Blowing in the wind

Wind, wind, go away... and don't come back another day! Not unless you come to visit as a gentle breeze on the hot days of  summer. In the 20 months we have lived here, you have worn out your welcome. The only time you have not shown your presence is on those hot summer days.
    
....So it is....I add the wind as another challenge to living on a hill. ***vent...vent...vent...change and living here is not by my choice! 
My list of challenges keeps growing. Barren land, poor soil, weeds, and now the wind.


Wind that erodes. Lifting the mulch in clumps, up and away...

Depositing in on the lawn...threatening to kill the grass.




Wind that blows so furious,... it over turns wrought iron furniture.

and tilts...it's even too windy for the birds.

Will I survive the changes and challenges in my life?

....the answer .... is blowing in the wind.

Christmas decorating

It's that Christmas time of the year, so let there be...


Lights in the windows...

Wreaths on the doors..

Shepherd canes and greenery in the foyer...



The fireplace mantle decorated  for Christmas.....with rabbits!

The tree... decorated with ornaments collected over the years.

 But most importantly... the Nativity display...

Now it is time to wrap up the shopping, and do some baking.

Summer into fall

 

Fall arrived some time ago, but I have been denying it. While I like a visit to the mountains...

And some fall color...

I much prefer the seasons spring and summer. Fall is that brown time of year. That time of the year when the days become shorter, and weather turns cold. 
Then comes winter... the days are even shorter, and the weather is much colder. 
Not my favorite time of the year. 

So.... I have been trying to hold onto summer....

...and my rose bushes have not disappointed me. In October they bloomed profusely! 
But it has been too cold to enjoy them outdoors. So....

 I have been bringing them indoors. But all good things must come to an end. 
On November 6, I snipped these last few blooms of the season. 
Today, ... Monday.... I winterized the rose bushes with some extra mulch, with 
the hope of enjoying more blooms next spring. 

.... In the meanwhile there are still a few geranium blooms on the porch to be enjoyed.

 

Hum mm...

 

... I wonder how long they will last.

Labor of love

Having just celebrated Labor day, now is the time to blog about a labor of  love. Twenty plus years ago, I made pecan pies for a family Thanksgiving luncheon. Dad declared it the best pecan pie he ever had, and claimed the little that was left over for himself. Thereafter,

 for each Thanksgiving and Christmas, I would make pecan pies for my family get together, making sure to bake an extra one for Dad to enjoy later. Also, there were those times over the years when I made them for his birthday, and father's day. Then there were those times when I made pecan pies for him just because I wanted to. A lot has changed over the years, especially in the past few years. For the last couple of years I have had to chop up the pecans extra well, because of Dad's tendency to choke, and now there is his decrease in appetite,---even for pecan pie. My days of making pecan pies for my Dad are coming to an end, but for over twenty years, it has been a labor of love. My reward--- the enjoyment he has so freely expressed. 

                    PECAN PIE

      3   Tablespoons butter or margarine

    1/4    cup packed brown sugar

 1 1/2    teaspoons all-purpose flour

      3    eggs slightly beaten

      1    cup corn syrup

      1    teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2     cups pecan halves

     1    (9 inch) unbaked pie crust

Cream margarine,(or butter),brown sugar and flour. Add eggs, mix well. Add corn syrup and vanilla, mix well. Spread pecans on pie crust. Pour filling over pecans. Bake at 325 degrees for 50 to 60 minutes, or until set - (knife inserted in center comes out clean).