Merry Christmas!

 

Merry Christmas Everyone!

 

                 We are enjoying a nice warm day 13F!  Warm you ask?  Well yes, after the week we have had ... 13F seems warm indeed! 

                We've had a cold spell that has gripped a lot of the nation this week.  We spent 3 days very cold ... 3F with a windchill of -30F ... 6F with a windchill of -20F ... 5F with a windchill of -19.  So yes, now you understand when I say we are enjoying the 13F temps outside today.  Toward the end of next week, we are supposed to be back up in the 50'sF again.  I'm ready!  It will feel like spring!

                I have been bundling up when I take the dog out.  He normally doesn't have to wait ... we just go.  His normal nighttime middle of the night outing is a 2am.  Normally I just sit up on the side of the bed, put my slippers on and go.  I mean, he is really good about taking care of his business and it only takes a minute.  But ... it isn't that quick when it's -30F windchill. 

                No ... not that quick and easy at all.  It went like this ... Dog barks to go out ... I grab what I laid out prior to going to bed in anticipation of the 2am bark and carry them to the living room so he knows that I heard him and doesn't proceed to pee the floor ... right in front of the door.  He is 14 years old and doesn't wait as easily as he used to.  I put on a pair of fleece pj pants over the leggings that I slept in ... put on my regular shoes instead of my slippers ... all while the dog is looking at me with his head cocked wondering why in the world am I doing this.  I grab my coat from the closet and put it on ... grab a hat to wear and have to explain to Scooter that it is cold outside and I have to stay warm ... as he stands there waiting and gives me a soft "woof".  Then I put my gloves on ... leash him up and out we go!  It only took one minute but I stayed nice and warm.

                Today we are staying home and cooking.  We are having ham and some fixings.  Doug is looking forward to the rolls.  He is outside shoveling snow right now.  One of the joys of winter ... shoveling snow.  I am thankful that he does it and I don't have to.  I will make sure he has a fresh pot of coffee and a snack when he comes back in.

                I know at Christmas, it can be an emotional time.  Some spend it with family, some spend it at home with their spouse or significant other while some spend it alone.  Some miss loved ones who have passed on.  Whatever your circumstances ... whether you are enjoying your Christmas or you are struggling ... know that you are not alone.  You're not alone in your happiness as lots of people and families are enjoying and celebrating the season.  At the same time ... you are not alone if you are struggling or sad.  Lots of people really struggle through the holidays.  Just remember that you are awesome, you are fabulous, you are wonderfully made!  You can do hard things and you will get through this time.  Never give up.  Know that you are in our hearts and prayers.

                We wish you all a Merry Christmas!

 Hello everyone!

I hope that you are doing well.  It is our favorite time of year.  Fall has arrived.  

I love the beauty of fall ... the smell of fall ... the colors of fall ... the temperatures of fall.

The trees are nice and full and their leaves are beginning to change colors.

The sounds of the twigs and leaves crunching on the ground as you walk.  

The sun shining through the branches of the trees with their rays softly touching the branches and reaching to the ground.

And the smell of fall ... you know it ... you have smelled it.  The leaves drying as the temperatures change.  The smell of dirt.  Good fresh dirt ... plucked right from the ground in your hand ... I love that smell.  Fall smells like dirt to me.  A fresh plowed farm field ... the dirt dropping through my fingers ... raising it to my face to smell as it crumbles back to the ground.  That is what fall smells like to me.

Oh the colors!  The trees ... the leaves ... the branches ... the surrounding plants and bushes ... all changing to their fall colors.  So much beauty ... various shades of greens ... yellow ... orange ... brown ... red ... the way they all blend together to create a magical scene.

The perfect temperatures of fall.  Whether it's short sleeves ... long sleeves ... jackets ... or even coats and gloves.  This is the time of year that you never know what the temps of the next day are going to feel like.  You are just prepared.  I like to dress in layers when I go out in the fall.  When you have layers you can take them off as the day begins to warm and you feel the sun shining on your shoulders.  Then you can add the layers back as you need them as the sun sets and the warmth of the day begins to fade.

Fall.  The perfect time of the year. 

Here's a video of one of our walks during our color drive.  

Enjoy!

** Always remember that you are awesome.  You are wonderfully made.  If you find yourself struggling, and we all do from time to time, never give up.  We can do hard things when we have and make it through to the other side.  You've got this.