LET IT SNOW.............

It snowed all day, yesterday. This is what our yard looks like, now........

All pics were taken from our front or back porch, so there are none of the house.Top photo is looking down our driveway.
This one below shows the side of the garage apartment....

The picture below is one of the areas where we feed the birds and chipmunks. The tree on the left was our in-house Christmas tree of 1989, which was later planted, and then re-planted.
The cardinals sitting on the branches flew away before the picture was snapped. S: (

Here's the back patio, another feeding area. The chipmunks love to sit on the roof of this bird-feeder house. It's a favorite 'lookout' station!

Don't these dogwood trees look like lace?.....a beautiful sight!

Today, it's melting away, but more snow is expected tonight.

I wouldn't want to live where it snows so much you have to shovel your way out, but these occasional snow days are a real treat for this (former) Florida gal!

*****

Here's one more neat snow picture! My friend, Mary, sent me this shot of a group of deer that come into her back yard every afternoon. She puts out corn for them.

WHAT'S COOKIN'?

The weather this weekend is supposed to be cold, rainy & possible snow. Sounds like soup and cornbread weather to me!
Here's an easy favorite of ours:

MEATBALL SOUP

This meatball soup is easily made with frozen meatballs, V-8 juice, tomatoes, and vegetables, along with herbs and seasonings.

Ingredients:
1 pound frozen meatballs, Italian seasoned
3 cups Spicy hot V-8 juice (3 cups beef broth can be substituted)

1 can diced tomatoes
1 cup diced potato, about 1 medium potato
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tbsp. dried parsley, crushed
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 teaspoon seasoned pepper
1 one-lb. pkg. (about 3 cups) frozen mixed vegetables

Preparation:
In large pot, combine meatballs, broth, tomatoes, potato, onion, garlic powder, and pepper. Cover and cook 1 hour, until potatoes and onion are tender. Stir in frozen vegetables and cook on LOW to MEDIUM heat for 1 hour longer. Serves 6.

*I like to serve it topped off with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and chopped green onions, along with a basket of Mexican cheese-cornbread wedges.

I gave up making homemade cornbread after discovering how good Martha White's Mexican cornbread is when a cup of grated cheddar is added to the batter before baking. Just bake in greased pan, according to package directions. Yummy!!

CHOOSE LIFE!

Today is 'Sanctity of Life' Sunday.

This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. Deut. 30:19a

HOW BAD IS THE ECONOMY????

SOME OF MY FAVORITES.........

As you may know, I collect Victorian postcards from the early 1900's; mostly ladies, children, etc.
These are a few of the cute children. Hope you enjoy them!

And my all-time favorite...................

MONDAY MUNCHER

Here's our buddy, 'Woody' having a morning snack. Isn't he gorgeous? He also likes peanuts, and comes regularly to the hanging dish of peanuts on our front porch.
We have at least 3 types of woodpeckers in our yard. I haven't gotten a picture of the little Downy woodpeckers that are constantly eating the suet, but they are so cute!
There's also the huge and somewhat illusive Pileated woodpeckers. We only see them once in a while. They occasionally wander up near the porch, but are more commonly seen out in the woodsy section of our yard, pecking away at tree bark, looking for bugs.

What can I say? The critters around our house are really spoiled rotten! Well, I'd like to write more, but I'm off to the store to pick up another bag of black sunflower seed.....getting low on peanuts, too!

MOSAIC of MOSAICS...2009

This is my first attempt at doing a photo mosaic, & what better subject than a mosaic of Mosaics?

These are the projects I completed this past year.

I didn't put a link to each item, but just click on the picture to enlarge.

Items L to R...

Top row: Oval silver tray, Wooden shoe, 'Under the Sea' mirror.

2nd row: 'Anytime is Coffee Time' Plaque. 'We have seen His star' ornament, Round silver tray

3rd row: Sling-back shoe, Large round table, Bakelite mirror

4th row: 'Vanilla Fields' plaque, Round silver plate, Turquoise box

The whole process of creating mosaics is such fun! The most difficult part for me is deciding what to do next, and actually getting started.

Two more works are currently in progress, but will have to be included on the next go-round.

SCRIPTURE for SUNDAY

Because of the Lord's great love

we are not consumed,

for His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

great is Your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:23

It's a New Year

A new beginning

A fresh start

A clean slate............

What will be written on your slate this year?

*****

...if anyone is in Christ,

he is a new creation;

the old has gone,

the new has come!

2 Cor. 5:17

*****

WISHES FOR A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

This new background and header really make me smile! I'm reminded of what fun it was, as a child, to cut out paper snowflakes. Fold and fold and fold, then cut, cut, cut.....It was always such a surprise to see it all opened up.

I've been sick since the day after Christmas (what a birthday, huh?), but think the cloud is lifting, finally.
Hope to be back to blogging and catching up on your blogs this week.

In the meantime, here's wishing you all a Happy New Year & a terrific 2010!

MERRY CHRISTMAS, FRIENDS!

For to us a child is born,
to us a Son is given,
And the government

will be on His shoulders.
And He will be called
Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6

NO ROOM

Today's post is on my other blog, 'JUST CHRISTMAS', so click on the link below, and be sure to enjoy the music while you're there........

http://susanschristmasspace.blogspot.com/

O CHRISTMAS TREE!

Hi, ya'll! Today, I'm all dressed up in my cute little Santa suit,

ready to show you some of the other ornaments that I have to share this super-skinny Christmas tree with. First of all, here's the tree.....

Every tree needs a spider web with a golden spider, don't you think....

This Silvestri birdcage ornament has been around for a long, long time...

Butterflies, butterflies ...There must be a dozen of these..... Hey, do you see my friend, the cardinal sitting on a giant mushroom over behind the butterfly?
We mice tolerate chipmunks pretty well. (Just wish there weren't so many of them. They're everywhere around here!) This one was a gift from Ms. Mary.

Cute little satin jester doll. She's a sweetie!.............

Yea! Another mouse!! (This cutie was made by Ms. Susan's mother).

Little wooden angel in a glass bell..Think I saw several of these....

Wow! This is a pretty angel!.............

This special little ornament plays 'Silent Night'.............

And, here's the sheet music, if you'd like to sing along........

I'm told that this was a gift from the director of children's choirs the year they presented the Christmas musical, 'The Joy of Jesus''...................

Well, there are alot more ornaments we could talk about, but I'm off to check out that little mouse on the other side of the tree, so.........

"Bye-bye for now", & "Hope you have a Merry Christmas!"