Oh Good! My bird is here...

Oh good. My bird is here. He cleans all the bugs from around the windows outside, working his way around the house. Works for food too. Love him. If you don't have a bird, you must get one...

My bird is kinda different looking. I don't know what sort he is. He is light brown with smallish darker brown spots and has a very long beak which helps him in his work. He comes every day while I'm here typing away. I know he's here when he begins tapping around the back doors. Sometimes if I'm very quiet I can see him for just a second. Then he comes and sits on the climbing rose which scrapes, not in an unpleasant way, across the window next to my desk.

If I try to peak at him though these blinds, he flies away, so I don't interrupt. He does not want accolades. He's very humble, humble and efficient. I would like to give him a name, but haven't thought of any that fit. We get a lot of birds around my place, but he's my favorite. Pancake, our dog, has never been up in time to meet him. Pancake is a night owl. It drives us crazy. He keeps everyone up past their bedtime, but that's another story altogether.

Once a whole congregation of geese gathered for a loud conference on my roof. Boy was that loud! It scared me until I figured out who they were. They must have been making plans to clean out the ponds. The aquatic vegetation can get quite overgrown and we have to have large groups of geese fly in to take care of the situation when it arises. They are very organized about the whole operation. They always send in the appropriate number flying in a V shaped formation. They disturbed Pancake during his nap and it was a long time before he'd pipe down about it.

We get many robins. I think they are curious birds because they come to watch on a fence post while you plant the garden or read a book in the swings. I like them, they just keep one company. Baby l loves to hop after them and they never mind a little baby sitting.

I loathe the magpies, crows and California gulls, (see the following incident http://loveboxes.blogspot.com/search?q=seagull) but we must have a clean up crew on hand. But, never feed them! They are very dirty and it only encourages their bad behavior.
The seagulls actually poop on the sidewalk at The Church. It's not attractive and last summer it caused a lot of gossip and frankly quite a great scandal. The crows are just creepy and there are always so many. My neighbor Jake and I think they might dive bomb us one of these days and we prefer to stay in when they are out. I don't know about Jake, but I'd rather visit with birds on more of a one on one basis. Pancake is secretly afraid of them but walks bravely down the sidewalk as if they're not there just to show how brave he is. We know better...

Bluebirds are my great love! I used to see them on my walks in the morning almost every day. Bluebirds are terribly shy, so you see just a flash of heavenly shades of turquoise. It's very good luck. I am anxious to see them again in the spring. Their only job is to be beautiful.

We have a few other friends that we love. Our neighbor Tiger the cat is codependent on his family, very weird for a cat. He cries for his people if he's not with them. He's orange and very cute. He once sat for a portrait with Pancake which was entered in the Reflections contest. Tiger is the only cat Pancake enjoys an association with. Pancake says Tiger is such a good cat, he's really almost a dog.

Katie the dog is one of our favorite neighbors. She has the lovable face of a teddy bear. She reminds me of the nursemaid in Peter Pan. She is as big as a Buick and will sit on your feet so that you can't move and must continue to pet her. She is sweet, but not gentle, a very enthusiastic greeter. Once my daughter and I were on our way to lessons, c opened the car door to say hello and I instantly had a face and lap full of dog. Our car is too small for Katie we decided. Katie walks 2 miles everyday, which is exhausting, so the only thing you can really hire her for is holding down rugs that could blow away in a slight breeze or similar chore because she really needs to nap the rest of the day.

Our next door dog Bella is so elegant, but she isn't interested in any of the trappings of posh society. She is always on duty. She marches the length of the fence and back again hour after hour. It seems the mice are always planning an attack and Bella is no nonsense. They will never outsmart her. She will discover them in their devious planning every time. She gives dogs five times her size their marching orders, but is always appropriately polite to those who outrank her.

Peeka used to be the neighborhood greeter, but she so old and has such terrible allergies these days. You should hear her sneeze!

We have a good mouser that often pays a working visit. She is disinterested, black, sophisticated and arrogant. She knows how good she is. We suspect that she once lived in the city. She is willing to make a daily inspection for bartered porch naps in the afternoon sun. Pancake doesn't like her, and complains under his breath every time she comes. He swears that she sticks her tongue out at him. We tell him to keep quiet and ignore his protests since her work is so very important. Without her, we'd simply have to relocate.

I am so grateful for good service. It's encouraging that one can still get such good and useful help these days.

The Incident...

I'm a Walter Matthau fan and this movie is a little gem. There are some historical inaccuracies in it, but other than that, it's really a great little film. It reminds me of 12 Angry Men, a movie I love.

Marjorie's Wisdom...

‎"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, “Wow what a ride!"

— Marjorie Pay Hinckley

New Postcards...

I argue thee that love is life. And life hath immortality.

~Emily Dickinson
Where there is great love, There are always miracles. ~Willa Cather

These postcards were created on my own without the help of a graphic designer this time, so they are a deal at $5.00 for a set of 10
Available HERE...

Guardian Angels for Sale...

Find Angels here...

peg dolls, doll, little peg people. peggies, wedding cake toppers, cake toppers, cupcake toppers, birthday, decorations, painted, anniversary, available in love boxes shop...

Resolutions for the New Year 2011...

I love resolutions. They are part of my religion. I want so much to be a better person and to accomplish something. We've lost some family members and good friends this year. Life seems very short and I want to make it count. I love this quote by one of my heroine's Marjorie Pay Hinckley:

"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbors children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden. I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived."

And, while I believe this statement with my whole heart, Majorie's hair always looked nice and mine needs attention. So hair is actually on my list.

Resolutions for 2011

1. Spend some meaningful time with every member of my family each day. Time that includes praise and encouragement.

2. Learn to cook (this is on my list every year and I'm hoping I have a better plan this year that includes a lot of googling). Have more (3-4 per week) family dinners together at home. Include more veggies in family meals. (try for 1 protein and 2 veggies at dinner).

3. Get quarterly haircuts & clean the car at least 4 times per year (pathetic, I know).

4. Set the news aside to read at least 2 worthwhile books per month. (study the New Testament)

5. Paint the master bathroom

6. Find a small way to make the world brighter everyday.

That's it. It's a short list. Yesterday I had the car detailed and today, I made a new recipe and I'm going to make a hair appointment (probably). I look like a chrysanthemum. So far, so good.

I hope 2011 will bring great blessings to you and your family and that you will find ways to make your dreams come true.

When Lions Roared...

This was really interesting to watch. It left out a lot obviously. But, a clear message comes through... When there is a madman on the lose, don't be a member of a communist/socialist mecca that is so wealthy and successful that it sends brigades of men to fight Nazi Germany with broomsticks and farm implements from their own (by own I mean... under-equipped-collective-government-run-starvation producing) farms. .. and then goes begging to war besieged England and the United States for arms.

Stalin is brilliantly played by Michael Caine. And, if you know anything of the history, there is a lot between the lines.

Christmas Cello...

Still playing in my car... My favorite new Christmas CD. Loved it! Especially O Come, O Come, Emmanuel with all the cellos and Jon Schmidt on the piano. Beautiful!

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand...

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand made the perfect final book of the year. Hard-to-put-down, sweet and charming. I loved it.

I may write more, but I don't want to spoil anything. You read it, then we'll have a chat.

......

OK. I just have to post one of my favorite quotes from the book. .. to entice any of you who've missed this little gem.

"That's what love is about... It's when a woman drives all lucid thought from your head; when you are unable to contrive romantic stratagems, and the usual manipulations fail you; when all your carefully laid plans have no meaning and all you can do is stand mute in her presence. You hope she takes pity on you and drops a few words of kindness into the vacuum of your mind." pg. 298

Merry Christmas...

Sing Choirs of Angels...

These photos are horrid, I know. But say a little prayer for these angels. They are going to watch over the preemie babies in an Arizona NICU for Christmas.
Actually, they will be a visual representation of the many, many angels who are always watching over those precious babies...
Merry Christmas babies...
Grow strong so you can go home to the families that love you.

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Families can be together forever...

CUSTOM Forever Families are available at:

ThE LoVE BoXeS SHoP...

peg dolls, doll, little peg people. peggies, wedding cake toppers, cake toppers, cupcake toppers, birthday, decorations, painted, anniversary, available in love boxes shop...

Christmas Bunting Advent Calendar...

This was fun to make.

Charlie & Lola How Many More Minutes until Christmas?

I adore this little Christmas DVD. It is darling and full of the fun little things children say and do with the magic of Christmas in the mix.

Holy Family...

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Custom Engagement or Anniversary Couple...

Fun to make from an old photo...

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The Very Secret, but True Story of Santa Claus...

Once there was a man who loved Jesus very much. His name was Nicholas. He did everything he could to follow the words of Jesus. He tried to be kind. He tried to feed and clothe the poor. He looked after the widows and orphans. He visited those who were sick and those who were imprisoned. The more he did these things, the happier he was. The greater his happiness, the more he knew that Jesus was real and that Jesus Christ was his friend.

It wasn’t very easy for Nicholas because during the time he lived, there were so many desperate people in terrible need all around him. Many of them suffered greatly. The people didn’t have nice homes like so many people do now. They were easily cold and easily hot. They didn’t have taps to draw clean water from and it was considered a great luxury to be able to eat every day.
Nicholas noticed that of those who suffered, often children suffered most. Every day he did some little kindness to help alleviate the discomforts of the children. He brought them food and helped them when they were sick. He played with them and smiled at them. Nicholas remembered the words of Jesus when he said, "if ye do it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" and "suffer the little children to come unto me."

Nicholas was given a gift, a special feeling in his heart and he knew how much Jesus loved the little children. As Nicholas did everything he could to bless the children, they came to love him very much and they knew that Nicholas loved them.

It is said that Nicholas became a great and wealthy man, but that he used all his wealth to bless the lives of those who needed help and that in the end he had given away a great fortune.
Like other men, Nicholas passed away. I don’t know how, but one day he got old and sick and his human body died. I am sure that there were many, many people who were very sad and that all the children missed him very much.

... But this is where the magic of Santa Claus begins. Magic that has lasted a thousand years.

Because St. Nicholas, or Santa Claus left a legacy for all of us more magical than flying reindeer or toy factories at the North Pole. That magic is made of a love and of obedience to the words of Jesus. Each of us can, by following the words and example of Jesus, make a little magic for those around us. It can be as small as a smile or a surprise wrapped in a pretty package or as big as an act of kindness or service that helps someone who needs help.

When we place gifts under the tree, in Christmas stockings, or on the sofa in Santa’s name, we become part of Santa’s secret magic. We show love, we give a quiet kindness with no fanfare and no credit. And, like Santa Claus, we honor the name of the Savior who loved children and whose birth we celebrate on Christmas day.

Is Santa Claus real. YES! He is real as long as we continue to remember where his magic comes from....
So... I have question for you... Would you like to be one of Santa’s helpers??

Yes!?! I thought so.

Then, follow me....

We love you...
Merry Christmas...
Love Mom & Dad...

Denise's Hot Fudge Sauce...

Hot Fudge Sauce

1/4 cup butter or margarine
2 squares (2 oz.) unsweetened chocolate
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 cup LESS 2 Tblsp. evaporated milk
1 tsp. vanilla

Melt the butter and chocolate together in a glass bowl in the microwave. Stir in sugar in 4 or 5 portions, being sure to blend in sugar thoroughly after each portion. The mixture becomes very thick, dry and grainy. Now stir in milk very slowly, mixing well as you add it. Cook on med. power 4-5 minutes longer, until slightly thickened, stirring frequently. Add vanilla.

Self Portrait...

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