Random Pictures

A glimpse of our tree and the snow outside.

I stepped outside this morning in my pajamas and snapped this picture. We got about 4 inches last night.
Here's a picture of some of our kids welcoming the author a couple weeks ago. My student who came up with the limo sign idea is to John's right. John got a kick out of it. I thought it was a clever idea too.
I had been saving a couple of goodies for Deb's hostess/birthday gift and the week of Thanksgiving I found the perfect bag for all her stuff at the Bargain Bazaar. You gotta love thrift stores!

Jen & Family

I took this picture of Jen & family at Thanksgiving at Tim & Deb's house. I think it's a great picture of all of them!

Fur at the Salvation Army?!!

I went to Fergus today to do some Christmas shopping. I stopped at the Salvation Army as I haven't been there for quite awhile. I was looking for old frames and padded vintage hangers and found fur instead! I bought three of them. This is the largest collar and it was $3.80. The smaller ones were $2.80!! I'm wearing this one as I'm typing and it's very cozy. I think it's a cream fox according to my web research. I found similar collars for $78 on a vintage fur website.
This one has a notched collar and might be kind of fun on a jean jacket, sweaters/cardigans.
I'm not fond of the red wool bow one this one but it was the collar with the nicest fur. There were a couple more but I felt a little crazy just buying 3. Should I have bought them all or did I buy too many-that is the dilemma. I like them so I guess that's all that matters.

In addition to the fur, I did find a couple of nice frames, some books, and a cashmere winter hat. I scored a bunch of books at Goodwill too. Some of my treasures are going to be Christmas presents.

Country Living

Is your Christmas tree up yet? I put mine up a little early this year on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. The Vikings were losing and I was in the mood so why not. I used mainly all vintage glass ornaments and snowflakes this year, so it's an old fashioned tree-no big surprise. I'll take a picture later. I was dismayed to find that 3 more strings of lights were no longer working or only half lit this year. I threw them out and decided to check out the Bargain Bazaar for some old lights that might actually work. I got two strings with pine-cone lights, one is out on the kitchen window box and two 100 light sets that have programmable lights. One has 10 options and that one is on the tree; I love changing it. It's a nice change from steady lights. I spent a total of $3.50 on 4 sets of lights, now we'll see how long they last.

Blustery Day

We were two hours late today. When I left at 9:00 I could hardly believe that I was actually going to have to drive in a blizzard to get to school. Turns out it wasn't as bad as I thought but the wind never did let up and driving home was as bad as the drive in. Luckily, the roads were pretty clear, just visibility issues in flat open areas. The wind is still blowing strong out there and I wonder if we might not have another late start tomorrow. It seems a little early for this. I'm glad we won't have to make today up as we have no built in snow days.

It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas...

I love birch-here's a neat idea. I plan to use birch accents on the fireplace mantel this year. Birch is extremely flammable to use caution when using near candles.

This is like a rummage sale dream, coming upon a bunch of vintage ornaments like this!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I know this isn't a very Thanksgiving type picture, but the snow is right and isn't it funny how that horse is chowing down on the wreath. Love the colors in the photo too.

Anyway, I'm hoping that the roads will be good for everyone who is out on them tomorrow. Drive safely! Hope you have a wonderful day wherever you are celebrating, at home or away. I am thankful for so many things and that includes those of you who check in on my blog so often. Thank you!!!!!!

Our Anniversary

Yesterday was our 23rd Anniversary-time flies when you are having fun! Happy Anniversary, Honey!! I know you are one of my most faithful readers. Does this make up for no card?? Sarah took this of us by the way, when we went to RENT. Love that musical.

Holiday Recipe Collection

I just found my Thanksgiving salad at www.razzledazzlerecipes.com They have quite a nice collection there, maybe you will find something too. Classic recipes and new!

Decorating Outside

This year Mother Nature helped me out with the outdoor decor and I'm not talking about the sparkling snow that we currently have-very pretty in the moonlight by the way. The 60 mph winds that we had in October blew about 6 large limbs from the big pine next to our house so I used that to fill window boxes. I filled the big window boxes in the new bathroom for the very first time and that's pretty to look out at from that room. Then I noticed that one of the cabin neighbors trimmed their blue spruce evergreens so I added a little variety from that. I filled up a wheelbarrow again yesterday and brought over to our neighbors to the East for their outdoor containers too.

Is anyone else disappointed with their Christmas lights-interior specifically? Half a strip goes out or the entire thing and they're less than a couple of years old. Last year I threw out some and this year had to throw two more. I read that Ace Hardware will take them but I just wanted them out of the house. They used to last a very long time-ah the good old days. Think I will look at the BB tomorrow for some good old and cheap ones!

What I'm Reading...

I just got my hands on The Help yesterday and can't wait to start. It's the December book club selection. I know that Shari, Ellen and Nancy have read it and Mom is just about to. Everyone I've talked to loves this this book with the exception of one person who said it was just okay. It's getting rave reviews on Amazon.
Speaking of rave reviews...I'm halfway through this Fannie Flagg novel which also averages 4 1/2 stars on Amazon. My club was searching for a good Christmas read and I am recommending this one. I can't wait to get in bed in a few minutes and continue reading. Speaking of books, John Coy, a Mn author is visiting my classroom all morning tomorrow-my kids are very excited. He writes a lot of sports books for middle and high school. He speaks about getting boys to read and was in Alex last night. I wonder what he'll think about my classroom library-I think I have it stocked well for boys and the girls too. Finding books for my classroom is one of my favorite hobbies now. I might need to invest in shelves soon!

Good night-I'm off to read. :)

Oh, one funny thing to share, one of my boys said we should greet John Coy at the door like the limousine drivers do at the airport with their little signs, so we're doing that. I'll try to get a picture-I thought it was a fun idea!

Poor Mollie

We found out this week that Mollie has diabetes. She had been losing a lot of weight and was drinking and using her litterbox a LOT. These are the first symptoms owners usually notice. She is doing very well and needs two insulin shots a day. Dan is great at giving them and I'm thinking he would have been a very good small animal vet. I've done three now and the needle is so fine that Mollie doesn't even seem to notice. I hate giving her the shots but have to when Dan's gone. We hope that in the future she will be okay on diet alone but our vet says that for now we should just work on getting her down to one shot per day with the diet change.

Did you know that canned food is better for your cats than dry because it has more protein and very little carbs/sugar? Even cheap canned food is just fine as long as it's not the kind with gravy, which has high fructane sugars. Cats eat mice, which are almost pure protein, they do not need carbs. I was surprised by the research I found online, but it makes sense. Many cats do fine with dry, but could use a little canned now and then, mixed in with the dry as a treat. It has more water which they need too. Something to think about if you have a kitty in your home.

I should mention that Mollie is doing just great, her fur seems softer already with the canned food, she's kind of lazy but she's always been that way. Weight and inactivity predisposed her to diabetes. Being a Siamese was another factor.

Read this if you get a chance...

One of my 5th graders donated this book to my classroom library and I read it this weekend, in about 2 hours. Once I started, I could not put it down. Who would think that an adult would care so much about what happens to a china rabbit?! This is the same Mn author who wrote Because of Winn Dixie and Tiger Rising. She has others that I have yet to read. Winn Dixie is probably my favorite read aloud and we are currently reading it in class. I look forward to it every year.

Neighborhood Swans

Here's a family of trumpeter swans on the marsh just down the gravel road. They've been in the area for awhile and I finally got a nice view of them. It looks like two adults and two young with the grey feathers. Aren't they pretty?

Bottoms up!

Ted & Pam's Cabin

On Saturday, we drove up to Ted & Pam's place. It was our first time to visit and we had a fun and relaxing time. The weather was perfect and we enjoyed the scenic views the entire visit, not to mention all the great food!!
Nicole and Marty were up too. It was great to relax by the bonfire until dusk. Their cabin is the brown one.
Here's the view to the west. Their neighbors were having a bon-fire too. I like this silhouette!

Here's the east view.

Nicole and Dan working in the kitchen. :) Dan's always happy to serve up a martini. Thanks so much for having us, Ted & Pam, we look forward to another visit this weekend! ;)