Partners in Crime!!!

They always look innocent, don't they?  

Last night, I left a piece of cooked, boneless chicken on the counter while 

I ran to pick up my ballerina from class.  

When I returned home...well, you can guess what was missing!  

*****

Winston, the henchman. 

Jack, the boss.  

Lily, the Queen.  

I think the boss did the dirty work and the henchman 

just cleaned up the evidence, this time.  

The Queen was off sleeping.  She missed out on all the fun.  

I wasn't really upset...I had cooked this for them anyway 

while I was making Chicken Soup for us.  :)

Secrets Close to Home

Well, I suppose these aren't really secrets but...

Few people actually get to see this beauty up close.  This is a small lake near where I live.  I've always wanted to go see it but it's supposed to be "off limits".  IU does have research facilities nearby and has signs posted requesting people stay away & not interfere with the "studies".   As a responsible citizen, tax payer and alumnus, I wanted to see what's going on.  I'll always promise to take only pictures and leave only footprints as I walk the marked trails!  

*****

My DH was my guide.

 University Lake

*****

Walking to the lake and dam in early January we saw 

spectacular icicles dangling from the rocky bluffs.

Can you believe I am walking distance from my house?  

I tell you, I didn't leave the state! 

 I did have to walk at least an hour before I got here.  

Above and below are photos of the dam at University Lake.

This stairway looking wall was so pretty.  

My DH recalls being a little boy and coming back here with his mom and dad.  

He tells me, at the base of the "stairs wall" there use to be an old well-house or some other building.  No evidence of it's existence remains; 

just a breath taking ravine fills the view.  

Truly, I can't wait to hike back here again in a few months

 when the wild flowers start blooming!  

(Insert cute heart thing-y here) Crafting Giveaway!!!

Hurry, time is running out to enter!  Head over to my friends at Wee Folk Art to enter.  You can catch all the rules there.  :)  

Be careful though...you can easily get sidetracked on their blog!  :)

Knitting For Charity

But there were supplies available just in case; wool yarn, knitting needles and patterns.  

Sandwiches were also donated as well as cookies and water!  

Young...

...and not so young!  

Who is this serious crocheter?  

I'm still working on my cuddle mat for the animal shelter.  I'll share photos of my daughters work and mine asap.  :) 

The Sweater!

Flower child that I am, I finally finished crocheting my sweater!  I started this project four and a half months ago.  My original goal was to have it completed by Thanksgiving.  I found it hard to work on something so big for myself on a regular basis.  But, now that it's done, it may have to wait for warmer weather to be worn.  It's much too long to wear with a jacket.  

When I am knitting for charity tomorrow I think I will have to wear it!  :)

My next projects include a felt (kit) Christmas stocking for my soon to be born niece of nephew for December and I want to learn how to knit or crochet hats and gloves.  

Life Goes On!

Okay, so I was a bit bummed by no takers on last weekend.  But, Life Goes ON!!!!  Mostly I was hoping to encourage others to get out and see what beauty is surrounds them.  

I'm sure I'll try this again.  Moving forward...

News to share:

Have you noticed my newest blog about Winston?  It's in the Blog's I Read list on the right.  I did receive a new camera for Christmas, but I am having a few technical difficulties in downloading new photos.  I think it's the user and not the camera!  Just a suspicion on that one.  I'm working on figuring things out.  

Monday is MLK Day.  Do you have plans?  In our town it is considered a Day ON not a Day Off and everyone is encouraged to volunteer on that day.  I have convinced a friend and my daughter to go Knit for Charity.  I'll be sure to take pics and report back on that.  

Thank you to my friends and relatives for all your comments on my blog.  I do appreciate them!  To my brother, your photo was great, but you sent it to me LAST year!  Certainly I couldn't bend the rules that much.  But you did send a wonderful picture!  

~sent from my brother's cell phone to mine, Dec 27, 2009

Bummer...

No adventurous souls.  

That's okay, maybe another time...

:)

1, 2, 3, 4...I Declare a Camera War!

Any one want to play?  

Last January, during a few snow days when I was trapped at home with the kids, my daughter and I took our cameras when we went on a hike.  For a recap of that check out these two postings:  Mine, and My Daughters photos from Jan. 2009 or go to my labels and click on Camera Wars.

Here are the rules for this contest:  

*To enter, Take a hike near where you live this weekend, snap a photo or two of the nature you encounter, post your favorite weekend/winter picture on your blog and then come tell me by leaving a comment and a link to your blog so I can direct viewers to all the competitors.  

* What to photograph?  No people, only nature!  Kids are cute, but I'd like to see everyone getting out and exploring their surroundings.  It's that time of year when it's easy to want to stay inside...bundle up, get out!  You'll be happy that you did.  

*Snow in your picture is not necessary.  

*Entries must be submitted no later than Monday, January 11, 2010 at midnight.  

What you can win?  How about a generous batch of my homemade coconut balls dipped in chocolate (think Mounds bars)?  They are nut free and gluten free!  I might even attach a little winter surprise too!  Since I am offering up food as a reward I think I need to limit this contest to the US and Canada...but I don't think I have any international readers anyway.  

I am still working out how the winner will be decided.  I might go to an outside source and ask for their help in choosing.  I will not be using a random generator.  I feel that the best picture should be the winner.  

This is my first ever giveaway so I hope I've covered all the rules well enough.  Let me know if you have any questions.  

*****

I took the above picture this morning...I felt like I was in Narnia as Winston and I walked in the woods!  Sorry you weren't with me, my camera is definitely not as sharp as my eye.  

CSI...In My Backyard (-ish Area), and The Rule of Threes

My year has started out with interesting events.  

WARNING!  GRUESOME PICTURES ALERT!!!

Winston and I take long walks several times a day.  I like a little variety, and I have several routes we can take.  

On January 1st, we were about finished with a walk when we came upon something up near a tree.  My son came out to investigate with me after I returned home and commented that I saw a dead cat in the woods.  My daughter alerted me that our neighbors were missing their cat.  Not a good way to start the year.  I am glad I could offer closure to my neighbors, but not happy to find their cat like this!  Doing a little CSI it was determined that poor Dexter's ticker probably just gave out.  No apparent trauma, nothing fishy about this death.   Still, as a cat lover, very hard to observe this.  

A few days after I found Dexter, I convinced my daughter to take a walk with Winston and me.  As I looked out on the frozen lake, at the mid-point of our walk, I noticed what looked like a dead deer!  CALL THE GANG OF CSI!!!  My daughter kindly sent a picture via her cell phone to her brother who responded, "cool".  This death was sort of fascinating to investigate.  We spent a long time pondering the "I bet's..." of the situation.  My daughter was sure something attacked the deer; I do not share her opinion.  

First of all, I do think it's possible that a dog or dogs attacked the deer, but more likely my guess is that the embankment was very steep in this area.  I am sure something spooked this deer.  I suspect she fell down the slope hitting her side on a sharp, broken tree stump.  The "crime scene" looks like she tried to stand and walk a few times, but probably had a gash and bled out.  There weren't many footprints around the body although something was definitely feasting on this carcass after the fact.  Vultures?  Fox?  I don't think a fox is big enough to attack a deer.  Maybe she was shot.  I live nearby so I hope not, but one never really knows without doing a full autopsy.  I do not think it was a coyote or wolf that got her.  For one thing, we still have that three legged deer (Tripod) and that maim-legged deer (Stumpy or Hobbs) surviving.  (Yes, I have named them and I talk to them too when I see them in the woods.)  Secondly, no foot prints or other evidence that these types of hunters are around.  I even went back on day two and saw a much more snacked on carcass.  Still, only little footprints, like those belonging to a fox surrounded the scene.  
On day two of the dead deer Winston and I wandered onto the ice.  I have pictures from that day, but I don't think anyone wants to see those.  Winston was a little disappointed that I wouldn't let him snack on a few rib bones!  

When my daughter and I returned home from our walk on day one she told me she was not going to take any other walks with me since I keep finding dead things.  She also noted that the dead things I am finding are getting bigger; rule of threes you know too.  She has a theory of what I'll find next.  Consequently, I am NOT walking Winston in the retirement village nearby!  :)  

What I need today...

(Notice I said today, because my needs are always changing)

...is for my brother and his wife to read their e-mails, walk the dog then load the kids up into the car and come visit me at the Children's Museum!  :)  

Let's see, I could also use a few million dollars, a cup of coffee, a maid (they don't have to cook though because I like to do that), a slimmer body, more hours in the day, a house on the ocean and my own computer.  :)

Hope your day is filled with good dreams too!