Faith - Hope - Charity

Pine Grosbeaks.  I love the birds.  The poor darlings are finding it hard to fly/move with all the snow.  Good grief, we are drowning in snow.  Our banks of snow are nearing five feet, I cannot lift the pam oiled shovel that far up.

 

I do await for spring, I have heard that...spring is just a smile away...

 

 

Icicle ~ Prine!

Our seasonal neighbors' home, roof problems indeed!  The icicle is near 4 feet long, god knows what spring will bring...

 

This morning when I went out to the porch to sit on my perch (as I always do around 4:30 a.m/5:00 a.m.), I was watching the moon.  It was near to going down and I thought of the words of John Prine...'one long day and now the moon is down'. 

 

There I am sitting on my perch, drinking my coffee, smoking my cigarette and a big giggle comes upon me.  I have scared any wild animals for five miles.  I thought of other John Prine songs with 'down' in the song.

 

Here is what I came up with on my perch on the porch...

...the moon is down

...way down

...but don't get down on yourself

...down by the side of the road

 

I wonder who will get the snow drift in what I am writing...

 

...leaves were falling in colors red and gold

...down by the green river

...black clouds shifting orange as they go passing by

...one red rose in the bible

 

I am thinking maybe I have way too much time on my hands, but then again, time was once just a clock to me...

 

 

 

 

 

Bullwinkle

Bullwinkle came back for a visit.  I was lip flappin' to him/her telling that it best be very cautious around here; we have cougars (the animal kind not the other kind).  So far the cougars have killed two dogs and two deer.  Yikers.  I have taken to carrying a whistle with me when I am outside.  I do not want to meet up with a cougar.

 

We have days where it is a regular animal farm here.  The grouse come 2/3 times a day.  The woodpeckers and assorted other birds are endless.  Pure enjoyment! 

The Spurtle

Everyone should have a spurtle.  One of the most useful, versatile utensils I own.  Noisemaker bought me one a few years ago and recently purchased more because I like them so much.  Tons of uses for a spurtle - soups, stews, and if you are like me you invent ways - like magic, a magic wand.  Or you can be a band leader, a conductor. 

 

The spurtle is a Scottish porridge stir stick.  We purchase Spurtles from www.leevalley.com - they are made from maple wood and no kitchen should be without one.  Great stocking stuffers for christmas, great gift anytime of year.

 

  I oil my spurtles with circa1897 - that too is a great product!  All my wooden utensils/cutting board, etc. I oil with circa1897. 

 

 

John Prine

Reeda, thanks.

 

Even folks in the north can see that slight hint of a Prine smile.

John Prine

Many thanks to Reeda Buresh for the picture. 

 

This has to be the most captioning photo I have seen of John Prine, in many years.  This photograph speaks of to whom John Prine is.  A man of truth. 

 

Thank you Bette Midler for the Hello In There - my introduction to John Prine.

 

Thank you, Bonnie Raitt for Angel of Montgomery.

 

Many Thanks ~ John Prine

John Prine ~ Reeda & Terry Buresh

Thank you - Reeda Buresh - for the photo.

 

A beautiful photo, indeed.

Luke Bryan

All I can do is laugh - such an enjoyable Sunday - listening to Luke Bryan - Tailgates and Tanlines.

I have had a few folks mention to me, I am too old for Luke Bryan - ah, folks - that is what keeps me young.  I do not care what comments are flung to me; I like Luke Bryan.  eh - I also listen to John Prine, Neil Young, and Bruce Springsteen. 

Luke Bryan, reminds me - yes, I was once young.  Yes, I still believe I could jump on a tailgate without breaking any bones.  I still dance, I will dance forever.

As for Tailgates and Tanlines - there are two folks out there - who know how much I wanted to hear this cd.  Thank you Janis Ferguson and my brother.

On a side note - come on folks - get up and do the Luke!  I can hear the boom roaring in... great exercise song!  

The Grouse

Yesterday when the power went out, I went outside and snapped some photos; this is one of them - the grouse.  It does have a shy mate who tags along occasionally.  They love the saskatoon berries I give for them.  I picked a bunch last summer, froze them so as I could give them winter food now.

 

As for the power outage, well - all I can say is B. C. Hydro is excellent.  I call them on a regular basis because our power is constantly going out.  I so tire of it.  My blood pressure seems to elevate when I am without power.  To boot, our generator malfunctioned.  I hope that if/when the power goes out again, it does not last hours/days...we would be in peril.  However, Noisemaker and I would survive, In Spite Of Ourselves! 

Bundt Pan - Finally!

My late christmas present from Noisemaker - a NordicWare (Minneapolis, Minnesota) bundt pan.  I cannot wait to use it; so many recipes to try.  I love new baking stuffola - so do my fine neighbors as I always give some baking for them.  It is tough for Noisemaker and I to get through a cake.  Cookies no problem!

 

I am thinking my first recipe maybe an Applesauce Spice Cake, I have lots of homemade Applesauce (love it).

 

Cold weather is upon us, oh smucksville ~ truly, I should not live in a climate of this nature.  It is not natural for my mind, body, and soul.  I deal with it ~ I bake!

 

 

The Black Vest

Thank you Charlene for taking the picture.

 

Jason Wilber, yours truly, and David Jacques.

 

The first christmas Noisemaker and I spent together (some 30 plus years ago) the gift he purchased for me was the black vest in this photo.  I love this vest, I wore it every chance I could.  The vest was near in shreds so I laid it to rest last week.  My word, my eyes started to leak.  I have such fond memories of the time I spent with my vest.  I wore it to Prine, Springsteen, Young, ah, the list of events is endless.  So long ~ you will be miss.

Bullwinkle

Bullwinkle, the moose has returned to our backyard - geez, he is huge!  I was outside lip flappin' with him the other day.  I did not follow what he was doing...I would speak to him and he would run back and forth.  Bullwinkle did this three times.  I decided I best not mess with him and ran back to the house. 

The next morning I went to check out the window to see if it was safe enough for me to go to the porch.  Yeppers, there is Bullwinkle.  Thank god I decided to look out the window instead of blasting outside.