A Symphony In White

Winter has made its way to our area. I love the snow and the beauty of seeing it on trees-it is pristine and takes my breath away. This year our snowfall hasn't been as much as last year but experiencing the beauty of new fallen snow still inspires me. We don't have trees this thick here in northeastern Colorado but I love the look of frost and snow on our trees none the less.
I've heard from a friend in northern Washington that they got 2' of snow before New Year's and it hasn't stopped snowing since. I'm so thankful that I don't have to brave the cold unless I want to and I can sit with a cup of tea and just enjoy the weather. I love living in a state that has four distinct seasons; not that Ca. didn't but our winters are so much more beautiful. Wherever you are today may you find beauty that inspires you.

Fabulous Friday

The first Friday of the New Year makes me think of yesterday, look at today and gaze to tomorrow. Yesterday many took advantage of the sales but for the most part hubby and I stayed home. My back has been acting up a tad and kicked in my sciatica so I wanted to baby it and not make it worse. I haven't had a bout of sciatica in 12 years and I really don't want to get as bad as I did back then. So although I took it slow and easy, I did sit and work on hubby's quilt a bit. We ran a couple of small errands and during the day my back was fine. Last evening our girls and their families came over; we put on a Little House On The Prairie movie for the kids and the adults played Mexican Train with dominoes. It was great fun to be together bringing in the New Year....quality family time is what we enjoy the most. By the time everyone headed home we had 7 little ones very tired and ready for bed.
Today my back and hip are acting up so I've taken the Advil and put on a topical Camphor rub so will probably just stay in. There were more errands to run but they can wait til tomorrow.
Having dealt with my back before I know what to do and what not to do so I plan on babying it!
Tomorrow we are supposed to get snow; it's been almost 2 weeks since our last snowfall so I'm ready to enjoy a quiet day of just watching the beauty of it. Have a great weekend. Blessings to you and yours.

My First Full Year In Colorado

As I've looked at several of my favorite blogs today I see many are posting on their lives in '08. With that in mind I decided to review all the blessings we've experienced over the last year.
'08 marked our first full year here and so I am rejoicing in living in beautiful Colorado.

January marked our first full month of living here and adjusting to living and driving in snow country.
The beauty of the Rockies and fresh snow thrills me.

February we hosted a young college gal who needed temporary housing; it was fun to see life through her eyes. My dear prayer pal and friend came out to dog sit at her brother's so we spent a lot of time together over three weeks. In fact, I helped whelp one of his 16 dogs-a first for me.

March was the month we headed out to one of our favorite vacation areas-the Islands to meet dear hubby's golfing buddies. He's a snow bird at heart, actually maybe he's Hawaiian at heart because he'd much rather live there than here. Grandkids and daughters are here(plus son-in-laws)so this is home base. Plenty of trips to the Islands are planned for the future.

April came and went, celebrating two granddaughter's birthdays and hosting my brother and his wife~our favorite family members. Some of our closest friends also came for a visit~one of many.

May found dear hubby driving back to Reno for a golf tournament and then getting his brother in California for a visit here. While he was driving home we experienced our first and hopefully only tornado. We only had damage to our windows, fences and vehicles and thankfully didn't loose our homes; having said that I still prefer these to earthquakes.

June was another month of travel and also of dear friends visiting. We went back to beautiful Yosemite and met friends there. I had forgotten how beautiful the monument can be and also remembered what a long drive back to California it is.

July and August found us camping and exploring new areas of Colorado and also of Utah with our girls.

September welcomed a precious new granddaughter into our lives. Delaney Aliana was born at the end of the month, right before her sweet cousin Faith's birthday. My brother and sister-in-law also came back out for a visit.

October was marked with lots of family birthdays and also beginning preparations for a hand made Christmas.

November and December found us decorating for the holidays and also seriously beginning our search for a home. Our home in California still is leased, due to the housing market but time has come for us to find someplace here to settle into for a few years until California's real estate increases in value.

All in all we've made wonderful friends here and are loving the life we have. Being able to actively help our daughter's and their families and spend time with all the grandkids makes our lives much richer. We are so blessed by love lovingkindness of the Lord and by rich blessings He bestows to us.

May the Lord bless you and keep you as we enter this New Year.
Happy New Year's from our home to yours.

Noreen

I can't believe New Year's Eve is almost upon us-where did the week go? While many have been taking down their Christmas decorations and trees I have been working on dear hubby's Christmas quilt that I didn't get done in time. It's actually coming together quite easily and I'm hoping that today I will have the top pieced and ready to pin for quilting. That's where the work slows down because even though it is a relatively simple flannel quilt, the hand stitching takes longer. This quilt is a cute flannel Snowman print that I found and loved and since we snuggle under throws while watching t.v. I thought this would be really warm. I still owe him one more quilt, which I have all the fabric for, but it will take awhile to make as it is quite intricate. I'm not even sure he remembers the other quilt and the flannel one will be great for the winter. After I finish piecing it, then I'm ready to take down all the decorations. We always have the tree down by New Year's Eve so that we start the New Year with a nice, clean living room.
We are thinking of having a special dinner tomorrow night and then will probably just stay home and watch a video.
As for resolutions, I don't like making them and there is always something I could change-like my weight, lack of exercise etc but this year my focus will be spiritual and trying to add to my life not take away.
Blessings to you this day.

Our Trip To Royal Gorge

This year for Christmas our girls, their hubby's and families gave us a wonderful gift~a train trip at Royal Gorge in Canon City Colorado. We actually got to see areas of Colorado that we haven't been to before so that was really fun. One grandson was sick so our group was smaller than normal and hopefully in the spring the other family can go. Pictured above are the newest baby...she is 3 mos old. How time flies! One grandson from our other daughter came with us and he and his cousin had a great time. As far as Shannon is concerned John walks on water. She adores him! Although it was a long drive all of us had a great day and what a great gift. We'd like to go back in the spring and see wildlife and get a different view of the area but it was fun seeing the canyon covered in snow. The weather cooperated with us and because it was a holiday weekend traffic wasn't too bad.

Hand Made Christmas

Several months ago dear hubby and two grandsons, ages 7 and 5, decided to make the little girls in our family cradles for Christmas. Hubby has been teaching them wood working and our oldest daughter saw this cradle design in Pottery Barn so suggested it would be a good project. They thoroughly enjoyed the time together and the cradles are beautiful. I decided to make dolls beds and quilts for their dolls; somehow time got away from me and so this morning I sat down and got them done. The quilt fabric comes like that because I don't have the time right now to make doll quilts. In fact, due to my lack of time the sewing leaves something to be desired but I don't think two 3 yrs olds, two 1 yr olds and two infants will notice. It might have been a good idea to make each of the girls their own cradle but this way they are learning to share and take turns. I'm so thankful they are done and now all I have to think about it dear hubby's quilt. Since he's seen the fabric and choose an additional two fabrics it won't be a big surprise; that's o.k. cause I do have something up my sleeve.
Enjoy our last hours of preparation-I plan to.
Christmas Blessings from my home to yours.

Christmas snuggle quilts

Shannon, Mackenzie and Delaney's Faith and Olivia's

My granddaughter's are all too young to read Nana's blog so I thought I would post pictures of their Christmas presents. Faith and Olivia's is flannel fabrics and very cuddly and although Shannon, Mackenzie and Delaney's isn't, it is still nice, big and will cover them while they snuggle on the couch. I've finished all but hubby's, which he now knows about, so the pressure is off of me to have it done by Thursday. He may even pick out another fabric or two which will make it perfect...plus it's in flannel so it will be really cozy.
I've got my Christmas baking done and now I can just relax and enjoy the next several days.
My focus will be where is should be, how about yours?