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"Spring Fever"

I took this photo last May of a pincushion flower just budding. It's now mid March so we don't have any flowers blooming here quite yet, but there is the promise of flowers and spring coming soon and I am ready.

Even though I love winter, I always get anxious for spring as it approaches. I've photographed snow and gloomy days all winter and I have to say that I'm ready for COLOR and FLOWERS and all that comes with spring. I'm even ready for warmer weather, since my recent frostbite has pretty much brought a halt to my time in the field in this freezing cold weather.

So, I welcome spring with a poem I wrote...

"Welcome Happy Spring"

The cold and chill of winter's frost,

as snowflakes melt will soon be lost.

Winter days are almost done,

the subtle signs of spring have come.

As the sun begins to warm the ground,

and heats the earth newness abounds.

A bud, a blade, a robin's song,

all tell us now it won't be long.

Warm days ahead the cold behind,

blue skies filled with sunshine.

All tell us winter's 'bout come and gone,

Welcome Happy Spring!

~© KFB 2009~

Re: Today's Blessing

I was blessed with another winged visitor to my yard today. A Northern Flicker. He wasn't there long...just long enough to drink from out pond fountain and then he was gone.

I just happened to be sitting by the window that is next to our pond and I saw him arrive. I am wondering if he's the same one I saw eating berries, hanging from our vines yesterday. It was too dark and too late when I saw him then, he was gone in a flash...just like today.

I haven't been feeling too well lately, so I suppose God's been bringing me the birds to photograph. I just haven't been feeling up to going into the field and also we've been busy with Christmas events. Thank you, Lord, for another close encounter. What a blessing it has been to have these little winged creatures visit me.

"The 12 Days of Christmas"

Straight No Chaser is an awesome acappella group of 10 guys and they are fabulous! I heard their rendition of the "12 Days of Christmas" on TV and had to google them.

Their album is now on my Christmas list...is it too late? Anyway, here's the link to their homepage. All three songs on there are great, but I especially love their 12 Days. They arranged it themselves.

Their Africa song sure takes me back, too. What a blend and fresh sound they have. I could listen to them all day long! I bet you'll like them, too.

"Cake"

This is the funniest comedy bit about cake I've ever seen. I laughed so hard I was crying and my stomach hurt. I haven't laughed that hard in SO LONG! I know some of you need a good laugh, so watch this. *Warning: If you think cra_ is a bad word, he uses it twice. Other than that, it's totallly clean. Also, don't read the comments on the Youtube site as they are not screened for bad language.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Im9Le9Vy2o

"Deck the Halls?"

Today our house is adorned with outdoor Christmas lights for the first time since 2000. My mother in law and my father both died in 2001 and my husband has not wanted to do the lights on the house since then. I can't say I blame him. Working myself into the Christmas spirit has been difficult for me as well since our loved ones have passed, but I just love the lights. Well, today our oldest daughter decided to put up the outdoor lights herself. She asked her dad to help her and he agreed. I'm so happy that he finally has done this again. It may seem like a small thing, but I think it represents something much larger. It may be that he's letting go of something or moving on from something. Or, I could be wrong and it may be as simple as continuing to be the great dad that he is by helping his daughter accomplish something she wanted to do.

I took photos of them as they put up the lights. It did my heart good to see them up on the two- story roof, working together to accomplish a goal. My husband is never more sexy or manly to me, than when he's engaging our children and doing things with and for them. Good job today, honey! I'm proud of you!

We also put on the Christmas music, drank homemade egg nog and put up our Christmas tree. There aren't any ornaments on it, yet, just lights and garland, but it already looks so pretty.
That's part of what's special about Christmas. The times that we stop doing the normal mundane things and take time out to decorate the house in a different way, make or bake something you don't eat or drink year-round, or buy something you wouldn't usually buy.

Tomorrow we will go to an annual event. It's the Family Christmas Concert that we go to every year. Come rain, snow, sleet or hail we always attend this concert at our university. It always marks the beginning of the Christmas season for us as we normally don't have any Christmas decorations up at this point in December. It is just a fun evening. Mom sings in the choir and when the concert is over we traditionally go to IHOP for a bite to eat and to talk about the concert. It's not the same as when dad was here, but then...nothing is. We still have a nice time.

Boise, Idaho-Architectural Landmark

Paul took me shooting this morning. It was supposed to rain a lot today, but weather is often great for photography when bad for most other things. Anyway, I shot this porch in downtown Boise. It's circa 1896. The house is a Boise Architectural Landmark. There's still a hitching post and step out front. Maybe I'll post a couple more photos of it. I will be adding them to my website, though.