after some nasty winter-like weather...

this is wonderful...

it looks and feels like spring...

(I know its not the real thing)

but its a nice break from all the cold and snow...

we have had our share of cloudy days, too...

so the sunshine is a bonus...

I need to come up with some plans soon...

of where to begin after the corn stalks are raked...

to prune or not to prune?

oh, heck, why start now?

my tiny, little ever green bushes out front...

they weren't supposed to get this big at all...

to paint or not to paint?

I really like the patina...

what do you think?

I think the yard just needs a massive cleaning up...

thinning plants in the beds...

we still have some pruning to do, but its all small limbs...

so we can do that in the spring...

so many possibilities out there...

and I am ready to be on the deck again...

swatting flies and skeeters...

better than frost bite any day...

I am hoping to have a productive weekend here...

and it doesn't matter who does the work, as long as we get something done...

will be finishing up the kitchen this spring, too...

as soon as I can open windows...

planning on getting some sewing done, though, before it warms up too much more...

I won't be in the mood to do it then...

;0)

have some really good and fun weekends out there...

;0)

spring is coming...

it is finally starting to warm up here a bit...

the side yard is a mess for sure...

the stalks almost got in the veggie garden...

you can still see the current of the water flow in the stalks...

got to get this raked before we can start on anything else...

the grass is greening up already...

and then I found this...

things are popping up...

got to the dentist yesterday and got that thing out of there...

pretty much healed over today, but having trouble with everything else...

the fibro, arthritis, and those antibiotics have me running for the bathroom at a steady pace..

shoulder and rotator cuff thingy is really unhappy today...

so hanging out and not doing much...

going to grab a nap soon, too...

have good days and start planning on what you are going to do come spring...

there's some stirrings going on in my head after my mini walk outside...

will let you know some of them next time...

need to work out some bugs on some of them...

;0)

happy Monday...

I have been playing...

yesterday was not a real good day for me...

my IBS doesn't like me taking antibiotics...

so I had some time in the play room...

been working on valentines and easter cards...

and valentine gift bags...

I glue the envelope on the bag and stick the card in that for a "designer" bag look..

I do this for all the gift bags all year long, except Christmas...

I just grab the brown, handled bags at the Dollar Tree...

this size is 3/ $1...

perfect for valentine candy and some small things thrown in...

thought I was way ahead of the game here...

;0)

until I looked at the calendar and figured out we are in the final week of January...

where did it go?

I really don't care, as long as its gone...

another month closer to spring...

;0)

I am sure there are many people out there that are ready for spring and a good thawing out...

have a blessed day...

its nap time for me...

;0)

it's cow time...

found these critters out of their pasture around noon today...

bad for them, good for me...

got some close ups...

I came home and tattled on them...

so hopefully, they got them put back before dark happened...

how cute is that?

there's nothing cuter than calves in the winter...

they are fuzzier...

and they can be pretty funny on ice...

so sweet...

DH and I have just hung out today...

and we sure needed it...

he just put in a week of 12-14 hours...

moving 2 ground piles of corn to the elevator...

and me and my rotator cuff problems...

but...

its paying off...

all the down time and PT I have been doing...

it is much, much better...

and my brother in law is working away at his PT in rehab...

they got a terrible winter snow storm on the east coast...

he's been watching it from the window...

he is improving every day...

just takes a bit to get your strength back...

we are warming up here...

its not 60 yet, so no jumping up and down...

but its out of the single digits and -0 wind chills...

still looking forward to spring, which is another day closer now...

and if you have time, keep Nana Diana and her old fart in your prayers for the next several weeks...

he is doing chemo and radiation...

and they are working their tails off to kick this thing to the curb...

it takes so much time and energy...

physical, mental and spiritual...

she is such a fire house of get up and go, but she only has so much...

she could use the extra angels on her side...

just keep them close in your heart and keep whispering their names over and over to the big guy upstairs...

I am sure he knows them well...

;0)

Hope you are not in the path of that nasty storm...

but it you are...

stay safe and warm...

the good thing about snow and ice is that it has to melt sometime...

praying for all of you...

have a great weekend...

;0)

winter fun...

I took these from the back door...

so don't get excited about me being out in that stuff...

its no where near that warm here...

the thermometer is frozen at 30...

too many corn stalks...

and we are to get more later this week...

hhhmmmm....

so here's my winter fun...

#1

#2

(my personal favorite)

#3

#4

and #5

looks like their waiting for a tea party...

not sure what I will do with them...

Mr Peebody likes to watch...

and this looks pretty good on the wall...

I did get a start on 3 easter cards, too...

I know I should be working on valentines...

maybe today, or tomorrow...

prayers for DH this week...

he is working 12 hours now out in this cold...

only 20 minutes inside all day long...

he is old and the cold hurts...

they are moving 2 ground piles to the bins...

no breaks, just loading trucks and hauling all day long...

back and forth...

until its all in...

I am sure that January already has had us thinking a little bit...

I know for me, I have seen my youth flash before me more than once...

with the deaths of the great icons of my childhood...

David Bowie and Glenn Frey, for two of them...

memories have flooded back from a time I truly miss...

and I know I am so blessed to have grown up in the time that I did...

and that time is precious...

we so need to spend is wisely...

;0)

even in hibernation...

have a great day...