Happy New Year

I didn't upload my pictures to Flickr like I mentioned but I will post a couple here from December 20th. I was feeling a little stuffy that day so I put a few drops of eucalyptus oil in some steaming hot water to help. It felt and smelled wonderful.



I also made gingerbread cookies from Susan Branch's recipe from her book, Autumn, to give to a couple of people as gifts. Initially I wasn't too impressed with the flavor as I like my gingerbread really gingery but I came around and did really like them.




We decided to give ourselves a New Year's gift and have decided to adopt Miss Minnie if PRNE gives us the OK. This is Herself enjoying the snow. She is adorable when she comes (almost literally) flying into the house from outside with what looks like a dusting of confectioner's sugar on her. Frosted Minnie!

Her "Oona" (grandmother) bought her a special pink
sweater for Christmas, which Minnie loves!

Wishing you a 2009 full of light and love.

Bright blessings,

A snowy, snowy day

A snowy day is really an understatement. The ground is under probably two feet of snow since Friday. Minnie, our foster pup, is loving it as does Jack. Poochie on the other hand would prefer for it to stop and melt immediately. His legs are so short as not to provide him much ground clearance - he's kind of a low rider. ;) This means that it doesn't take much of a snowfall for the yucky, cold, wet stuff to be rubbing his undercarriage. Poor Pooch.

I (belatedly) participated in the Flickr Day in the Life event today and snapped a few shots. I'll upload them to Flickr tomorrow and then post one here maybe. Also made some pretty good gingerbread men from a Susan Branch recipe. I was hoping that they'd be more ginger-y but they're good nonetheless. I like my men spicy! ;)

Stay warm and safe.

Relaxing in the snow

It's unbelievable but we are still having snow from the storm that started at around 1pm yesterday and then we are on track to receive another 6-10" of snow tomorrow. But tonight I'm sitting on the couch with two of the pups watching Nicholas Nickleby on TV. Minnie is lying next to me running in her dream. She is the only dog I've known, besides Bear, who barks in her dreams and she sounds just like him when she does.

I wish you all a very happy Winter Solstice. Blessings to you on this longest of nights before the light begins its welcome return.

What a storm!

We had a huge ice storm on Thursday night. Just incredible.




We lost power early on Friday morning but by 6am it had come back on. We have been extremely fortunate to have had power since then with only a brief interruption yesterday morning. Other people, like my parents and I.'s parents, have no power and probably won't have it for several more days.

We had some major damage to the tree in our front yard and lost probably five or six large branches. A couple came to rest on the front of the house but didn't do any damage. We also had a large tree fall across the stream in the backyard, falling just a few inches from my birdfeeders. We've been very lucky throughout. Yesterday morning I took a drive around town and took a few pictures of the amazing damage.

We're goin' to the chapel...

I had a great time with S. and D. on Friday. We started off looking for this tiny church in the woods that D.'s mother had told her about. Sure enough we found it. The door was locked so we couldn't get in but it was amazing to look around. It was hard to tell how old it was because some of the surrounding pieces looked new and others, like this post, looked like they had been there for quite awhile. S. is doing some research, trying to figure out the story behind the little church. After we walked around there we headed into Keene where we ate and shopped. S. showed us an amazing consignment shop, Penelope's. If you're ever in Keene I would recommend stopping in.

We got the first real snow of the season today. It didn't amount to anything but it was pretty while it was falling. I filled up my bird feeders yesterday and so the woods were atwitter this morning with all the birds trying to get their breakfast in the snow.

Tomorrow I'm starting my lunchtime workout so I'm going to get to bed soon so I'm rested for it. I do not like exercising but when I was doing it every day (religiously) I felt great and had more energy. Plus I have a closet full of clothes that I would love to be able to wear again!

Girls's day out

Tomorrow my dear friend S. and I are heading up to Keene, NH to poke around. D., also from work, may join us. Can't wait to spend the day with them exploring. S. lives right outside of Keene and D. right in Keene so they are the local "experts."

Set up for the Bay Colony Dog Show went well. I was going to take a picture of the PRNE booth after I. and I got done setting it up but we were both so tired at that point neither of us had the energy. We had to organize all the boxes of stuff in order to know what we had available to put out on display and that took the most time. Just tons of sweatshirts and t-shirts all colors. I hope that they do well and sell lots!

I'll take some pictures from our grand adventure tomorrow!

Bay Colony Dog Show

Tomorrow I. and I are driving into Boston to set up the Poodle Rescue of N.E. booth at the Bay Colony Dog Show. If you have time over the next few days, please stop by the show!