Winter Wonderland

Well we are almost ready for Christmas! Decorating is done as is the shopping. I took this picture this morning of our backyard. I really liked the dark blue snow clouds coming in from the North over the lake. According to the weather forcaster, I had better fix this firmly in my mind as it might be raining here by Friday. I never considered the possibility of not having a white Christmas as we have been slipping and sliding here for weeks.

While taking this picture the squirrel games began. We have four birdfeeders in the yard and the squirrels are busy chining themselves on the hangers robbing each feeder. While I don't mind their antics, they did cross the line today. Storing birdfeed has become a problem at our house. If we keep the seed in the garage, it attracts mice. Uck! Well, we decided the only thing to do was to buy a rolling trash can to keep outside and place the seed inside. To discourage the squirrels from investigating, we placed it right under the living room window. Much to my surprise, today I was met with two beedy eyes staring at me through the window. Mr. squirrel was busy destroying the hinge on the trash can. By the time I got the camera, he was gone. His buddies were still around though. Anyone with ideas for storing seed, please let me know!

I have been spending quite a bit of time in my studio this week. I started a new tradition this year and have painted bird pendants for some special people in my life. I will show them after Christmas. Besides pendants, I finished a painting of the Grand Hotel entrance on a hazy day. I am currently working on a portrait-my first of a Cherokee Indian that lives on the island. I had intended to show my WIP, but cannot as my dog ate the power cord to my scanner, and the new one has not arrived yet. No kidding-this was a $45.00 snack. You see, Jasmine, our 10 year old Golden, believes she should NEVER be left along. She gets quite angry and tends to snack on the first thing she can find. I am surprised she has not been electrocuted by now. Its animal house around here.

This will probably be my last post till after Christmas. I wish everyone a Very Merry and Blessed Christmas and a healthy and profitable New Year!

till next time,

Gail

Shamir has an operation

Well, we are slowly getting ready for Christmas, but in the meantime, life goes on. My daughter's horse spent the day at Michigan State University Vet School. Shamir is 19 years old and is being treated for a tumor behind his front leg. Shamir has always had a mole in this location, but a few months ago it blew up into a baseball size tumor. This is his second treatment at the hospital. Medicine, even in animals has progressed in amazing ways. After knocking him out-strapped in a sling so he can't fall over, they place beads the size of peas inside the tumor to shrink it. Today they placed 12 beads inside Shamir. The great news we got today is that the tumor is shrinking so well that they don't think they will have to go in and remove the tumor. Best news of all is that tests showed it is not cancer!!! This picture was taken at the hospital just as he was waking up!! My husband had just given him peppermint candy (his favorite) and he is begging. In this picture he looks like a mule. In reality he is a very beautiful horse. For those wondering Shamir is an Arab. I don't know what his name stands for. We bought him when he was 4 years old and kept the name.
Hope everyone is having is a wonderful December. We are supposed to get snow the rest of the week!!!
Till next time,
Gail