Melting snow

Of course it's still winter but the snow is melting very fast. Now the rabbits have access to other food so they are leaving what's left of my "Emerald" arborvitae alone. The temp has been in the thirties and forties all week and I've finally been able to take down my outside Christmas decorations that were covered with a few feet of snow. Very muddy out too. Haven't noticed anything starting to grow yet but Jenny called on Monday and told me she had a Robin at her window and she let me listen to it's cheer up cheerily sound. It's still light out at 5pm, the days are getting longer by the minute haha.

Critters

I love rabbits and squirrels and birds and chippies, and feral cats and all the other critters that occasionally stop by my chemicle free yard to chomp on some of the plants and berry bushes winter, spring, summer and fall. Three years ago I planted thirty little pine trees for privacy along the front and south side of my yard...fifty dollars a pop. They have more than doubled in size in those few years. This winter, the rabbits have decided to eat them. They have completely devoured two of them and are working on six more. They have also eaten all the bark off my new peach tree (I assume it won't grow anymore and I won't plant another). They haven't touched the dogwoods so I guess they are particular about their winter lunches.
Someone suggested that I fill gallon glass jars with water and place them where they enter the yard and next to where they are munching. However, this is Wisconsin and the water would soon turn to ice and crack the jar. I wonder if there is anything else I can do to change their eating habits. I even put rabbit food out for them...they eat that too and the bird seed and the squirrel corn and peanuts. They are pretty white rabbits, or are they hares, and I'm happy they are not starving. I like my little trees too.

Today I am thankful for books;
I am also thankful that my furnace works and I have a warm place to live
I am thankful for my family and friends to chat with
I am thankful for farmers that grow vegetables so I can remember summer
I am thankful for TV to watch, especially programs that make me laugh.

Thought of the day...

SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES; NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING, BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS

Home for Christmas
The stairs are quiet beneath my feet
No sound except my breathing
It is Christmas morning
The sun is not a rosy ray
But a muddied yellow streaked with gray
A winter morn.
I could feel the warmth
From the furnace’s fire flow up
From black grilled furnace grates
I knew my mother was in the kitchen
The fragrance of cinnamon seeps
From beneath the closed door
The Christmas tree is lit ,
the gifts are there
Santa had not forgotten ,
my breath was one of relief
My mother stands in the arched entrance
To the living room and says
Anna Mae go tell your brothers
It is Christmas day and
Santa has been here

I hear my children, their children’s sweet young voices
Dinner is over , full of turkey and dressing , potatoes and yams
Ruby cranberry sauce, green beans and ham
Pumpkin pie with whipped cream
They now await the opening of the packages
Beribboned, wrapped , color coordinated
Piled beneath the tree,. I am quiet and their voices
Say Mom? Nana ? Are you okay ?
I smile and say ,I am fine let’s get on with the day
But in my mind I am like them
going home for Christmas Day.

Anna Alexander 12/16/04©

Hi

I'm still working on transferring pictures and hope to be done by the deadline. Have a list of things to do today. One of them should be gardening but have no time. I hope the weather holds out a little longer. Have to cut the grass one more time...not much to cut anymore but there is some. Also waiting for the leaves to fall so I can use them for mulch on my gardens. I so hate to see other people rake their leaves to the curb and waste them. Anyone in the south country want a box of autumn leaves...guinine Wisconsin autumn leaves?

Aol blog transferred

Sorry to say it didn't bring along all the pictures.

It didn't bring my favorite links either.

I suppose I could re add the pictures but that would take so long and who would look at them anyway.

I have them on CD's filed away, but it was fun looking at the old pictures of the gardens and kids.