Ahhh weaponry for Christmas!!!

What would the holidays be without some new weapons?? This is the SMALL nerf gun they opened on Xmas Eve.The super duper huge Nerf Vulcan was under the tree on xmas morning. Didn't get a pic of it. It has a really swell 25 bullet clip!! Really fun, until you finish and have to race the dog to get to the bullets before she eats them....

This is what I received for Christmas. Isn't it cool? Can't wait to get it hung in the window. I miss my Hummers in the winter. Only 4 months until they return...sigh...

The Bennett version of "Where's Waldo"

This is what the aftermath of gift opening looks like. See if you can find the following in this picture:gift card, Clone Wars hat, dog toy,straw, Santa, wire cutters, DVD, remote to DVD player, something Dale Earnhardt related.

Woodpeckers

I can't believe I got a picture of both these guys at the same time. They're daily feeders at the peanut and suet feeders. The big guy is a Red bellied woodpecker. The smaller one is a Hairy woodpecker.

One bad thing about feeding the birds...they eat A LOT, especially when it's very cold. I've been trudging through calf deep snow to fill the feeders. They are enjoyable to watch though. I've had mostly finches lately. The woodpeckers like the suet and the peanuts. I've seen some Blue Jays this week, they attack the peanut feeder. These pictures were taken through the glass of my front window. It got too cold to keep the window open!!!

I'm not making this up....

I saw a robin today drinking from my bird bath. No kidding....I'm not crazy. Although, I had to look twice. I've been reading in my birding magazines that this is becoming more commonplace, but I didn't believe it. The birds, especially the finches have been eating like crazy with the sub zero temps. They're digging the water in the birdbath also. I purchased a heater this winter to keep the water from freezing. Kinda funky to see the steam rising from it. I tried to get a picture of the robin , but he took off. I'll keep trying though. Crazy!!!!

Snow Day

Today was our SECOND snow day this week. We received about 4 inches of snow on tuesday and last night received another 7 or 8 inches. Definetly a white Christmas this year. Most of you aren't impressed, but the Smiths down there in Georgia are envious. At least the kids are. As a matter of fact, the Smith family has been known to jump in the car and drive north until they find snow...lol.

Click HERE to watch a video I shot out the front door this AM. Thomas was scooping the deck with Sally apparently trying to help. Sorry for the noise, it was windy. The peeping sound you hear are the finches at my birdfeeders.

NO...NO...NO......ARGGGGGGG

Of COURSE I'm located between Highway 3 and 30....
Winter Storm Warning
IAZ023>028-033>039-044>050-057>062-180600-
/O.UPG.KDMX.WS.A.0008.081218T1800Z-081219T1200Z/
/O.NEW.KDMX.WS.W.0006.081218T1800Z-081219T1200Z/
POCAHONTAS-HUMBOLDT-WRIGHT-FRANKLIN-BUTLER-BREMER-SAC-CALHOUN-
WEBSTER-HAMILTON-HARDIN-GRUNDY-BLACK HAWK-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-GREENE-
BOONE-STORY-MARSHALL-TAMA-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-POLK-JASPER-
POWESHIEK-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...POCAHONTAS...HUMBOLDT...CLARION...
HAMPTON...ALLISON...WAVERLY...SAC CITY...ROCKWELL CITY...
FORT DODGE...WEBSTER CITY...ELDORA...GRUNDY CENTER...WATERLOO...
DENISON...CARROLL...JEFFERSON...BOONE...AMES...MARSHALLTOWN...
TOLEDO...AUDUBON...GUTHRIE CENTER...ADEL...DES MOINES...NEWTON...
GRINNELL
351 PM CST WED DEC 17 2008

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 12 PM THURSDAY TO 6 AM CST
FRIDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A WINTER
STORM WARNING FOR SNOW...SLEET...AND FREEZING RAIN...WHICH IS IN
EFFECT FROM 12 PM THURSDAY TO 6 AM CST FRIDAY. THE WINTER STORM
WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

BETWEEN THE HIGHWAY 3 AND HIGHWAY 30 CORRIDORS...PRECIPITATION
WILL BE MAINLY IN THE FORM OF SNOW...WITH ACCUMULATIONS OF 5 TO 7
INCHES LIKELY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT. FROM HIGHWAY 30 SOUTH TO
INTERSTATE 80...EXPECT A WINTRY MIX OF PRECIPITATION. SNOW AND
SLEET ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 4 INCHES ARE EXPECTED...ALONG WITH 1
TO 2 TENTHS OF AN INCH OF FREEZING RAIN NEAR THE INTERSTATE 80
CORRIDOR.

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW...SLEET...AND
ICE ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY
HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

All you need is love.....

I ran across this little ditty while blog hopping. I think most of us can relate in one way or another.

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love, I’m just another decorator.If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love, I’m just another cook.If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love, it profits me nothing.If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir’s cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.Love stops the cooking to hug the child.
Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.
Love is kind, though harried and tired.Love doesn’t envy another’s home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there.Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.Love never fails.


To all my family and friends who take the time to read my ramblings; I love you...each and every one. And I mean it....hugs and kisses to all of you.