Early morning sun

"The only words that ever satisfied me as describing nature are the terms used in fairy books, charm, spell, enchantment." ~ G. K. Chesteron

Sometimes the right words are hard to find but I do love the sun lighting up this massive rock in the morning.

Hope everyone has an enchanted holiday season!

Time flies when you switch jobs!

I did it.  I resigned from my job as a Family Resource Facilitator after four years of helping families with challenging children.  I launched right into a new business of my own.  It's been all-consuming, setting it up and getting it going.  I'm running in three different directions.  I guess that's why it's recommended to have a plan before starting up a business.  It will all work out.

Most surprising natural event of the fall?

Six inches of snow!?!

It snowed for three days!  It's melted now but it's been pretty darn chilly ever since.

Wonder what winter will be like.....I'll pop in again soon.

Late summer sky

"In summer, the song sings itself." - William Carlos Williams

Visit SkyWatch Friday to hear more songs.

I am grateful for this place I call home

This is my very first attempt at an iMovie.  It is filled with imperfections but for once in my life I'm ok with that.  I made the effort.  The next effort will be better.  It takes time to learn new skills.  Instant gratification is ultimately not as rewarding as sustained effort.

I am so very grateful for where I live!

A New Greenhouse: Chapter Three

There was still one panel left to be installed but the greenhouse needed plants!  Lulu came to check it out inside.

The finished house!  Obviously some landscaping needs to be done around the outside.

More has been planted:  flowers, tomatoes, peppers, onions, beans and carrots.  Herbs include:  basil, oregano, thyme, and cilantro.  Can't wait to harvest everything and eat some fresh, homegrown veggies!

This is where the greenhouse is sitting in relationship to the house.  It doesn't actually have a chimney on it.  Hopefully this house will shelter our garden from hail, wind and snow so we can eat lots of fresh goodness in a couple of months!

See more skies at SkyWatchFriday!

Building a Greenhouse: Chapter Two

The patio bricks we removed became the floor for the greenhouse.

Gary and I filled up the beds with dirt, compost and peat moss.  

The next weekend, after the "kit" arrived, a crew came up to help erect the metal structure.  It's a good thing that we have smart friends who know a little about putting up buildings because the instructions that came with the "kit" left a lot to be desired.  

That same weekend we had another snowstorm, making me glad again to be getting a greenhouse.

This is in May!

As you can see, though, the moisture turned everything green.

Once the metal structure is in place, the sides start to go up.

Building a Greenhouse: A Chapter Story

We have had a long, cold spring.  We live at 6800' (2072m) elevation.  The climate is not conducive to growing green things in our mountain desert zone.  A few years back when a major hailstorm decimated my garden I gave up.

This year my husband decided for a spring project he would like to put up a greenhouse.  It was a great idea but it turned out to be way more labor intensive than he expected.  How often do projects like this turn out that way?

We took out our ten year old hot tub, tore down the old garden fence and made room for the greenhouse. We hired a contractor to pour concrete for a foundation.  He also added a sidewalk out to the greenhouse.  He did a great job.

The Kubota tractor is our friend!  My husband used it to haul bricks from the flatbed trailer over to the interior of the greenhouse in order to build the beds.

We also took out our patio bricks and poured concrete.  We have had flooding in the basement due to extreme weather conditions.  Hopefully it's a solution to the problem.

It took an entire day with one helper to build up the planters. Later we filled the planters with dirt and compost, thanks again to Kubota.

Brogan is giving his stamp of approval on the new sidewalk.

My World Tuesday gives us a chance to visit each other all around the world.  Check it out!

Strut your Stuff!

It's mating season for wild turkeys!

 Aren't they handsome?

Nature's Frames

George Eliot said, "If we had a keen vision and feeling of all ordinary human life, it would be like hearing the grass grow and the squirrel's heartbeat, and we should die of that roar which lies on the other side of silence."

Wouldn't it be something to experience the natural world so intensely that we could hear the roar on the other side of silence?

I love walking around my neighborhood, especially now that most of the snow is gone.  Little green shoots are sprouting out of the ground, the birds are singing and life is beginning anew.  Spring energy is hopeful, gentle at times, joyful, and a welcome relief after a long winter.  Always.

SkyWatch Friday!

Afternoon Moon

Townsend's Solitaire

Happy Spring Equinox!

Here up high in the mountains there are a few signs of spring, melting snow and mud, but look!  Tulip leaves are emerging from their winter slumber!

Arlo is peeking out at me too.

A February Walk with Animals

Brogan and Skipper were so excited that I decided to walk down to the mailbox today!  It's a beautiful sunny day and almost above freezing.  Brogan loves to play with Skipper, but Skipper is overwhelmed by Brogan's size.

 Ringo was curious to see what we were doing, but not curious enough to come along with us.

We are still sending out prayers to the world for everyone to be happy and free from suffering.

 You can see the snow is still piled high on the side of the road.

Skipper is showing his enthusiasm for the walk again, what a smile!

There were lots of interesting shapes from the shadows and shining snow crystals from the sun.

And even a snow sculpture in the shape of a guinea pig!

That's MyWorld today!  How are things in your neck of the woods?

Then the sun came out, at last

 The snow crystals are glittering.

I had the pleasure of digging the wood out of the pile to haul in for heat.  It's COLD out there!

Snow piles have very interesting shapes and shadows when the SUN comes OUT!

 

I didn't see the jack rabbits, just their tracks.

Oh wait, here's one!  Nope, it's Brogan enjoying the snow.

That was part of my New Year's Eve walk.  Wishing everyone the best for 2011.

Blowing snow

Looking out the window,

 

the wind is blowing snow.

Cat tracks on the mountain

We had a safe trip to Wyoming and back in between storms, thank goodness.  Apparently we are going to have a real winter this season.  Blowing snow and cold is actually better than snow with rain on top.  

Dreaming of Hawaii.......

Update

6 a.m. and then 11 a.m.........

Same view from previous post with another foot or two more snow. The pile is a result of raking the snow off the porch roof so it doesn't collapse under the weight of heavy, wet snow.

  I'm looking for warm sunny places around My World.