Who opened the freezer door?

We woke up to a wintery blast today. 

I opened the drapes and this is what I saw...

Just a little dusting of the cold white stuff.

Thank goodness I don't have to go out in it today.

It's not too bad here but the city schools are closed, 

and the state highways north and south 

have been closed much of the day.

view from eldest daughters home

My eldest daughter lives in the city

and the snow is a lot heavier there, 

they are in a hill suburb...

well most of the city is built on hills.

Mackie, his first time in the snow

Being on the flat the snow has to be
fairly low to really affect us.

It's 2 or 3 years since  

we have had a decent covering here.

grand-daughters' snowman

And that is how I like it.

Pretty to look at on Christmas cards and postcards, 

even to ?maybe? have a holiday in (I think),

but I really don't want to live in it.

Keep warm, keep cool, 

whatever the need may be, 

but most of all keep safe

wherever you are.

Diana

A shadow picture

My GKB and I were sitting having a coffee

 the other afternoon when he said to me,

"Look at that old man sitting over there," 

and he nodded to the other side of the room. 

I looked up and this is what I saw...

 

The shadow thrown by the sun past an easy chair 

with a sheepskin over the back.

It certainly looked to us like the head of an old man 

lying back and resting.

What do you think?

Have a good week,

Diana

Mother's Day

Mother's day is here.

A time to honour our mothers  

- and our grandmothers.

In the church we celebrate Mothering Sunday 

on the 4th Sunday in Lent. 

The church I attend presents all the mothers with 

a sprig of rosemary (for remembrance and love) 

and a small flax cross.

Traditionally we return the crosses to the church 

in time to be burnt for use in the

next years Ash Wednesday service.

Today, as is usual, my little mother came over for lunch.

On the way we visited my middle daughter 

to drop a grandboy off 

 - and picked up a lovely patio pot plant.

My girls are so trusting, 

they still believe I can keep plants alive, 

and so they continue to give them to me.

When we finally arrived home 

eldest daughter and lovely eldest granddaughter were here.

They had decided to join us for lunch.

They had also brought me something to grow, 

but I'm pretty sure bulbs are foolproof and 

even I would have a hard time not growing them. 

All I have to do is remember to get them in the ground.

I'm pretty sure I can do that :)

Little mother loves Turkish Delight so I shared that with her.

 We had a lovely visit.

To all you mothers and grandmothers in blogland, 

Have a wonderful mother's day,

 wherever you are and whatever you may be doing.

Diana

LEST WE FORGET

In Flanders Field

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields. 

John McCrae

In memory of the thousands of ANZAC servicemen and women who have died in foreign lands.

ANZAC Day 

April 25th

Beautiful Monarch

This morning at 5:15 am a new monarch 

emerged from it's Chrysalis.

We had been watching it grow

 from a minute caterpillar to a very fat, 

yellow and black striped eating machine.

Then one morning, just a week ago,

 it spun a web and closed itself away in it's chrysalis.

It only took a couple of hours.

Just one short week later it emerged

 - a fully fledged, beautiful creation.

Such a quick transformation.

At lunch time today the residents where I work, 

set it free in the garden, 

where it attached itself to a Magnolia tree 

outside the dining room window.

It spent the afternoon drying and spreading its wings.

What a blessing.

Unfortunately my photo's didn't turn out 

so I've had to cheat and take some 

from the internet. I hope you don't mind.

Diana

Boston, Mass.

A hint of Autumn

I was taking a friend home from 

an appointment yesterday 

when I noticed all of the leaves 

that had fallen into the gutter near her place.

I love it when the leaves begin to fall.

Of course the temperature tends to fall with them, 

but it still very nice in the afternoons. 

Once the sun has come around a bit 

 it pours in through our lounge window. 

We are lucky enough to face north west.

When the grands were smaller 

we would go out and kick the leaves around

 and throw them at each other. 

Great fun!

One thing with the falling temps, 

I now have a valid excuse for hot puddings.

So later yesterday I picked the last of my rhubarb 

and stewed it and we had it with custard after tea.

Not a lot of colour in the rhubarb but it tasted good. 

I didn't have any cream or ice cream to go with it, 

but never mind - we enjoyed it.

Wishing you all a great week

wherever you may be.

Diana