Snow

 New snow every morning

Aren't we lucky

To the house, looks a lot closer than it is.

It gets farther and farther away when you begin shoveling

Even white inside

Days are short

Wishing you a great week ahead,

Gina

Snow and snow some more

 

More snow coming

Happy Snow Days,

Gina

It's a small world afteral

 

And full of Surprises

This is Mathilde (Tilly for short) our resident Goose

This is Mathilde's look.  Always on the alert.   

 Mathilde has ruled our pond for more than sixteen years

You might recall the story I told you when Tilly lost her friend Leopold.  She would not eat or drink for days, standing by the greenhouse and hoping that her own reflection in the glass was Leopold and that sooner or later he would come out.

Mathilde could not be consoled, which is strange because when Leopold was still alive Mathilde took every opportunity flirting with every goose that showed up on our pond.  Wild geese, who visited, where told where they could swim and where they could rest under the big elm tree.

source: Snow College

Not long ago I was teaching a "Historic Tiles Painting Workshop" in a remote Forest Service Camp.  The camp had been purchased by our local College and all forest cabins had been beautifully restored.  Among my group of students was a grandmother (not just any grandmother, but the Professor of Music, graduate of the Julliard School of Music, New York),  her two grown daughters and an eleven year old, charming little girl, her granddaughter. 

Because Tilly was grieving so for her Leopold we decided to find her a few pals.  She loved them all but decided that one beautiful, all white little goose, was her favorite and soon they became an item.  This little goose is very special.  Whenever we sat outside she would join us, turning her head this way and that, listening to our conversation.

What makes this little goose so special is that she was hand raised by an eleven year old girl. 

Yes, the same charming and talented little  girl who took my painting workshop.  She had named her little goose Violet. 

When we looked for Tillie's companions we found them at a distant farm.  At the time we only met one family member.   The little girl was too sad to come out of the house because she had hand raised Violet from the day she hatched out of her egg... 

"because she was sickly". 

What a small world after all!  

Violet has found a good home and a good partner.  They have raised many a group of sweet goslings.  

It is Mathilde who is the Father of our little goslings.  

He is the most considerate mate and the most loving caretaker you will ever meet.

TILLY IS A BOY GOOSE 

This we didn't know for almost sixteen years. 

Gina 

partial repost

They have come back

After several weeks

And now they're all grown up.

Salpiglossis, Nemesia and Poppies brighten the flower beds.

First Crop has been cut and gathered.

A new kitchen is getting my new hand painted tiles. 

The house sits quiet and cool under the old trees. 

Take care dear friends. 

Gina 

Fire, Fire

Pond on fire.

Thirty firemen showed up.  
All have been trained by our Fire Chief Clarke Christensen. 
Clarke is also our Police Chief.  
We are so lucky to have him.  
His credentials are the envy of every Public Servant.  

Items which needed to be saved were pushed out of the way.  

This fire truck is almost as big as our house.  
Spring City is the proud owner of two of these monsters.  

Our firemen go through rigorous training. 
Always conducted by our Fire Chief. 

This was one of the training sessions... removing all overgrown areas around the pond.  There are always many challenges while burning the perimeter.  Old trees have to be saved.  The direction of the wind and fire can change instantly.  

The very next morning.  Clyde is checking the situation.  Lola will come out when the coast is clear.  

It will only take a week or two for the undergrowth to be green again.  

Dear friends, stay save.  We are closer to the end of this terrible virus....closer every day. 
Gina 

New Snow

The fluffiest, prettiest snow fell during the night.



The pond is only partway frozen.

The tractor is still in the barn, waiting for the next snow storm. 

Soon, all but where the water originates from, will be frozen.  At the Spring the water temperature is a steady 65 degrees.
It never freezes. 

See that little dog in the right bottom of the picture.  
That is Sadie, my Golden Lab.  

In about the same place, six weeks ago, that sweet little dog, ran over me, laid me out flat on the ground.  

Both ankles and one knee were twisted. 
A cast and crutches are still standing by. 

Wishing you a better beginning for 2020. 
Happy New Year, 
Gina  

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving.



I'm invited, will take a few pomanders,
and make some more for myself.  

It's quiet on the pond.  Lola and Clyde now have only a few ducks to keep them company.  

My favorites.

Gifts from my garden.

Wishing you and yours a most wonderful Day. 

Gina

Let me begin where I left off.

  It was still winter. 

When my life changed.

And then the first bouquet from my garden,

Easter came and went 

Little Sadie, a Golden Labrador arrived.

She had me fooled right from the start. 

Daffodils and Tulips were next. 

Daffodils reaching for skies so blue. 

And Sadie is growing like a weed. 

Lilacs didn't freeze this year. 

Sometimes friends, sometimes not. 

A sheltered spot is still needed. 
The winds are fierce.

Daisies are back.
The garden is planted. Another garden year has begun. 

Take care dear friends. 

Gina 

No sign of leaving.

Aren't they supposed to go South? 

Or is it North?

They show up every morning.

You can set your clock by them.

They gorge themselves on fallen apples and pears.

What will they do when the food runs out and they missed their migration?

They will figure it out, you say?

Most of them were born by our pond.
This is the only home they have ever known. 

Have a wonderful week dear friends. 

Gina

https://tentoesinthewater.blogspot.com/2018/11/