before the storm hits...

we got up to a balmy 34F today...

with plenty of sunshine...

but sometime later today...

its all going the change...

the winds are already making drifts on the east west roads...

so when more snow comes...

there will be no getting around...

Mr. Wiggles is not happy with the snow now...

just wait, buddy, its gonna get better...

the corn field...

squirrel tracks under the walnut tree...

they are all over the yard...

see...

not bad out today, but its going to get so bitter cold here by Monday...

we think we will be snowed in at least 3 days from this...

so, hunker down...

and stay put...

make sure you have all your shopping done ahead of the storm...

and shovel out around any fire hydrants...

just in case they are needed...

oh, what a wonder time spring will be...

I am just ready to see 40F again...

that would be enough to melt this off...

but I know the nitrogen from all the snow will make the flowers so pretty...

and the bitter cold will kill so many of those crazy bugs...

I think its time to pull out the boggle game...

;)

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...