Let's Go Shopping - Without Ever Leaving Home

Time for thinking of Christmas gifts - so I thought I would give you a few hints as to lovely things you might buy for those friends, neighbors and loved ones on your list.  Someone hard to buy for?  I have the perfect gift.

1. Great Aunt Tildy - Book from Amazon.com - Are We Walking To Alaska? she loves true stories of children from Alaska, as she was a child there a long time ago. And this is a true story.                                          
   

   
2. Bertie and Sally - the twins - they are reading chapter books now  - Are We Walking To Alaska?  from Amazon.com - they will love the adventures in this true story - bears, whales, deer, and a squirrel that comes indoors to play                                                      
3. Dad - Are We Walking To Alaska?  - from Amazon.com -   he fished in Alaska as a young man and will enjoy the fishing stories                                                                                            
   

   
4. Uncle Stubbs - Are We Walking To Alaska? -  Uncle Stubbs can tell a story like no on else - and he'll get a big kick out of the stories in this book                                                                   
5. Paper Girl - Lawn Mowing Boy - Are We Walking To Alaska?  - plus a bit of money put in as a bookmark - they both do such a great job all year and now they can relax and go on a true story adventure in the wilds of Alaska in the 1950s                                  
   

   
6. Cousin Sally - Are We Walking To Alaska? - she's brave and would love to have an adventure in the wilderness, and things that happened in the book will intrigue her.                                     
   

   
7. Sisters and Brothers -   Are We Walking To Alaska?   - reminders of their time growing up in Alaska - they will pass this book on to their children                                                             
8. Next Door Neighbor, Mrs. Benson -   Are We Walking To Alaska? - Sweet neighbor is by herself, she'll enjoy the company of a young girl in Alaska, learning all about the new and different way of life.                                                               
   

   
9. Mrs. Stilton -  Are We Walking To Alaska?  a school teacher for years in  Alaska - this true story will remind her of all the wonderful children she has taught.                                                    
10. Mrs. Van Pelt -   Are We Walking To Alaska?  grandson's teacher, she might even want to read the book to her 4th grade class.

And so many others - just think how they'll enjoy this book - available in Kindle and print - makes shopping easy.

Others on your holiday lists  -  -  -  

• Mail Carrier - a break from every day life
• Friends in the Quilting group
• Neighbor who stops by to chat most afternoons
• School Libraries - donate a book in your child or grandchild's name
• Public Libraries
• Convalescent Hospitals - the residents will enjoy the true story of a young girl in Alaska
• Care Homes
• Baby Sitter
• Co-Workers

Hey - I'm not a bookmark!

One stop shopping - and if you have Amazon Prime you can have the print books shipped right to each person - or if you order Kindle it will be delivered to their Kindle for instant reading.

If you'd like an autographed copy, there is still time - leave me a message and a way to contact you and we'll work out the details.  I'm always happy to autograph a book.  The autographed books have to come from me, as none at amazon are autographed - I have a good supply handy this holiday season.  If you want it autographed and sent as a gift I'll even include gift wrapping free.

Thanks for shopping

A Little Ride in the Country and a Little of Mt.Baker

Last weekend we went for a ride - on Saturday - and again on Sunday.  The forecast for Saturday was mostly sunny, so we took off.  It was NOT mostly sunny, but we had a good time anyway.  Then Sunday the sunshine was bright and clear and we jumped in the car once again - not wanting to lose one minute of sunshine.

Clydesdales - near Lynden.  We go down this road whenever we can, hoping some of the horses will be out near the road.

A sweet little donkey - down the road a bit

Two horses enjoying a bit of sunshine - and grass

And Mt. Baker - we only have to drive about 15 minutes from our house to get this view. It is between 30 and 35 miles from this spot to Mt. Baker - as the crow flies.

A little farther down the road 

Lots of fresh snow

Wait - back up - what was that I saw up against the mountain?

Canada Geese - coming in to land on a pond that we never could find.

A Bald Eagle -  sitting on this branch that hung out over the river - lunch time.

And on a power pole - a Redtail Hawk - I just got one picture before he flew off

A Heron came gliding across a field - always a good reason to stop and take some photos

He kept hopping about - just going a few feet each time

The Sisters - covered in their winter coats - quite fashionable Sisters, I'd say

The clouds were beginning to come in on Sunday afternoon

On the way home on Saturday we crossed Wiser Lake - but it was getting dark and we could barely see the ducks and swans on the lake - that was our main reason for coming back on Sunday

There is only one tiny public access area to Wiser Lake - a small boat launch at one end - the rest is heavily built up with houses - and there are fences and trees put in the way of anyone who wants to get a look at the lake.  It is such a pretty lake, what a shame that it can't be shared.  We stopped on the new bridge over the lake and I snapped a few fast pictures - we didn't see a sign that said no parking on the bridge, but we figured it was best to not stay too long - just in case.  There were hundreds and hundreds of ducks on the lake.

Since we couldn't get close to the birds on Wiser Lake we set off for Lake Terrell - and as happens every time we go there - no ducks - not one. But a heron flew in and landed on a half submerged log.

Our temperatures have been below freezing for several days - and there was still ice on the edges of the lake.  Even though it had warmed up to around 50, the ice was still there.

More ice

While I was taking photos of the heron, Don took a little walk by the lake and discovered a new view of Mt. Baker that we'd not seen before - so of course I had to go down and get a picture of the mountain.

Off in the distance - across  Lake Terrell I could see this mountain in Canada - anyone know the name?  We often see mountains in Canada though not always this clearly.

Even if there were no ducks, it was beautiful at Lake Terrell, the reflections were amazing.

Sunset - on the way home - a very good weekend.

A Happy Thanksgiving for Everyone

This time of the year I think about past Thanksgivings - this is a little story about someone else's Thanksgiving, that I helped to make a little happier.


It started with  a teapot.  I had ordered a teapot for christmas - the white one on the right, with holly and berries on it.  I love holly dishes and the shape of this one is so charming - it reminds me of a little bag, with the ruffle at the top.

 
The teapot  came quickly.  Soon after, another bigger package arrived from the same seller. I was curious as to why another package was coming - but  I opened it, and inside was a gorgeous set of dishes in lovely Autumn colors. Not something I would necessarily buy and definitely not something that I DID buy.  I contacted the seller immediately, knowing that they had mailed to the wrong buyer.

After a few emails back and forth we got it straightened out, but the seller had a problem, those dishes in the second package were intended for someone's thanksgiving table and there was not time to send them back to the seller and have him resend them, so I offered to mail them to the correct buyer so they would arrive in time for their celebration.  The seller was so relieved - and in a day or two I got another email from him, offering me any item on his ebay site for free.  I pondered all the wonderful things he had for sale - and he had some wonderful things, and finally settled on one hand painted plate with pink roses on it.  It was hard to choose - he had a lot of hand painted plates and I loved them all.

Then another wait - and when the package came it was much heavier than just one plate - and to my  surprise he had sent all FIVE of the plates in that set - what a glorious thank-you gift it was.  And yes, the other dishes did arrive at the correct house in time for thanksgiving and everyone was happy - especially  me.

These plates are hand painted and have a lovely gold edge, and continue to be some of my favorite dishes - and you know I have a lot of dishes to pick from.

This is the plate I picked - what a hard choice .  .  .

 And all the other plates are the ones he sent - what a gracious gift.  

And a Happy Thanksgiving was had by all.

A Good and Blustery Day

A good and blustery day - that was yesterday

Rain in the morning

Heavy clouds - and cold

Breakfast at a cafe with our family - celebrating a wondrous birthday

Home again - some mundane chores - enjoying the happiness that is home - and family

Sunshine!

Quick - To the car - To the ocean

Ducks - looking for something to eat

Floating on the waves

Sunlight - Clouds - Rain

It must be fun to be a duck!

Hurray for being a duck!

Splash!

Canada Geese - bobbing on the waves

Waves - seagulls

Wow!

Dark clouds - light clouds

Flapping and hopping into the air when a wave crashes

Landing

A Tern - and a duck

A Tern - and many ducks

Rain is coming!

Vancouver Island, BC in the background

Terns and waves

Graceful in the wind

Terns, riding the waves

A perfect day!