Thursday, January 3, 2013

Thursday's This and That


We had a wonderful Christmas and New Year's Day and days in between.  Lots of fun, food and relaxation.  Many naps were taken which proves the theory that turkey makes one sleepy.  Or, maybe it was the late nights spent playing various games!  Hubby had several days of vacation that he took the last of December and our son was here several days on vacation, too.  We've enjoyed our Christmas decor so much that most of it is still up.

The big surprise is that our Christmas tree survived with the 4 kitties running around.  We didn't even lose an ornament although a few were batted off the tree.
  
Here's Stormy looking at a present wondering if it belonged to her or more like wondering if it had food in it!  I'm going to have to put her on a diet this new year.  We won't talk about whether I need to!  

Stormy, as heavy as she is, is the only one of the 4 I saw climbing the Christmas tree.  The spray bottle came out and that was the end of that. 

Maybe the others took note and decided it wasn't worth the effort.  In any case, they were a lot better behaved around the Christmas things than I had anticipated.


I made some time to indulge in one of my favorite past-times, besides napping, which is bird watching.  This little Dark-eyed Junco was snapped just a few days before the snow fell.  


I edited my photo of Mr. Goldfinch a little bit in Photoscape.  I really like this free editing program.  On this one, I used Water Painting.  

An update on my aunt:  She is home from the hospital.  In fact, they released her about 5 days after her fall.  She had the choice of going to rehab for therapy, but she opted to go home with the home health services coming in to give her therapy.  She's had a rough time of it, but is feeling stronger now and the bruises are subsiding quite a bit finally.  We took Christmas dinner to them as she couldn't get outShe doesn't get around real well yet, but I'm happy to hear her say that her energy is returning. 
    

I didn't make any resolutions for the new year although I do have a list of things I hope to get accomplished this year.  Don't you just love it when you can cross those goals off a list and mark it done?  

Until next time...

34 comments:

  1. WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL PHOTOS. Each one offers something different. I love the dark eyed Junco and your Stormy looks like the sweetest kitty. We just have a new 1 1/2 year old that is fitting right in with Papa and me. Your last picture is fantastic also. I am so happy to hear your aunt is feeling somewhat better. I will keep her in my prayers.

    Happy New Year.
    Your friend,
    Susannah

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  2. I am glad to hear about your aunt. Your bird pictures are so GOOD! We tried just setting our tree up bare as a test, and the cats chewed the lights with their back molars! So no tree for us, it went back down to the basement. I ADORE your last picture!!!!! i think the jet trails always make the sky prettier, the patterns they make.

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  3. So happy to hear that your aunt is doing better and is able to be at home. I love your bird photos. They would make pretty cards. Lots to do this year, and I think it will be a great one for us all.
    Hugs,
    Laura

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  4. love the sky shot. so lovely. sometimes feel it is easier to not have resolutions ... just have goals instead ...makes like easier or a mark to move ahead & all that jazz. wish you well on them. ( :

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  5. Beautiful photos, Cheryl!! I'm going to have to investigate that photo editing thingy. ;)

    GLAD to hear your Aunt is gaining strength. And, that you were there to deliver Christmas dinner.

    Yes, things to cross off the lists!! Onward to 2013! blessings ~ tanna

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  6. Lovely photos!

    Lovely blog look!

    Sweet Christmas memories...

    So glad to hear that your Aunt is coming along. Home, with therapy coming in, sounds the very best choice! Glad she made it.

    Nothing like being HOME, to help healing.

    Especially when she has a "Sweetie" like you, to bring Christmas Dinner to her house. :-)

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  7. So glad to know that your aunt is doing better. And I am very glad that she had the option of going home with help coming to her.

    Ohhhh...I really like what you did with the editing...it makes for a sweet photo...all your photos are terrific!

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  8. Happy New year to you and that pole climber of yours (idk maybe he's aged out of that part).
    Your bird pictures are beautiful! I wonder how the cats feel about all those birds pictured with them!

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  9. Enjoyed your thoughts and especially your beautiful photos, Cheryl.
    I too do not make resolutions just set goals, and enjoy crossing off completed goals.
    Thankful that your aunt is doing so well!
    Enjoy your day,
    Blessings,
    Sue

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  10. love your cats. :) the sweet junco and goldfinch, too. glad your aunt is doing better. poor dear one!

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  11. that little junco looks so real i tried to pet it. super shot and so glad to hear your aunt is home, that is a good choice to have home health come in, so much better than rehab.

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  12. The Kitties know Santa was watching......sweewt pictures of them and the birds, one of my favorite things to, birdwatch......Blessings Francine.

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  13. Yes, that's why I like goals & resolutions that sense of getting done what you "intend" to do and the feeling of accomplishment that comes with that.

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  14. I'm glad your Aunt is doing better. Love your photos!

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  15. Hi Cheryl!

    Sounds like your Christmas was wonderful! Spending time with family is always good... :0)

    What adorable furry friends you have - I just love the way cats get so excited around a Christmas tree! They truly are one of the most curious little creatures!

    Such good news about your aunt! So glad that she is recovering and doing so well at home. You must be such a blessing in her life.

    Your pictures are just beautiful! I haven't seen too many birds around lately - too cold! Once in a while I hear one singing - but they are tucked away in a branch somewhere, trying to keep warm!

    I don't do resolutions either - but my list of things to accomplish is also long - and yes, I love it when I get to cross one off!

    Happy New Year!

    Hugs,
    Barb

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  16. Hello Cheryl..
    It sounds like you celebrated ringing in the New Year with family; nothing better!!

    All your cats are sweet, and I'm glad that they behaved themselves, with all those shiny temptations!

    Love the pictures of the birds... so pretty.

    So happy to hear that your aunt is improving. Here's hoping that she will recover 100%, and able to go shopping with you again.

    Have a wonderful day.

    {{hugs}}
    K.

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  17. LOVE those photos... I have my game camera set up on the deck by the feeding station today. I like what you did with the goldfinch photo!

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  18. Lucky you. Ever since I decided to let a cat share my home, I have been unable to decorate. The one good thing about that is that I don't get the blas when all the decorations eventually come down and an ordinary house looks pitiful in comparison.

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  19. Oops, forgot to wish that your aunt continues to recover and is soon well.

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  20. Happy New Year, Cheryl.
    I'm so glad to hear that your aunt is doing better and that you enjoyed your holidays.
    Wow, that photo of the junco is amazingly life-like. Great job. I also like the special effects you used on Mr. Goldfinch. So pretty.

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  21. Love your photos - especially the first one!

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  22. Beautiful photos as always! Sounds like you had a nice Christmas and New Years! Glad your aunt is doing better. Enjoy!

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  23. I gave up on New Year resolutions a long time ago....Not so good at it.
    Love the last photo of all the "Jet" steaks across the sky...gorgeous in color..
    Hugs

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  24. Your holiday sounded like it was perfect. Regretfully, my poor husband seemed to work more during the break. However, he does work at home; so that is a bonus.
    I loved your pictures of the cats and the birds. You had some great shots.
    I am so glad your Aunt is doing better. When they are older it does take longer to get better from falls.
    Blessings and Happy New year to you all!

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  25. Glad your Aunt is continuing to improve!

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  26. Happy New Year Cheryl. I'm so glad to hear your Aunt is getting along a bit better. Your photos are so pretty. It's been so cold out that I haven't even tried taking pictures lately. I'm a whus that way... I've decided to put my goals on my new, already loved, IPad. I figure if it is on the IPad, then it has to get done. Right? We'll see.

    Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

    Deanna

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  27. Good Morning Cheryl! Glad to hear your Aunt is doing better. Love seeing Stormy and hearing the kitties were good! Happy you had wonderful Holidays!!

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  28. Sounds to me like you ended the past year well and started the new one off well too! Super photos!

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  29. Such beautiful photos, Cheryl! Foxy really liked our Christmas tree and had the pups chasing her into the tree, but it never fell! It did end up a little crooked. LOL
    I make a daily list and one of the reasons I do that is because it feels so good to mark things off the list! Hope you have a great day!

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  30. I love your bird photos and the sunset one is gorgeous. I find the winter sunsets are very beautiful don't you? Enjoy the weekend.

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  31. that junco is gorgeous, crisp, clear perfect!!

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  32. Awesome photos. Thanks for sharing. Hope you get the sorting accomplished. Have a great weekend.

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  33. Loving the kitty pictures. They are Precious. The Junco shot is excellent and the sunset with scratches on the sky. Very nice.
    Happy New Year!

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  34. I love your photos. I am looking forward to Spring days when I can sit on the screen porch and watch the birds at our feeder and birdbath.
    Love,
    Marie

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