Visit with Jessica

My daughter-in-law Jessica was on the east coast

for training and was able to get up to Halifax

for a quick visit in March.

Pepper & Jess had plenty of play time.

Is it a bird? Is it a plane?

No, it's Sean dressed as Superman!

The weather was really nice

and we were able to get outside and practice with Pepper.

Jessica helped Garland with Pepper's SAR training.

(Search & Rescue)

No, this is not part of SAR work,

more like a Ninja Warrior.

Is this what Jessica was practicing in Norfolk?

Taking a break from our walk in the woods.

Jessica showing off her running shoes and tattoo.

Those things do not look comfortable!

Daffodils & Pets

The first flowers in my garden to bloom are the daffodils.

The squirrels do not like the bulbs,

I think they are poison to them.

I do not plant tulips because the squirrels

really like eating the bulbs.

The deer have been in the yard more this year,

since Emma is not around to chase them away.

The deer have been grazing

on iris greens,

hollyhock greens and

anything else that is tasty to them.

Darn those deer!

Pepper and Wilhelmina are enjoying

the afternoon sun and warmth.

They are not too concerned

about deer or any other rodents in the yard.

Everything greens up so quickly.

This garden will look different in just a couple weeks.

I know spring has arrived when the WEEDS take over!

Now that the weather has warmed up,

I can get outside to start cleaning up

the yard and flower beds.

First job is always the weeds!

It is always best after we have had some rain,

makes is easier to pull those stubborn fellows out.

This is just the beginning......

Superbowl Sunday

For the past several years we have spent

Superbowl Sunday with my husband's family.

His sister Sandy hosts the festivities at her house.

We all contribute to the food and beverage.

This year we opted for just snack type refreshments.

I think next year I want to go back to chili. I'll make it.

The guys put a football pool together.

Takes lots of concentration to figure it out!

I do not think any of us are real football fans,

except maybe Ryan & Brent.

They play on their school teams.

I like to watch the commercials and half-time show.

The commercials were very disappointing this year.

And the loser that attempted to sing the National Anthem should be deported.

It was so embarrassing.

Pepper even got into the fun of the day.

She is a very social pup and loves everyone!

She and Lukas played some ball.

My sister-in-law Christy made some cake balls that

looked just like mini footballs.

She is so clever!

Unfortunately, Garland & I didn't win any off the pool,

but there is always next year!

the new addition

Well I finally have some better pictures of the new rooms that were added on this past year.

It took just about 12 months from start to finish with the addition.

The weather was our biggest enemy.

This is the new den right off the kitchen and connected to out new downstairs bedroom. There is a basement on this side of the house and the stairs are to the left of this picture. We have a small cast iron wood stove down there which we plan to use for secondary heat.

We now spend 99% of our time in this cozy room.

This is our old bedroom upstairs. I repainted the walls applesauce, not totally finished,

still have to paint ceiling. I want this room to have a cottage feel.

The chest of drawers & nightstand were my grandfathers.

I painted them blue years ago and left tops natural.

The bear is made from an old quilt that my mother had from her family.

My family knows that I have a thing for mice...not live ones!

Sister, Anna Marie found this cute display with 25 bisque figures.

It now has a home in the cottage bedroom.

This is our new bedroom on the main floor.

The furniture was a set that

I helped my parents select when they moved to Halifax in 1976.

There is still many things to do, curtains, finish some painting,

get the cabinet doors hung on the

two built in bookcases in den & bedroom....

.and plenty outside work..

But I love our home and hope to have many family & friends to visit!

January 8, 2011 we had some snow,

not a deep snow, but pretty.

So I grabbed my camera

and headed out the door around 7:30 am.

I love the cool colors of new snow.

Especially in the early morning.

I think it is a beautiful time of day, any season!

I like playing with the special effects

that the Picasa application offers.

I am STILL looking for that

BIG DEEP snow this winter!

Pepper, our new border collie pup

After Emma passed, Garland immediately started searching the web for border collie breeders. He found one in Rixeyville, VA, Faithridge Border Collies. After many long phone calls with Bridget and 2 trips (7 hours round trip) we came home with Pepper.

Here she is with her Nanny on her first day home.

Her right eye is mostly blue and the left eye has a little blue in it too.

Here she is eating my flowers!

Garland already teaching her tricks.

What a cutie!!!!!