Roanoke, Virginia, in November

 

My Little Rainbow

 Jake is coming around. It has taken a while. He is drinking water but still hasn’t eaten.
Maybe tomorrow. Vet said not to worry - it might take 48 hours. He is walking around and acting more normal every hour. Hopefully, tomorrow he will eat.
You can see the little shaved area on his leg where the IV was.

A Good Friend

This is my neighbor and sweet friend Donna. She knew I was a mess worrying yesterday, so she made me coffee, took me thrifting, went out to lunch with me, and pretty much held my hand till I heard from the Vet that Jake was awake and doing well.
What a blessing to have someone like this in my life. Donna is a major dog lover, so she understood my concern. My friends, I hope each one of you has a Donna in your life.  💗

Rough Day

Dropped my baby off at Vet's at 7:45 this morning for dental cleaning.  This is always an awful day for me.  I was in tears first thing this morning.  I smothered Jake with kisses and holy water.  Couldn't wait for that phone call that he was awake and ok.

On the way home at 5:00.  Just picked up Jake from the Vet's.  Poor little guy had a long day - tests, dental cleaning, and two teeth extracted.  No Vendor Night for me.  Stayed home and comforted Jake.  He means the world to me.

He didn't want to lay in his bed.  He wanted to be on my coat.  Made him comfortable and he stayed there all evening.  He looked up every once in a while to check to be sure I was still there.  Never left him till Terry came home from Pool League.  I am exhausted.  Going to bed and taking Jake with me.

Beautiful Early Morning

Donna's Yard

She did it again!  Neighbor Donna spent yesterday afternoon decorating outdoors and her yard is glistening with the Christmas spirit!  It looks great, Donna.  💗

Spider Plant

This is the spider plant I bought in Ohio in July (tiny plant in a tiny pot).  It has really grown and has many babies!!

Deloris Angeli (friend and owner of Plant Et Art in Canton where I purchased the plant) told me yesterday to cut the babies off so the plant can flourish.  😊 Not sure I can do that just yet.  I want to enjoy the babies a while longer before I cut them off and plant them in other pots.

Wild Friends

Received this little 2-1/2"x2-1/2" journal "Wild Friends" today.  It was made by my friend Mariette Hebert of Vancouver, Canada.  Each page has a different animal.  Of course the fawn is my favorite.  Mariette, it is a precious little journal ~ I love it.

Doxies Everywhere

Jake approves of our new Doxie sheets!  They are SO soft.  Love them!

Journal Jam

Journal Jam today.  Last one for the year.  I thoroughly enjoyed the relaxing time following the pulled prompts.  Looking forward to monthly Journal Jams in 2022.

Thanksgiving Day

 

A sweet Thanksgiving celebration at Tony and Heather’s. We are surrounded by the best neighbors!

It was an afternoon of really good food, laughter, conversation, and fun with the kids and dogs. Jax is a little fireball and Rosie is a pleasure to play with. Tony is the best dad and Heather is a superwoman. I keep threatening to steal their adorable pups.

Thank you for sharing your Thanksgiving with us. 💗 We loved it.

Tony loving Maxie.

Jax giving treats to Holly and Maxie.

Pretty little Rosie.

Michael with Arthur.

The Riganti family big beautiful tree waiting for decorations.

Thanksgiving

Let us be thankful that there still is sunshine, that we can still glimpse the blue of the sky and in our onward way, continue to look up. Let us be thankful for friends with kindly smiles and cheerful words. This is the time for grateful thanksgiving!

~Unknown
HAPPY THANKSGIVING to my family and friends.

💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗

Thanksgiving Eve

 

SO happy - I was able to spend a little time with Casey.  He and Amanda flew in to Roanoke late this afternoon and Amanda's mom picked them up at Airport.  We all met at the Daleville Tap Room for a light dinner and off to Clifton Forge for Thanksgiving they went.  A little time and many hugs will hold me over till Christmas. 💗

Thanksgiving

Don’t let the good stuff go unsaid.

Here’s why:

 

Next year, your Thanksgiving may look completely different...and there might not be as many chairs.

Loved ones get sick.

Loved ones get old.

Loved ones move away.

So, this year, savor the sacred gathering.

Share.

Forgive.

Remember.

Because you can’t see the changes and surprises ahead.

But you have this time.

But you have these people.

But you have this day.

Say the thing your heart feels.

Say the thing their heart needs.

Because Thanksgiving is here.

And we’ll never have another one like it again.

 

~Lauren Fortenberry

Winter Solstice

Written by:  Bridget Anna McNeil  *  Artwork by:  Jessica Boehman

 The winter solstice time is no longer celebrated as it once was, with the understanding that this is a period of descent and rest, of going within our homes, within ourselves and taking in all that we have been through, all that has passed in this full year which is coming to a close... like nature and the animal kingdom around us, this time of hibernation is so necessary for our tired limbs, our burdened minds.

Our modern culture teaches avoidance at a max at this time;  alcohol, lights, shopping, overworking, over spending, comfort food and consumerism.

And yet the natural tug to go inwards as nearly all creatures are doing is strong and the weather so bitter that people are left feeling that winter is hard, because for those of us without burning fires and big festive families, it can be lonely and isolating. Whereas in actual fact winter is kind, she points us in her quiet soft way towards our inner self, towards this annual time of peace and reflection, embracing the darkness and forgiving, accepting and loving embracing goodbye to the past year.

 

"Winter takes away the distractions, the buzz, and presents us with the perfect time to rest and withdraw into a womb like love, bringing fire & light to our hearth".

.. and then, just around the corner the new year will begin again, and like a seed planted deep in the earth, we will all rise with renewed energy once again to dance in the sunlight.

 

Life is a gift.  💗 A Happy winter to you all...

Precious Little Jake

😂😂  Jake has only his bottom in the bed.  He must be comfortable because he went to sleep that way.

The Golden Hour

My mountain out back during the Golden Hour last evening.  You can see a little more of the mountain with so many leaves off the trees.

Doxie Sleigh

Santa thought he had a great team for his sleigh!  On Fluffy and Fido, Fefe and Flo, onward Felix, Oscar, Oreo and Zoe... let's go go go.  Come on guys, I don't have any more snacks!!  😂

From Christmas Memories, Lenee Reiff

Run, Buddy, Run!!

Thank You

Snowman

This giant snowman in Donna's window is welcoming the Christmas Season to our neighborhood!!  Love!!

Amaryllis

Received the Amaryllis that I ordered.  It is wrapped in red wax and I don't have to water it or anything but watch it grow.  Should be interesting!

Catawba, Virginia, November 19, 2021

Woods

The woods outside my bedroom window today.

A Cold November Day in Salem, Virginia

Baby Jake

This photo came up in my memories on Facebook today.  I had to share this precious photo of dear little baby Jake in 2011.  He melted my heart and stole it completely. 💗

Thursday

Bare Tree

Front yard.  A lot of wind took away the leaves on the big front tree.