Saturday, November 21, 2009

Pires Flower Basket ~ A Festival of Trees

When my sister and I visit our father,
there's one place we MUST go . . .


~ Pires Flower Basket~


Let me take you on a tour.
There will be lots of "ooooooo's" ~ "ahhhhhhh's"
and "WoW's!
When harvest-time is over,
the greenhouse begins to take on a holiday flair.
Pire's 5

They really go all out

decorating each tree and table.
I love the red cardinals on the frosty greens.


Every shelf is filled with joy
There's a wreath on every door ~ and a ribbon on every bough
Pire's 2

Around every corner,
you'll see another Christmas surprise
~ a Winter Wonderland ~

If you're in central New York, stop in Pires Flower Basket in Norwich.
You'll plan for 10 minutes but then stay an hour!
You'll go home with flowers, ornaments, a decorated boxwood tree (with lights)
and a lemon cheesecake soy candle!A piece of Norwich pottery
And an adorable little winter friend to sit on your desk.
This lil' snowgirl came home with me.
Which one woud you choose?

~Happy Weekend Wanderings to You~

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Sky Watch Friday * Honk for Encouragement!

The geese flying in formation honk to encourage each of those up front to keep up their speed.

Is our honking is encouraging?
In groups where there is encouragement, the production is much greater.
The power of encouragement
(to stand by one's heart or core values and encourage the heart and core of others)

is the quality of honking we seek.


Geese are in the skies!
They're leaving
... for now ...

All week I have seen several formations of geese in the sky at once.
It is always early...as I am on my way to work.

One morning, I just had to stop...
Two formations had already flown past...
But then there was a third!

~~~ Below, you can read more lessons from geese ~~~

Photobucket

LESSON FROM GEESE
by Milton Olson

FACT 1

As each goose flaps its wings it creates an "uplift" for the birds that follow. By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.

LESSON

People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

FACT 2

When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it.

LESSON

If we have as much sense as a goose we stay in formation with those headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept their help and give our help to others.

FACT 3

When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies to the point position.

LESSON

It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership. As with geese, people are interdependent on each other's skills, capabilities and unique arrangements of gifts, talents or resources.

FACT 4

The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

LESSON

We need to make sure our honking is encouraging. In groups where there is encouragement, the production is much greater. The power of encouragement (to stand by one's heart or core values and encourage the heart and core of others) is the quality of honking we seek.

FACT 5

When a goose gets sick, wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then, they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock.

LESSON

If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.

And a Good Sky Watching Weekend to you all !
Thank you to
our Sky Watch Friday hosts: Klaus Sandy Sylvia Wren Louise Fishing Guy

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

A BLUEBIRD GIVEAWAY to share with YOU!

at

A dear and wonderful blogger, Koralee, is having a FABULOUS giveaway!
She feels so blessed lately
that she decided to have her very first
Friendship and Love
giveaway
She went to a fabulous Barn Sale and
picked up a few glorious handmade items to share with us!
* * *
In her giveaway package is
*a lovely Friend banner
made from vintage seam binding and authentic German glass glitter
* a set of six special gift tags
handmade with vintage buttons, ribbon & glass glitter
&
*a "wee" little Paris perfume bottle
decorated with a sweet vintage key
{Koralee was told by Angela, the shopkeeper, that these bottles were found at the bottom of the Puget Sound}
* * *
You have until Tuesday November 24th
~Just leave her a comment on the giveaway post...

and read about more ways to enter twice or even thrice :)
I just had to share the fun!

Monday, November 16, 2009

Winter Delights & Spring Promises


While walking through our village park

I noticed the magnolias have such pretty buds

They will brave the cold and snow wearing
Fuzzy winter coats.

They are

Promises of Spring

promise

The crabapple trees
have lost their leaves
but
they are decked with bright red berries
a favorite treat for the robins
These berries (lil' apples) convince the fruit-loving
birds to stay a little longer.

I can hear them in the trees.
Pretty soon,
the crabapple tree in the front of my house
will be a
Thanksgiving banquet to many robins
and then,

The robins will truly be on their way.

Let's prepare our own warm winter coats
and
...eat plenty of apples & berries for good health...

~Have a wonderful week everyone~




Thursday, November 12, 2009

Sky Writing Friday

~ And Sometimes We Get to Draw on the Board ~
contrails 09
There were so many contrails left behind the other evening!
Photobucket
This is not common over our neighborhood.

Off I go for my camera...to share with all my sky loving friends!contrails 09

Sunset came quickly and the writing got even better!contrails 09

~~~The sky writing ended with a flourishing font ~~~

And a Good Sky Watching Weekend to you all !

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Honoring Our Veterans Today

A special day to honor those who gave it all... who give it all
every day
To all of those in your families
To all of those among our friends
To all of those we do not know
...
but have been there for us

I thank you
with all of my heart

veteran's day
Photos taken on our walk through our village
veteran's day
Collage created with photos taken from 2003 Reader's Digest
~It's been that long since we are in the M.East~

God be with you
and give you strength
comfort
and
perseverance.

*Dedicated to my brother-in-law, Barry, who served proudly
and our neighbor's son, Victor who is serving in Iraq