I've got Spring Fever!!

 It's spring fever.  That is what the name of it is.  And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!  ~Mark Twain

I've got Spring Fever!! I guess that is what it is, I am sorta in limbo.... I find myself looking outside a lot at birds, gardens, flowers and just looking....

These last couple of weeks have been pretty eventful outside our windows, though the cold nights and cooler days are persistant! We've had 2 new kinds of ducks in our ponds, I couldn't get very close so I had to rely on my digital zoom which makes the pictures much less clear, so I apologize for the quality!!

Hooded Merganser Couple

Female Hooded Merganser

Male Hooded Merganser

These are diving ducks and they have a stay under for a long time!! This is the first time I have ever seen them in our pond.  We also had this guy there the day before!

I believe he is called a Scaup!!

He is also a diving duck! So apparently there has been a lot of talk at the Duck gathering about something they like under the surface and the cousins of our local ducks are checking things out!

These are our resident ducks, we should be seeing babies around here soon!!

This guy has become a regular, he is a 'fisher' he makes all kinds of racket and dives down from a tree to the surface of the pond!

Belted Kingfisher

The gardens are beginning to show signs of life also, and I am glad!! I think about our daughter Jess when the blooming starts, we used to spend the springtime planting new bulbs and I would send her pics when she was in the dorms at Virginia Tech. She always seemed to look forward to those pictures of spring since we have it here several weeks before they do in the Mountains!!  So these are for you Jess, enjoy!!  Not much up yet, but it's starting!!

Jonquils are about to pop open!!

Lily had surgery this Tuesday to have her 'transmission' removed.  I have had the privilege of staying home with her to keep her quiet and resting.  She's doing great, and quickly wanting to begin doing puppy things!! What a cutie she is!!

On the way to the hospital!! Doesn't she look worried??

After the surgery....she loves the sun!! I think she has Spring Fever too!!

Have a great Weekend!!

::Hugs::

Cheri

Valentine's Day 2013

Loving is not just looking at each other, it's looking in the same direction.  ~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Happy Valentine's Day!!

I have to apologize, I have become the world's worst blogger!! I haven't updated since before Christmas! As you all know, life has gotten pretty complicated for me so I rarely take the time to write so I promise to try to do better! I love to cook so I decided to make special Valentine treats for my sweetie and thought I would share! 

These are spice mini-cupcakes. I had seen a commercial the other day where someone put a marble next to a regular size cupcake before baking and realized they were shaping them into a heart so I decided to try it with these mini-cakes using pie weights!!

The first batch I made, I filled too full and they ended up being a mini-cupcake with a rounded top and a dent in the side!! :) But oh well...I continued on learning as I went!!

Since I had gotten a Valentine's Day cookie tin to put them in to give to my Sweetie, I didn't want to frost them heavily because I couldn't stack them so I decided to really get creative and warm the frosting so I could drizzle it, hoping it would harden and not be sticky, and found these cute little heart sprinkles to add while the frosting was still warm!

I think they turned out pretty cute!! They do sort of look like hearts don't they??

I also made Chex mix, added conversation hearts and our favorite sliced sugar cookies!!

I have been home most days the last few days taking care of our baby Lily.  She had gotten some time of 'bug' and has really been pretty uncomfortable. Hopefully now she is finally feeling pretty good!

I hope you and your Sweeties all have a great Valentine's Day!!

::Hugs::

Cheri

xoxo

Oh!! I almost forgot!!! Tomorrow through Sunday is the national Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC)!! All you do is count the different types of birds you see in your backyard and log in to the website and enter your count! They are also having a photo contest and welcome any pictures!

From the website:

 "Everyone is welcome--from beginning bird watchers to experts. It takes as little as 15 minutes on one day, or you can count for as long as you like each day of the event. It’s free, fun, and easy—and it helps the birds. " 

I plan on participating in this and will hopefully have some Awesome pictures to post!! So go to http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/whycount.html and start counting and taking pictures!! They offer data sheets and are a really good site for identifying birds too!! Hope to 'see you there!'

My Christmas Home...

"At Christmas, all roads lead home." -- Marjorie Holmes 

Fifty three years ago, my Dad decided to make Christmas decorations to display in the yard. He started with a Santa, sleigh and 4 reindeer. Since he was in the Air Force, we and the display moved all over the country, from Sault Se Marie, Michigan to Lompoc California finally in 1972 it moved to Virginia.  Daddy started a Santa's list that had the neighborhood kids names on it and since that time, the list has grown to 30!! Mom and I would help with the ideas and painting, then our daughter Jessica came onto the scene in 1986, the Christmas display then centered around her.  Whatever favorite character she loved was the new decoration that would be displayed in 'Papa and Mama's' yard until she was old enough to decide herself who it would be.  She began to help with the painting also.  Daddy would cut them out, add the base colors and I would do the detail work, then he would prepare them by sealing them, all the while adding new lists and finally keeping records of names of children in alphabetical order, so they could be found quickly when the children and the children's children would come look for their name. Daddy would climb the tree, until he was 80 years old putting the lights and wooden candy canes as far up as possible....telling everyone he was a pilot, he flew up there to install them.... Last year it was different, Daddy had been dealing with cancer for four years, and our roles began to change, Jessica did the detail work on the character, and Daddy and I were so proud! I then took his place in the attic, and Jess took mine....we knew our great family tradition was changing.  

Mrs. Santa (left) was the first list...

...Now there are 30!!

Rapunzel, the last decoration, was detailed by Jessica in 2011

Never forget the reason for the season!!!

Yes that's me driving the train!! :)

When Daddy passed away, I knew that the display had to go up just one more time, in HIS honor.  Jessica and her husband Brad couldn't come home because she is a 4th year Veterinary student, and time is not hers until May when she graduates. So Hubby and I did it ourselves, one last time in honor of My Daddy.  The community seems to be so pleased and supportive, and many have shed tears when they found out he passed away.  I wanted to share this wonderful place, my childhood home, that will never be the same again.... 

Daddy had already made the list for this year, we made a sign and placed it next to the Christmas elf that always reminded me of him!!

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy Happy New Year! 

::Hugs::

Cheri