A little squirrel nest, and gratitude

A long time ago I lived in the country in Missouri. It was an old log house and there were several old sheds scattered around the property that were in different stages of falling down. It was probably 30 or so years ago, and there was a burn barrel in the back of the house for burning trash. There was stuff that fell out of the barrel, or perhaps some ones aim had not hit the mark with every thing. Little thread scraps from my crafts, an occasional chicken bone, and I would rake it up with the leaves and sticks from the yard, and in the barrel it went.

I like to explore so I couldn't resist one summer day to explore those old sheds.  In the first shed, as I opened the door, a small screech owl let out a loud protest at being woke up and flew past my shoulder. I nearly wet my pants. But after a couple moments of catching my breath I went on in and poked about. The next had signs that some rats had moved in. I did not do a lot of poking about in that one. My husband set traps when he got home.  He also cleaned out the big hornets nest that sent me running back to the house. I opened the door, saw the nest and the wasps, shut the door and ran. None chased me, but I didn't stay long enough for them to think about it.

The last shed had a couple old dressers, warped and some of the fronts of the drawers were dangling down. A couple of the drawers were nothing more than 2 x 4 boards that had been nailed together and shoved in the drawer places. Maybe used to store tools a long time ago.

But there, dangling at the edge of one drawer, a brightly color thread caught my eye.

I had seen a little ground squirrel around the yard, and near the burn barrel on a regular basis.  In this old dresser was it's house. I was amazed. And remain amazed to this day at it's nest.  I gently opened each drawer one at a time and peeked.  In the 4 drawers of that old rotting dresser, it had built a 4 story mansion. Each of the 4 drawers were full of little sticks, dried grass, and dried leaves. And there were 4 to 5 small circular rooms in each drawer among the sticks with little tunnel like hallways between the rooms. And each room was decorated around the edges with little scraps of my stitching threads. Those little left over bits of embroidery floss that I had thrown away.  Some chicken bones tucked here and there, and an occasional pork chop bone. A couple nice size piles of the flip top tabs from soda cans.  And a pantry room with pop corn, water mellon seeds and what looked like some wild seeds it had gathered,  some dog food it had managed to swipe when the dog wasn't looking, and a 2 inch ball of  cooked pinto beans.  I had tossed out some beans a couple days before and it had smooshed some together into a ball and carried it to it's home.

It used all the same stuff I did decorating it's home. I felt a sort of kinship with it. I have needle work hung on my walls in wooden frames, and it had it's threads woven and tucked around the sticks. Still, it's threads and sticks. The bones in my fridge have more meat on them. Still, it's bones. And I also store popcorn and beans and seeds.

I always see my house a little differently after that. And  remember to thank God for my little threads and sticks and bones.

I left a slice of apple on top of the dresser for disturbing it's home. Made sure everything was just as I found it, and shut the shed back up and didn't let anyone disturb it.

Thanks for dropping by.
Smiles to you.
Linda

Floral needle book.

I wasn't sure what color I should go with for the pages inside. Ended up with pink.

Thanks for dropping by.
Smiles to you.
Linda

Blue needle book.

Another pretty needle book.

Thanks for dropping by.

Smiles to you.

Linda

Easter

Enjoy Easter Everyone.

Smiles to you
Linda

Quilt Block

 
Block I'm working on.

Thanks for dropping by.
Smiles to you.
Linda

Still More Snow, and my planner is going again.

Yet again I have no front steps because of snow.
Looks so pretty and clean. The only footprints in it so for is a bird. When I saw it hopping around checking for food, I tossed out some crumbs for it.

I haven't been able to get my camera to work, so that has slowed down my blog posts to almost a stand still. It takes pictures, but won't share them with my computer.

I dug out my old Day runner planner and printed off a new calender for it and got it all set up. I used one pretty much my whole life, but about 5 years ago I sort of let it slip by the wayside. I wasn't working any more (medical) so didn't think I needed it.  I dug it back out the new year. I have a use for it, and glad I didn't toss it out.

I felt I was busy, and not getting anything done. So I thought the planner would help me stay focused. And, truth be known, I dearly love checking things off when I get them done.

While looking for a calender I could print out online, I found some really helpful You Tube videos about planners. I was amazed!! I thought I might get a couple tips. Instead, I couldn't quit watching them.

All these years I thought I was just strange cause I love office supplies, ink pens, fountain pens, planners..... WOW! I am not alone. WE are everywhere! Who knew!?!!

It seems the "in thing" to do now is decorate the planners (mostly Filofax) with all the scrapbooking stuff. I have to say it makes the planners look really cool.

But the main reason I dug mine back out was because I had made some new years resolutions. Same old, same old. Health, weight, stay in touch better, get the house organized...... All the same stuff year after year that some how never gets done.

Resolutions. Hmmmm. Well, that word got tossed out and the word GOALS took it's place. Sounds more do-able already.

Well, this year I dug out my planner to keep track of how much of my time was actually getting focused on the goals I set. At the bottom of each day was 4 letters. G- for goals, E- for exersize,  W- for water I drank, C- for chores (organizing my home)

I was busy. But the time being focused on these things? I hate to say it but in January a lot of the time it looked     G-0  E-0  W-5 cups.

Now that I see it, I can tell you all, the numbers will be different at the end of Feb.

Among other things, I added a walk-o-meter to my shopping list. "Pedometer?"  Although with the weather this winter, snowshoes might have to be put on the list as well. :)

Thanks for dropping by,
Smiles to you.
Linda

More....

More snow. More wind. More ice. More goosebumps.

MORE HOT COCOA !

Catch ya later.
Smiles to you.
Linda