Three Donkeys

45 degrees this morning, calm, and cloudy.

Took along my walking stick this morning because I walked the Farm Loop.

Just take my stick with me on country roads and in the woods.

In town I don't bother with it.

Just before I reached the first farm counted 5 deer run across the 

the road in front of me.

It wasn't quite light out yet when I got to Farmer Bill's

farm where these three donkey's live.

Sorry for the low quality of the picture but wanted a picture of the donkeys.

They all came over to the fence when I got there.

A very peaceful and quiet walk around the loop and

didn't see any people or cars.

It is hard to see but can you spot the swing 

hanging on the right side of the tree?

I cropped it here.

From the Jeep, around the loop and back to the Jeep is

4 1/2 miles.

When I got back I walked the other 1 1/2 miles around the 

cemetery on the top of the hill

to give me my 6 mile total.

☁️    🙂    ☁️

Another warm day and mid morning the sun came out

for a little while.

Finished up reading my last book for the year,

Go Tell the Bees That I am Gone by Diana Gabaldon.

It is the 9th book in the series with one more book

to be written.

We never go anywhere for New Years Eve.

Just another day for us.

We are making home made pizza for supper.

The dough is in the bread machine now.

Thanks for stopping by.

🎊 Happy New Years Eve 🎊

👩🏻‍🦳 happyone ❤️

What a wonderful thought it is 

that some of the best days of our lives 

haven't even happened yet.

- Anne Frank -

Muddy

Sunrise 7:37

The warm weather continues and still no snow!!

It was 45 degrees this morning and calm.

A very light drizzle when I started walking but it soon stopped

and was just cloudy for the rest of my walk.

Walked all around town and the streets behind the house

we lived in when we lived in town.

Walked around both cemeteries.

The bulls are pretty muddy today.

Farmer Marvin keeps putting straw down but before long it just

sinks down into the mud.

Wonder if the bulls prefer the mud or would rather have the

cold when the mud freezes.

Once again I saw the woman walking her dog.

We said Good Morning.  

When you see the rolled bales of hay in a field they look big

but when you get up close they are huge.

Took this picture from the lower cemetery.

I live just over that hill where the arrow is pointing.

Walked 6 miles

🌧    🙂    ☁️

We went for a little ride this morning just to get out of

the house for a little while.

Today I rearranged my hutch.  

Took everything off of it and put all different things on it.

Then I had to find places to put all the things that I took off it.

So now everything is in the process of getting changed around.

It's fun though and I enjoy doing it.

Got the baby blanket squares all sewn up but haven't

taken a picture yet.

That's been my day.

Thanks for stopping by.

A happy day to you. 🙂

👩🏻‍🦳 happyone ❤️

Take a leap of faith and begin this wondrous new year by believing.

- Sarah Ban Breathnach -

Down and put away

 Woke up to a rainy morning and walked 2 miles in the basement.

By 7:30 the rain had pretty much stopped so I drove to

town and walked other 4 miles in town.

It was 45 degrees, calm and just cloudy.

Most mornings you will see my red Jeep parked here at the pond.

The barn you can see in the distance is where the bulls live.

Walked around the cemetery on top of the hill, the ball park

and up and down the streets in town.

Saw the woman walking her dog again.  Today she was at the ball park.

She was the only person I saw.

Not much happening around town this morning.

☁️    🙂    ☁️

Ken thanks you all for all the kind comments left about his

Train Layout.

🚂    🚂

Didn't make it to Saturday with the Christmas decorations.

I took everything down and got it all put away until next year.

So many needles came off the tree getting it out the door.

Luckily the tree was up not far from the door.

Now it is all back to normal.

Never did finish sewing the squares together on the baby blanket

yesterday so hope to finish that later.

 

That's all I did today.

Thanks for stopping by.

A happy day to you. 🙂

👩🏻‍🦳 happyone ❤️

Every new year as well as every new day, 

is another chance that God has given us for a new beginning.

- Kelly R. Jackson -

Comment Replies:

Inger - Yes, Ken knows about the Tehachap Loop.

Short Train Video

 37 degrees this morning when I got to town for my morning walk.

Very calm and after sunrise a mix of sun and clouds.

Had a nice walk around town, 

both cemeteries and the ball park.

It was garbage day and I saw lots of holiday packaging and boxes

out for pick up.

We have to bring our garbage to the dump because only the

town people get it picked up at the curb.

Saw one woman out walking her dog who I've never seen before.

A lot of days I see a woman park in the pond parking lot

and take her dog down to the pond, stays for a minute or two

and then gets back in the car and away they go.

Today I saw them.

Walked 6 miles

⛅️    🙂    ⛅️

Food shopping day.  

First stopped at the Dollar General.

Got what we could there, then on to the Shop and Save to get the rest.

The clouds took over the sky later in the day

and we got some rain too.

I'm just about done sewing the baby blanket squares together

 and should be done later this evening.

Ken got me the whole series of Downton Abby on DVD for Christmas

and we will start watching it this evening.

I watched a lot of it when we had TV but missed a lot of

the episodes so it is really great to have the whole series.

🚂    🚂

Had some comments yesterday asking about Ken's

Train Layout.

Yes, sometimes he is working on the layout when I'm walking 

but not usually.

Yes, he does just play with the trains at times.

He makes up a schedule and picks up different loads from one location

and delivers them to another location. 

He does have me walking on the layout. 😊

Click HERE to see a short video of The Layout.

🚂    🛤    🚂

Thanks for stopping by.

Hope your Tuesday was a happy one. 🙂

👩🏻‍🦳 happyone ❤️

This is a new year. A new beginning.

 And things will change.

- Taylor Swift -

Thomas Kinkade Puzzle

 Weather this morning not so great for walking.

32 degrees and a cold rain falling with a bit of frozen rain thrown in.

Windy too so decided to do my walking in the basement today.

Walked my 6 miles in 3 sessions.

Two miles before breakfast. 

Two miles after breakfast.

Two miles in the afternoon.

Passed by this little scene many times.

Going one way

and them passed it again going the other way.

Fought the urge to take down all the Christmas decorations today

and will TRY to wait until Saturday. 

Our friend Bettye gave us a beautiful Thomas Kinkade jigsaw puzzle

for Christmas and I started it today.

It looks like quite a challenge but we like a challenge.

🙂 Thanks Bettye ❤️

Have started sewing Januarys baby blanket together.

A nice rainy day for doing that and also spent some time reading.

We had a pizza in the freezer from last week that we made

so that was supper.

Nice that I didn't have to cook anything.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hope your Monday was a happy one. 🙂

👩🏻‍🦳 happyone ❤️

Approach the New Year with resolve 

to find the opportunities hidden in each new day.

- Michael Josephson -

To Seek and to Save

🙂 Happy Sunday 🙂

A Sunset 

📖    📖    📖

Luke 19:10

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, 

that he gave his only begotten Son, 

that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, 

but have everlasting life.

A Blessed Sunday to all.

👩🏻‍🦳 happyone ❤️

Merry Christmas to one and all

 Happy Christmas Day to you.

It was a wet Christmas morning walk this morning.

49 degrees, rainy, and the wind is back.

Couldn't help but wish that this morning was one of the cold ones

so all this rain could have been snow!!

With it being Christmas AND rainy,

as you can imagine it was a very quiet walk around town.

Walked around the ball park and the lower cemetery.

No people about and just a handful of cars

and one farmer driving his tractor.

Walked 6 miles

🌧    🎄    🙂    🌧

Merry Christmas to you all.

Wishing you a Christmas filled with joy and happiness and love.

 👩🏻‍🦳 happyone ❤️

Thanks to all who stop by and read my blog.

It means so much to me and a special THANKS

to all who take the time to leave a comment.

It is a joy to have made so many friends in the blogging world.

 

❤️    ❤️    ❤️

Matthew 1:21

King James Version

 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: 

for he shall save his people from their sins.

Christmas Eve

Up and down with the warm and cold with the weather around here.

This morning a warm temperature of 42 degrees!!

After yesterdays 17 it felt almost balmy.

Just a slight breeze with a mix of sun and clouds.

Had a very nice walk all around town, both cemeteries and the ball park.

Christmas vacation must have started today for school

because didn't see any school buses.

The orange cat came over by me today

and the bulls are doing fine. 

Rebecca was out walking Leo and I saw Joy from a distance

and we waved.

There are a few of the big pots over in the library parking lot.

Walked my usual 6 miles

⛅️    🙂    🎄    ⛅️

This Nativity will be the last Christmas decoration

from around town in peoples yards

and my favorite.

I'm going to try to make one of my own for next year.

⭐️    ⭐️    ⭐️

Ken's went outside to cut up a few trees that have come down in all wind.

I stayed inside in the morning but after lunch 

went outside and picked up branches and put them on the fence

and then walked around Happy Trails.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Wishing you all a Happy Christmas Eve. 🙂

👩🏻‍🦳 happyone ❤️

🎶 "Away in a Manger" 🎶

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,

The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.

The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,

The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes,

But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.

I love thee, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky,

And stay by my cradle 'til morning is neigh.

Believe me, Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay

Close by me forever and love me I pray

Bless all the dear children in thy tender care

And fit us for heaven to live with thee there.

Thursday

17 degrees this morning and thankfully the wind has died down.

It was cold enough to wear my very warm coat.

It was sunny after sunrise but only walked the last mile in the sun

because I start walking when it is still dark.

Here comes the sun over the mountain and 

the sun sure felt nice on my face.

Didn't see anyone else out as I walked up and down the streets

in town, both cemeteries, and the ball park.

At the cemeteries all the Veterans graves have Christmas wreaths on them.

A quiet morning around town and a very nice walk.

Walked 6 miles

Found a Penny

☀️    🙂    💰

These huge Christmas Minions are here every year

and they always make me smile.

🎄    ⛄️    🎅🏻    🤶🏻

This morning I made Pfeffernusse Cookies which I make every Christmas.  

I love these cookies and every year I say I'm going to make them 

during the year but somehow never do.

The day turned mostly cloudy but stayed calm.

Ken and I took a walk up the lane to our neighbors house to drop

off a little something that I had made for them.

We walked back to our house through the woods with a couple

detours along some of our trails.

Had a cup of tea again when I got inside and

this time it was peppermint.

That's all for today folks.

Thanks for stopping by.

A happy Thursday to you. 🙂

👩🏻‍🦳 happyone ❤️

🎄 It seemed like the little Christmas tree wasn't so little after all. 

It seemed to grow taller and wider with all the decorations on it. 🎄

- Patricia Erickson -

Windy

29 degrees this morning, cloudy and VERY windy.

The kind of wind with gusts that pushed me along when walking or

made me take a step back depending on the direction.

Walked up and town the main street and the side streets.

Then around both cemeteries and the ball park.

One man out working in the cold at the fire house

drilling a hole in the brick of the building, for what I don't know.

Not much else going on around town.

Saw Rebecca at the end of my walk walking up to the

cemetery walking her dog Leo.

Walked 6 miles

☁️    💨    🙂    💨

A polar bear waves Merry Christmas

🎅🏻    ⛄️    🎄

Today walking I thought pancakes were just the thing for breakfast.

Not for Ken though, so he had a bagel and I made

chocolate chip pancakes for myself.

Mmmmm, that just might be my favorite breakfast.

Finished up the last of my house cleaning for the week.

(of course there is always the every day stuff that needs to be done)

Thought about walking up the lane to our neighbors house

and dropping off a little something I made for them

but it was even more windy than this morning!!

I got some more weave-its made this afternoon.

Now only need 18 more squares to finish the baby blanket.

That's going to be it for today.

Thanks for stopping by.

A happy Wednesday to you. 🙂

👩🏻‍🦳 happyone ❤️

Yes it is Christmas 

every time you smile at your brother 

and offer him your hand.

- Mother Teresa -

Tuesday

27 degrees this morning when I walked.

A cloudy morning but no wind.

 Walked all over town, the ball park and both cemeteries.

Pretty quiet around town and was thinking I wasn't going to see

anyone else out today.

I was just getting back to the Jeep when a car pulled up by me.

Some of you may remember a woman Kathy I used to mention

who I would see walking.

Haven't seen her for about 2 years.

It was her in the car and she stopped to say hi.

She is still walking but not in town.

So nice to see her again.

After Kathy left I saw Joy and I finally got to thank her for

the card and gift she left me by the Jeep.

She said some more nice things and we both got teary eyed.

Both of us said if it weren't for covid we would

give each other a big hug.

Walked 6 miles

☁️    🙂   ☁️

Santa and his reindeer ride by.

🎅🏻    🎅🏻    🎅🏻

We made a trip to the Shop and Save after breakfast 

to pick up a couple of things.

I made some more of those Meringue Bites (Forgotten Cookies)

but this time added a touch of peppermint flavoring instead of

the vanilla and put green food coloring in it.

After lunch Ken and I walked a couple of miles around Happy Trials.

When we got back I had a nice hot mug of raspberry tea.

The rest of the afternoon just puttered about the house.

Thanks for stopping by.

A happy Tuesday to you. 🙂

👩🏻‍🦳 happyone ❤️

Christmas, my child, is love in action.

- Dale Evans -

Comment Replies:

Sandi - Don't think people lose their gloves walking! Most of the gloves I find are work gloves. There are farmers who drive up and down in tractors and people in work trucks.  I think what happens is that they forget their gloves are in the back of their trucks and tractors and the gloves just blow out.  

12 gloves

Not so warm this morning.

17 degrees, but it was sunny after sunrise and no wind.

That's the morning moon in about the middle of the picture.

 Walked up and down the streets in town, the ball park 

and both cemeteries.

Didn't see any one else out there walking.

A little progress has been made on the drive thru at the bank.

Some block has been laid and a cable has been buried.

As many of you know when I find gloves along my walk 

I put them on posts along the side of the main road.

Put another glove on a post this morning.

This makes 12 of them.

12 ties for the most gloves before someone removes them all.

Maybe I can beat the record this time.

Walked 6 miles

Found a nickel

☀️    🙂    ☀️

Here's Santa

🎅🏻    🎄    🎅🏻

Got a hankering for French toast while walking so made that

for our breakfast when I got back.

It was cold but hung the sheets outside to dry on the line.

Clothes smell extra good hanging them outside when it's cold.

Then I got a good start on this weeks house cleaning.

Went outside and walked around Happy Trails.

It had warmed up to 30 and was still sunny.

Got some reading done and a few more weave-it squares made.

Thanks once again for stopping by.

A happy Monday to you. 🙂

👩🏻‍🦳 happyone ❤️

Christmas is most truly Christmas 

when we celebrate it by giving the light of love 

to those who need it most.

- Ruth Carter Stapleton -

Comment Replies:
Rose - Yes, the weave-it squares I'm making is for Januarys baby blanket.  I'm using the same color I used in the hat I knitted for Liz.  Won't have enough yarn but not sure yet what other colors I'll use.

A cloud from heaven

Happy Sunday

Took this picture a couple of days ago.

I thought it looked liked a ladder to heaven.

Ken's thought was God saying,

 I've about had enough with you down there!! 

📖    📖

Psalms 36:5

Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; 

and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.

📖    📖

A Blessed Sunday to all.

👩🏻‍🦳 happyone ❤️

2 in and 4 out

When I got up this morning it was 39 degrees and pouring down rain.

Not very pleasant walking weather so I walked 2 miles in the basement.

The rain stopped not long after.

We had to go to the Dollar General and the library so

after breakfast I walked to town.

By then the temperature was 50 degrees, cloudy, and no wind.

45 minutes later Ken drove to town and went to the Dollar General

on his own while I finished my walk.

I walked down the main road and around the ball park loop.

Didn't see anyone else out walking.

As I got to the library parking lot Ken was just coming out the door

so I hopped in the Jeep and got a ride home.

Walked 6 miles - 2 inside and 4 outside.

🌧    ☁️    🙂

This is the last snowman I've seen around town.

⛄️    🎄    ⛄️

It rained again so we spent an enjoyable afternoon in the house.

I got some reading done and made some weave-it squares too.

We are all set for Christmas.

The only other thing I'd like to do is bake some shaped

Christmas cookies and I'll do that next week.

If I made them now, they'd be all gone by Christmas. 🙂

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by.

I wish for you a happy day. 🙂

👩🏻‍🦳 happyone ❤️

Our Christmas is simple and peaceful.

Makes it easier to remember what Christmas is all about.

The birth of Jesus, our Savior, 

who gave us the greatest gift of all - our salvation.

 - karen -

Comment Replies:

Yesterday there were a few comments with concerns for the safety of the wandering #11 cow.  Not to worry.  We live on a dead end street and the only traffic is the people who live here and we all lookout for the cows and deer. 🙂

GrannyM - Yes, it as been a mild December for here.  

Anni - Yes, I have been known to drive the tractor.

A neighbor cow

39 degrees this morning and after sunrise there was a

mix of sun and clouds.  Not much of a breeze.

Didn't see anyone else out walking but didn't stay around town.

I walked on the main road straight through town to the curve 

in the road by the farm driveway.

Walked up the driveway a little ways and then turned around.

On the way back turned down the industrial park road and

walked all around there.

Back through town and to the Jeep.

Still had about a 1/4 of a mile to walk so went down the road

to the cemetery a little ways.

That's when I got a text from Ken giving me a heads up that a couple of

cows from next door escaped and were in our driveway.

I figured by the time I was home the cows would be gone.

Just about a block from home I spotted one of the cows (#11)

and stopped to take a picture and tell her she'd better get home.

She ignored me and kept eating.

She eventually walked back home.

I walked 6 miles

Victor - You commented that I haven't found any coins lately.

Then this morning I found a nickel.  😀

⛅️    🚶‍♀️    💰

Still another snowman, I like his scarf.

⛄️    🎄    ⛄️

Six weeks ago the tractor had to go in the shop

because it kept shutting off and Ken thought it had something

to do with a safety switch.

They said it would take 2 weeks.

We just got a call today, 6 weeks later and went and picked it up.

The tractor just needed some minor adjustments.

The reason it took so long was that the shop closed down

for a month because all the employees had Covid!!

Ken is so happy to have his tractor back.

After lunch he went out to find some work to do with it.

I stayed indoors this afternoon

and puttered about doing this and that.

A fun day.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hope your Friday was a happy one. 🙂

👩🏻‍🦳 happyone ❤️

Love came down at Christmas; 

 Love all lovely, love divine; 

Love was born at Christmas, 

Stars and angels gave the sign.

- Christina Rosetti - 

Thursday

 Back to a warm morning for walking.

51 this time with a mix of sun and clouds once it was light out.

Warm but very windy!!

Sunrise 7:32

A nice walk all around town, the ball park and both cemeteries.

Was hoping to see Joy to thank her for the note and gift 

but we must have been walking at different times or in different places

because we didn't run into each other.

Saw Rebecca walking Leo off in the distance.

Pretty quiet around town this early Thursday morning.

Walked 6 miles

🌤    🙂    🎄

A different kind of snowman today - not blow up ones but a metal one.

⛄️    ⛄️    ⛄️

Did the usual every day chores around the house.

It was Blankets for Babies day at church but I didn't go this time.

I'll bring my 2 blankets next month.

Today one of the ladies was going to bring lunch 

and everyone else was bringing Christmas goodies to share

but I don't feel comfortable doing that so decided to pass.

This afternoon I made some Forgotten Cookies (meringue)

but made them bite sized, left out the chocolate chips 

and made them in different colors.

I call them Meringue Bites.

Went outside but it was so windy I only stayed out for a little while.

This evening for supper I made Stuffed Pepper Soup

and had some whole wheat bread to go with it.

The recipe is quite large and I made the whole thing.

There's enough to feed an army!!

Nice to have a lot to freeze though.

Hope your Thursday was a happy one. 🙂

Thanks for stopping by.

👩🏻‍🦳happyone 

Christmas Eve! 

Its the one night of the year when we all act a little nicer, 

we smile a little easier, 

we cheer a little more. 

For a couple of hours out of the whole year, 

we are the people that we always hoped we would be.

- Bill Murray -

Walking, a gift, a snowman and a puzzle

 This morning it was 31 degrees when I left for my walk.

Driving to town I saw a few deer.

Walked in sunshine for a little while when it got light out 

but then it was just cloudy.

Walked all over town, up and down the main street and side

streets, both cemeteries, and the ball park.

Remember when I posted all the pictures of the sheds around town?

This one didn't look long for this world.

Walking past it today I saw that it finally collapsed.

There is a lot in town that has been recently cleared 

and looks like something is going to be built here.

Maybe a house?

(sorry for the blurry pictures but it wasn't quite light out yet)

I saw Joy walking down from the cemetery as I was walking up to it.

 As usual we spoke a few words before continuing on.

She never said a word about the surprise gift she put next to the 

door of my Jeep for me to find. 😊

Shelia was out running. Saw her just as I was leaving town in the Jeep.

Walked 6 miles

🌤    🎄    🙂    ☁️

Another Happy Snowman waving to all.

You can't help but smile as you walk by.

⛄️    ⛄️    ⛄️

When I got home I opened the gift that I assumed Joy left for me

and yes it was her.

The candle scent is sugared snickerdoodle

and it smells wonderful.

The note with it brought a tear to my eye. 

🚶‍♀️    🚶‍♀️   🚶‍♀️

Doing a few things around the house this morning when 

David and Liz popped in for a little visit.

I love when they do that and it makes me happy all over again

that they live so close to us.

After lunch even though it was cloudy Ken and I went out

for a walk around Happy Trails.

It was 49 degrees.

There's Ken up ahead.

The finished puzzle.

No more puzzles now until after Christmas!!

I wouldn't mind living in this puzzle. 🙂

That's it for today.

Thanks for popping in for a visit.

A happy Wednesday to you. 🙂

👩🏻‍🦳 happyone ❤️

Bless us Lord, this Christmas with quietness of mind. 

Teach us to be patient and always to be kind.

- Helen Steiner Rice -

Comment Replies:

RK - I've stopped counting how many baby blankets I make - I now have no idea how many there are!!