We are snow bound.  The snow is coming at a record speed.  Everything is closed.  Hence, I
thought I would do a random post.  I wanted to share my Valentine's greeting with each one
of you.  Recently, I put together this simple heart vignette, using things from my house.
In the old frame, I put the greeting, using scrapbook paper from the drawer, tied a ribbon
around it and added one of the glass votive holders left over from our youngest daughter's
wedding.  With touches of red, white, and pink, some tiny battery operated candles,
and touches of green, I dressed up my kitchen island.

This centerpiece on my dining room table, remains where it was from Christmas.  I removed the
Christmas ornaments and added my white sparkly hearts to the bowl, along with the clear ornaments.
The tiny strand of battery operated lights, adds a pretty touch to the crystal.

 

Hearts reign here during February.   I used my cookie cutter and cut hearts out of the food. 
This week, I made these fun, very simple heart skewers for three grandchildren, as their
after school snack.  My granddaughter asked me if she could help me make some more
of them.  I was delighted as to how much they liked the apple, cheese, and mandarin
orange concoctions:)

I also made heart shaped bread BLT sandwiches recently.  At another meal, I cut slices
of sweet potatoes into hearts, drizzled them with olive oil and baked them, to serve
with chicken tenders, and steamed broccoli.

I made some white chocolate and macadamia heart bar cookies for the ladies in my
Bible Study group, just because I like to bake and I like hearts.

Every window here, provides the most beautiful views today.  Here are three of them;

What boggles my mind, is that I read that every snowflake is different in it's design.  Wow! 
That is totally amazing to me!

I am sure I am in the minority, but I am happy today.   I am a "winter person", and I
have always been drawn to hearts, so today, I am sharing the abundance of both.  I might actually have time to read my book today, and that adds to my joy.

This being said, I do feel for mothers of younger children, like my oldest daughter.
The snow days are endless here, and keeping younger children occupied while they
are housebound, can be difficult.  In fact, I can't help but think her desperation may
lead her to strap them all on sleds and walk the ten miles through the storm, to get here:)

Speaking of my joy, well, here is what I received yesterday in my email

bin, straight from my daughter's home. 

Our newest little grandson and the stylish hat he received from his

adoring aunts. 

 

I hope his smile and my Valentine greeting, adds a touch of joy

and love to your day.

Thanks so much for stopping here!  I wish you could see the

beauty of this snowstorm today.

 

 

 

I look back through my Picasa albums, and am reminded that I do miss Summer with its
bright colors and the warmth on my skin.  I miss hearing the lawn mowers and the children's
voices echoing from the neighbor's pool.  I miss the feeling of walking through the grass
and dinners on the porch.  But my friends, I would not have wanted to miss the breathtaking
beauty and grandeur that I experienced during my early morning drive today, on the
trip to take one of my granddaughters to her pre-school.  After walking her into
her classroom, and the goodbye hug, I just had to drive the long way home, and stop
to capture only a bit of the exquisite beauty for you.

My car thermometer read 4 degrees. 

Every single twig was covered with ice and or snow.  The sun's light and the piercing cold
produced the sight that one only dreams of.

Truly a winter wonderland.

"Snow comes by night--a quiet magic.  A secret tiptoeing down while people sleep...
 Snow comes by night to fill grown-ups with wonder,and children with enchantment."
 ~Marjorie Holmes

 
 

 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 

"As long as the earth endures, sunshine and harvest, cold and heat, summer and
 winter, day and night, shall not cease."  Gen. 8:22

 

 

 

 

One can't help but think, at the end of the day, sitting by the fire, with a comfy blanket, and
surrounded by those we love.  My hopelessly romantic personality sometimes takes over:)
Snowy winters do that to me.

A pot of steaming chili would make the perfect dinner tonight.  Yes, Summer will be here
shortly, but I would not want to be missing this lovely season of the year, no matter
how many layers I must wear when I go outside.

That said, I must say, I am thinking about those who live in the south,
as they anticipate the coming ice storm."  Every season does have its fury, along
with its beauty.

Wherever you live, whatever the weather is offering to you lately, I want to wish
you simple joys and unexpected blessings as you journey through each day.  Thank
you for taking time out of your day, to stop by here, and for giving me the privilege
of sharing my day's nature happenings with you.

Good evening to all of you my dear blogging friends!

 

It seems like I have been gone for so long.  It is good to be home,

although it is definitely bittersweet. 

 

We were visiting our daughter and son-in-law in the Midwest. 

We came home last evening to the cold, snow covered countryside.

What we left was some of the same, although I must admit,

it was cold like I never experienced in my lifetime.

 

This is what our windshield looked like in the morning, when

we went to drive to our daughter and son-in-law's home, from

our hotel.  Because the car sat outdoors overnight,

we spent time scraping the windshield and warming the

car.

The brilliant sun and the blue sky, created a most beautiful scene out the side car window.

Dressed in layers, with warm gloves and hats, made this process tolerable.

The morning we left this part of the country, the temperature on the thermometer

was -21 degrees.  With the strong wind, it was -41 degrees.

But, the locals handled it all with grace and smiles.

Me, as it is I am always cold, so you can just imagine how it was for me.

 

 

 

The joy of meeting this little guy was unexplainable.

We treasured every moment and every memory.

 

 

Another first for me, making blueberry muffins for my daughter with her Sunbeam muffin maker.
Put the dough in, set the timer for 5 minutes, remove.  Delicious, hot muffins ready to eat.  That
is the way this "one time pastry chef" makes her muffins.

I liked her coffee counter vignette.  I liked her coffee even more.  Hot coffee and bitter cold weather
just seem to go perfect together.

Our times in the outdoors were limited.  I am sure you understand as to why that was true.

I am behind in visiting you all.  I have missed that privilege.  In fact, I went an entire week
without reading my emails. 

Thank you for stopping by, especially when it has been so long since you did that here.

They are calling for another snowstorm here in the east, in a few days.  Once again, we
will shovel it.  And when we are finished, we will drink some more hot coffee.  It
certainly will be a winter we remember well.

 

 

Cherry soda/vanilla ice cream/ and a Hershey Kiss.

 

 

 

 

A brand new, tiny addition to their family, and

ours.  So precious!

 

 

 

 

 

Cherry Greek yogurt/ canned dark red sweet cherries/ mixed with whipped
cream, and topped with granola. 

Some of the many ways to share love this month of February.  Above are a few of our
favorite ways.

We are so thankful for the new little gift we have been given!

 

"It is the little things that make up the richest part of

 

the tapestry of our lives."   ~unknown 

Our hearts are filled with gratitude today, with the birth of our little grandson.

He was born yesterday afternoon.  They are doing well.

A new life journey begins.

"You, little one, are a custom design;

 You are tailor made.

 God planned you before you were born."   ~Max Lucado

Thank you for waiting with us.

Outside my family room window, early last evening, I observed these few scenes.

"Nature has a great simplicity and therefore a great beauty."   ~unknown

My good friend, sent me this picture from her back yard feeder, in North Carolina.  What fun
to see Bluebirds and Cardinals at the same feeder!

Nature offers beauty and comfort.  I see how lovingly God takes care of these little birds,
and it serves as a reminder to me, during this time in life.

I know each of you are waiting for something, or someone in your lives.  Some of you have
been waiting for years, for answered prayers.  Waiting with you today.

As you can guess by now, we have been spending many hours indoors around here lately.

Once in a while we get cabin fever, and then we pay a fun visit to the local Sweet Frog.
Those visits make us happy, because we each enjoy our yogurt fixes:)
For the one in red, it is strawberry yogurt, with toppings of fresh strawberry pieces, and
gummy bears.  For the one in blue, it is vanilla yogurt, strawberry pieces and gummy
bears.  For me, it is sugar free vanilla yogurt, a bit of raspberry syrup, chopped almonds,
and a bit of coconut.  Now you see why we enjoy it!

And when one finishes ahead of the other, he is totally convinced that his brother will share
his remaining treat with him.  The one in the red is equally convinced that he will not share.

But, the one in blue does not give up hope until the very end.  The one in red does not
give in.

Back indoors again, we try to think of every possible way to pass time.  Here, building the
tallest towers presents it's own challenges, especially after one falls and the other does not.
The temptation is great to make sure the other tower falls too.  Competition can be good
and it can be bad. 

Hot chocolate has become a staple the last few weeks, especially with such bitter cold
temperatures.  The little guys don't care if the hearts are pink either.  They know their
maw maw has to add pizazz to most everything, and they love her despite it:)

Thank you for stopping by.  I'd share some hot chocolate with you too, if I could.

And, yes we continue to wait.