A Winter Walk

I went for a walk by myself yesterday afternoon. I found the geese flock and white duck in a small part of the lake that wasn't frozen over. The mallards have all left, so white duck has rejoined the geese for the winter. I bet it was sad for him when his mallard family left.

The trees behind my house were gorgeous with their burden of snow. Thankfully our power stayed on the whole time.

The dam for the lake was interesting because there were these two strips of snow flowing down the side toward the stream. I had a very lovely walk. My favorite scene was the little bridge that crosses the stream below the dam. The people who own that property had decorated the bridge with red ribbons for Christmas.

I also manage to get a picture of white duck with the geese. I was pretty far away and it was snowing, so the picture is kind of fuzzy. White duck is in the front with geese all around braving the snow storm.

Winter Lake Views

This is the view across from my house. The lake is a gray color. There is several inches of slush that has frozen on the surface of the lake. Today the lake appears white because new snow fell on top of the slush.

The clubhouse looks really beautiful in the snow. It is decorated for Christmas with lights and garland. It is amazing at night.

Bethany took this picture of me in front of our house yesterday, when we were out playing. It was still snowing.

This is a picture of Bethany in front of the lake just across our yard. She is wearing her new snow suit, that Aunt April got her for early Christmas. I am so thankful it came early!

Snow Dogs

The Blizzard of 2009 was lots of fun for our house. This was the puppies second snow. The first one was a couple of weekends ago, but a few inches is nothing compared to over a foot of snow fun. I measured fourteen inches Saturday morning, and then it continued to snow all day. I don't know how much snow we have, but it is loads of joy for three young creatures in my world.

Daisy and Tippy had to romp like deer through the deep accumulation of the white wonder. The snow balled up on their fur in clots. They didn't seem to mind the cold at all, and stayed out with Bethany for a long time.

I enjoyed watching everyone play, while I took pictures. The pups plowed through the snow, leaving tunnels across the lawn. Bethany tried to get the neighbor boy to play with her.

The pups like to wrestle with each other, and they have the mistaken notion that Bethany wants to wrestle too. She tolerates it to a point, and then she sets them straight.

Daisy lets me take her picture. She holds still and waits for me to take a picture. Tippy doesn't get that I want her to hold still. It is difficult to get a picture of her. I love this one with Daisy covered in snow.

Santa visits Maple Lake

Last Saturday night the residents of Maple Lake hosted a special dinner for the children of the neighborhood and Santa. Santa arrived with a sack full of toys for the children, and he personally gave each child their present and wished them a Merry Christmas.

Bethany loved her Barbie with puppies. Santa knew she had gotten two new puppies this year, and wanted to help her celebrate with a gift that had puppies.

We dined on spaghetti and salad. It was the best meal I have eaten in weeks. I had a wonderful happy feeling of contentment after eating some lovely carbohydrates. Christmas has come to the lake.

There were happy children. Mothers and fathers were filled with joy watching the excitement of the little ones. Every one's bellies were full of good things, and we had conversations with our neighbors. Bethany's swim instructor, Cathy, is our neighbor. She sat with us, and we had a nice time. It is good to celebrate Christmas with your neighbors. Merry Christmas!

Nana and Grandaddy celebrate Sixty Years!

Nana and Grandaddy Tom celebrated sixty years of marriage over the Thanksgiving Holiday with a party at their church. Gigi was the party planner, and everything was beautiful and yummy. Bethany got to hold Baby Andrea again. She has grown so much since she held her in July.

Grandaddy wanted a picture with all of the great grandchildren. Bethany is the oldest of the group. She likes the fact that she is the oldest cousin on both sides of the family.

Mary Douglas, Victoria, and Bethany wore matching dresses. Everyone thought they were sisters, and that I was their mama. April was serving punch, so I was playing with the kids all afternoon. Victoria is making a face in this picture. She is a hoot. She has always got something going, and is so funny. Bethany enjoyed spending time with them. They had Christmas together before we left for home.

Thanksgiving in Winfield

Thanksgiving in Winfield this year was a quiet affair. We were missing Aunt Rachel and Uncle Matt, and Uncle Brian. Alex and Grandpa socialized in the living room while the women cooked up a traditional Thanksgiving feast. The girls played throughout the house.

The girls wanted to help prepare the meal too. They worked really hard setting the table. They also put the biscuits on the tray for baking. They were so very helpful.

We had a wonderful meal, and had a good time fixin' the vittles. We really missed Rachel, Matt, and Brian. After the meal was cleaned up, we spent some time making jewelry for each other with beads Natalie had gotten for her birthday the day before. It was a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Natalie's Fourth Birthday

Natalie celebrated her fourth birthday on November 21. She had a Strawberry Shortcake party this year. She had a hard time deciding the theme of her party this year. She likes so many things, she kept changing her mind. There were several folks at the party this year. The children included Michele's Braden, my Bethany, and Christy's Aiden. Bethany and Natalie play a rousing game of Whack A Mole, which was only out enjoyed by a game played by Michele and Jeanne. Whack A Mole was a great gift!

Jeanne made some delicious treats for us to enjoy. We dined on pizza, rice crispy treats, fruits, and veggies. A sweet strawberry cake was served to the tune of Happy Birthday. Natalie blew out all of her candles. I hope her wish comes true.

Natalie was the cutest strawberry princess. The children performed a show for us sometime in the afternoon. Braden, Natalie, and Bethany had a little band with some musical instruments. Mostly, the kids played in the play room.

Everyone enjoyed the dressing up in Strawberry attire. Crowns, glasses, rings, and bracelets were worn by all the strawberry sweet kids. Happy Birthday Natalie!

RadioCity Christmas Spectacular!

Before Thanksgiving, we made a trip to Pittsburgh to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular! Bethany, Brian, and I traveled up the night before hoping to see the Science Center in the morning before the show. The traffic was horrible that evening. We were unaware that there was a college football game that night and the Pittsburgh Steelers were playing the next day.

In the morning we drove to the Science Center. There were hundreds, no thousands of cars and people crammed into parking lots and streets. There was all sorts of tailgating going on. Bethany surveyed the situation, and said, "Mom, I don't think I like any kind of outdoor sports." Funny how things like that run in the family. She also hates gym class. I hated every minute of every gym class I ever had to endure. She likes swimming class, so it isn't physical activity. It is really the sports side of things we don't like.

The Science Center was across from the football stadium, so naturally it was closed on a game day. We decided to find any parking place that we could close to the theater, and walk around the city. It was Sunday morning, so most everything was closed. I suggested that we go to church, but Brian didn't think I was serious. We found an Arby's open, and had some lunch. We discovered that Pittsburgh has a subway, so we decided to ride around on the subway for some entertainment. The subway was so very tiny. Only a handful of people were waiting for it. We got on and rode over to Station Square. There is an interesting mall over there with eclectic shops. And the best part was the subway only takes exact change, and we over paid, so the attendant told us about the Incline, and gave us tickets. The Incline was built for immigrant workers, so that they could get to work in a timely fashion without having to travel a long distance down a mountain into the valley. The incline was built in the late 1870's, and it consists of a track and a two closed cars that hoist people up and down the mountain. We rode it up, and saw some neighborhood shops. Lots of people were gathered in bars shouting for the Steelers. The game had started by the time we had made it over to the Incline.

Trina and Molly were meeting us for the show. They parked at Station Square, and were eating lunch in the shopping mall. We met them, and rode the subway back into the main part of town. We arrived at the theater with plenty of time before the show, which was truly spectacular. We weren't allowed to take any pictures in the theater. I have just one of Molly and Bethany sitting in the seats. If you ever get a chance go see this show, it is a great way to start the holiday season, or end it for that matter. Santa and Baby Jesus were the stars of the show. Bethany says, she liked the singing and the dancing when asked what her favorite part was.

Tooth Fairy Visits Maple Lake

Daisy and Tippy went to the vet this week for shots. Daisy weighs eighteen pounds, and Tippy tipped the scale at 16.8 pounds! They are growing up so fast. When we got the pups they were 5 and 3 pounds.

The girls are also showing their age with the loss of their puppy teeth. Daisy has lost several, but we never could find any of the little things. The vet helped Tippy loose her first little tooth, and put it in a bottle for Bethany to keep. The vet also suggested that the Dog Tooth Fairy would come to our house if Bethany put the tooth under her pillow.

Luckily, he supplied the tooth fairy with a chocolate bone tied up in a red bow. Mom and Dad were worried about what the Dog Tooth Fairy would leave under a child's pillow. I kept thinking about sleeping on liver treats or pigs ears!

The pups are wild and frisky. Bethany and Tippy are getting along much better now that Tippy isn't trying bite her ankles anymore when they play out in the garden. I watched Bethany play with them by herself this week through the window. They have all learned a lot about how to play together. Dogs and primates have different playing styles. Both species are figuring it out, and having some fun.

Friend Friday

Last Friday, Glenville Friends gathered at Tammy's church gym in Parkersburg. We had an awesome time together. Jacque couldn't make it because she had the flu, as well as, her son Owen. The flu has been everywhere in the past month. Melissa managed to get both her girls vaccinated that evening for the Swine Flu, so all of our children have been vaccinated. Despite, worry over the flu we had a good time eating pizza and snacks. The kids played together entertaining themselves the entire evening. We had so much fun, no one wanted to leave. I hope we can get together again soon.

Halloween Night

We had company for trick or treat this year. I made a pot of vegetable soup and some cornbread. Jeanne, Matt, and Natalie came up from Scott Depot. Trina, Mike, Molly, and Jake came from across town.

The kids only went to a few houses to beg for candy. It was rainy and cold, and the kids preferred to sit on the porch and pass out candy to the "customers". Bethany said we had candy for sale to give to the customers.

After we passed out all of our candy we went to Maple Lake's Halloween party. They had a costume contest and a Haunted House. Bethany and Matt tried to go to the haunted house, but Bethany changed her mind when she got to the entrance. I saw the remains of the haunted house at the women's club meeting the following Monday, and I think she made the right decision.

I am so glad Jeanne, Matt, and Natalie came up to visit with us. We had the tradition of always going to their house for Trick or Treat when we were in Winfield. Trick or Treat there is on a week night. I really wanted to keep this tradition for the girls. It worked out this year since Halloween was on a Saturday.

Halloween Parade

Bethany's school has a Halloween parade before their Halloween party. The students go home at lunchtime to get dressed for the afternoon festivities. For the parade, the parents sit in the bleachers of the football field and watch their princesses, ghosts, and gobblins march by. I have not been able to attend yet. Brian takes off half a day of work. He says it is a good time. :)

Rich's Farm

We traveled to Smithfield, Pennsylvania to Rich Farm for a fun filled Sunday afternoon. The farm has an area configured for kids of the preschool to elementary age range. There is a petting zoo with animals including a tiny pony, pigs, a cow, and some chickens and geese.

There is a corn maze to the side of a fantastic barn that has horse tire swings for the kids to ride in, tables to paint pumpkins, and tractors to climb on. Old fashioned kid songs like Old McDonald and Farmer in the Dale are playing over a loud speaker system for everyone to enjoy.

There were see-saws, giant tire trampolines, hay bales to climb, and an inflatable bouncer for the kids to wear themselves out on in the yard. A giant Wigwam housed face painting, for which I wasn't thrilled about. The parents were supposed to paint their own children's faces. Who knew who used what brush when etc. I avoided the Wigwam.

We went on a hay ride around the farm and saw the outside of an elaborate haunted house developed for adult entertainment. Before we left Bethany and I walked through the pumpkin patch. Bethany took a long while to find her perfect pumpkin, which we carved just before Halloween.

It is definitely a place for repeat patronage. We will plan to go again next fall. Hopefully, we will bring along some friends and family.