Oh Look! It's Snowing Again

    Yup. It's snowing again. After I took these pictures, I thought I really should find something else to take pictures of. The problem is, is, it's kind of hard to take other pictures if you're not allowed out of the house and this is what I see from the front and back doors.
   The snow was the really fine powdery stuff at first, but it is changing to the bigger, wetter flakes. In my snow viewing from the safety of being in the house, I have decided a lot of the snow coming down looks like feathers. Sometimes it looks like a huge pillow fight is going on and all the feather pillows have torn apart.
   Chip likes to sit on the ottoman or a chair arm and look out the window at the snow. I think he is

getting cabin fever. He freezes if he's out for any length of time.
   Yesterday, the turkeys came around for more bread. They stayed for 6 hours. They drove the dogs crazy. They were huddled up under the eves by the back windows. They've never been that comfortable here before. It must be the homemade bread. I do know that you're not suppose to feed the wildlife, but I'm not the only one, which is no excuse. I doubt they'll be around today.
   I have a nice sky light in the middle of the kitchen and all this snow makes it pretty dark in there. Sunday, I noticed the kitchen was really bright for a change since all the snow had melted off of it. It was

nice.
   After today's snow, we are suppose to have many days of rain and even a heat wave in the low 40's. Hopefully, the sheet of ice that's under the snow will have a chance to melt before this all starts again.
   Who knows? Maybe mud season will come early this year. I really don't like mud season.

Just Here For The Bread

Yesterday, the turkeys came around again. They haven't been around for a week or so. I think they were finally able to get through the snow, since it's only about 5" deep.

   I thought I'd see if this batch of turkeys liked bread. I just happened to have some stale homemade bread that I needed to do something with.

   I quietly opened the door and threw a piece of bread out. A turkey saw it and ran up to the door to get more. Just as the rest of the turkeys saw the bread, Chip ran out the door and scared them off. It's a really good thing the turkeys didn't decide to turn on Chip. With their long sours and their sharp beaks, they could have done some damage to the goofy dog.

  

   We weren't really happy about him spoiling our fun and figured next time the turkeys came by, we'd have to put him in his room.
   The turkeys came by again today. Jake and Chip let me know by barking at them through the front window. I put both dogs up, and got the bread and opened the door a crack.
   The turkeys weren't really close to the house, but I threw bread anyway. One turkey saw it, so he and 2 others came and gobbled (sorry) up bread. When it was about gone, about 7 others came running.
   Now, I need to get them to come when I gobble at them. They might get the hang of it. Some years, the turkeys seem stupider than other years.
   It was funny watching them slipping and sliding on the sheet of ice to get some of the bread. Maybe, they'll come back tomorrow. I still have more bread. If we hear this tapping on the front door, we'll know it's turkeys looking for bread. It would be funny if they came tapping to let us know it was feeding time.

I Am A columnist. Who'd A Thunk?

   I write for another blog, http://www.thewmpetconnection.com/, and have bee made their first columnist. My column is called Deep Pet Thoughts by Laura Ast. You should check it out sometime. Others write for the blog also. I have things posted on Thursdays.
   I still find it funny/weird, that I have regular followers on the blogs. Besides these 2 blogs, I occasionally write for http://www.thewmreviewconnection.com/. I don't write for this blog much, and have only recently started it.
   I now spend even more time on the computer. I am making progress. I no longer play Farmville or Frontierville, due to lack of interest. I am beginning to think I am Wii challenged. I have an Agatha Christie And Then There Were None game, and it took me 1/2 an hour figuring out how to make the guy walk where I wanted him to walk. I'm really bad at Mario, and I bowled so much I made my shoulder hurt. I did start using my NordicTrack cross country ski thing at the same time, so maybe it wasn't all bowling. Since we still have snow on top of a good sheet of ice, that's the way I'm getting my exercise.
   We are suppose to get another 7-10 inches of snow Wednesday. Usually, that means we'll get more. That could mean more snow pictures. I have some snowy sunset pictures I will post on here eventually.
   Well, I guess it's time to waste more time on the computer playing Bejeweled Blitz. I might be playing it too much because I'm having terrible luck matching jewels. I do much better on Vegas Nights. Betty White was right when she said Facebook was a terrible waste of time. I should know. I'm on there enough.

How Time Flies

   Well, here it is, 2011 already. I noticed when Tim and I started having kids, that time went by really fast. Being a grandparent speeds time up even more. When I was a teenager, I couldn't even imagine being a parent, yet alone, a grandparent. You know the saying "time flies when you're having fun"? Well, I can honestly say, it wasn't all fun, but the time did fly.
   I didn't stay up to see the New Year in. My movie ended about 10 and I finished my book about 11 and boredom set in so I went to bed. If you've seen 1 New Year in, you've seen them all. At least up here, there were no guns being shot off, like there is in the city, which is odd, since we hear gun shots all the time up here, what with target practice and hunting.
   I decided in December I was really going to make a big effort and loose weight, eat better and hopefully get in better shape. I figure, since it was in December that I decided this, it's not a New Year's resolution. For me, New Year resolutions last about a day, so I just don't make them.
   I have more things to crochet for Myrna. She says she's going to keep me in business. I guess if that's the case, I should get organized. I'm not very good at being organized. I start out well and it goes down hill from there.
   We still have snow and it has been in the teens and 20's for our highs and in the single digits and teens for our lows. More snow is expected.
   I saw an immature bald eagle fly over the house the other day. This time of year, we usually see bald eagles flying by. In Wolf Lodge Bay, Idaho, you can go and see many bald eagles as they catch the dying salmon. January and February are the best times to see them. We never manage to get up there in time to see them. Maybe this year, but icy roads and snow aren't good traveling conditions. Also, in February, up in Utt,WA the trumpet swans stop by on their way up to Canada. I'd like to go and see them again, too. It's closer to us, so the possibilities are better.
   I hope everyone had a good Christmas and I hope the New Year is good to everyone. I'm off to a good start. I actually folded the towels, just in time to wash more. Maybe I should make folding clothes my resolution, since the clothes folding dryer hasn't been invented yet.

New Snow Globe Pictures



Mt Spokane was out today

    We had more snow yesterday. We got about 10 inches. It's really pretty outside, but really frigid. Neither dog wants to go out, but the cold is hardest on Chip, the wimpy poodle. I'm crocheting him booties. Chip always wanders to far out and it hurts his feet to walk back to the house. I've been sending him out on the leash, so he can only go about 13 feet from the house.
   We are suppose to be really cold this weekend. It's a good weekend to stay home, but we need to make a quick trip into Deer Park and then we'll just stay home.
   I'm finally feeling almost normal again. being sick over Christmas is no fun, but then again, being sick anytime is no fun.
   I hope everyone has a safe New Year and 2011 is good to everyone.

We had sun today, but no warmth

 

All's Well Up Here

   The last few weeks, we have been having 2 different flocks of male turkeys come through and eat who knows what. We can tell they are two different flocks by their size. One group is obviously older since they are much bigger. They look like they would stand about knee high on us. The other flock is smaller and not nearly as heavy. It just dawned on me that we have the male turkeys in the fall and winter and the females in the spring and summer. Beats me why, but I'm sure there is a reason for it. Of course, during turkey hunting season we don't see any. I guess maybe they aren't quite as stupid as I thought.
   Yesterday morning, when Tim was going to work, he saw about 100 deer all in one field, grazing. We usually don't see that many together at one time. They weren't that far from here, either. We have our usual deer and they are comfortable enough to bed down about 50 feet from the front door. Jake and Chip don't faze them, and lately the deer don't faze Jake or Chip, either.
   We also have a pair of woodpeckers that are around a lot. They start out at the compost pile and end up at the tree we have the squirrel feeder on. (The turkeys also like the same spots.) Too bad, the squirrels don't like it. Anyway, we know when we see one of the woodpeckers, the other is close by. I'm pretty sure they are the metal peckers we have on the roof. Right now, I see a few finches in that tree. It's a very popular tree. Wouldn't you know it, every time I get my camera, they all magically disappear.
   Chip has become a storm watcher. He goes from window to window checking out the storm. I'm still pretty sure Chip is nuts. The other night, he spent the evening growling at the second hand on the clock on the wall. I held him up so he could see what it was, and he really checked it out, so I thought that would be the end of it. The clock has been in the same spot since we moved in and he's never done it before, and he hasn't done it again. Tim and I have joked that he sees ghosts.
   We still think it would be nice if a moose or an elk wandered by. Life is slow and quiet up here, just the way we like it.

I'm Back

   I'm back. I got back Sunday, Dec 19. Writing this reminds me of one of those "What I did over summer vacation" papers we had to write at the beginning of every school year.

   It was snowing when I left Spokane. I was disappointed I didn't set off the metal detectors at any of the airports. No pat downs or body scans, which was fine. I didn't get lost. I could have used the mobility assistance Amy said I needed, when I left Spokane, but I didn't. I did use it leaving CA. It's a good thing I did since the gate  I was suppose to leave at was changed 3 times in Seattle. I did feel kind of funny getting pushed around in a wheelchair and riding in their golf cart. I got a lot of stares.

   Danny took me to Kingman, AZ to see Alyssa, David and the 3 grandsons. I had a good, but short visit. Alix kept me awake all night long, talking. Too bad, I couldn't understand most of it. Every time Danny or I picked up a camera, he was saying "sheese". We made him say different types of cheese before we took his picture and then we had him say "eggnog". Eggnog got really big smiles.

   Micheal wanted me to help him put stickers on his calendar. I put them on the right holidays, but not the right direction. Micheal had to take them off and put them on the right way. Micheal was fun to watch when Danny, Alyssa and I tried to play Mario Brothers on the wii. He jumped and moved live you were suppose to move the game controller. There's nothing like being shown up by a 5 year old.  Danny gave me a wii so I can practice. When we left, Micheal told me "See you in a long time." Too bad we live so far away.

   Nathan decided I was OK. He didn't scream when he saw me. He is a very cute baby, even if he is my grandson. Some of his favorite things to do are bother his brothers and "help" with the puzzles and play in the new diapers. I bet Alyssa wishes he'd learn how to change his diapers. Nathan has to do things earlier than Micheal and Alix did just to keep up with them. Once all 3 boys are off and running, Alyssa is going to have fun. They are a cute bunch of boys. Also, I was able to see that Nathan really does have hair, it's just really light. Nathan has the prettiest blue eyes.

   Michaela was finally born on Dec 16, 4 days late. She weighed 8 pounds 10 ounces and was 21 inches long. She has A LOT of black hair and pretty blue eyes. I hope her eyes stay blue.

   Of course, there were the trips to Walmart in both AZ and CA. What's a trip with out Walmart? I also went to Kmart and Michael's. Amy and Daniel gave me a Magic 8 Ball. I've wanted one of those since I was a kid. Now, I'll know all the answers to life's questions.

   Amy and Daniel took me to Mission Inn in Riverside CA to see all the Christmas decorations. I thought if we walked Amy a lot, she'd have the baby. Nope, but Daniel did get tired.

Santa's reindeer

The only kind of snowmen you see in Riverside CA, but they are a cute family.

Some of the numerous Christmas decorations.

More of the decorated Mission Inn.

More of the picture above.

Decorated palm trees. The red lights were really multicolored, but my camera thought they should be red.

A horse drawn Cinderella carriage.

   When I left Spokane, I saw white out the window. I couldn't believe the brown air in CA. I thought it was bad when Tim and I ran away.
   It rained most of the time I was in sunny So. CA because we all know it never rains in Southern CA, it just pours. I was drenched just walking from the parking lot into the airport. It was snowing when I landed at the Spokane airport, no big surprise there. I had a very good time, but am glad to be back home.

I'm Leaving On A Jet Plane

   Tomorrow, I leave on my trip. My very first trip, all by myself. I have packed and repacked and repacked again. I decided it was too much work to walk with a cane and carry a duffel bag, so I decided to check a  bag instead, and since I'm going to check the bag, I'm using a bigger one and I can fit all of Michaela's baby stuff in it and things for Alyssa, too, when I go to Arizona. The polar teddy bear is going in my carry on backpack along with a book, mp3 player, and other things to keep me occupied. I'll probably be seated by someone who wants to talk, which would be ok.
   Even though my flight is supposed to leave at 11:30AM, I have to get up at 5:30AM to get ready and for the drive in the snow and ice and slush to the airport.
   I have the dogs' things ready to go, since they are going to my mother-in-laws house while I'm gone. It wouldn't be fair to keep them in the house all day while Tim is at work.
   Reading the weather forecast for sunny So. CA, I will be hot. The temperatures are suppose to be anywhere from the low 70's to the low 80's. I am leaving a place with snow, rain, ice and freezing temperatures. I'm bringing sandals. I'd bring shorts, but I wouldn't want to scare all those tanned Californians by my Washington white legs.
   I'll let you know how everything goes when I get back. I can do this. I'm a big kid now.

Green Chicken Enchiladas - No The Chicken Isn't Green

   I make green chicken enchiladas a lot because we like them and I have a quick and easy way to make them. I hope you like them as much as we do. I know the name of them just really wants you to go and make them, doesn't it? Who in their right mind wants to eat green chicken? Yuck! It's the sauce that's green.
   I stopped rolling the enchiladas years ago, and now just layer everything in the pan. It all gets mixed up anyway, and it's much quicker this way. I'm getting lazy in my old age.

Pleasantly Surprised

   Wow! I'm pleasantly surprised. I started this blog out of boredom and so my family and friends can see what I'm up to since we moved up here. I see I have visitors from all over the world. I think that's great. Now, first thing every morning, I check to see where my visitors are from.  So does my mother. OK, I do this a few times a day.
   I do feel kind of bad that I lead a boring life. Since I have all of you visiting, I think something exciting should happen sometimes just to break the monotony.
   When I get back from my trip to sunny, warm So. CA, I will let you know how my first trip by myself ever went, as well as my experience with airport security. I really hope they enjoy the old, flabby body that they will see in the body scanners. I think that will be a truly scary sight for them, but I'm pretty sure they see a lot of that during the day.
   I need to add more recipes, but being the uncreative cook that I am, I just follow recipes and don't really come up with much of my own. I do change them after I cook them the first time. I will post more recipes since I've finally got the hang of it. If there is a way to put the current recipes first instead of at the end of the list, I haven't found it yet.
   Maybe, I'll even stop jumping from one subject to another, but my mind doesn't work that way. So here I'll jump again.
  When I'm gone, Tim says he's a big boy and can fend for himself. I'm sure he can, but I really wonder where I will find things in the kitchen after he puts them away. I guess I can think of it as a treasure hunt. I know I never did/do put his tools in the right place, so I guess it's only fair.
   Feel free to stop by often and thank you for stopping by. I'm going to have to get a map and mark where you visit from.