Hello Loveuary...I mean February!

Hallmark calls this month Loveuary but I'm just glad we made it through crazy January!  We had record cold, record snow, and Jack and I battled a virus that took a good 3 weeks to get over. We don't get sick very often, (knocking on wood here!) so it was not a fun time.  But we did have a few sunny days over the weekend, and February 1st was also sunny and by the evening the full moon had the yard as bright as day! No, I didn't get any pics unfortunately.  We also had our kids and grandkiddos over for a little rib fest yesterday and I didn't get any pics then either.  I'm really slipping on my photo moments!  I know that crazy rodent saw his shadow this morning and for some reason the calendar agrees with him and shows we have 6 more weeks until spring. So, let's get through this short month that usually feels like the longest one due to the winter weather.  July with its 31 days doesn't drag along like February! Even though I missed photo moments yesterday, I did get a few from Saturday to share.  It was the high school's winter formal on Saturday and my granddaughter, Rae, came over with her friends for some pics.  I had to razz her a bit about her dress. I asked her where the rest of it went! I was afraid she'd freeze in this weather! She loves me anyway and did laugh!

Rae and Ethan. He came with her for lunch on Sunday too and seems to be a really nice young man.

This is Rae's friend who went with them to the dance.  They all went in separate cars and just met up at the high school for the dance.  Again, brrrrrrrrr Rae Rae!  After the kids left, Jack and I went up the church for a church social that was also a food competition.  I made my Greek chicken recipe.  Guess who came home with a medal for the best overall dish?

Yep, that would be me!  So that about finished up our weekend except for having family over for ribs and potato salad, tossed salad, fruit salad, baked beans, rolls, and homemade apple pie with homemade icecream for dessert on Sunday.  Our son Jack said, "Mom, looks like a summer meal!"  Yes, I was hoping to manifest some warmer temps here!  It did get up to 21de today! Yeah!  Finally, here's some other eaters who came to visit over the weekend that I did manage to click a pic:

Mr. Cardinal.

Mrs. Cardinal.

Come and get it!  One last pic:

We have had some amazing ice cycles show up!  Watch you head when it starts to warm up...hopefully sooner than later!

Snow Apocalypse!

 We were warned all week of this storm called Fern. So all week we prepared with plenty of wood for the furnace, grocery shopping 
done early so we didn't have to fight crowds who think its necessary to have 100 rolls of TP, 3 dozen loaves of bread and plenty of frozen pizzas. The snow started early this morning and we've got about a foot of it so far. Its still showing so the snow blower will be put to use more than once! But there's no wind, the snow is light and fluffy because the temps are pretty cold. It think I shoveled paths for Annabelle to do her business at least 6 times today. Its hard to be a short legged puppers in a snow apocalypse!

Go shorty!

Bird bath is closed for the season. The bird feeder is open and busy all day!

Waiting his turn. So what do you do when everything, including church is canceled? Read? Yep. Naps? Of course. Cook and bake? Absolutely!

Potato soup hit the spot.

Chocolate cake too! So if you're in this crazy weather, please be safe, stay warm, enjoy the beauty of the snow if you can and have a snack or two! 

January In The Middle

 My last post was on January 7th and we were sick.  It's now January 18th and we're still coughing and blowing our noses! But we feel much better and I think Jack is a bit better than me right now.  Oh well, I hear this virus doesn't give up quickly but it's making January a tough cookie!  Even though I haven't felt the best I still try and get outside and take Annabelle for walks.  Breathing in fresh air helps and we've had a few sunny times too.  What do you do when the sun shines in Ohio in the winter?  Take photos of course.

Annabelle likes to sit in the sun and soak it up.  She's by the firepit but no fires in here for a while.

A few drops of vitamin D please!

Sometimes Annabelle needs a little coat on those super cold days. Well, I think she needs it but most of the time she's just fine running coatless!  Saturday, we had snow in the morning and when we pulled into the garage after grocery shopping it was really coming down.

Can you see it?  It was more impressive in person.  But then just a few hours later it was sunny!

Blue skies and fluffy clouds bring a smile to the face!  After a nice time outdoors, I was ready to do some baking and soup making.  I made chicken noodle soup and vegetable soup and because I can't just make a little for the 2 of us, I decided to can the rest.  So I dug out the canner and viola'!

Chicken soup for the soul and then veggie soup to add to the stash for another cold day.  I also made some bread,

Makes good toast! I'm taking soup and bread to my BFF Donna tomorrow.  But why stop there? I also made my favorite Greek pastry: not baklava.  I made galaktoboureko.  It's a custard pastry that also has phyllo dough.

I packed up some for Donna and took some to church for a couple of friends there.  This brings back memories of growing up when mom would make it and my sister and I both agree that it's a favorite to warmup and have for breakfast.  I put the leftovers in the garage fridge so I wasn't tempted to feast more than I should!  We were blessed with clear sunny skies again today and I took Annabelle for a nice walk into the woods and around the Pines. 

Hello Mr. Sun. 

Super blue skies.

I noticed the sparkle in the snow.  Many tines we only complain about winter without enjoying the beauty that's there to enjoy.  I'm grateful for a pretty day!  Now if this virus would melt away, that would be fabulous! 

Ahhh Choo!

 We're one week into 2026 and both Jack and I are fighting the upper respiratory flu, and it's really knocked us for a loop.  So, stay healthy and I might suggest putting some sanitizer on your hands after reading this. Must go sneeze and cough now.  Yuck!

Bye Bye 25!

 My final blog post for this year has arrived. Hard to believe this year is going out in a few hours.  All the cheers saying Happy New Year, all the hugs, smiles, and toasts to the new start of 2026 give hope for a good future.  A good 12 months of adventures, health, prosperity, family, friends and most importantly, faith.  When I was decorating for Christmas, I found a note to myself that I wrote putting away the decor in 2024.  I wrote that I hoped 2025 would be good and that I was ready for what it would bring.  So today as I put away this year's decorations, I again wrote a note to myself with the same hope. My prayers are for all my family and friends for the best year ahead.  As I look back at 2025, I'll post some pics of what went down in my life these past 12 months.

January had just a few pics of birds that frequented the feeder but I must have deleted them.

February: Annabelle got some wheels that came in handy later in the year.

March:  We gave my sister a surprise 70th birthday party.  It was a success with the surprise, and we had a great time that weekend!

April:  April showers brought lots of flooding.

April also brought the annual Easter gathering with family.

May: Spring sprung with greenery at the Pines and deck time to enjoy the weather.

Creepy woods in spring glory!

June: The family reunion in Chicago that brought cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, parents and friends all together for a jam-packed weekend of laughs and memories and salutes to those who came before us.

Jordan, the tall one with his friends from when he lived in Chicago.

Craig and Jackie

Jack and my brother, James.  Till we meet again at the Pines in October 2026.
July:  This month brought a girl's trip to Salem, Mass. and Maine.  Me, my sister, my nieces, and great nieces had a blast!  

Midge and me.  The gang waiting for our lobster dinner.

August: Time for summer Creepy Woods walks with a man and his dog!

August 31st gave us another time to celebrate 51yrs of marriage and a look back at these crazy kids in 1974!

September: This month our boys helped Jack repair our sagging deck.  I'll paint it next summer after it's had time to age.

The signs of coming Autumn were in the air.

Homecoming for our granddaughter, Rae.  Growing up too fast!

October: My favorite month and time of the year!  Time for brains for eating

Family fun day for gathering..Phil, Lex, and Rae

My kitchen witch.

My coven featuring Midge, Amy, and me!

November: Thanksgiving gathering

Me and my boys!

Our oldest turning 50 made us take a deep breath of unbelief!  How did he go from our preemie baby to a grown up and grandpa?

December: This was a jammed packed month but we kept the reason for the season first and formost.

Decorating is always fun and now it's coming down today.

Throw in the wood gathering and help from our awesome sons that has kept us warm this chilly month.  The last 2 weeks were weirdly warm but now we have snow and cold fitting for the beginning of January.  

That's my wrap up for 2025.  Sorry (not sorry) for all the pics but this will all be in my blog book soon, I hope everyone has a very happy, healthy, and wonderful new year.  Let's keep the faith, have patience, do good, love your neighbor, be kind always, and praise the Lord daily.  Happy New Year. Bye Bye 25!