Snow Time, Means Show Time in Many Ways~

Here is hoping you had a wonderful week, doing whatever you enjoy.  We had 5" of snow on Valentine's Days and the dogs had such a great time.  I love watching them enjoy this white fluff.

If you have ever had too much snow and wondered why...

I think that it is created for children and dogs, that is my theory, but don't take me to the bank on it ;)

The first dog images are of the 8 year old Meaka

Some have mentioned their breed, or what kind of dogs are they.

They are registered German Shepherds.  They also have the long coat gene and thus they are Long Coat German Shepherds~

Remember to double click on the first image, to view a larger slideshow presentation after you have read the narratives~

I will be linking up with Judith for:

www.lavendercottagegardening.com

Mosaic Monday

&

Stewart for:

   http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.com.au/

Wild Bird Wednesday

Our grand-daughter Maci adores dogs, actually all animals an her she is giving snuggles to Meaka~

Here we have once again our Silveit who turned 3 last month.  She is younger, but quite a bit larger than Meaka~

On Valentine's Day we celebrated Master Braden's 8 birthday at the local Mexican restaurant, surrounded by his brother, sister and twin cousins~

No cake ... fried ice cream for everyone~

A Red-Shouldered Hawk hunting from a retaining wall, along the Gene Snyder Freeway in Jefferson County, KY~

Following a full day of snow showers we had fog roll into our little valley.  I took the images of the female Cardinal at that time, through the glass windows~

A rare visitor to our feeders during the Winter months, an American Goldfinch~

I placed some of those peanut butter nut balls that you can purchase and placed them into a Finch feeder and this way the wee birds like this Carolina Wren can get a nice good for them snack~

I also move the table top umbrella to the ground during Winter months.  Ground eaters can feel a bit of protection from predators.  I usually make popcorn, or use stale breads and crackers as well as some bird seed thrown under here to keep them satsfied~

My husband drove down, yes, without me, huge sigh, to spend a few days with our daughter Ashleigh and her husband Matty.  While there he got to visit with Ashleigh's good friend and mentor Greg Hauptner, who is the founder of G Star School of the Arts, a long running and outstanding A rated school in Palm Springs, Florida. Mr Hauptner has been interviewed as a guest on the "Today" show to discuss this fine establishment for higher learning.

 I sure wish that I could have experienced such greatness in my schooling.  

A few years ago Ashleigh worked with Mr. Hauptner as his Administrative Assistant.  

Bill said that this was a very memorable meeting~ 

Bill also got to visit the set and meet the wonderful people where Ashleigh is one of the VP's with Brandstar.  The Balancing Act is one of their shows that they produce for the Lifetime network.  He said the people were incredible and so nice. That's our youngest daughter with her daddy...note the comfortable feel he had with his feet up ;)

White-tailed Deer come to feed in my yard every evening.  We have 11 to 13 in the herd that we feed~

;) I took this with my not so good phone camera, but still thought too cute of a Gray Squirrel on our deck rail~

Hmm...little Chipmunk has awoken from his hibernation to come out for some bird seed~

I love the intricate and delicate details of birds nests.  I wonder what birds built this, how many young~

Happy New Year to Everyone~

~ Happy New Year ~

Here is hoping that everyone has a wonderful New Year celebration!  

I always get rather nostalgic in letting the old years go, even if they were not all that great. Thinking on the positive, we made new acquaintances.  We rediscovered a few old friendships and we made closer the ones we had cherished all along this journey. Our family grew by one more, when our daughter Ashleigh was married last March, to the love of her life Matthew. We finally got to meet my friend Theresa and her husband Rick, whom we had known from a distance for over 5 years, and that was so wonderful.  Our journey to Canada was outstanding and we got to see Grizzly Bears for the first time as well as make my dream come true in seeing a Great Gray Owl and Snow Buntings.  We celebrated birthdays, family day, graduations, school plays, sporting events, holidays and our own 45th wedding anniversary. These things and so much more, we are forever grateful and count them all as sweet blessings~

These are some of my personal favorite shares from this past year.  There were already so many shares from our past journey last September and this season with the Red-Shouldered Hawks, that I decided not to include those at this time. 

Part 2 of 2 from 2014, enjoy~

What an amazing sight to have witnessed thousands of Canada Geese and that single Ross's Goose.  On the Bird KY alerts, that one goose stayed with the CG all over the state of Kentucky and beyond, as reports came in on a regular basis. 

I have to wonder, where that Ross's Goose ended up, did it make it's way to a flock of it's own kind...

Remember to double click on the first image, to view a larger slide show presentation after you have read the narratives~

I will be linking up with Judith for:

www.lavendercottagegardening.com

Mosaic Monday

&

Stewart for:

   http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.com.au/

Wild Bird Wednesday

The beautiful White-throated Sparrows return every Winter and they are such lovely little charmers~

Blue Jays make a lot of racket and they can be goofy, but I really enjoy their antics and love having them near all year long~

An Eastern Kingbird and Sweet Meadow Rue~

I absolutely think this is one of my favorite shares, an American Goldfinch resting in the morning light and snow~

Because of being a part of the Bird KY Alert system, I was able to see my first Snow Buntings~

Sitting at my father-in-laws dining table, we watched with giggles as a young Cottontail Rabbit, saw it's first Gray Squirrel.  They chased each other around for a couple of minutes, before going about their own business~

 I love, love, love Swallows and shared bunches of Tree and Barn Swallows this year~

All of last Winter we had a visiting pair of Fox Sparrows, I am so hoping we have more again this season~

The Gray Catbird was so gorgeous with its reflection making natural art~

These three, the Eastern Towhee Cedar Waxwing and American Robin all very special visitors~

And finally, sometimes, photographs just do not make the cut, but have some great structure and that is when I become a little artsy and try new things.  

Here are a few of the ones I recovered and kept for sharing~

I look forward to seeing you fine people next year.  

Until then,  farewell to 2014, it has been good~