Small winter wonders

A brave, tiny red berry on a little twig, poking up through the frozen snow.

A wooden bridge on the trail. No more slogging through the water and mud in the spring!

A pretty way to end a winter's day, a walk in the quiet woods. Lots of thinking about the year that is about to come to its end, and looking forward to new adventures in the new year.

The stream was still under a coat of smooth and shiny ice.

I love this single icy bauble, looking as if suspended in air!

Beautiful sculptures Mother Nature has set out for me to view and delight over.

I wish you all a most wonderful, happy, fun-filled, exciting, quiet, warm and cozy New Year's!

Winter explorations

We took a walk Saturday as it was just beginning to flurry. I was amazed that some snowflakes stuck to a cobweb on this branch. If the snowflakes hadn't stuck, I never would have known there was a cobweb still clinging.

An apple that didn't fall!

This Christmas tree brought smiles to our faces. Last year the same tree was also mysteriously decorated. Now that is Christmas spirit!

We crossed the saltwater marsh and around the head of the stream and explored some of the big rock and ledges that are located on another section of the Land Trust trail.

"I'm King of the hill"!

Its amazing how green the ferns and moss still are.

For a brief moment I was back on the elementary school playground!

Yesterday Buddy and I took a nice walk along the power line. It was in the high 40s and very nice.

Buddy even ventured into the brook for a stick!

However today was a different story! It has been around 0 with the wind chill in the minus numbers. Tonight it must be at least 5 below with the wind blowing. These little ice baubles are neat, the water froze around some branches in the brook as well as along the bank. Truly amazing.

Yesterday Buddy didn't need a warm jacket and neither did I! However today we walked the same trail very quickly and were out only for a few minutes.

As cold as it was there was still beauty to stop and look at.

A whirlwind of Christmas festivities!

Christmas Eve day started off with a lovely surprise from my dear husband! It was a nice day, with the temperature in the low 40s and we managed to find a few minutes of free time to get out and take a nice walk. Then the festivities began!

We have spent Christmas Eve with my sister Margaret and her family for many years. We had a delicious dinner and then everyone to the living room for the presents. My middle child, Benjamin and my niece Elizabeth were patiently waiting for the rest of us, along with Socks the dog and either Boots or Mittens (I can't tell one from the other) one of the cats.

My oldest son Courtney always has a "unique" gift for his cousin Elizabeth. Last year's was a Nerf shooter and this year, an air horn! She couldn't have been happier when she opened the gift.

Courtney delighting in Elizabeth's response to his gift!

My dear niece Robyn, with the necklace that Uncle Mark and I gave her. I swear once she put that on she looked so grown-up!

Then back home where Ben and Allison would open their gifts from Mark and me. They had other family events to attend so we celebrated with them Christmas Eve.

Allison is modeling the sweater I had my aunt Jean make for her. It looked perfect on her!

Our gift to both of them was a Keurig coffee maker. It was a hit!

Our gift to Ben was a pair of snowshoes. Now I have someone else to go with me, Ben and Allison! Also Elizabeth received a pair of snowshoes so we shall have to include her! And guess who all the "stuff" in the background belongs to?? Hint: the college student!

Here she is, all ready to go to work Christmas Eve at the nursing home. I am so proud of her for volunteering to work that night. This was the first year she would not attend the annual Christmas Eve party at her aunt Margaret's. She loves the patients and wanted to be with them this night. I guess that's another sign of her growing up.

However, when she arrived home later that evening she opened her gift from Ben and Allison. She was overjoyed with her new laptop case in a Vera Bradly print that she loves. I wished I knew Ben and Allison's secret to choosing all of us the most perfect gifts! Actually all three of my children come up with the best gifts.

My college girl is all ready to start her next semester in style!

Christmas morning Ashton was off bright and early to Eric's house as there was to be a very special present for Eric's mom. So we waited to do our own Christmas until later that day. Ashton soon met us at Mark's stepmother's house where we have our annual Christmas breakfast each year. Its a busy and fun morning with Mark's brothers and sister and their spouses as well as his stepmom, stepgrandmother and nieces. And Ashton was the one to find the pickle in the tree this year. One can spend hours searching the tree for that pickle! Another fun Christmas tradition.

Here we are after breakfast. Ashton and I had matching Nick and Nora pjs this year. However Mark and Ben didn't seem interested in wearing such finery! Most family members wear their Christmas pjs to Lee's , another tradition we love.
And then a quick trip home to check on Buddy and then off to Eric's parents house for a turkey dinner with his family. We had a wonderful visit. Here is the reason why Ashton left very early for Eric's house that morning:

This was a gift to Pat (Eric's mom) from Eric, his dad, his brother and his girlfriend. She is the sweetest little pup. Oh we would have loved to have brought her home with us.

Ashton was in her second childhood as she received a Bop-It for a gift. Next stop, Mark's grandmother's! We visited her along with his brothers and their families. She was happy to have us come by. Finally we came home and I took a short nap! Soon Ashton returned home for our gift giving.

This beautiful sweater was made for Ashton by my Aunt Jean. Ashton was thrilled with it, I had to wrap the sweaters for Allison and Ashton as soon as I received them in August so that I wouldn't give the girls their gifts right then and there!

So we all had a most wonderful Christmas and look forward to more fun in the New Year. May all of you have a wonderful and Happy New Year!

Making a Gingerbread House

Yay! The gingerbread house was made by two elves today.

The elves did a wonderful job.

Mr. Elf was a pro at putting icicles on the house. Miss Elf was in charge of placing the candy on the house, as well as doing some supervisory work!

Mr. Elf did a great job with the roof as well.

The elves had fun.

A pretty gingerbread house for Christmas. Then Miss Elf went to pick up her cousins from school and then off to the nursing home to work some more. Thank you Mr. and Miss Elf for making me happy by putting the house together. However, a small Elf was left behind to look out the window.....Merry, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year dear friends!!

liberty4us2@msn.com

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Here's a last minute quick and easy candy receipe

Here is a very simple and quick receipe with only four ingredients (three for me, as I don't put in the peanuts) and a favorite of all in my household. I don't know how many batches I made for Ben when he was in college, and both he and Mark like miniature marshmallows added to theirs.

HAYSTACK CANDIES

1 cup butterscotch chips

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup peanuts (I omit these as I think its peanuty enough with the peanut butter)

2 cups crunchy chow mein noodles

Microwave the butterscotch chips and peanut butter on 50% power for 3 to 5 minutes stirring until mixture is smooth. Add peanuts and chow mein noodles and blend to coat noodles thoroughly. Drops by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper. Once firm, store in an airtight container.
Enjoy!

This is what I discovered today when out walking. The culvert is at the end of the little pond and I was amazed at all of the ice and its thickness. Water was still spilling out from under the massive chunk of ice on the right hand side.

The pond is now "dressed for winter".

All kinds of animals tracks today in the new snow. We got about 3 inches from the last storm. Just enough.

Ledges in the woods behind our property. That is all ice covering the ledges!

Its kind of hard snowshoeing through here now with the blueberry bushes all poking through the snow. Last winter we snowshoed over snow OVER the bushes, that tells you how much we had last winter. This is looking towards the back of our house.

Definitely not going anywhere til spring!