More about Izzy

Here is Izzy today .... gaining confidence and feeling quite at home.


But a few short weeks ago, around Christmas time, Izzy got into a predicament ....

She had wandered upstairs, where she had never been before.



"Hey .... I don't know remember how I got here, can someone help me down??"



"uh .... I meant, 'all-the-way' down"



"plea-s-e??"


So DD came up with the idea to put a small treat on each of the 3 lower steps to teach Izzy to maneuver the stairs

"should I go this way?"


"or this way?"



"maybe straight down??"


"Whew! that was a lot of hard work!"

Changes ...

I apologize to those who tried to access my blog this last week and couldn't. I had chosen to take a sabbatical of sorts (which I thought would be longer) I felt that some things in my life had gotten way out of whack, and I was beginning to find myself under pressure and constantly stressed out. I needed time to take a step back .....

One of the questions I had to ask myself was, what is my real reason for blogging? The answers are varied and personal, but mainly I blog to express myself, and not to win any one's approval. It is hard for me to express myself verbally, as I see things in pictures, but can't seem to find adequate words. Also I am lousy at typing. It takes me F-O-R-V-E-R to form a post. I needed to remember that life is not a contest ........ it is my life.

So with that said, anyone is welcome to read what I have blogged about or view any pictures on my blog, but I will no longer have a comment section. Feel free to email me if you really want to express a thought or if what I have written has helped or inspired you in any way, and you want me to know that.

On the other hand, the Lord has seen fit to give me artistic talents which I have been neglecting because of struggling to blog, blog, blog (as well as other time-wasters)...... Well I am free of that, and if and when I blog, it will be for the right reason. I look forward to pursuing my oil painting again, my real hearts desire, my true passion. Oh yes and some quilting thrown in...... and if I just use the time I have available, to follow my gifts instead of struggling with what doesn't come natural, I might surprise myself at what I could accomplish!

To me, myself and I ... or anyone else who needs this

I am so thankful for a New Year! Time to move on, as I look forward to new adventures, new challenges, new hopes, new dreams, new plans, new goals! I get to forget my faults and failures, and leave the past behind, encouraged toward a fresh start by the brand new calendar on the kitchen wall.

Even more encouraging than the calendar, are the words of our Father in Ps.
37:4-11.

"Trust in the Lord and do good, dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him and He will do it. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your judgement as the noon day. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him .......... Cease from anger and forsake wrath; do not fret; it only leads to evildoing ........ But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land ........... the humble will inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant prosperity."

May you all have a blessed and prosperous New Year!

Introducing "Izzy" (1st day home)

(Poem; compliments of C and R .... Thanks! )

I'm just a little fur-ball, short and stout...

Here is my tail, here is my snout...

I'll hide in my crate, but please don't pout...

When I get brave, then I'll crawl out!




This is Izzy, Christmas present from Hubby. She is a 5 mo old purebred Bichon Frise. She was very shy at first but has really come around in the short time here so far. I love her soft curly white fur and her laughing eyes and mouth, and she more than fills the empty spot from having to give up Bailey.

Here are a few more pics.....



Her happy personality is showing



Everyone has a bad hair day once in a while ....



Ohh! what did Sis get me for Christmas??

Happy DOT to you all!!

Winter color scheme

I love the wee morning hours when all is still and quiet ...
and the sun throws brilliant colors across the sky.



and the sunrise reflects on the windowpanes ...



and my favorite winter colors of the holly, dried flowers, and lavender are barely visible in the early dawn ....



all seems to be asleep around me ..... until the sky lightens



and I am glad for the few minutes before the day begins .... to reflect.... to give thanks.... for yet another day that I have been blessed with ....

Christmas .... this year

This will be one of the quietest Christmas's ever at our house this year, and that's okay. Hubby has been working "over-time" doing my farm chores when I haven't been able to, as issues with my knees seem to come and go. I haven't done much shopping, and the picture header of my blog is last year's decorations. The only decorating I have done is put our huge grapevine wreath near the front door, and the beeswax nativity set I made years ago, I placed on the dining room table. Hubby cut down a 9' cedar tree and it is up but not yet decorated. Haven't baked any cookies, but that's food I dont need anyway. I do hope to make a couple treats for hubby and when daughter and grand come to visit.

I have been quite busy with other unsatisfying tasks......

Much as we loved and worked with our rescue dog Bailey, and as delightful as he was with his antics,and the laughter and joy he brought into our lives ....., he had an awful habit we just couldn't seem to break him of. He is such an alpha male he would just leave his signature everywhere, even directly after pottying outside.

After several times of washing all the throws and couch pillows, treating most of the furniture, and washing our bedding ... quilts and pillows included ... and talking to 3 vets about neutering at Bailey's age, and being discouraged that his habits would change .... after 3 months of loving attention, we finally decided to re-home him. Not at all an easy thing for us to do... If you read my post of how Bailey came to live with us, you may understand a little better. It has taken me a while to be able to post about it. However, I must trust that those of you out there who read my blog also realize that life isn't always perfect. Life doesn't always play out like we plan it.

Because I work at home and I am rarely around other people, I fight depression, (...now if that isn't being real, I don't know what is) and these little dogs make me laugh. At the time Bailey came to live with us I didn't realize I needed more laughter. But the change he brought has been obvious.

My husband who is not only my husband, but a dear lifelong friend, and my eldest daughter, have encouraged me in my effort to find another dog pal right away. I started looking online and found a breeder within driving distance, and to make a long story short, after talking with her, I picked out an older puppy she had been going to keep for herself, and went the next day to visit and brought the puppy home with me.

I still miss Bailey and he will always be remembered ( he has a piece of my heart ...gaaah!) but my next DOT post will be about "Izzy" , and the new year will be a welcome event for me.

Christmas?

I have been watching the neat little birds coming to the feeders outside my window; all colors, all kinds, all sizes. They send a message to me, of how trusting they are for their next meal, their shelter, and all they have need of.

This Christmas season, much in my life is not as I would like it to be, but I have much to be thankful for, and I am determined to be happy each day, no matter what the economic circumstances, or what the weather, or what others do or think.

There are many things this past year I would like to have done. I would have visited with my children and grandchildren more, liked to have been able to give more; of my time, of my talents, and finances. But like the birds who visit, I need to just be content, relying on my heavenly Father and trusting in Him as I relinquish control of all in my life. Knowing that He holds the future gives me peace and contentment.

Christ came to the earth for one purpose; to reconcile mankind to God the Father. Christmas does not depend on if we get cookies made, decorations up 2 weeks before the Day, have all the right presents bought for our friends and relatives, and cards mailed out. Those are all nice things to do..... but Christmas is really all about accepting the Gift that God the Father freely gives to us ........ trustingly, unconditionally .......

With this thought in mind,

I truly wish you all the most Blessed of Christmas's!