From Revelie to Taps...all in one morning~!

This morning I got up to a rosy sky and it was so beautiful~! It was also -13 pretty cold I would say...Put on my bathrobe and shoes ~ grabbed the camera and went outside to get this picture.. Oh my goodness the cold just took one's breath away and I went back inside and put on my coat.. Yikes~! Wouldn't want to put my tongue on anything metal this morning.. You would be stuck for along time... I took the picture and turned around and there was the moon in all it's glory in the West... WOW two planets to see in a blink of the eye~! IT was an amazing site...

This was later in the morning and here is Mr. Rooster. He is so cold he is standing on one foot.. So glad I have food out for him and the wildbirds.. He was so handsome ..

Well here is the moon in the West going down while the sun is rising in the East.. Goodness to be this was so spectactular..~!

Spent most of my day in my PJ"S.. Lori the neighbor gal called and said "R you in the mood for a cup of hot tea?" I said "I'll get dressed and be right over"... Had a great time talking about girly things with Lori . I took her the receipe of the bread I made yesterday.. Garlic Pepper Baguitte... She copied it down and said she was going to make it sometime soon.. I told her I used by bread machine to make it and she showed me hers.. I told her I thought it was big enough to make that bread. That is really good bread..

This evening our church is having a all girls supper/ movie /slubbler party at Roxanne's house.(she goes to our church) I'm going for the supper and the movie and then I'm coming home.. no sleeping over for me.. That is for the young girls who can still sleep on the floor.. My bones couldn't handle sleeping on the floor. It will be a great time and the movie we will be watching is called "Old Dogs"... sounds like a fun lap slapping movie.

Have a tiggeriffic evening...ta ta for now from Iowa.. It's now 1 degree.. Warmed up from this morning... ha ha...

Nothing runs like a Deere....

Yesterday was a pretty nice day considering it's still a cold day. After Dave came home from the work out center he got out our brand new John Deere snow blower.. Actually it's a year old but because the neighbors have always plowed us out we haven't had to use it much. The boys across the road are in high school now and playing basketball and their schedules are pretty busy.. So ~ it's a good thing we have this machine. Dave looks pretty good behind that mean machine ~ don't ya think?

He is in front of the our pole building getting the big snow drift that was in front of the doors.. That snow blower really gets the snow moving and out of the area...

I am so glad we have this snow blower.. It does the job and it's not hard to use, which I won't be learning how to do..

I know it won't be hard to learn,, just get out the instruction manual and da ta,,,it will tell me what to do..

Well, now that he is finished he looks pretty snowy. He got the whole driveway and even in front of the mailbox.. That part is so important..that the mail lady can get to your mailbox easily.
I DO want my mail delivered to my house.. If you don't have your mailbox area cleared of snow ~ the mail person won't deliver.

I'm so happy ~ the orchid that Maria had gotten me couple years ago for my birthday is getting ready to bloom.. When I received this plant it had 6 blooms.. I have babied this thing and have done everything possible to get it to bloom.. The neighbor lady, Sharon has several orchids and she told me what I needed to do.. Thanks Sharon~! I have success.. I can hardly wait until it's in full bloom.. I'll post that picture then..

Ben is with his Dad for a few days.. So I won't be seeing him until next Monday.. I'll pick him up at daycare and bring him to his Mom's house.. Tracie said he got in trouble on Tuesday,,,at daycare. He picked up the hamster by it's tail... had to have a time out.. She said when she picked him up he was so excited to see her that he walked across the table to get to her.. and gave her a big hug and said "Let's go home MaMa"...She said as they were walking out of the room he was holding Nibbles in the air by the tail.. and he did that all the way to the car.. Silly boy~!

Mr. Rooster is here at the feeder..This morning when I got up I went out and made sure there was plenty of cracked corn and black oil sunflowers in the feeders.. Glad I did,,this boy is very hungry.. It was -3 this morning so I didn't dilly dally.. I really like it when we get snow~ at least it warms up into the 20's..

Last night I decided I needed to walk ~ So I moved the kitchen table into the center of the room and I walked for 25 minutes...from the living room into the kitchen back to the living room.. figure 8.. We have two living rooms so I have a large area to walk. I felt pretty good after my walk.. I decided since it's so cold outside I would start doing this daily until the weather gets warm enough to go back outside.. I have also been doing some Tai Chi exercises.. I also take gallon jugs of water and lift them for strength exercises. A sedentary lifestyle is dangerous for your health plus I can't lose weight sitting in a chair or help my diabetes..

Learning how to knit my 2nd mitten with double pointed needles. That way I don't have to sew up a seam... Goodness to be there is a method in using those needles. It feels really awkward.. Going to my quilting/sewing group of ladies tonight and I'll get some pointers from them on how to work those 5 pointed needles.

Have a tiggeriffic day~! ta ta for now from Iowa.... It's warmed up to 11 right now.. It's 10a.m.

I love all the seasons and with each day it's a new adventure...

Ben's new cat Jacob...Meow~!

This is a picture that Ben took of the cat he got for Christmas from his Dad. His name is Jacob. Ben named him after one of his friends at school. He now has a cat at his Dad's house and a dog at his Mom's house..
YES~~ I have finally figured out how to get pictures on my computer..
It's still not great but at least I have gotten this far..


Here is Ben with MaMa Nibbles ~ sitting on his new trampoline.. Tracie called me from Goodwill (a year ago) and said "Mom you won't believe what I just found... It's a MaMa Nibbles.. When she brought her home I was so surprised this BIG rabbit looks exactly like his little Nibbles right down to the ribbon on his neck.. Ben loves both Nibbles . So now MaMa Nibbles sleeps in his bed right next to him and Nibbles.. It's so cute. When he goes to bed he has MaMa Nibbles give Nibbles a hug and a kiss good night.

Next time I go to his house I'm going to video him jumping on this trampoline and bouncing with Ma ma Nibbles. Then my next learning will be how to get it on this blog.. to show you how good he is at jumping and running in place on this trampoline. He makes me tired just watching him... He is one happy boy with his new jumping trampoline.


This morning is quiet and snowing ever so slowly. Baby it's cold outside 13 degrees with a chill factor of I don't know.. at this point of the year I don't really care. I just know that to go outside one has to bundle up.. Went out this morning and fed my birds.. Oh my goodness ~ used the last black oil sunflower seed out of the big plastic tub I store it in and looked in my checkbook to see when the last time I was at the Co-op for food.. Dec.28th.. Well that 50 pound bag lasted for 3 weeks. I'll have to drive to Springville and get me another one.. I still have 25 pounds left of the cracked corn... I really enjoy watching the birds outside my window so it's just a given that I will keep feeding them. Oh my goodness the sun just came out and what a uplifting feeling that is to see.. It has been so cloudy for so long I can see how some people get so down.. WOW~! it's truly a wonderful sight to look at the sun shining against the snow. The birds are now in technicolor...lol... they even seem happy that the sun is out.. lol.
The weatherman said tomorrow morning to be prepared ~ the temperature is going to be -13..
Won't be going anywhere tomorrow during the day..Retirement is a great life~! except for the pay... not worth a toot.~!
Guess I best get dressed and go outside and enjoy the sun while it's shining.. Get my Vitamin D.. run to Springville get bird food. Stop at the library and get another good book to read and then run into Marion and buy me some more yarn .. The mittens I'm making look good and I'm going to start on the other mitten so I have a pair.. ha ha.. While I'm there I'm going to buy me some sock yarn.. I want to teach myself how to knit socks.. I've always wanted to know how to do that..all I need is a pattern..
Have a tiggeriffic day~! ta ta for now from Iowa... oh my goodness we have gone from 13 to 11 now.. That's O.K. it's wintertime and it's suppose to be that way.. Just think in 44 days it will be Spring and this will all be a memory... just like it's a memory the HOT summer we had last year..

In September, 2006 Dave and I went to the World's Ploughing Match in Grangeford,Tullow in Ireland.. As we were starting to ascend into the airport (Dublin) I was able to get a picture of the land of Ireland.. Oh it was just what I expected.. Just like the John Wayne movie with Mareen O'hara.. I can't remember the name of the movie ~ but it was in Ireland.. It's still one of my favorite movies. The land was divided up with stone fences and you saw lots of sheep.Lots of green, the green in Ireland is non other than the green you see in the U.S.A. that is why it's called Emerald Green.. It's more than your eye can gather the green is so bright. In Ireland and all of this area I think they stop for tea twice a day and have scones. Daily ritual 11p.m. and 2 p.m. I loved it~! . So here we are riding in a tour bus and we are on top of this really big hill. The place we stopped was like a big garden center with a gift shop and a open garden eating area.. IT was so beautful.. We sat at the tables and these two girls served us tea and scones.. They were deicious~! The tea there is so good. I bought a big box of tea to bring home with me.

In the airplane> as we were decending I was able to take this picture.. Isn't it just beautifull. I was thrilled.. and could hardly wait to get my feet into all that green..

I don't know how those tour buses drive on the narrow roads that are in Ireland let alone stop when someone says "OH look at that sign".. There is a Hollywood here in Ireland..."
So our driver stopped after I made mention of the sign and he let me get out and stand next to it and he took my picture..

My hat is a John Deere hat and it has pins on it from all the different (28) countries that compete in the World Matches. It's getting quite heavy but I'm sure I'll be wearing that hat when we go to Sweden.

Many photographers from different newspapers from different countries have taken a picture of just the hat (no pic of me just the hat) and has published it in their newspapers.. I'm known as the hat lady.. It's a lot of fun~! Am looking forward to going to Sweden in May..

We made it to Des Moines, Iowa and back.. I was working on my knitting all the way there. I making mittens.. Had a good time visiting with all the other ladies that were there.. The Machine Shed has such great and delicious food.. I had the chicken pot pie... yum yum~! it was so good. We stopped on the way home to see Ben and he was jumping on his trampoline.. When he saw me coming into the house he ran to me yelling "GranAnnie">>>~! I picked him up and we hugged and kissed each other.. He now likes to kiss me in the eye now and it's wet . Silly boy... He showed me his new tricks on his trampoline.. He now can jump and spin ... or he runs fast standing still.. IT was great and it's good excercise for him.. Would be for GranAnnie but jumping is not for me anymore or running.. I wet my pants. Walking is good.

This morning I went outside and shoveled the snow away for the birds at the bird feeder station that I have at the lilac bush. There was quite a bit of snow. Their feet get so cold standing in the snow.. I can see them sometimes standing on one leg.. If I scrape away the snow they have just the ground to stand on with little snow. We are having a snow storm right now and when the snow hits your face ~ it hurts. Has ice in the snow, guess one would call it sleet.. The wind is blowing very hard and causing the snow to make big snowdrifts.. There is a BIG one in front of our garage.. Our driveway is plugged with lots of snow.. I told Dave he would have to go out and get the snowblower running and clear out the snow on the cement pad in front of the garage. The neighbor boys will do our driveway for us later today. There are two boys, Connor age 15 and Brannon age 17. These boys always take care of our driveway for us in the wintertime when we have lots of snow. . Springville cancelled school today..

Can you believe it > it's the 17of the January.. We are half way through the month..Goodness to be just yesterday it was Jan. 1.. Guess today I'll go through my files and pull out everything for 2010.. and get ready for tax time in April 15... make space for 2011... That sounds like a good time.. It's always good to get the filing drawer cleaned out and ready for the new year.. I don't have to get a tax file together as I just put tax items in the file I have set aside for those things through out the year . Getting my tax items together to take to our tax man is a piece of cake..

Have a tiggeriffic day~! Am going to get another cup of coffee and get busy...

Ta Ta For Now from Iowa... where it's 25 degrees and snowing hard... I love it~!

Three Crosses on a Hill

While we were in Pennsylvania last year visiting my husbands twin brother I saw these 3 telephone poles and got up and literally ran for my camera and went outside.. It had been a cloudy day and the sun came out to shine on the hill across the way from where he lives.. Don't they look like 3 crosses.. I thought it was so cool..

Well, this morning we are getting ready to go to Des Moines, Iowa (2 1/2 hour drive) for a board meeting for the Iowa Plowing Association. Dave is the President and I always go along with him . There will be 8 board members there and their wives come too.. We eat at a restaurant called The Machine Shed..I love their food.. The guys eat at one table and us girls eat at the other table.. It's always fun to see the girls again.. We have a good time sharing pictures of our grandchildren, some of us bring our sewing (knitting) projects we are working on and it's just a great time of gabbing with girls from all over the state. We will be leaving here soon so I better hurry and write what I want to say today.

Yesterday I went down a back road to visit a gal that goes to our church.. Verli Hiner..As I drove into her driveway I saw several flashes of bright blue.. I got so excited.. I got up to her house and she let me in and I asked her what birds she had that was so bright blue.. She said "Annie I have bluebirds"... No, really? Theres an old legend that claims sighting a bluebird assures a day of good luck.. If that's true I just had the good fortune of having lots of luck sent my way.. (course I always tell people if they have Jesus in their hearts we don't need luck). Well anyway she had a feeder in her backyard right outside her window and there were several bluebirds feeding.. Oh it was glorious,,those birds against the snow just made them look like jewels.. She said her bluebirds usually stayed the winter. I always thought they went south every year.. She feeds them raisins and wild bird food that has fruit in with the seed.. Cool~! It was so fun watching them flit from the feeder to the bush next to the feeder.. I told her I had a rooster pheasant at my feeder every morning.. She thought that was great as the snow is making it so they can't get the corn in the fields..

Well, time is up..gotta go.. Have a tiggeriffic day~! ta ta for now from Iowa

It's a great day~!

This is not what it looks like outside my daughters window at her house in Michigan... This picture was taken in May.. I can just feel the warm sunshine shining on my shoulders.. like sitting next to a warm fire..

I can't get any pictures to go from my camera or phone to my computer ~ so I'm using old photos..

Yesterday morning Dave and I went out for breakfast.. It was downright cold but that's O.k. the restaurant was very warm...Dave always likes to sit in the booth right next to the window. As we were sitting eating our breakfast an older man and woman got into their car. I noticed that their hood was not latched and it might cause them trouble when they go down the road.. So I quickly got out of my seat and ran outside and got to the car just in time. (thank goodness they were old and it took them time to get into their car).. I got their attention and told them what the problem was that I saw.. I immediately lifted their hood and got it closed tight. The lady was so thankful~! I told her no problem...I just didn't want them to have problems driving down the road. I went back into the restaurant and some of the people clapped their hands and some said "Good Job". for looking out for this older couple.. I smiled and said "Thanks"... I feel it's our job to look out for our fellow man and help them when it's needed... I love doing things for other people..
Later that morning we went to the grocery store.. There was a young mother with a toddler in her cart that was wanting fruit snacks and then when she got up the aisle he was asking for a surgary cereal. Of course this Mom was telling the toddler , (he looked like he was 4) "No".. . I just smiled because there was a man that had his own cart and when this mother wasn't looking he put those fruit snacks in her cart and the cereal.. The mom didn't even notice.. He caught my eye smiling and just laughing at what I saw.. He put his finger over his mouth and just smiled.. In other words...Shhhhhh~!
When it was time to check out , this lady was in front of me checking out her groceries.. She had all sorts of things in her cart that she hadn't put there (thanks to this man) and I just laughed and smiled.. It just made my day~! She told the clerk "I don't want these things"..and then she said because there was so many things.. "Never mind"..I'll take it all... The little boy was smiling big time..because these are all the things he wanted... Oh I just laughed.. I don't know where the man was but I'm sure he had a good time putting things in her basket without this lady knowing it... (she must of been very busy not to notice beforehand)...I have always thought this would be fun...to do..one day and actually now I got to see it happen.
In the past when I'm at church and I see a camera just sitting on a table. I grab it and take some pictures of babies or someone I see that I think would be fun to take their picture or I take several pictures of the person who owns the camera and then I put the camera back on the table where it was.. I can only imagine what happens when the owner of the camera looks at the pictures that are on their camera, they are saying "I don't remember taking these pictures">..orrrr how did I get a picture of myself? I love doing things like this.. Have never done the grocery thing but I have thought of it and thought it would be really funny.
After grocery shopping we came home and I got all the groceries put away.. took a nap and then decided that I wanted to knit a pair of mittens.. I went upstairs to my sewing room and found my pattern and the correct knitting needles and I'm now making a pair of mittens. While I was knitting, I thought "Goodness to be I should think of next years Christmas presents to my grandchildren.. This year I made hats... next year i can make mittens to match their hats.. So now while it's cold and I'm in the mood to knit I'm going to be making mittens for my grandchildren and children . I'm inspired... I got Jodie's slippers made and a pair for her husband made and they are in the mail going to her house in Michigan. Now onto the next project ~~~ mittens for next years Christmas presents...
Well guess I best get going for now... It took me 2 hours reading all the blogs I enjoy reading, gathering all kinds of ideas. What a joy it is to read all of them and trying to leave as many comments as I can;. It makes for a shiny bright day even thou it's very cloudy.. I tell people when it's a cloudy day we have to be the sunshine.. smile big when you see people, makes them wonder what you are thinking... lol
ta ta for now...from Iowa .Have a tiggeriffic day~!~!

Computers ~!~! Yikes~!

I can't get any of my pictures that I have taken to download onto my computer. I worked all morning thinking that the file I have them all stored in was too full for anymore...SOOOO~ I got out the CD-R and started copying my pictures onto them... Then deleting the folder.. thinking I would have more room to put more on... But no that didn't work.. So guess you will all miss the picture of Ben that I took the other day and all my other pictures. I don't like to post without pictures.. But I have no choice.. I spent all day yesterday working on this stupid computer. Decided I must be the one with no smarts for this computer and I'll have to take it to someone who has the know-how...very frustrating..

Yesterday I picked up Ben at daycare and came to my house. Ben helped me shovel the snow off the walks. He loves doing that..he is such a great helper. He stayed right with me until all the snow was off the walk.. I took him home and Tracie told me after I left Monday night and she was getting him to sleep he said "Mama lets talk"... She asked him who his favorite person was,,,He said, "My favorite person is GranAnnie".( I felt my heart swell, and got a little emotional with tears) .. I told Ben " Do you know who my favorite person is?" He said "No".. I said "My favorite person is Ben.. Oh my goodness he just beamed.. He got the biggest smile on his face.

He came over and gave me a big huge hug and kiss... What a boy..

Tracie got him a small trampoline. He was so excited.. He immediately started jumping and jumping . He jumped for along time. He got Nibbles his stuffed and beloved friend and had nibbles jumping with him... He does everything with Nibbles.. This is a great thing for Ben, he is such a busy boy maybe this will help him with all that excess energy he has pent up being in the house so much. She got it at Aldi's grocery store. Yeah Aldi's..~! That is a great place to buy some of your groceries..
Have a tiggeriffic day~! ta ta for now from Iowa.

This is Thursday Jan.13,,,

Now my computer is really annoying.. I have Favorites where all I have to do is click on it and then I can click on my blog and ta da it comes right up.. Everything else works but this one doesn't budge.. So now I have to google annieptigger.blogsot.com and then I have to sign into my blog each time . Annoying and then some.. Called my friend,Jeff who fixes my computer and
he said bring me the tower and I'll take care of it for you.. Last time it took him 2 months to fix it.. HE works full time at Rockwell Collins and he loves geocaching. BUT he doesn't charge me.. Last time I got him a gas gift card and a gift card to his favorite restaurant and one to Dairy Queen.. He won't take money and I feel if I had a Best Buy Geek fix it for me it would cost a lot more than these gift cards.. Jeff is always happy for the gift cards... He's a great guy..
Yesterday I finally got the Christmas tree down.. Didn't take long.. Everything is back in the plastic tubs and that room is back in order.. Looks pretty bare in there now..Have to get Ben's train table set back up where it was and get his area ready for him when he comes again. I rearranged my living room and made it so our chairs look out towards the windows and I moved the TV to the other side of the room . Plus Dave where he was sitting could see into the kitchen and watch me fix a meal.. He would supervise me in fixing the meals, a regular movie director.. So I decided he needed his chair moved to the corner so he couldn't see me.. (it's much better now)... It's so nice now I can see my birds come to the feeders outside our picture window and we can also see the TV.. Have been making slippers for my daughter and her hubby and listening to my Ipod. (if I could put pictures on here I could show you) Found a wonderful podcast with Knitpicks.... plus knit picks has a great website for knitters or crocheters.
This morning Dave and I are going out to breakfast and then get groceries.. Eating breakfast out is my favorite meal to do this. Guess I best get dressed and get ready..

Was reading my devotion this morning and this is so true..:
Here are three rules for living: (1) Learn to control the climate around you. Negativity is contagious; look out for it's "carriers." Love them , lift them, but don't let them infect you.. Filter what people say to you through God's Word. "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power (ability and a can-do attitude) and of love (which always looks for the best) and of a sound mind (which is stable and consistent) 2timothy 1:7 .

(2). Learn to laugh at yourself... A woman who'd been given a lovely plant took it home, watered it, fertilized it and set it in the sun.. A year later she discovered it was silk--and she still laughs about it.. When you're secure in God's love and approval you can laugh at yourself; it's a mark of spiritual maturity.. (3) Learn to factor God in. Ever hear of the 90/10 rule? When 90% of the circumstances are uncontrollable, focus on the 10% you can do something about.. Paul did that. "We were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.. Nevertheless God"

(2Co 7:5-6 ) Note the words, "Nevertheless God." When you're facing a mountain always remember : God can move it, He can level it, He can tunnel through it, or He can help you climb it.. All you have to do is factor Him in by seeking His face and consulting His Word." Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise".. (Col 3:16. Keep a rich deposit on Scripture within you and draw on it daily...

Have a tiggeriffic day~! ta ta for now from Iowa... annieptigger@aol.com

Good Morning from Iowa~!

This week-end was such a shocker of what can happen when someone becomes so obsessed with killing someone. It's just hard to believe that something like this happens.. So many lives were lost and so many families were affected by this. The congresswoman Gabriele Gifford, that is in the hospital fighting for recovery from Arizona.. being shot in the head like that ~ it's just remarkable that she is alive. I would call it a miracle from God. I am saddened by the young man who was engaged and going to get married soon. The judge who just stopped by after going to church to give his support to Senator Gifford. The 9 year old little girl saddens my heart the most.. To lose a young child like this would be so awful and hard to recover from for along time. I know how hard it is to lose one of your children as it happened to me 15 years ago with a traffic accident. Wally was 33 at the time. He loved the Lord so I know he is with God and I'll see him again another day..

Our freedoms are being jeopardized here in America.. With 30 states in financial trouble and so many people out of jobs , and with our government spending money like their hair is on fire.. they need to be reminded on how they got in office . The only real assurance that we have is our faith in God... and prayer..

God Bless America ~ land that I love ~ stand beside it and guide her ~ through the night with a light from above..From the mountains, to the prairies, to the oceans , white with foam..God Bless America. My home sweet home.. God Bless America. My home sweet home.. That song just went through my mind..I remember when Kate Smith would sing this song.. It finally came to be her signature . The song was written by Irving Berlin...in the 1900's.

I love that song... Was talking just now with a wonderful man, Dick Pederson , he has such a great attitude and wonderful love for the Lord.. He just makes my day when he calls me. His laughter is contagious and the way his thinks is so refreshing. I told him how some people just like to sit and worry.. My thoughts on that is ~ I'm glad there are people that do this ~ frees me to not have to do all that stewing and worry.. Worrying is something that causes fear in your mind and then it causes you to have health problems.. Dick called me to tell me that he is getting his reservations in order to go to Sweden for the World Ploughing Matches. Dick and his wife, Marilyn live in DesMoines and they will meet us in Chicago to then fly to Sweden on the same plane. It's going to be an exciting trip.. We are going to take the train from Stockholm to Mjolby, Sweden and I told him I'm going first class on the train.. cost me a little more but it's only money.. He laughed and said you are right about that.. I figure this is the only time I'll be taking a train like this and I'm going first class..

Mr. Rooster just sprinted to the feeder.. He is so funny. You can see him running from the field across our yard to the feeder.. As soon as he gets here he looks around and around to see if he is safe. Then he hunkers down to eating ~ eating~ eating.. He will be here for 45 minutes unless he gets spooked by something, then off he will run like his hair is on fire back to the field. Sprinting with all his heart.. His legs flying underneath him like propellers.
Have a tiggeriffic day~! ta ta for now from Iowa....

Family of Mice

A little light is all I needed to see the tiny little 4 legged furry mice. They were having a party.. They had gotten the minature marshmallows off the pantry shelf that goes down my basement steps.. They had opened them and they were scattered all over the floor. I went back upstairs and turned off the basement light and got my flashlight.. As I was sitting on the basement steps with the flashlight shining on the ceiling,,so the light would reflex on the floor.. I just sat and waited and was very quiet.. SHHHHH~! These mice must be leftovers from Chirstmas. Pretty soon out they came from their hiding place and cautiously tip toed back to where the marshmallows were.. Nibble Nibble ~ stop~ look around ~ Nibble Nibble ~ stop~ look around. Then they just gave up looking and just stood on their hind legs with the tiny marshmallows in their hands chewing on those fluffy sticky delicious sugary treats... It was so cute, they had sticky marshmallow stuck on their faces, whiskers,and paws... I wish I could of gotten up and got my camera. Taken the picture of all the fun they were having. They were in Marshmallow heaven... Well, I got up and went out to the shed and got the live trap and put all the marshmallows into the trap and left.. I'll check it out in the morning and see if they went in to get somemore treats. If they do I'll take them to the neighbors who has a nice barn they can live in and hopefully they are careful and the farmers cats don't eat them... I know that sounds cruel ~ but did you want me to put out poison?

Today I went to the neighbors house to take her some cookies I had baked...She came to the door looking really bad.. I asked her if she was sick and she said no. She had all her teeth removed yesterday and she was really under the weather.. I made her some soup and hot tea.. She was so happy I came to help her... Her husband came home from work and I came back home. I had grilled chicken for him and made a baked potato and some green beans.. He was really happy.. He was glad I came over to see how his wife was doing and take care of her.. He said he wasn't working tomorrow and he would be home to take care of her.. I was so glad to do it for her. Isn't that what neighbors are suppose to do? Watch out for each other>. I think God had it all planned that I was suppose to go to her house today.. Sometimes we just need to listen to him whispering in our ears. They both really thanked me and I was so glad I could help..
You never know what the day will bring. ( I told her about my mice and she said I should of just put out the poison)... she offered one of her cats to come to my house and take care of them.. I said "No I'll just see if they cooperate and get into the live trap".. take them to the Neitert farm up the road. She just laughed at me..
Well, you all have a tiggeriffic day~1 ta ta for now...

I counted 8 of these red beauties~!

This morning the lilac bush was just covered with Mr.& Mrs. Red Cardinal. I counted 8 males.. This picture is from the other day when the sun was shining. This morning it's very cloudy and when I took the picture it wasn't what I wanted.. So you can just imagine seeing 8 of these beauties. Last year I had maybe 2 pair.. The blue jays have doubled in their count and of course I have all the other small birds that come to the feeders.. Mr. Rooster was here this morning .. Talked with the neighbor last night, who is a advid hunter and he said that Mr. Rooster is the only male pheasant in the area.. I told him I went out and bought 50 pounds of cracked corn and black oil sunflower seeds to feed him.. He was so happy. He said he bought 6 males and female pheasants and let them lose on his farm. He said the only one left is this rooster.. Well, I'm glad I'm keeping him fed and safe.

This time of year is always a fun time.. One's life just gets rejuvenated in getting projects started, trying out new recipes, reading books, eating healthy, going on walks like me, losing weight, the list goes on and on.. With being retired and not having to work, my days seem to get very busy. Seems like I am more busy now then when I was working. But it's lots more fun than having to go to work.. I can chose what I want to do with my day... I sit in the mornings with my cup of coffee and just relax and enjoy reading all the blogs I follow. They make me laugh, some are written to where you have to think about what was written and then digest it all. I love the sheep stories with Eunice and Renny and the gal that is in the blue ridge mts. I love all the ones that put something out there to teach children how to read, color, or just do projects. Then there is the ones that put scripture and a small bible study ~ how great is that.. The pictures and videos that are put on these blogs are so entertaining. How can anyone say they are bored or get depressed this time of year. There are so many exciting things to see and do.

I was very upset yesterday when I heard that they are going to ban Huckleberry Finn through-out the USA, because of the language that was used in the book.. the word N---- was used in those days. That is just part of our history and was part of the lifestyle back in those days ..way before I was born. I'm not saying it was right but goodness to be we can not protect our children from everything.. that is what they said they wanted to do.. Protect their children.. YIKES~! then turn off the TV...don't watch those stupid soap operas.. Keep your children and yourself away from schools , malls, public places where the lanuage is do dirty and foul...I wouldn't have those words in my hand with what was just in their mouths... YUCK~! (can you tell I'm not very tolerant to foul language?) I wish these people would just be realistic and get on with their lives . Make America a better place for us and our young people. I can remember when we could leave our homes and go on a vacation and not even lock the door, didn't even have to lock your car.. I better stop here... I could go on and on..

I'm going to the neighbor's house this morning to take her some machine oil for her sewing machine, so she doesn't have to run all the way to town just for a few drops of oil.. It's always fun to talk with Sharon.. She just got some roving and a spinner from Punkin Patch in Kentucky.. She wants to spin the wool to make her own yarn.. How is exciting is that. She said we could learn how to do this together.. I told her we needed to buy some sheep and then we could put little coats on them to protect their wool and then use their wool to make things.. Oh I'm all for this new project... but you have to have good fences if you have sheep and that I do not have.

Best go,,,Have a tiggeriffic day~! ta ta for now... from Iowa... where it's a cold 18 degrees and I'm lovin it...

Get out your Green Thumb~!

My sister Lynn who lives in S.C. and my brother Dave who used to live in Miami , Florida but now lives near my sister in South Carolina put this green house together.. in Lynn's backyard. They both have extra large green thumbs.. Look inside that green house they already have green plants growing..~! They are having so much fun.

I'm sure the seeds they will be planting soon will grow for the vegetable garden or the flower garden. I can never remember what flower is what~ So when my flowers are blooming and I can't remember it's name I take a picture and send it to Lynn and she calls me and lets me know.. This year I am ready with some markers.. I had some old metal knitting needles and I was going to throw them to the county dump ~ but I decided to recycle.. I'm going to use them for markers with laminated labels stuck on the needle.. Stick the rest into the ground and ta da ~ I will have a marker that well put a name on the plants I can't remember their names... I thought it was a great idea...

Have a tiggeriffic day...ta ta for now from Iowa...

I didn't know you could do this~!

Yesterday in the mail I got an invitation from my son, Rich who is going to be marrying a wonderful girl named Lisa.. Look at that stamp~! I thought this was so cool~! This is the first time I have ever seen something like this.. Guess I'm behind the times.
I try my best to keep up~ but it just seems that new technology just zooms right on past me.. which is O.K.
They are getting married Feb. 26 and I can hardly wait. Rich has 3 children and Lisa has one.. It's going to be a wonderful life for them... Their children are happy for the wedding.

Yesterday I went over to Tracie's house.. Tracie and Ben are very sick with the sore throat, cold. Ben has medicine that goes into a nebulizer and he has to have treatment twice a day. He sits there and holds the mask himself.. "I do it~!.." Poor Tracie was so sick she stayed in bed all day.. I boiled some eggs and took them over to see if I could get Ben to eat something. He loved cracking them on the table and then peeling off the shell. Of course the salt shaker has to come to the scene~ shake~shake~shake..m-m-m-GranAnnie this tastes really good. He didn't like the yellow yoke, but at least he ate the white part.. He ate 3 eggs. Yeah~!

At 1 p.m. I told Ben he needed to take a nap so he could help his cold to get better. Usually I can't get him to take a nap but today I made a tent over his bed.. This was the key to getting him to first get into bed.. after getting under the covers and seeing the tent (blanket) over top of us he was delighted.. Oh my~! he was smiling big time and his eyes were so big . He loved it~! He sleeps in a bed that has tall posts on all corners ~ so it was easy to get the blanket high enough above our heads. I read him 3 books and then said it was time to sleep.. Nibbles was in his arms and within minutes he was asleep.. Oh thank goodness for tents.. He took a 2 hour nap.. Last night when I put him to bed he wanted the tent again over him... that was easy... he always likes to talk a little and of course we read some books.. and then Nibbles (a stuffed rabbit) and Ben gets kisses and hugs and off to sleep . I'm 1/2 way to 132 years old and I am so happy I still remember how to get small boys to bed and to sleep

Why do children fight going to sleep. It's beyond me ~ it's just so easy , lay down close your eyes relax and let it go...ZZZZZZZ~! I have no problems sleeping or taking naps...it just comes so easy.

I think I found the secret of staying warm and going outside in the frigid freezing outside. I have Curel body lotion and I liberally put some all over my body.. Couple days ago when I went geocaching I did this before bundling up.. you know I could feel a big difference.. Today when I went out for my walk,,,I lathered myself up with this cream.. and it was good.. Of course my silk long johns, heavy pants, sweat shirt and all the layers one has to wear when going outside plus the coat, scarf, mittens, boots helped a lot too. but I really am convinced that the cream is helpful in helping keep you warm..

Enjoyed reading all the blogs today that I follow.. Got a lot of great ideas from Activity Mom, I am MaMa hear Me Roar, Totally Tots,Two Bears Farm and the Three Cubs, theres more but off the top of my head I can't remember their names.... They have great ideas for toddlers and I like to try them out on Ben whenever I'm with him. Thanks girls~! Today I read in one of them about making sugar cookies the easy way.. no cookie cutters.. just divide the dough up in three balls. color two of the balls leave the 3rd one plain, roll them out ~lay the layers on top of each other . roll them all up like a log . It looks so cool~! Cut the log into even pieces~ put on baking sheet and bake.. easy squeezy... I can hardly wait to try these out with Ben...

Time to get busy~ washing day... Have a Tiggeriffic Day~! ta ta for now...from Iowa

Here I go again~!

This morning after my 2710 steps of walking which is over 1 mile I got me a cup of hot coffee.. It tasted so good. I really felt good after that walk in the cool temperatures..
I went on the geocaching web site to record my finds from yesterday and oh my goodness I saw that a brand new cache had been placed at the Grant Wood Trail... Yikes~! I called Holly and said "Hey you want to go geocaching there is a brand new cache and if we get there quick we could be First to Find.." Big deal in the geocaching world.. She homeschools her 2 children and said we have school work to do before we get to have fun.. I said No problem I'll go to the bank and before I leave I need to get my gps loaded and things ready to go.. It was 3 p.m. before I got to her house.. The kids were so excited. Holly couldn't go but her husband, Fred said he could go and the two kids..Caryn and Nathan... plus the neighbor boy Jacob.. so off we went..
We walked to the cache right away and I couldn't believe it>>> We were first to find.. So they decided that Caryn should sign the log sheet first since she was the youngest.. (9)..
In this picture of me you see over my right shoulder is where the cache was hidden;. The big tree ... It had a big ammunition box in the crack of the tree with lots of sticks on top.. You know that is where it is hidden because mother nature would never stack her sticks that way. The kids were so excited~! they were jumping up and down...

Here is Fred standing and the tree where we found the cache, is on his left.. as you are looking at Fred.

Here is Nathan beaming. He is 12 years old.. I love it when children get so excited about geocaching..

Here is Caryn, age 9.. She was the designated person to have the First To Find for this cache. She was really happy~!

Now the grand total of walking today was 4,574 steps... According to my Ipod pedometer I burned 229 calories walking today... Yeah.. My blood sugar should look good in the morning and hopefully the scales will show I lost something.. O.K. Varunner what do you think of this~!

Geocaching is a great way to get exercise and I'm tellin ya,,,you walk and walk and walk. But like Fred says there is something to find while you are walking..

It was a tiggeriffic day~! ta ta for now from Iowa... It was 30 degrees while we were out walking this afternoon...Pretty nice...

Varunner ~ I'm walking~!~!

Varunner is a gal that I follow with her blog.. Her blog name is Two Bears Farm and the 3 Cubs.

She is getting ready to go on a 1/2 marathon in Maine.. So I decided to have a mentor in losing these 25 pounds that I want to shed before I go to Sweden in May. Varunner thanks for the motivation~!

At the end of this long driveway you can see my house..

This morning I got up 7;30 that is not too early but when you are retired you can get up when you want.. I got dressed right away because if I don't I tend to stay in my PJ's 1/2 the day. Got my coffee and ate my breakfast.. Gathered all the trash that needed to go to the burn barrel. It's a sunny day and no wind and 22 degrees.. Nice Day~!~! After I got the trash on fire I decided this would be the time to go for a walk... Across the road we have wonderful neighbors , The Starrys. ..They let me walk in their driveway because it's a long drive way and I can get my 30 minutes in without too much turning around and around.. Plus the view is so beautiful.. I took my ipod and listened to the sermon from Willow Creek Community Church in Barrington,Illinois. This morning the pastor was talking about his first child being born and it was a boy and they were going to name him William Robert.. They thought this sounded like a regal name until they really thought about what his Uncles would be calling him .. It would be Willy Bob... They immediately decided this would not be too regal so they named their baby Andrew.. I laughed when I heard this.. In Isaiah it talks about a baby is born.. Is it a boy? Is it a boy?..this is a birth announcement.

....Now imagine this statement in Isaiah: A wonderful counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace ~ it was before Jesus was born..700 years before his birth.

Jan. 1st 2011, babies announcements were being made with an announcement in our paper: On this day Caryn was born Or ~On this day Nathan was born.. What a joy this is for parents.grandparents ect. But for us when we hear the announcement in Isaiah that a baby is born.. Well, we know the rest of the story.. The baby was Jesus ~ born in a manger in Bethlehem.. to Mary and Joeseph...and he lives within our hearts now forever and ever.. Now that is a Joyous thing to have~!

This is a picture of my house as I get near the road... Most of the snow is gone. We had 10 inches and now with the melt down we had last Thursday and Friday this is what we have left.. Which is good.. Now we have room for more which I'm sure will be coming.

OHHHHH~! look who is here this morning~! After I came in the house after my walk Mr. Rooster was here.. Oh my isn't he so beautiful with the sun shining on his fine colorful feathers. Ben says he has a bloody eye.

I think pheasants are so awesome.. Just look at all the different markings and colors all over his body..

I carry my ipod to listen to but I also have a pedometer that is part of my ipod that tells me how many steps I walked.. Well I walked 2,710 steps this morning.. If one walks 2,000 steps it's one mile.. So I went a little over 1 mile.. Yeah~! for me...O.K. day 1....

If your going to lose weight they say it can't be done without the "W" word.. Walking or some kind of exercise.. Walking seems to be the easiest for me.. Plus I have a long driveway for the walking.. I have a nice road to walk on BUT I have found that I know tooo many people and as I walk on the road people are waving at me.. As they wave their cars are leaning towards the direction they are waving and that is towards me.. So I just think this driveway is best for me to walk..

Have a tiggeriffic day~!~! ta ta for now from Iowa....

It was a great day to geocache~!

Here I am on the Grant Wood Trail just south of Springville. It is 28 degrees no wind and just a beautiful day~! I'm all bundled up and ready... The trail is hard packed snow with lots of ice.. But thankfully I have my walking stick and that helps me to keep from falling.. My friend Holly and her hubby Fred and two children wanted to go along so I picked them up on my way to Springville.. They had the same idea that I had today~ get out of the house.. My Dad used to say "Get outside and get the stink off ya"... It felt so good to be outside and looking for the treasure..

This is my friend Holly and her hubby Fred.. Notice walking sticks are very important..

Didn't see many birds or wildlife on the trail. But saw evidence with all the tracks.. It was just nice to be outside and the sun was shining so bright..

We found this cache in a birdhouse.. The name of the cache is "How Tweet It Is"... This green bottle was inside the birdhouse and it has a log sheet inside to sign your geocaching name.. Bet you can't guess what my geocache name is ~~~~ yes you are right~~~~

annieptigger ..... Fred's geocaching name is fandhcharle

It was a fun day.. Holly and Fred are fairly new at this and they really enjoyed going with me.. They want to go again sometime... Of course that is right up my alley.

Found 4 caches today and I thought that was good.. Their two children were with us Caryn and Nathan.. Caryn is 9 and Nathan is 12.. I let them use my GPS and they ran ahead of us seeing if they could find the cache before us.. They had so much fun.. On one cache they had the eagle eye,, they found the cache before us... That was good.. Now they are hooked and they want to go again sometime this week... You can geocache all over the world.. When I go to Sweden in May I'm going to have a few picked out and find them.. I have found caches in Dublin, Ireland and Viennia, Austria... On the geocaching map there are over 1,000 caches in a 25 mile radius of where we were today. If you want to go to geocaching website and check out this sport go to ~ www.geocaching.com click on getting started and it will tell you all about this sport.. It's a great way of getting outside ~ walk and get exercise..

Well, you all have a great Monday~! Ta Ta For Now~! from Iowa...

No more games~!

I have decided today I'm not watching anymore football games... After watching so many games yesterday and it's not too bad of a day today.. It's 11 degrees outside.. I'm going to church and then come home and bundle up and go outside...take a walk.. maybe go geocaching. A girl can only stay in the house for so long and then escape ~ go outside breathe in some fresh air, get those legs limbered up walking.. I'll watch more football on Monday night.. My brain is just saturated with all the football games. They were good games. I really enjoyed watching Joe Paterno with the Pennslyvania...even thou his team lost it was a good game..

See you later today after I have a day of fresh air, exercise and fun~! I'll take my camera.. Bring back some photos for you to see..
Have a Tiggeriffic Day~! ta ta for now..from Iowa

Happy 2011....It's so windy this morning and frigid temperature.. I went out this morning to feed the birds. I replaced the suet for the woodpeckers and put out more black oil sunflower seed.. I was never so glad to get back in the house . It's bitter cold out there.. Welcome to Jan. 1... 11 degrees, sunny and don't know what the chill factor is but I'm sure there is one.. The birds were happy and they are having a hard time flying to the feeder.

Last night we went to our friends house , Holly and Fred's for a New Years Eve Party.. We had a great time... We had a pot luck and the food was delish~! Some of the guys went into the living room and watched the college football game, South Carolina playing against Florida State . Florida State won.. It was a good game... We played a game called Apples to Apples and that was a very loud and fun game.. Dave and I stayed until the magic hour of midnight and after hugs and best wishes for 2011 we came home... I was glad the roads were clear of ice and no fog..

This morning on the news they were talking about making Resolutions.. I have never made any commitments of this kind because they are hard to keep.. But I did wake up this morning at 5 a.m. thinking about Varunner. She is a blog I follow and month ago she was planting seeds about setting goals... She is getting ready to go Maine for a 1/2 marathon.. So this morning I decided that I need to lose 25 more pounds.. Dave and I are going to Sweden in May for the World Ploughing Matches (10Days).. need to get in shape, lose weight so I will be able to do all the activities that will be offered . The tours take a lot of walking My daughter, Jodie has been searching on the Internet for me for the best flight to Sweden and the best price.. She called me and said "Mom I think this is the one". Fly out of Chicago into Stockholm, Sweden . Take the train that is in the same building as the airport and go to Mjolby. The plowing match is in Vadstena which is really close to Mjolby.. On our way home we will take the train from Mjolby to Copenhagen, Norway.. Trains are non-stop and so are the plane flights coming and going.
So this morning I was googling the Internet and finding people that have taken the train and looked at their photos.. Sweden is a beautiful country and I think the train ride would be a great way to travel and see the country side. It will be nice to go to Sweden at this event. This will be our 6th World Ploughing match and it will be so fun to see the people we have met through the years.. David and Barbara Jones from Wales and David and Rhonda Smith from Australia we know really well and it will be nice to see them again. Sooooo it would be nice if I lost the 25 pounds, got in shape . Thanks Varunner ! Her blog is called Two Bears Farm and The Three Cubs.. She ran in the New York marathon this year and now is getting ready to run in the 1/2 marathon in Maine.. What a girl..
Oh my goodness we are having a blizzard and white out on the road.. I don't live too far from our road and I can't see it.. Good day to stay in..Going to make Leek Potato Soup ~ Yum Yum~!
Have a great January 1st, 2011. I already got out my check book and wrote 2011 in the first 10 checks.. I always goof up with the year . Ta Ta For Now from Iowa...

Rosie The Riveter ~ "We Can Do It"~!

A Michigan factory worker used as the model for the wartime Rosie the Riveter poster whose inspirational
"We Can Do It !" message became an icon of the feminist movement has died. Geraldine Doyle died Sunday said a spokesman for the Hospice House of Mid Michigan.. She was 86.

It was on the news yesterday.. This is the picture I have that was made into a magnet.. I have it on my refrigerator... Cool m-m-m-?

I remember my mom wearing her scarf on her head like Geraldine.. She wore it like this when she cleaned the house.. When I was a little girl coming to the breakfast table in the morning and seeing my mom with her scarf on her head ~ I knew we would be cleaning and my sister Lynn and I would be helping mom. I also remember when Mom came home from the grocery store she would have these little plastic bags with oleo inside with a red dot. Mom would give each one of us girls one of those bags and we would have to squeeze the oleo until it was soften and then have the red dot squeezed evenly throughout the oleo.. One day I was so glad I got mine done and I took it to my mom thinking I could go out and play.. She told Lynn to give hers to me so she could help mom with something else that needed done. Lynn threw that bag across the room to me and wham bang it hit the armrest corner of the chair which was wooden and that bag exploded all over me and the chair... We both were in shock and Lynn ran to the kitchen to get a towel so we could clean it up before mom saw what happened.. Holy Buckets that oleo did nothing but smear smear smear all over , everywhere~! Now that I'm older I think "Why did Mom have Lynn and I do that job in the living room"? It was a warm day ~ we could of done it outside... Well, anyway it made a memory and I still remember that day.
We had a wonderful Mom who loved us both so much... She died at 54 of bone cancer the day after Christmas 44 years ago.. I was 22 and had 3 children.. I took care of my mom full time for 6 months. Dave and I were having a new home built at this time. The oldest boy, Wally (age 5) stayed with my hubby at his mom's house so he could go to school. I got to see him on week-ends. Richard (almost 2) stayed with me and I had Jodie in September so I took care of Rich and a new baby and Mom.. It was hard at the time and I don't regret having to do this. But I'm so glad I was able to take care of my Mom. We had many great times talking to each other and she loved Wally, Rich and Jodie so much.. Jodie would lay next to my Mom whether she was awake or sleeping. I think Jodie was great therapy for her..four happy people loving each other. Rich loved to sing` so he sang to my Mom. On the good days Mom would always play board games with Rich and me. Too bad my children didn't get to know my Mom better because she was a happy person who loved God with all her heart and soul..and mind.. I missed her so much after she died.. But I will see her again someday.. Ya-Hoo~!
It's foggy today~!! rainy and some of our snow is melted away. Tomorrow it's going to be 57 degrees.. Goodness to be...that is warm for this time of year.. Then on Saturday it's back to cold temperatures again and snow... The birds have been eating like hogs all day and the feeders are empty.. When I get up in the morning I'll get them filled up . Last day of 2010 tomorrow and onto 2011.. You all have a safe New Year's and get ready for a tiggeriffic New Year~!~!
Ta Ta For Now~!~!

Feeders a full of red and blue beauty PLUS Mr. Pheasant is back...~!

This morning I quickly took a picture of the bird feeder right outside my window.. Oh the glorious red, blue and black was just overwhelming . When I was in town yesterday I bought #50 pounds of black oil sunflowers seeds and #50 pounds of cracked corn.. I was pleasantly surprised this morning to see>>>>>>

Mr Pheasant was back to fill up on corn and the black oil sunflowers.

He stayed about 45 minutes.. The birds and even Mr. Squirrel shared the same space with Mr. Pheasant. It was fun to watch.. No fighting, no squabbling,

Mr. Squirrel and Mr. Pheasant had words but they still were sharing the food.. I was surprised . I thought Mr. Squirrel would chase away the pheasant..

Mr. Squirrel's tail was flipping, flipping and he was announcing his right to the feeder.. Mr. Pheasant didn't care~ he's the boss and he held his ground..
They are such a beautiful bird... Hope he brings his family with him next time. I was so excited to see him come back to the feeder...

It's starting to snow now and according to the weather man we are headed for some pretty bad weather.

that's O.K. I'm prepared..I'm ready...Let it rip~!

ta ta for now from Iowa...

This is the best~!~!

Tracie and I decided to make some neck warmers... We went to Target,WalMart and bought some knee socks. They were $2 a pair..

Stopped at Aldi's and bought some long grain white rice ~ 3lb. bag for 69 cents. She had some Lavender essential oil at her house..so didn't have to purchase any oil.

These neck warmers are also good for hot packs for pulled muscles or you can put them in the freezer and use as cold packs . They are amazing~!

Here is what you have to do.. Put the rice in a big bowl or container. Rice has to be long grained (no instant) Put in a few drops of Lavender essential oil (a little goes along way) stir the rice to get the oil well distributed. If you want you don't have to scent the rice. Take one sock and fill with 3 cups of scented rice.(or unscented) Don't want too much rice so if 3 cups seems too much take out a little.. Knot the first sock and take other sock and slip it over this sock. Knot this sock and ta da you have it done.. Easy Squeezy. I put it in the microwave for 2 minutes and then put it on my neck.. On these really cold days it really feels good.. My arthritis loves it that is in my neck.

We made a bunch and gave them away for presents.. Everyone that has one tells us how wonderful they feel. I loved this project ~ no sewing... I made one to keep in the freezer.

Have a great day...~~~~ta ta for now from Iowa.... 19 degrees sunny with rain later in the day..

Very Frustrating~!

Have you ever made one of these... This was suppose to be a gingerbread barn.. Oh my goodness. Had the front and back and sides all standing and frosted together.. We start to put the roof on and whoof~ it all falls down.. and then the back of the barn breaks apart in 3 pieces.. YIKES~! So I took the one front that was not broken and put all the other pieces back in the box.. In the mean time Ben is eating all the candy pieces and yummy yummy sounds... No problem we don't need all the candy that is required.. I squirt on the frosting and Tracie and I start placing what is left of the candy pieces onto the barn front.. we are laughing.. How do people do these dog gone things.. Ben is having a great time helping us and of course yummy yummy sounds are coming from him... Finally decorated ~ here is the picture of our barn.. Ta Da...~!

Picture of the box to give you an idea of what the finished project is suppose to look like..

YEAH~! One has to have a lot more frosting than is given to hold this baby together and then have enough to smear over the barn.. Well, it was an adventure and never to be tried again.

I don't know how people do this, but they do..

Here's Ben with his new hand held DSI1 Nintendo game,, he is playing Mario Race Cars game.. He loves it..~! I can see this game is going to have to have a time limit on how long to play..

Can't believe how smart he is and he can really play it and keep up with all the curves and pass other cars and come close to winning.. He has won but not too much. When I took this picture he wouldn't look at the camera..he just said "Cheese".. Lol. What a boy... Tracie and I call this the babysitting machine.. It sure keeps him busy ~! GranAnnie says we need to play board games Ben.. He says O.K. maybe in a little bit... Lol... Have a great Tuesday..~! ta ta for now...

Mr. Pheasant at my feeder.

What a pleasant surprise this morning. While I'm sitting her reading all my blogs that I follow.. I looked out to the North where my feeder is at the lilac bush.. Oh my,,,he is a big bird.. Hope no one shoots him...it's hunting season... we don't allow anyone to hunt on our property.. Hope Mr. Pheasant stays on our 40 acres... He is so beautiful~! Everyone should have ham or turkey to eat don't you think.. They don't need pheasant..
Have a great Monday..~!

OH the weather outside looks frightful~!

Went out this morning to feed the birds and oh my goodness, it's a winter wonderland. So beautiful... I love mornings like this, of course I can stay home.. The roads are pretty clear, snow plows have been on our road 6 times this morning.. I'm sure the road grader with their blades will be on the road later today clearing off the side of the roads to get ready for the next storm...on Thursday... Farmers Almanac said we were going to get lots of snow but oh my goodness this is a lot of snow.. I'm loving it~! I'm sure the people at Sundown Ski Resort in Dubuque are having a great time skiing and snowboarding.. I went skiing there once when I took a high school class there from Springville School with a school bus. I took the lessons which is very important if you have never skied before and I had a great time...










Jodie ~ my daughter from Michigan was here for Christmas with her hubby Mark.. His mom and dad live in Marshaltown and he came this morning to pick up Jodie to head back to Michigan.. It was so nice to have her here for a few days. On Christmas Day we went to Marshalltown to have dinner at Mark's mom and dad's house.. I took two pies. rhubarb/strawberry pie and apple. Yum Yum~! we had a great time visiting with Mary Lou and Tom and think we will go to their house for a visit another time. Ben and Tracie went with us. Ben got a new DSI nintendo hand held game.. He sat on the couch the whole time we were there playing with his Mario game.. We call this game Ben's babysitter...That is all Ben wanted to do while we were there.. He wasn't happy he had to pause the game to eat a little turkey. But he managed and off he went back to the couch.. I can see with how much he liked this game we are going to have to set limits. But after the newness wears off I'm sure it won't be a problem..





The icicles on the side of the house were so huge, big and pretty. Ben loves these long icicles. Last night when he went home he had to have mommy knock a few off so he could take them home with him...






The snow is so heavy the pine trees are weighted down to the ground.

Little foggy this morning ~ it sure is a pretty sight.. Not too cold either.. 13 degrees.. The sun is now trying to peek out and now everything glistens and sparkles...

Have a great Monday.

ta ta for now from Iowa