Gracie catches a bird, then loses it... 1/31/2013

There were several birds on the fence and more in the bush when Grace jumped to the top of the fence. 

Grace with the bird in her mouth. 

Grace put the bird down, and it got away. 

The bird flew away.  Better luck next time, Grace??

How much snow?? 1/30/2013

Grace is looking annoyed as she can see the birds at the feeder, but doesn't want to walk through the couple inches of snow to chase them... 

The little birds are having their breakfast.

Sun dog??  It's only 10:00 a.m. 

The forecast yesterday morning said .43 inches.  Last night they raised the anticipated total was raised to 1.43 inches.  We've gotten more than 2 inches already and the wind is already blowing! 

While one relaxes, another one plays...

Bogie just HAD to relax in this chair the other day.  

Gracie played with the scratching mat upside down.  Then she played with that green scratcher/ball toy.  

Here's the 14 second video of Gracie playing...

Excuses, excuses....

The reason I can't vacuum in the "Prairie Room"... (two cats sleeping--Queen is behind the couch on the left side of the picture in front of the window, and Gracie is on top of the hutch). 

I can't fold the laundry because Bogie decided it would be a great place to take his afternoon nap! I guess I'd better find SOMETHING I could accomplish....  maybe there's some fabric in the cupboard that needs attention (a NEW project??).

A little snow, then COLD!!!

Sunday morning... on time for church (but not TOO early!!).  It was snowing at our house, but hadn't really begun to stick to our grass or gravel road yet, but in town, it was beginning to get pretty white!  

After I came out of our little "Stanhope Parish" church service, I had to scrape snow off the van! 

Driving around the corner from church an hour after the top picture!!  We ended up with just over an inch of dry, sparkling snow.

Another boring Saturday in January, 2013

Grace was out this morning and exploring the roof of the kitchen.

She was trying to talk me into getting a ladder, but I knew better and she was down

in a few minutes.   

She went to the east end of the house (over the family/Prairie Room), and jumped down because there is a built-up flower bed over there and it's only about an eight to ten foot jump down from there.

A boring day in the sun in January!

This is the beautiful hand-made BIA Basket I received for Christmas from my niece, Rachel.  This particular one was woven in Ghana, West Africa.  

There wasn't anything in it yet (on this day), so Gracie decided she'd investigate.  

 Bogie trying to get some energy to play, but the sun is too relaxing.

A view from the 'Prairie Room' of the yard and field (through the cat-proof heavy-duty plastic!).

January projects...

This is the snowman runner I had cut out in October, but didn't get started sewing on until December.  Now for the buttons.... the finishing procedures always surprise me when they take longer than putting together the quilt! 

We don't have a basement we use for storage (you have to walk outside and back inside to walk down there to the dirt floor and furnace and hot water heater, etc...and possible unwanted critters--like mice, etc...ick!), so we use this room for EVERYTHING!  John spent the day yesterday cleaning it so we could get in there (again....).  

Oliver's visit to Camp Stanhope and Des Moines (IA)

 Oliver waiting for Izaac to play with him again.  Izaac had jumped onto the loveseat between me and our Uncle Charlie.  Izaac was VERY entertaining for Oliver, but tired Oliver out!

A boy and a dog?  You can almost see a smile on Oliver's face when he's on his back and getting his belly rubbed (no matter who cooperates with this pleasure!).

Oliver LOVES to run from the family (Prairie) room down the hallway through the kitchen to the living room (and back, most of the time).  Sometimes he even plays 'fetch' (but it's not a requirement when he's in the mood to run!).

An early birthday party

Izaac posing for a picture in front of Alex (our son), opening his birthday and leftover Christmas presents.

Alex/Allison's dog, Oliver, visited Des Moines for the first time.  Here he's giving Izaac a 'high 5'! 

Alex got one of the presents he wanted (Calvin and Hobbs set). (John on the left and mema in the chair on the right side of Izaac.)