A Close Visit

 I was sitting at my desk this morning watching the bluebirds go in and out of the bluebird house, and I noticed some movement off to the left.  Two deer had come out of the woods and were crossing the road in front of the house and they came right down into the yard.  It was wonderful to watch them so close.

The Bluebirds are busy checking out their house already.  I suppose they want to be sure it's clean and dry so they can prepare for this Spring's first brood.

Throwback Thursday

Another week has passed already and it's Throwback Thursday again!!  This is one of my favorite photos of brother, Patrick.  It was taken in 1974 ~ one of his many trips back to Ohio from Texas. Having been stationed in Texas while in the Air Force, he ended up staying there.  I was always SO excited when he returned home for visits ~ Texas was SO far away.

After we moved here to Virginia, we found out that one of his best buddies lived very close by in Lynchburg.  It was great for Patrick.  He could visit with us and spend time golfing with Ron, too.  As the years passed, Patrick ended up loving Virginia a lot and started coming to visit in the Spring and in the Fall.  
I HATE that he died, but I'm grateful that Patrick was here visiting when God decided He wanted to take him home in 2010.  He is buried right here in Virginia at the foot of Mom's grave.  It is at the very top of a hill that is at the back of the cemetery.  There are many trees and you can see mountains in the distance. I think he was meant to be here.

Throwback Thursday

Throwback Thursday ~ 1969 ~ Didn't know back then, while holding a friend's little dog, that I would one day love a little dog of my own.  I sure waited long enough!!

Deer, Robins, and A Very Quiet House

 Early this week, we had 7 deer come up to the house right below our windows.  Finding nothing real exciting to eat and seeing me in the window with camera in hand, they headed back into the woods.

 A protective kiss.

 Those 19+ inches of snow melted away with the warm temperatures we've had the last couple of days and the robins are already out in search of worms this morning.

The bluebirds are busy checking out their house and the mourning doves have been walking around below the feeders.  If it wasn't so dreary looking out there this morning, I would think it was Spring.  However, Old Man Winter isn't done with us yet.  I'm not sure if we'll get snow from Winter Storm Seneca, but RAIN is on the way!!

My sister and brother-in-law left for Ohio this morning.  They've been staying with us for a month, so there has been a lot of activity around here.  It's now very quiet and poor Jake is looking a little sad.  I will have to give him some special attention today.  Casey and Amanda will arrive on Saturday (happy! happy!) for a 4 day stay, so things will pick up again real soon.  

I hope Winter Storm Seneca is not too hard on your area.    

Week 5 BOD Journal Spread

Finished my Week 5 Book Of Days Journal Spread this evening.  I'm very happy with this one.  I like all the color, and the topic ~~ What feeds your soul? ~~ was an easy one to journal about.  

So, what feeds YOUR soul?

Blog Party Giveaway Winner

 February 15th was the date set for any Giveaways that Blog Party participants were having.  So, I printed out the 26 names from comments on my Blog Party post and spread them out on the carpet.  I then told Jake to pick one.  

 That he did ~ and then proceeded to run to another room with it.  I managed to salvage it ~ you can just see a little corner peeking out under his paw.

 And the winner is......  S

S is Susanne of Snaps and Snippets.

Susanne, here is what you've won.  Three packs of 6" x 6" paper from Hot Fudge Studio and a 6" x 6" template called Mini Antiquities.  Please email me your address so I can mail this off to you.  Congratulations and thank you for visiting my blog during the party!

Happy Valentine's Day!

May love touch your life in some way today.

Final total!

That's a lot of snow.  

Just enough chair above the snow to let me know it's still there.

The deer are completely covered.

PAX

 It's coming down again.  A little more and the deer will be covered completely.

 My poor vehicle.

 Not a good day to sit in this chair.

View from the front yard. 

 View of the back yard.

Probably no sitting here either.

Our driveway as of 9:00 this morning ~ just a little snow.

Winter Storm Pax

I guess the snow gods heard me complain about not having any snow here in the Roanoke Valley.  We are getting hammered!  It started about 2:00 yesterday afternoon.  It is now 12:50 a.m. and it hasn't stopped yet.  They keep saying the heavy snow is still on the way and we will more than likely end up with a foot or more of snow.  Tomorrow is going to be a great photo day.  This storm warning is in effect until 6 p.m. tonight.  

I hope we don't lose power as so many have.  Hopefully, those people are finding warmth and safety somehow.  Travel has become a nightmare for many ~ many cars at a standstill on major interstates.  I think Winter Storm Pax will be remembered for a long time. 

Lovely Snail Mail

Surprise in the mailbox.

Thank you, John.

♪♫ ♪♫  You've made me so very happy.

 I'm so glad you came into my life.  ♪♫ ♪♫

Week 4 BOD Journal Spread and More

I am still running late with my journaling classes, but I am determined to do each and every week's spread.  This is my spread for Week 4 Book Of Days.  We were to put ourselves in the journal entry somehow.  These words ring so true with me.  It took me many years to realize my worthiness and once I did, I became a different person and my life changed in many ways.

I wanted to make some Valentines this year for some special friends in my life, so I cut up some cereal boxes and went to work early in the week.  Unfortunately, I didn't realize how time consuming it would be and I didn't get as many made as I wanted.  The biggest problem was drying time between layers ~ I see that I will need to start working on them a few weeks earlier next year so I can make more and get them mailed early enough to arrive by Valentine's Day.

 My sister, brother-in-law, and I, traveled to Staunton, VA on Tuesday.  We had been wanting to visit the Factory Antique Mall there.  It is the largest antique mall on the East Coast and the 2nd largest in the country.  Wow!  We only covered maybe 1/10th of the place and had to leave at 5:00 when they closed.  We were pretty tired by that time anyway ~ a lot of walking and a lot of items to look at.  We'll want to return someday as there is a lot of interesting things to see.  It's a 1-1/2 hour drive one way, so we'll get an earlier start next time. 

My prize purchase was this Goebel Madonna to add to my Madonna collection.  The lady at this particular booth gave me an incredible price break ~ I just could not leave without this statue.  It is quite beautiful and makes me very happy.

Here is a close-up of her face.  SO pretty.

****

It was a good week.  I hope yours was good as well, and I hope you have a great weekend!

Mother of Mine

Mom would have celebrated her 97th Birthday today.  Casey was hoping she would make it to 100, but God decided after 96 years on Earth, He was ready to take her home.  Her friends would kid her saying it was always easy to remember her birthday since it was on Groundhog Day.  Groundhog Day will never be the same for me.

I'm thinking the Angels will be very busy getting everyone together to have a party for a very loved and special lady.

Happy Birthday, Dear Mother of Mine!!  I love you and miss you.

♥