Magical Frost! :)

There's something magical about frost! It takes ordinary things and makes them extraordinary!

If you click on these photos to enlarge them, you will better see what I'm saying! :) Frost makes things sparkel, and gives them a brilliance they'd otherwise lack! :)

Even the whiteness of it adds to it's appeal, and I love it's crystal abilities! :)

When it's freezing, the sky has a unique color and feel to it! :)

If you look in the background you will see how it's frosted every surface of the mesh wire, of the garden fence, leaving nothing untouched from it's magical brushes! :)

It even had power to draw me outside, this morning, with camera in hand, in hopes of capturing it's beauty with my lens! I hope I was successful as magic like this is meant to be shared! :)

Life In The Dead Of Winter! :)

Garderners are forever optimists! :) We are forever enjoying the present while looking forward to the future! Gardens are ever changing, with the seasons, and a well thought out yard has something exciting about to emerge, at every turn! :)
Even though we're in the dead of winter, I knew my lens would find signs of life! :)
Now that the days are starting to lengthen, the buds are beginning to swell in anticipation of Spring! :)
Bulbs are stretching up through the soil! :)

The elephant garlic I planted, in the garden, last Fall is pushing up! :)

(Yes those are tree needles from our Christmas tree! They must have blown off the tree when Rud was carrying it past the garden to the burn pile!) :)

New flower buds can be seen on the Witch Hazel! :) I eagerly await her earthy, citrus aroma, when she blooms! :)

I love how there are signs of life even in the dead of winter! :)

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggidy-Jig! :)

It was great to be in UT with family, helping out when this new grandson was born! :) I miss them all and am glad I was able to be there! :) I'm even more glad that the next visit is already planned, and that we are looking forward to their visit here, two months from now!! :)
I'm also happy to be back home with family here, resuming my own responsibilities! I'm surprised to discover that house work actually feels fun! :) I usually find fun in the yard and garden work, so it's nice to be enjoying the house work, too! :)
I didn't know I'd end up feeling a little "home sick", but I did. It's the longest Rud and I have been apart since we've married, so I really missed him, and I missed our son, home, friends, yard, and our bed! :)
Of course, now that I'm back I'm missing family there! :) But I'm still glad to be home! I've found I truely am a home body! :)

Looking Forward! :)

I'm looking forward to the new year, and all I hope to accomplish in it!! :)
This time of the year is always exciting to me as the shortest day of the year has past, which means the days are now getting longer, and tree and plant buds will begin to swell in anticipation of Spring! :)
It's the time of the year when seed catalogs begin to arrive in the mail, and it's time to pour over them, planning the new veggie' garden! :)
It's also time to think about starting those tomato and pepper seeds under the grow lights, on a heat mat! :)
So much to look forward to!! :)
Since my grandson needs my attention, I will close for now and wish you all a Happy New Year!!! :)
Get those resolutions written down, so they're not just a wish, but a Goal!! :) I couldn't wait, and wrote mine already!! :) Welcome 2011!!! :)

Quick Update! :)

Since my last post I'm continuing to chip away at these last 10 pounds, and am now looking at 8 left to go! 8.2 to be exact!! :)
When I get home I'll ask Rud to take a photo of me so you can see! :)
There's alot going on, so I'll just share a summary of my time here, when I get home! :)
If I don't write again, before Christmas, - MERRY CHRISTMAS every one!!!! :)

Single Digit! :)

I've been determined to lose my excess weight, since Christmas of last year, when I stepped on the scale and read 202!! My attempts at losing were pitiful untill I started counting calories last mid-May! :) Since then I've lost 44 pounds and counting!! :)
According to Wii Fit, my ideal weight should be 148.6! Yesterday morning I weighed 158.6 and rejoiced that I had finally reached that 10 lbs. point, which means I am finally on the home stretch of this weight loss adventure! :)
This morning I weighed in at 158.0 and realized that I finally hit a Single Digit, with 9.4 left to lose!! :)
Even though everyone says the last 10 lbs. are the hardest to lose, I'm hoping to reach my weight goal by March! March is not only my birthday, but it also marks another anniversary for Rud and I, and I want to give him back his thin wife as a gift! :)

Weight is only the first focus in my desire to be fit! When I get home I'm anxious to get back on the Nordic Track to start building my endurance, and start toning my muscles! :)
Fitness is now a life-long persuit for me, and calorie counting will be an ongoing part of it even after I've reached my weight goal! :)
I've been enjoying this journey, and celebrating at every turn! :)

I almost can't take in the fact that I'm finally at this point in my weight loss journey, with only Single Digit numbers, now, left to lose!! :) Someone may need to pinch me!! :)

Quick Update! :)

Just a quick update to let you know that I'm still breathing! :) I'm here in UT with my daughter, son-in-law, and two grandsons! :) (I forgot how wonderful newborns are!!!) :) I'll add photos and share more, when I'm home and have more time for the computer, again! :)
Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and I'm wishing you all a very Merry Christmas! :)