjoyed the cookie exchange last night.  18 women showed up each bringing 2 dozen cookies, the recipes for them, some extra food for us to eat, a gift for the gift exchange and a container to bring home a sampling of cookies.  It was held at Rosemary's house who has a beautiful home and was able to accommodate all of us easily.  I think she said this was the 5 year that the cookie exchange has been at her home.
We all voted on the cookies in various categories and the winners got blue ribbons.  I ate too many cookies when trying to figure which ones to vote for.   I mean how can you vote on a cookie if you haven't eaten it!!
The gift exchange was fun.  One person at a time picked out and opened a present.  The next person either got to steal a gift already opened or pick a wrapped one.
I left home at 6:30 and got home a little before 10:00.  Ken was glad when i got home so he could eat a few cookies. : )
I had a great time and already look forward to next years exchange!!

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Ken took the day off from work to do his Christmas shopping.  He was already gone by the time i got back home from walking.

While he was out, i wrapped up the few presents i bought for him the other week.
I did a few things around the house and now i'm about to have some lunch.

Later when Ken gets home, we are going to go to the movies this afternoon, pick up a bite to eat somewhere afterwards  and then take a drive through the Symphony of Lights that is held every year at Merriweather Post.   We went years ago and haven't been since so thought it would be a good year to go again.  I'm hoping to get some good pictures.

Should be a nice afternoon and another nice evening awaiting me.

I hope you are enjoying your day as well.

A smile from me to you.

Happyone : )

Maybe Christmas, "he thought, "doesn't come from a store.

Maybe Christmas........

Means a little bit more."

~ Dr Seuss

Lots of books

A cloudy and still morning and a warm one too.  Temperature was 49 degrees!!!  I was able to leave a few layers of clothing behind.
Didn't walk on any mapped out route of mine today, just walked here and there.  Paths, sidewalks, and even a parking lot.
I saw a few people scattered around this morning walking, running and walking dogs.
 I heard birds and saw squirrels.  One of the squirrels had a bend about three quarters of the way down in his tail.  Must have gotten it caught somewhere.  I've seen squirrels with part of their tails gone but never with a severe angle in it like this one.  It didn't seem to be bothering him at all.
Not much else going on, pretty quiet out there this morning.  Still an enjoyable walk.
Found a couple more coins - a dime and a penny.
Walked 6.4 miles.

Sunrise 7:23

Sunset 4:47

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Packed up my knitting and headed out to my Tuesday morning knitting group.  There were about a dozen of us there.  I knitted on the baby blanket i started last week.  I have enough done now  so that you can see the pattern.  

It is nice to be knitting on this now because i have learned the pattern and can just knit without thinking about it much.

Made a stop at the library on the way home to drop a book off.  Not one of mine this time (i'm reading a book that i own) but one of Ken's.  I was determined not to check out any more books out of the library and this time i really DIDN'T!!  I have a LOT of books at home here that have to be read.  In fact i have four full shelves on my bookcase of books that i haven't read yet.  I could go a whole year without ever going to the library and still not be able to read all these books. 

So am going to try to read a good many of these this year.  I probably won't keep most of them.  If i really really like a book and would possibly reread it i'll keep it, otherwise i'll just give it away.  Some of the books are a collection and have a few novels in one book.  Oh yeah, and the 4 new ones i just bought, A Song of Ice and Fire series  by George R.R. Martin aren't on the shelves. 

Tonight i go to the cookie exchange.  I have the cookies i made, a few copies of the recipe, a container to bring home cookies and a little gift for a Christmas game we are to play all ready to go.  I'm looking forward to going and to having a happy time and maybe even make a new friend. : )

Hope your day has been a happy one.
Till next time......
Here's a smile from me to you.  : )
Happyone 

Somehow, not only for Christmas

But all the long year through,

The joy that you give to others

Is the joy that comes back to you.

And the more you spend in blessing

The poor and lonely and sad,

The more of your heart's possessing

Returns to you glad.

~ John Greenleaf Whittier

ice cream and cookies

A nice calm morning with no breeze at all and a temperature of 20 degrees when i started out.  It warmed up some once the sun came out and it was a beautiful morning for walking. I walked around the lake again.  There were a scattering of people about and the usual geese, ducks and birds.  Walked off the paved path a few times to walk down by the water.
A pretty quiet walk but a most enjoyable one. 
I walk by the Giant every day and i stopped in there this morning before i came home.  With being warm from walking and with all my layers on,  walking into the store was like walking into an oven!  A couple of layers got unzipped, hoods came down and the headband came off while i walked around finding the molasses and egg beaters that i needed for making cookies later on.  It was nice to get outside once again to cool off.  It is like that when i get home from walking too, but there i can just peel the layers off!!
I found another lucky penny.  This one was brand new and shiny.
I walked 6.6 miles.

Sunrise 7:22

Sunset 4:47

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The other day we got in a new supply of ice cream and i picked out a limited edition new flavor.  Very good choice.  It is the best flavor ever - Whoopie Pie!  Bits of whoopie pie pieces and creamy filling swirl all in chocolate ice cream.  This is my new favorite!! : )

I baked the cookies that i will be bringing to the cookie exchange tomorrow evening.  I made Pfeffernusse Cookies.  The store bought cookies i find hard, but mine are nice and soft.  I will be bringing two dozen of them tomorrow.  I have the recipe HERE on MealsMatter if you would like to make them.  These are one of my daughter Debbi's favorite cookies.  If your reading this Debbi, i thought of you today the whole time making them. : )

Its still early afternoon and i just have a couple of things that i need to get done and then i'm going to sew some more of those weave-it squares tegether.  I never did get the afghan finished last week like i wanted to.  I have all the four squares of four all sewn together in long strips, now i have to sew them together to make the blanket.  Anyway, i'll sew a couple of rows and then maybe read.  I'm just about finished with Gulliver's Travels. 

Take the time to enjoy the small moments of happiness you find throughout your day and you will find that you had a happy day.
Happyone : )

 Whatever else be lost among the years,

Let us keep Christmas still a shining thing;

Whatever doubts assail us, or what fears,

Let us hold close one day, remembering

Its poignant meaning for the hearts of men.

Let us get back our childlike faith again.

~ Grace Noll Crowell

More acres, a walk and a musical

We left the house yesterday morning at 6:45 to drive to western Maryland to our land and to walk around and look over the 8 acres right next to ours.  Earlier in the week we got a call from Amy, our realtor for the land we just bought.  The 8 acres right next to ours just went on the market and she asked if we were interested.  We said yes!  After walking around on it yesterday we decided yes we really would like to have it and put in an offer.  Things moved pretty fast over the phone with the other realtor and the sellers.  They turned our first offer down but came back with a counter offer, we turned that one down and we came back with another which they agreed too.  We go to closing the first week in the new year.  So we will be the owner of sixteen beautiful wooded acres.  What we get with this new land is a better road onto the property, electricity already there with a meter and the brook we discovered on the property line is now all ours and right in the middle of our land.  Oh yes, and a better view!  We are so excited to have all this land to ourselves!
Here i am walking on down along one of the roads on our land.  It was only in the 20's and not long after it started snowing.

 

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I walked around the lake this morning.  It was a cold morning at 25 degrees and cloudy but it was very still without any breeze at all.  Didn't see anyone at all until i was half way around the lake and then i saw quite a few people.  

I'm on the way back home on the path here.  If you look close you might be able to see a deer up ahead walking on the right side of path.

I walked 6.1 miles.

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There was a special service at church this morning, a Christmas Musical called The Lost Star put on by the choir and other talented people from my church.  I am always amazed at the talent of the people in my little church.  

Jesus.....

the greatest story.

the most amazing gift.

the blessed hope

of all who believe.

Thanks be to God for is indescribable gift.

1 Corinthians 9:15

Have a very happy Sunday to all.
Happyone : )

Let's approach Christmas with an expectant hush,

rather than a last minute rush!

~ Anonymous

Red Christmas Balls

Even warmer this morning at 46 degrees, but the temperature went down a few degrees by the time i got back home.  Breezy with a few gusts  now and then.  Blowing pretty hard as i walked along the wide end of the lake by the dam, but then once i was by the trees i was protected.  A nice quiet walk around the lake.  Just a few people out.  I left about 15 minutes later than usual.

The heron was standing on the rocks over by the boat ramp which is now closed until spring so i won't be seeing any more boats on the lake till spring.  There are a few Mallard ducks who hang out at the lake but today there was whole lot of them around.

I've mentioned before that the park rangers drive around the lake checking things out.  I just finished walking around the lake and was on the path headed home, when i turned around and snapped this picture of them driving in the truck.

As i say frequently it was a great morning to be outside walking.
I walked 6.4 miles.

Sunrise 7:20

Sunset 4:46

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 Next Tuesday evening a lady from my church is having a Christmas cookie exchange at her house.  I've often heard of these but have never been to one so i am looking forward to going.  Today i went for a ride to find her house to make sure i knew where it was.  It was ten miles away and easy to find.

I spent some time in the kitchen this afternoon but i wasn't haven't fun baking.  I was cleaning the appliances, washing the floor and giving all the counter tops a good cleaning instead of just the usual wipe down.   Getting done the things that have to be done but that no one notices. 

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 Starting in 1972 every Christmas Ken has painted a red Christmas ball ornament with the year and something that made the year memorable.  He was the one who decided what to paint and would surprise us with it.  It was always fun to see what he painted on the balls each year.  For some reason he never got around to painting a ball in 2008 and so the tradition ended then.  2007 was the last year and it was the year i started blogging and as you can see from the picture  "happyone" got her own red ball. : )
Here is just a sampling of the red Christmas balls.  I think you will be able to read most of them.

I still have some ironing to do for this week so i'm off to finish that up.  Then it will be time for some fun stuff.  Not sure yet what i'll decide to do.
It's Friday and i'm pretty sure it is going out for pizza night out.

Hope your day was happy one.
Happyone : )

As long as we know in our hears

what Christmas ought to be,

Christmas is.

~ Eric Sevareid

Glass Banks

This morning was more like a spring day with a temperature of 42 degrees!!  A big difference from a few days ago when it was 17!!!  We sure have changeable weather.  I didn't go to over the lake but just walked all over the place on no particular route.  After walking about 4 miles i was near home and stopped there for a pit stop, then left again and continued my walk.

I walked along roads,

 A few paths,

 And over a few footbridges.

I took the left turn here.

I didn't see any wildlife except for birds.  Not many people out along the paths but Petey and John were out walking and stopped for a chat with them.  

A warm, still, but cloudy morning.

I walked 7.1 miles.

Found a penny and a dime.

Sunrise 7:20

Sunset 4:45

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ArtyMarti asked me what i do with the pennies that i find.   Some of you know as i've mentioned it before but for those of you who don't, i save all the coins i find in old glass banks.  I've been saving them for years.  These are all my banks lined up.  You can see four more empty ones down at the end all waiting to be filled.

I got my cards written out yesterday and put them in the mail this morning when i was out walking.  I didn't write out very many but it is still nice to be done with it.

Finished up a few chores around the house in the morning and then i had some time for some reading after lunch.

I'm reading Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift.  I've seen a few versions of the movie but have never read the book.  I guess i should have realized but didn't, that this book was written in the 1700's!!  It is a bit slow reading because of that but i am enjoying the book.  It is my own book which i bought a while back with a gift card.

So that's been my day so far.  I'm off now to sew some more of those weave-it squares together.  There seems to be no end to them!!

Don't forget to take some time for yourself and do something you enjoy.
A smile from me to you.
Happyone : )

You can never truly enjoy Christmas 

until you can look up into the Father's Face 

and tell him you have received his Christmas gift.

~ John R. Rice

Cleaning day

It felt warm this morning at 32 degrees after the cold mornings we have been having.  I walked around the lake again.  There are short paths through the trees that the fishermen take walking down to the lake and this morning i walked down a few of these to go down by the water.  A beautiful sunrise this morning through the trees.

I spotted a heron and took a video of him but can't seem to get it posted here, but here's a still picture i took of him.

The usual amount of people were out around the lake enjoying the early morning.  A quiet morning around the lake but i enjoyed walking down by the water.  I like to walk off the paved paths because i like walking in the woods and this way i can pretend that i am. : )

I found a lucky penny on the way home.

I walked 6.7 miles.

Sunrise 7:19

Sunset 4:45

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First thing this morning i got the sheets washed and hung outside on the line to dry and the bread machine going making a loaf of bread.  Then got a body electric workout out of the way.  Usually do it in the afternoon.

Then spent the rest of the day cleaning.

Just thought i'd take a break and post this.  Still have to put the sheets back on the bed and figure out what to make for supper.

Hope all is well in your part of the world.

A happy Wednesday to you.

Happyone : )

Fail not to call to mind,

in the course of the twenty-fifth of this month,

that the Divinest Heart that ever walked the earth

was born on that day;

and then smile and enjoy yourselves the rest of it ;

for mirth is also of Heaven's making.

~ Leigh Hunt

Walking, knitting and eating

A few degrees warmer today at 21.  Not much of a difference that i noticed though.  It was calm and a great morning for walking around the lake.

Down at the narrow end of the lake there was a light coat of ice forming.  I'm sure it is melted by now though because as i type this, it is 46 degrees.  Not a lot of people out but still enough so that i didn't feel like i was the only person out.
The geese sit here on the hill.  Some eating, some sleeping.

A nice but uneventful walk.
I walked 6.4 miles.

Sunrise 7:18

Sunset 4:45

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I have missed my knitting group the last couple of weeks and it was nice to get back to that and see my friends there, for some knitting and talking.  A few people brought in some Christmas goodies and most of us tried hard not to eat anything.  I couldn't seem to pass up the sugar and cinnamon coated pecans.  I consoled myself saying that nuts are good for me!! : )
There were a dozen of us at knitting.  The knitting group is not only for knitters but for anyone who makes anything.  One of the women is making a bear for her mom for Christmas.  Here is what she has done so far.  I think she is doing a fantastic job on it.  To make it heavy so it can sit up she put a bag of BB's in the bottom! 

I've started another baby blanket.  You might remember that i knitted a yellow one a while back.  You can see it HERE.  The pattern is HERE.
This one i am using a cotton yarn and knitting it on size 8 needles.  I've just started so just have a few rows done so far.

 A close up of the stitches.

The knitting group breaks up at about 12:00.  Ken had to go over to the bank on his lunch hour today and gave me a call at 12:00.  My knitting group is at the mill which is where Rams Head Tavern is so he came over and we had lunch together there.  A very pleasant diversion in the middle of my day.

Haven't done a thing around the house yet so i'll be busy this afternoon getting some things done.  I never did write out those cards yesterday and don't think i'll get around to it today either.  Well, there is always tomorrow.

Hope you are enjoying your Tuesday.  If your busy working, don't forget to take some time for some fun too. 

A happy day to you.
Happyone : )

Love came down at Christmas,

Love all lovely, Love Divine;

Love was born at Christmas;

Star and angels gave the sign.

~ Christina Rossetti