Happy Easter and day trip

I hope everyone had a great Easter. We went for a drive and then visited my mom. 2 of my nephews were there. One is a carnival worker and I only see him about once or so a year. Which is really nice as for years we didn't know if he was even alive. He ran away from home at 17or 18 and we thought we would never see him again. Then one of my brothers and sister-in-law showed up also. So it was a nice day.

There were hundreds of Tundra Swans in this field! Beautiful birds. Loud birds! From what I heard there were many more birds yesterday! Sorry for the bad picture. I had the zoom open all the way and it was windy. They were way back in a field so I was lucky to get a shot at all. My camera is old and 15X zoom.

They are such pretty birds. I don't know why I didn't know that a migration happens so close to me. It was only about 3/4 of an hour drive.

Of course almost anywhere that there is water there are geese. Coming in for a landing.

Look how much bigger the swan looks. We have only had snow/ice melt in the last week. These farm fields were really full of water. It is surprising that these field will be ready to plow in a couple of months.

Have a great week. Hugs, Teresa

WOW! Such a surprise to see this!

I found this picture on a gardening FB page. This was my girl! Tiffy (Tiffany). My picture of her was in a gardening magazine. I guess it is still being used in different places. (they always tell you that it might be used in other publications when they use your pictures in their magazines...at least in these magazines). But I never thought I would see it after all this time! WOW! Tiffy has gone for at least 14-15 years now and this is the second time I have seen this picture in the past year. She was such a great dog! Made me tear up a little. But also smile and remember the good times with her! It was so weird to come across this again! AFTER ALL THESE YEARS! I really do miss this girl!

 

 

 

 

 

Need a laugh? And I see GREEN!

<iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/video/embed?video_id=10152642257355300" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0"></iframe>
I think this video is so FUNNY!

Maltese Cross

7 Sisters Rose Bush

Daffodils

Naked Ladies, Ressurection Plant, Mystery Lily. Take your pick. I have heard it by all 3 names. The naked Lady name came about because the leaves come up first. then they die back. Then about a month later the flower stems appear. Then the flowers bloom. No leaves, thus the name.
The snow in the backyard is thawing. Where there are bare spots plants are making an appearence. Isn't nature amazing! Ground is still frozen. Getting softer with the melt though. The front yard is deep yet as it is on the north side of the house. No one walks on that lawn in the winter. It will take awhile to leave. But then again we are suppose to have temps in the 40's by next weekend. It has been in the 20's and 30's. With windchills in the teens and single digits during the day. Below zero some nights. Winter just doesn't want to leave. :(  But then again when it is hot this summer you can kick me when I complain.
I spent today making meals to put in the freezer. Hamburger/potato dish, and turkey breast. We had one meal of turkey and mashed potatoes for supper. This comes in handy for Jeff as he can't eat gluten. When I eat pizza or something he can't have he can always go to the freezer. I also made garlic/cheese bread. With gluten free flour for him and a pudding poke cake. He has to eat the bread with-in a few days as gluten free flour makes bread, etc get hard fast. But he was so glad to see bread again. We don't make bread often for that reason. He usually eats "sandwiches" on rice cakes. We still have some lasangnea and a mexican dish in the freezer. All in single serve containers. So he is set for a little while. He works every other weekend so that is when I make things to stock up.
Going to lunch with a friend tomorrow. I haven't seen her in years so that should be nice. I have to work after that. Darn!
Well that is about it. Have a great week everyone.  Hugs, Teresa

Snow is melting.

Not quite like this anymore. Lots of drizzle today. Temps the last couple of days have melted a lot of it. Still ehough out there though. The backyard is becoming a lake! Front yard always stays around longer as no one steps on it. Too crappy and gloomy to get any good pictures. Maybe tomorrow.

So I spent the evening playing with Tanner and his new friend.
I did take a ride by the bay today. I wanted to see if the ice was moving yet. It wasn't. But looks thinner. I had to turn around on one road by Red Banks as it was flooded. Gloomy kind of day. But at least we know that spring will be here soon. What a change from last year. This time last year we had little to no snow and plants were starting to come up. West of us is suppose to get snow. Not that far away. I did a lot of cooking over the weekend. I try to get meals in the freezer. Jeff has to eat gluten free. So I try to make things he can eat and freeze them. This way he can have a nice meal when I eat something he can't have. I also made cheesecake. I think he was hungry for that as he ate 1/2 of the 9x13 inch pan already.
The wind is really blowing. I can hear it lowing through the trees and past the house. Also a lot of sleet hitting the windows. It seems like we have had a lot of wind this winter. I have a 3 day weekend next weekend! WhooHoo!!!
Have a great week everyone!

I needed color...and I found it.

The Paine Mansion in Oshkosh Wi.  I love the style of building.

Center display in the conservatory.

Side shot.  C I can't imagine how many plants it took to creat this display!

Peacock in a real tree. Dead trees do come in handy sometimes!

Here is a way to display your air plants.

The peacocks are roosting.

Tail feathers and flowers. Great combination!

Tablescape. so simple, but elegant!
 

Close-up of one of the centerpieces. Each one was slightly different. I love the idea.

This one really looks like it is growing out of the tree.

This young lady was adding beautiful music to the event.  

Flowerbed in front of the wall of windows.

I really needed some color. This really fit the bill! We still have at least a foot of snow in our yard. We are expecting a little more on tuesday. But being March it shouldn't last much longer. But of course we have been known to have a blizzard or two in March! Never know around here. But the sun is hotter now and it was melting somewhat even with the temps in the 20's today. But I digest. It was so nice to see these flowers. We couldn't take pictures in the actual mansion....I guess that they are going to re-address that issue. I do understand their reasons, but the mansion is so gorgeous that it is hard not to snap a couple. I did resist though. :(  Then we hit the conservatory and I went wild!
The event we went to is called Rooms Of Blooms In The Mansion. Each room had floral displays by different floral artists. So, So Pretty. Then one room had 8 tables set up and you got to vote on which one you liked the most. You can also win prizes. This year seemed to be more formal. Last year was more natural. so each year is different. It is held on the first two weekends in March. I know I probably went wild posting pictures. But it was too hard to pick just a few. Anyway that is my colorful post from snowy Wisconsin. Have a great week, Teresa

Too nice to stay inside...found some beauty

Lighthouse in Algoma Wisconsin

With the breakwall

Snow fence. I love the shadows

Boardwalk I had to climb a snow bank to be able to walk on it. I could have gone down the steps, but no room on the road for me and cars.

The beach is a ways down from the road. The snow plows tossed the snow to the side, some rolled down the hill onto the beach.

This bench is just waiting for me. I will be back this summer. 

Another fence of course.

You can jump from one to another, just make sure you stop at the last one. lol

Now we are in Kewaunee Wisconsin. The gulls are coming in for a landing.

One boat was in the water.

And one was in a yard.

Hills of snow. So Pretty

Driftwood on the beach

So cool how the ice and snow covered these. Pretty against the water.

Looks like a small lake in the snow.

These pillers are wearing a skirt! They even have fringe!

Looks like the lightkeepers house is in the clouds.

Snow everywhere!

Funny how the distance between the lighthouse and keepers house is difference depending where you stand.

Looks like the lake tossed snowballs onto the shore.

It was such a beautiful day out there. Actually had sunshine!!! Neither of these places are all that far from where I live. Less then an hour each, no matter which one I went to first. Probably about an 1/2 an hour or so from one to the another. So going to each was crtainly in reason. Even with the late start. I didn't leave hom until almost 1pm and was home by 5:15. So I had plenty of time on each beach.
After the last month or so today has been a gift. Losing Murphy last month was so hard. I really needed a nice day to regroup. Not that I was still in tears all the time. Each day got better, but I needed to have a day to get out and explore. Cabin fever always hits about this time of year. I am so over winter. But then again look at the snowy beauty I found today!! SO COOL! I don't know why I never went to these places in winter before.
Have a great week everyone! Hugs, Teresa

Waiting for dad...

So tired!

Do I hear him?

False alarm

For real this time!

HERE HE IS!

THE END
Story by Tanner the Pembroke Corgi. Not many words. You have to watch those ears. Or as my humans put it, my sattalight dishes.

It actually let me post pictures on the first try today!!!
I haven't been around for the last month. Heart wasn't in it. Losing Murphy was so hard ( our English Cocker) . But we are moving on with our lives. We contacted a friend/breeder of EC's and she is going to breed a female in late March/early April. That means that we should have a new puppy around July or August! Seems like a long time to wait, but it will go fast. Of course this will NEVER replace Murphy in our hearts. He was very special. This may seem fast as he has only been gone for one month, but by the time the puppy is ready to leave mom we will be ready. The love Murphy gave us will be passed on. Hard to expalin but I think Murphy would approve.
Freezing rain predicted for tomorrow. YUCK. We have had a lot of snow latley. I don't have to work so maybe I will actually get something done. Sometimes not being able to get out helps! lol. Jeff has to work though. So it will be quiet here. Maybe I will even get crafty!
I hope everyone has a great Sunday. Hug, Teresa