come see the prairie...

we took a drive...

before another snow started to fall...

before the prairie was painted white...

and this was covered up again...

the prairie is 99% flat...

but there are some rolling areas...

and many different types of vegetation...

some areas are now left to go natural...

for the smaller animals and birds to dwell...

places to hide...

loved this when we went by...

even in death and slumber...

the prairie is beautiful...

old fence posts are one of my favorite things...

and gates...

a small creek has carved its way through here...

and meets up with the river on down...

the current frozen for a time...

just a surface of ice...

and much colder days are coming for us...

black angus beef cattle...

some of the best you will ever find...

county fair blue ribbon winners...

getting ready for the storm...

it began snowing last night and its still coming down...

3-5 inches is what they say...

and it will be here a bit...

maybe more over the weekend and then next week...

the bottom will drop...

to the negative numbers again...

life on the Illinois prairie is always changing...

never standing still...

until the greens return we are caught in sepia tones...

;)

my word for 2014...

I took these on a drive a couple days ago...

when the warm air disappeared and the cold crept back in...

and I thought they would be the perfect back drop for this post...

my word for the new year is...

JOY

joy is different from happiness, I think...

happy just kind of stays in the head...

but joy is in the heart...

so, I will center on the joy in 2014...

the joy of beauty when others don't see it...

the joy in God's creations...

seeing His handiwork more...

the joy in others...

seeing theirs...

and being joyful for them...

being the joy to others...

reminding them at their lowest that they are not forgotten...

that true joy lies in the Father...

knowing the joy of my own path...

finding the joy in the road only I can go down...

finding joy in simple things...

common things...

forgotten things...

showing others what they are missing...

see the joy?

the peace of heart?

they know it...

some of God's best work right there...

and the joy of salvation...

there's such peace in that...

so...

that's my word for this year...

so be ready for some joy from this blog as the new year unwinds...

joy = happy peace

;)

happy New Year's eve...

and a joyous New Year...

fun stuff around here today...

have you ever bought yourself something for CHRISTmas?

well, I did this year...

while shopping for everyone else, I found these...

I got 2 for me and 2 for Doug's gf, Paula...

one of hers is like this one...

and then I couldn't leave this one behind...

so guess where I found them?

and they are stretched canvas...

Walmart...

for under $4 each...

go check out their home department...

and not online...

right by the candles...

been cleaning the living room and packing up most of the CHRISTmas in there...

trees are still up, until next weekend...

the guys like them up for New Year's eve...

Bebe and Lester are taking a nap now...

Craig is on his laptop...

our winter mantle...

sneaking some spring in there where I can...

Hermie is on my new throw from Doug and Paula...

its really warm, fleece inside...

I guess the brown recliner and my throw make a good kitty bed...

DH went to the doctor this morning and he said bursitis doesn't usually show up on xrays...

and he has his doubts about it...

that the predizone is masking the symptoms and he could start hurting again once he finishes them...

hopefully, the ER dr was right and there isn't something worse going on in there...

he goes back to work tomorrow, but its only a half day with the holiday...

and then a day off and finish the week with only 2 days...

maybe it will give him the slow start back and rest in between until he is better...

cold here again today...

sure looking forward to the warmer days and lazy afternoons on the porch...

maybe I'l just go find a sunspot to nap in...

;) 

yesterday was wonderful...

we had a high of 52...

can you believe that?

so we went for a ride since neither one of us are very mobile right now...

I am not feeling as good as I was yesterday....

but it could be the cloudy skies and the cold wind blowing out there now...

looks like the geese are trying to hatch the pond...

you would think their butts would get cold...

winter is back today, though and the temp is dropping...

down to the single digits soon and wind chills below zero...

I could use spring any time now...

and some new photos of the kittens...

this is Hermie...

he is turning into a daddy's boy...

and this is Lester...

he plays as hard as he sleeps...

he is a mama's boy...

hope your weekend is going well...

at least the work week is going to be cut up a bit again...

get a nap in or read a book...

still great weather for watching movies and knitting warm mittens...

;)

doing better...

DH got me a Santa sock monkey for CHRISTmas...

isn't he cute?

we ended up with 21 CHRISTmas cards this year...

the numbers drop off every year...

and this year, I think some just ran out of time...

got up feeling so much better and had some energy, so started puttering around here...

cleaning and dusting and putting things up...

looks like the old folks' home here...

and we feel like old folks this week...

my new angel...

and some of my fun things...

DH got me external speakers for the laptop...

love them...

and sock monkey ear muffs...

and Doug and Paula got me the candle...

I took a damp rag and laid it across the label this morning and soaked it off...

I can't wait to burn the candle...

its vanilla cookie...

and I can't wait to use the jar on something else!

done a little cooking and made lunch...

took the old man outside and put his butt in the wheel chair and pushed him awhile...

until I got tired...

we are going to go for a drive, so we can get out a bit...

its 51 out there now...

so not cold at all...

no snow...

its been gone awhile...

DH told me this morning to thank you all for your thoughts and prayers...

he reads my blog and every single comment...

he was so touched by your words that last couple of days...

and he said, make sure you tell them...

;)

with everything that went on the last four days...

we have had a wonderful CHRISTmas season....

and we had so much fun with the toy drive and buying toys and putting them out...

sneaking around and dropping some off...

we were all together for CHRISTmas eve and CHRISTmas day...

even though we took turns napping...

and we did our share of eating...

its going to be awhile before we take down the decorations...

and DH has an appointment Monday to see what is in store for next week...

I need to go back next Friday for a follow up...

so we are just going to kick back...

pop our pills, take naps and eat fudge...

have a fun weekend!

;)