Last April's pictures helped encourage my heart recently.  "Spring" will be here before we know it.  On this cold, dreary, wet Monday morning it gives me something exciting to look forward to.

As I look out at the bare, brown branches I find it difficult to believe that in a few weeks, this is how some of them will look, and without any help from anyone.  Amazing! 

So, for today, whatever you may be facing, and however bare and brown your branches may be, remember Spring is coming.

Wishing you a few moments of fun and smiles on your Monday.

How was your Saturday morning?  Was it like ours?  Just thought I would ask?

When it is an anniversary weekend for one's daughter and her husband, a break for them seemed in order.
Happy Saturday to each of you!

My husband and his younger brother, taking a break while snowshoeing.

"If only I knew...

The depths of wisdom

and insight possessed by people

around me,

I would have spoken less and listened more."

~Lance Wubbels

As I get older, this becomes more of a reality to me.  I am realizing the importance of really listening to what others are saying. 

Double the blessings...

Double the fun...

Double it all...

It is like two in one...really it is. 

Identical twins are so much fun to keep and to observe and watch grow up.  I am blessed.

I am including the last group of pictures from our ranch visit.  Here is our cabin's living room.  Directly across from the sofa was a small wood stove and cut logs to burn in it.

Our cabin had three bedrooms.  The two pictured here are in the two upstair bedrooms.  Since it was just my husband and me in the cabin, we only used the downstair's bedroom, but I thought these two rooms upstairs were worth photographing.  Cozy and inviting were words I would choose for the decor of each cabin.

The indoor riding arena where horsemanship clinics and horse training is conducted.  My husband spent many of his mornings in here learning new riding techniques from their professional trainer.  This definitely was one of the highlights of the trip for him.

Happy rider and his horse (Champ ) for the week.

The newly built lodge had the perfect western decor with a massive stone fireplace and lots of big, comfy sofas and chairs.  But, the best feature of all, was the pots of hot coffee and the big jar of homemade cookies that remained on side counter of the room.  Really...

One of my favorite features of the week, was the softly lit porch of our cabin always welcoming us back after dinner and a day full of activities. 
Definitely, one of those weeks in life that we will never forget.

A few more highlights from our visit to a small guest ranch in the midwest.  An early evening sleigh ride was a peaceful, beautiful, and relaxing way to end the afternoon.  Heavy wool blankets were available on each of the sleigh's seats and cups of hot chocolate were available.

Snow and the sunset were the perfect combination on this ride.

A short break for the horses, at the mare barn.

Casual entertaining by some of the ranch cowboys.  Everyone loved their musical talent and the humor they shared.  It was the best way to end the day.

Another day comes to a close and as we left the lodge, we learned more snow was on the way.

Morning light proved them right.  Snow overnight added more beauty to the sunrise over the mountains.  I couldn't help but wake up early to capture the beauty and the silence of the morning...every morning.  Who is that lady on her porch with her camera?  I am sure they may have wondered.  I just could not help myself.
Thanks for stopping by this evening.  It is fun when others share your joy.

Every once in a great while...just maybe one will have an opportunity that defies explanation.  One of those opportunities that can only be described as "magical" and "breathtaking"...
Where one gets to escape the daily duties and routines of life and take in a week of total beauty, joy, relaxation and fun...
Where there are no cell phone connections, computers, televisions carrying news bulletins...every once in a while it might happen...

Where on gets to sleep in beds created out of mountain lumber, built by one of the ranch's talented employees...

 Where pure white snow (they call it champagne powder) covers everything... the sky is bluer than blue at times, the sun shines brilliantly, and then there is more snow...

 Where cowboys and ranch hands are a part of the landscape.  Where one of those cowboys just happens to be your husband's youngest brother and his pretty wife (forgive the shadows on this picture).  Where hospitality reigns in fine mid-western style, and smiles seem to dominate the enviroment.

Where there is time for sitting, talking, sipping hot chocolate, and playing games, no matter what age one is.  Our neice and nephew playing a competitive game of Chess.

Where tiny lights on wooden posts illuminate one's way through the paths of snow...very deep snow.

And where those paths take one to their cabin, to retire for the night.  Our very own cabin I might add.  It truly was an extra special week for my husband and me, and made possible because our brother-in-law and family are the co-managers of the ranch.  Words and pictures just cannot convey to you what our week was really like, but in my amateur way, I would like to share with you some of the highlights of it all.  If you have time, or are at all interested, please stop back during the next few days, and I will share bits and pieces with you, my blogging friends.  You see, the reason I share with you all, is because of the enjoyment that I find when you share your adventures with me on your blogs.  I missed blogging, more than I expected.  I missed the privilege of catching up on your blogs, and the events of your lives.

I am back and, quickly reality is setting in.  But, for now, thanks for joining me on one of the most beautiful weeks of my life in a snowy, cold guest ranch in the mid-western United States.

I will be taking a short break from blogging.  Looking forward to spending time catching up with family.

Wishing each of you, my blogging friends, a special Valentine's Day weekend!  I appreciate each of you and find it one of my life's joys, that you stop by as often as you do.

Everytime I see hearts and roses, I am reminded of the special holiday that will soon be here.  I am a romantic at heart, always have been.  Valentine's Day is an opportunity for all of us to let those we love know that we do.  Life can get so busy and at times so demanding that it is easy to express that love and care.

This idea is so simple that I feel funny sharing it, but I am a firm believer that it is always the thought that counts...right?  I have often made these chocolate chocolate chip muffins (I add 1 tea. of vanilla to the batter).  I used my smaller muffin pan.  When removed from the oven I left them cool.

I filled a small ziplock bag with creamy Cool Whip and clipped a tiny corner of the bag.

Then, since I like to dress up my muffins for the holiday, I sliced some of my fresh strawberries, then cut the slices with my tiny heart cutter.  I told you this was simple.

I cut each muffin with a tiny x in the middle of each muffin, took the Cool Whip bag and squirted the cream into the center of each muffin.  I added a dollop on top of each muffin and topped with the tiny strawberry hearts.  The platter will go in the refrigerator until it is ready to serve.  To serve, I will drizzle a bit of chocolate syrup on a white saucer and then top with a muffin.  There you have it, chocolate and strawberries...a perfect combination.

"May no gift be too small to give, nor too simple to receive, which is wrapped in thoughtfulness and tied with love."   ~L.O. Baird

Some chocolates for you from Victoria Magazine.

This tray graces the wall over her stove top and seems to me to be the perfect accent for her kitchen.  My mother has always enjoyed the color pink and roses have remained her favorite flower over the years.  Her white kitchen and softly painted pink walls have a calming effect on all who visit her.

For a Christmas gift, I created this dessert and(or) drink tray for her and her pink and white decor.  I took a gold painted wooden serving tray, and to the corner of the tray I hot glued some gorgeous, real looking pink and white flowers.  The flowers have touches of glitter on some of their edges, which adds a special touch, and lots of dark green foliage.

I then took a battery operated strand of tiny white lights and incorporated them into and underneath the flowers.  The small battery case for the lights, I placed underneath the foliage with easy access to the small on and off switch.

The softly tinted pink glassware is waiting to be filled with favorite drinks or desserts.  Another possiblity would be to serve mugs of coffee or tea on this tray.  The tray concept makes it easy to carry it all to the table.  The strand of lights add a festive touch to the tray, and one set of double A batteries lasts a long time, since it is used only on special occasions.  Thought you might like seeing a few of my mother's pink treasures.

(picture from Country Living)

Pink roses remind me of Valentine's Day, and also make me eager for the summer season and my own pink roses from the garden.

It is late.  The house is quiet.  Reflecting on a few blessings of my Tuesday evening;
The most magnificent sunset around 5:00 this evening.  The covering of snow on the earth added to the beauty.  I stopped and took some pictures, and then because I had a few extra minutes this evening, I headed on over to "Picnik" to see how they could help me to enhance my pictures.  I just never tire of this beauty.  My friends have picked up on my thing for sunsets and as I walked into the door of my home, my husband said one of my dear friends called to tell me about the exceptional sunset of the evening.  Could it be they picked it up from the thousands of sunsets that I share on this blog...could that possibly be it:)?

Two of the little sweethearts that I brought along home with me this evening, enjoying relaxing time together, after their baths.  Yes, they do have their moments when they truly do love each other and want to sit close to each other.  Tonight was one of those times and I just had to capture it with my camera.  Cute enough by itself, but I once again took it to "Picnik" and added a few touches.  I can see how this could be a bit of an addiction, although it is time consuming and time won't permit it to happen too often for me.

A breathtaking sunset, two special little girls, having a camera to capture it all, and having a website to go to enhance it all...quite simple blessings on this Tuesday evening, wouldn't you say? 
Thank you all for stopping by.  You have no idea how much I appreciate you joining me via this"just a little something for you" blog.  Good night!

Sitting at my daughter and sil's kitchen table, I captured a world of colorful birds.  I was amazed at how many visited the little green birdfeeder just off their wooden deck.  Their uniqueness, vibrant colors, intricate details, gave me reason to take many pictures on a Saturday afternoon, a few weeks ago.

Even in the bird world, each demand their own way.



A flurry of activity took place by the side of their deck on that cold, sunny, afternoon. I was surprised at how my simple camera lens could pick up many of their beautiful movements.  My mother would be so pleased that I am starting to show an interest in her little creatures:).