Happy New Year!

A few days ago, a blogger, I can't remember who, said something about a blue moon coming. Last night, I noticed a beautiful blue sky around the moon, so wondered if that's what it was. I looked it up, and found a couple different stories of what a blue moon is. It's now thought of as when there is a second full moon in a month. The NASA website had some good information about it. I posted some photos of last night's moon on my SkyWatch post on my other blog.

Since tonight's moon is the blue one, I started to go out to take some photos, but it was too cold to walk to where I could see it, so I took some out of my garden window.

Some have asked me what kind of camera I have. It's a Canon PowerShot SX10IS. I sure love the zoom and night time features on it! It's fine for the outdoor shots I like to take, and even has a video feature on it. It does not take very good photos inside, though. The slightest movement of the subject causes blurring. When I use the flash, it causes a glare. Larry says there is a better flash we can get that is separate from the camera. I have had the camera a little over a year, and need to finish reading the manual and learn how to use some of the other features.

I hope your New Year brings you much joy and garden fun.

Is it Wednesday?

A Busy Week Ahead (not garden related)

I will not be visiting blogs as much as usual this week. Our daughter got the keys to a different apartment today, because the utilities at the place she moved into a year ago are too high. She and I looked at a bunch of places a week ago, and this one was the largest and nicest for the amount of rent. They are giving her the rest of December free, but she will still have to pay the rent for where she is living now, so we are helping her with the current rent for her February birthday gift. I will be helping her pack and move this week. I also hope to get rid of some clutter around home.

We took a bunch of photos and she was very careful about writing things down on the inspection form she has to turn in in order to get her deposit back when she moves. The place she lived in previous to the one she is moving out of was sold, and when she moved out the new owner was not going to give any of it back, until she found a phone number for him, which turned out to be his mother. After several calls to her, one from Larry, he finally gave her less than a fourth of what the deposit was, even though we left it cleaner and in better repair than when she moved in.

Even though I will be busy, I am not committing myself to a blogging break. I don't know if I can do that. If I don't make all the rounds, I'll tell you now, have a happy and safe New Year celebration. Larry and I usually stay home and watch a movie. We still have root beer floats like we did when the kids were growing up. When Ashley was in the 6th grade, she spent the night with a friend. At one point, she asked her when they were going to have floats. She thought everyone did that. Trevor said he hadn't realized it was our own family tradition until then, either.

So, here is Ashley, thinking about what she is going to put where:

Larry wasn't aware that I took his photo. Ashley and I asked him to buy some shelf paper and put it in. I didn't know if he'd be willing to, but it was a great help to us that he did. There were stains and such that didn't come up when we cleaned. We love the kitchen, though. It's big enough to eat in, has a dishwasher, plenty of electric outlets, and lots of cupboards and counter space. We had fun testing things out. They must have an instant hot water tank, because the water comes out hot as soon as the faucet is put to that side. The refrigerator looks like it's new. The stove isn't, though. We forgot to see if the burners and oven work. We'll have to do that before she turns the paper in.

Critters in the Snow

(There is a short video of my grandson opening his first doll on my other blog. He did not respond to it how I thought he would. LOL)

I have a 2 part Camera Critters post this week, because I wanted to post the video separately. To see more critters, click on the Camera Critters link in my sidebar. Thanks for hosting this, Misty Dawn.

The first photo was taken Christmas Eve, the rest, the 25th. Some were taken out of the window, because it was so cold and windy outside.

There is a video of this squirrel in the next post down.

I have seen a few kinds of birds the last few days.

Dark Eyed Junco:

Mourning Dove:

Ever present sparrows:

Blue Jay and Grackle?

I saw 2 or 3 blue jays yesterday, but they didn't stay together for a photo.

Heidi has been getting excited about the squirrels hanging out in her back yard, now that the bird feeders are next to it. We couldn't get her to come in a few nights ago, because there was a squirrel on the light above the deck, and she wanted to bark at it.

Camera Critters Part One

I am posting this very amateurish video taken yesterday, separate from my photos in case it takes a long time to load. If you want to see snow, watch the video.

Merry Christmas!

I included the next one because I noticed some of my gardening books and dried flowers got into the photo.

May your Christmas be filled with joy!

The Real Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday 12/22/09

Well, now this is not going to be wordless after all, since I decided to add a word about being scatterbrained. This is the second time that I can recall that I posted WW on Tuesday. I even reminded my husband to put the recycling out this morning, and a little later, he asked me if they come on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, then informed me it's Tuesday. I guess I'm not the only one in the family, but he normally remembers the day, and puts it out.

Have a great day! We are about to go for groceries and stocking stuffers. We may have to change our get together plans, though, if we get the freezing rain, then 11 inches of snow they say we could get starting this evening and lasting through Thursday. Are you in the path of the storm? I know some of you are getting rain.

Welcome to the Shortest Day of the Year!

My steps are lighter today, because I know the days will be getting longer, and spring will be the next season. My message to winter is, be cold and do your thing, then get out of the way when April comes.

I hope you are doing well and keeping warm, but not too warm to those who have warm weather year round.

Footprints in the Snow for Camera Critters

Our grandson spent the night last night, and we will be taking him home in a few minutes. I have worked on this post off and on throughout the day. The photos are from a few days ago. I had been enjoying trying to figure out what was what. I was going to label what I think they are, but don't have time now. Some are dog, cat, rabbit, squirrel, bird, and human. Some are from our yard, and some from my garden across the street, where I enjoyed seeing seeds from some of the flowers on the snow, with bird tracks showing they must have been eating the seeds.

To see more critters, click on the Camera Critters sign in the sidebar.

Heidi was not happy with me for leaving her in the back yard.

The doves looked down at me, and said to each other, "There's that woman with the camera again!"

Really Late for the Sky

I recently started posting for SkyWatch on my other blog, Keeping My Branch Connected to the Vine. This morning, I was remembering I didn't do a post yesterday, when it turned Friday other places in the world, so I found a photo to post before going to work. After work, I remembered to put a link to my post, but accidentally put the link to this blog. I found a photo I took a few weeks ago with my iphone, in case anyone is still looking at the links page, so they won't wonder why I put a link to my blog and no sky photo.

This building is a quilt museum that was built in the last year or two. I'll have to post a photo of the grounds this summer. They planted it in a sort of quilt pattern last summer, and it grew pretty well. You can tell this was taken before the snow. I like the blue sky.

Added later in the evening: Someone asked me the name of the museum. It's the International Quilt Study Center & Museum. I put a link to their website for those interested. It's kind of a cool building, but I was surprised when I saw it being built, since it looks so modern, and the quilts in it are homey and mostly old. It's across the street from the east campus of UNL, where mostly agriculture and family and consumer science classes are taught. I haven't been there yet, but hope to at some point.

Dec. 2009 GBBD

I have some outdoor and indoor blooms for Carol's May Dreams Gardens December Garden Blogger's Bloom Day. The first ones are some troopers that look good in the snow, even though the ones that are perennials are not currently growing, and the annuals are not alive.

The sweet peas still have some color, and the snow seems to add to their beauty.

The Debonair mums were almost finished blooming when the snow came.

The verbena bonariensis is an annual that comes up from seed in mid to late spring. I end up pulling some, but keep enough for the butterflies and bees to enjoy.

The strawflowers still have some color, too.

I don't remember which kind of sea holly this is.

The rue is still yellow, even though the flowers have curled up.

Speaking of curling up, I am sitting on my couch with a blanket over my shoulders, typing on my computer, which is on the coffee table. Let's take a look at the indoor plants that are blooming.

Scented Geranium:

Oxalis:

African Violets:

Angel Wing Begonia:

The Arp rosemary has been blooming since mid summer. I think it's almost finished.

I am looking forward to seeing what is blooming inside and out at other gardens around the world. In a week, the days will start getting longer. Yeah!