MERRY CHRISTMAS/HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND A HAPPY AND PEACEFUL NEW YEAR TO ALL!

Hi Everyone, this is a little early but I wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas, and to those of you who are of other Faiths, I wish you a very happy holiday season.  To all of us a Happy, Healthy and Peaceful New Year.  Those who are dealing with losses and such tragic events around the world are particularly in my heart.

I hope to be back in the New Year on a more regular basis.  

It took me longer than usual but here are part of the decorations I have put around our house.  I am also sharing some treasured collectibles, along with a few very treasured old photos which you may have seen before.  

We have a small artificial tree, one of the narrow ones that we can fit where people can pass by without tripping over it.  

Here are a collection of wooden ornaments I made in my craft show days.  The first is the one that started it all, an idea from Gregg after me buying a wooden old-fashioned policeman from Germany that reminded me of my dad, and making one for the navy craft show at the local school I participated in, thanks to Gregg's good idea.  There's a story I shared on my old blog somewhere.  This is supposed to be Gregg by the way, complete with glasses.

If my fingers had allowed me to continue, I would never have quit painting.  It was such an enjoyable part of my life going to those craft shows and meeting all the people I met from everywhere.  Special memories of special people.  Three more of mine, many more in boxes in the basement.

A few ornaments bought or given that have great sentimental value.

Thank you to all my blogging friends who let me know how concerned they were during my spell away.  Your kindness means everything.

Wishing that we all receive the Dove of Peace in 2017.

BLOG BREAK

As I am still not 100 percent I felt it best to take a blog break for a while. Not sure when I will be back but hopefully sooner than later.   Comment is off again.  Thank you friends!

BACK FOR A BIT....

I am very happy to be back on line but still getting over a bad ear infection and a nasty dose of bronchitis.  Going to our local walk-in clinic is never a favorite thing to do, but the medical professionals were very nice.  With the right medication I am beginning to feel better, though it will still be a few days before I am back to normal.

I am that shadow, still a bit dark and discomfobulated.  Soon I hope to feel like dancing, just as you see the sweet little dancer in this delightful photo.  I love it!  My niece sent it to me recently.  Thank you dear niece, it was a great pick-me-up.  

Not quite back to normal yet but hope to be participating in the memes again soon, and adding normal posts.  I will also be answering all those sweet messages you've been leaving.  I will answer those before I do another post.  Not sure how long it will be before I get back to normal blogging, but thanks for thinking of me and being so kind.  

The cold continues....

My cold has turned into a doozy and it may take longer than I thought to get back to regular posting.  I have been bedbound and housebound and not feeling like doing a whole lot.  I hope to get back to normal in a few days and will read through and publish the backlog of those lovely comments you have left. Thank you for your continued support and patience.   

A FEW BIRDS FROM THE ARCHIVES

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2) 

3)

4)

5)

From my archives.

For the following as they become available, with my thanks to all our hosts Eileen, Misty, Anni and Stewart.  You can click on the memes below to visit other participants.  

Tanya at Willy-Nilly Friday Five

Eileen at Saturday's Critters

Misty at Camera Critters

Anni at Bird D'Pot

Stuart at Wild Bird Wednesday

SKYWATCH FRIDAY

 Sunrise in Virginia Beach

Thank you to all the team at SkyWatch Friday.  You can click on the link below to see other participants.

SkyWatch Friday

GOOD FENCES

Thank you for hosting Theresa!
If you click on the link below you can visit other participants.

Good Fences

RANDOM PHOTO AND A POEM

I Love A Tree

When I pass to my reward

Whenever that may be,

I'd like my friends to think of me

As one who loved a tree.

I may not have a statesman's poise,

Nor thrill a throng with speech,

But I may benefit mankind

If I set out a beech.

If I transport a sapling oak

To rear its mighty head.

Twill make for them a childhood shrine,

That will not soon decay.

Or if I plant a tree with fruit

On which the birds may feed,

Then I have fostered feathered friends

And that's a worthy deed.

For winter when the days grow short

And spirits may run low,

I'd plant a pine upon the scape

T'would lend a cheery glow.

I'd like a tree to mark the spot

Where I am laid to rest

For that would be the epitaph

That I would like the best.

Tho it's not carved upon a stone

For those who come to see,

But friends would know that resting there

Is he, who loved a tree.

~Samuel N. Baxter~

A FEW BOTANICALS

These are from our vacation in Kauai last December/January.

I am supporting the following memes as they become available, with many thanks to all our hosts.

Maggie a Mosaic Monday
Michelle at Nature Notes
Jesh at Seasons 
Tom at Tuesday's Treasures
N.C. Sue at Wordless (on Tuesday) at Image-in-ing
Betty at Wednesday Around the World

MONDAY RECIPE POST - CHICKEN ALREDO QUESADILLAS

I found this recipe here at The Recipe Rebel hosted by Ashley.

Chicken Alfredo Quesadilla - serves 1

Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 4 minutes
Total time: 9 minutes

1 tortilla (original, whole wheat or flavor of choice)
1/4 cup Alfredo sauce
1/2 cup cooked chicken
1/3 cup shredded cheese

Lay the tortilla flat.  Spread half of it with Alfredo sauce and top with chicken and cheese.

Place in a pan and heat over medium heat until cheese is nicely melted.

Serve and enjoy!

This is a great meal for putting on the table quickly, and is very tasty.

I added a sliced sauteed tomato, and a small dish of salsa on the side.  I would also have added a nice green salad if I had the ingredients in the fridge, but it had been a busy day and I did not have time to go to the store.  I used what was on hand and it turned out to be very tasty.  

Definitely putting this on the make again list for busy days.

A RIDE UP TO SKYLINE DRIVE, VIRGINIA

1) We have had some beautiful days lately.  On Sunday we decided to drive to Skyline Drive.  

It was an impulse decision as it was later when we started out, and we got there at around 3.30 p.m., almost 4 o'clock. 

 The light was getting longer, perfect for photos we said.  

We hadn't even gotten onto Skyline Drive when we saw a bear running across the road, right in front of us, at a full gallop.  I have never seen a bear run that fast and have never seen one that big.  Fortunately we weren't going very fast ourselves, as the roads become narrow and winding.  Gregg was able to break so that the bear could make its way across safely.  Again, just like our last bear sighting up here, there was no chance for a photo but what a great memory.  Gregg, of course, said that he didn't know which was more fun, seeing the bear or watching my reaction as I shouted, "Bear! Bear! Bear!"  I was spluttering and pointing, and could barely get the words out, and reenacting, he said, the time we were in the north west several years ago when a Moose crossed the road.  I tend to waste valuable seconds spluttering when I should be reaching for a camera but really, there wasn't time to take a photo.  It is an excuse I am sticking with.

What I was really trying to say was "Stop! Stop! Stop!"  I was so glad that big, beautiful animal got across safely, that there was no traffic behind or in front of us before he reached the safety of the trees and disappeared into the woods.  To see a wild animal in its natural habitat is an awesome feeling of joy.  However, I just wouldn't want to be walking down one of the trails and come across one.  I know you're supposed to make a lot of noise and that they are kind of skittish of people and would normally stay well clear, but well...you know....and I can be a nervous nelly about such things.  And here's me wanting to go to Kodiak Island one day and be one with the grizzly.  Yes, I know!   This big boy was close enough when we saw him, 50-60 feet in front of us, and with us safely in our car.  A fleeting look of a magnificent animal.  We have seen more bears up here over the last couple of years than we have in all the years we have lived in Virginia.  Incredible but yes, at a distance.  Nope, wasn't going to go chasing into the woods for a photo.  It's one of those memories that will stay with us always, one of those priceless gifts worth far more than material things.

2) When we reached Big Meadows Lodge, we had not eaten all day and had wanted to have dinner in the dining room.  We were told it would be closing soon but that the Tap Room was open.  We made our way downstairs.  There was loud music and  when we got there, a lady with a great voice and a microphone accompanying instrumental music of popular songs, some country and western, some Janice Joplin, some jazz.  We picked a table on the edge of the dining area and settled down to listen.  The menu is limited but we decided on a Margarita Pizza.  It was delicious.  

So, we ate our pizza, I drank a coffee and Gregg had a coke.  



By the time we had finished we listened to several songs and when we left we told Racine (the singer) how much we had enjoyed her performance.  She was a professional and we could see her on stage with a big audience.  If you ever stop by the tap room and she is performing, don't let the loudness of the speakers put you off.  I am normally in my comfort zone with low decibels but after a while I started enjoying myself, more than I ever thought I would.  It took this visit to remind me how much I love live music.  The high energy sets your toes tapping.


3) Just before we walked into the Lodge I found one bird to photograph.  Yay!  He was a White Breasted Nuthatch.  I could just about make out wood bark flying.  It was a fine wood bark, almost like bits of sawdust.  That Nuthatch had quite a technique and I enjoyed watching him for a little while. A more cropped version of the above photo.

I bought a couple of things to commemorate our bear sighting.  Big Meadows has a great gift shop by the way.  I'm getting together with friends again this weekend, and will be divvying up the chocolate paw print.  Not sure who will be getting the birthday card yet.

3) Although we didn't do a lot of hiking today, we stopped at a couple of the overlooks.  Today was a busy day and all the parking spots at Big Meadows were overflowing, and a lot of places were the same in between.  This was the day to get out and enjoy Skyline Drive, for a whole lot of people.  I feel fortunate we can come back another day, maybe during the week next time and stay longer.  We knew that by the time we got back it would be dark, and we decided to make our way home.

4) We saw no deer and they have been scarce on our previous visits too.....

but we did see this cute little pup making his way along the wall.  We only got him as he was retreating fast, kissing the stone with his nose, sniffing all those wonderful smells that our canine friends like to do.

Can't wait to get up there again, and we will start out early in the morning next time.  Maybe take a picnic if the weather is kind.  It will be colder of course but car picnics with a view like that can be wonderful!

5) Finishing off with a link to great wildlife photos, that I hope will bring a smile.  You can see them here.  On this page there are links to other news articles, so if you don't want to see them, don't go any further than the last cute animal.

 I am supporting the following memes as they become available, with many thanks to all our hosts.

Theresa at Good Fences
Tanya at Willy-Nilly Friday Five
The team at SkyWatch Friday
Eileen at Saturday's Critters

Misty at Camera Critters
Anni at Bird D'Pot
Stuart at Wild Bird Wednesday

(I put the cartoon-like graphics on my own photos, which I got from Pixababy)