Merry Christmas from Jim and Pat

A very Merry Christmas to all our friends and family.

Jim and Pat

jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle in LA

We made it and await Jimmy and Sarah from Chicago. We are all spending Christmas with Sean and Katie. We have the list of acceptable trees and bushes from the homeowners association and have already walked the neighborhood taking pictures for planting ideas. This will be fun.

at least it snowed before we left

On the way out of the house at way too early in the morning, I was greeted with real snow. There was an inch of the white stuff covering the yard. As we were getting in the car I stopped and had to take a picture. As I was taking the pic, I heard a distant voice saying, hey we're going to miss the plane. I hurried back into the car and we were off to warmer climes and our children for the Christmas holidays. But it is a neat picture.

we got a dusting

It's snowing all around use, but all we're getting is a dusting of snow. At this rate it will be a week before the grass gets covered. Till then, I'm going to spend time in the yard taking pictures and seeing what there is to see. There is always something that adds beauty and joy to our day.
The snow on my blog adds a nice touch.

Only 2 more months until the lenten rose blooms. Hope there's snow by then because the bloom looks really cool against the snow.

The Virginia sweet spire will keep its leaves till spring.

The vinca still looks good with snow on it.

The sedum looks like it is covered in powdered sugar.

The yard still looks good , even when most everything is dormant.

Probably time to bring the pot of rosemary into the sun room.

Christmas lights in our neighborhood

A couple of years ago I took an interest in other peoples' Christmas lights. It is neat driving around the neighborhood and taking pictures. Pat and I just drive around looking down side streets for bright lights. Every once in a while one of us goes "where are we?" and the other usally goes "I dunno." we just keep driving. Pat's take on our tour is on her blog at:
http://notjustanotherhobby.blogspot.com/

Christmas lights squared

There's a 1 block long street in town that goes the extra mile when it comes to Christmas lights. Well actually, these guys go the extra thousand miles. Most everyone on the block joins in the festivities. There were bunches of families with kids in pajamas taking in the sites. There's even a Santa. A nice couple took our picture. Ya know, my next door neighbor lights up his house just like we do; maybe .....

The city puts on a nice display in the public square every year.

Merry Christmas from the boys

Our pets are as much a part of who we are as our gardens. Bob and Fred are our constant companions and would help garden if they had thumbs. Since they don't, they guard the yard from invaders like the squirrels who want to dominate the world or the robins who want to steal every worm in the yard. The boys keep the yard free from Canada geese and leave the mallards alone. Deer scare them as much as they scare the deer.

Bob and Fred are both rescue dogs. We found Fred rummaging in the garbage behind a diner in Western Illinois eleven and a half years ago. Our Sarah brought him into the restaurant and said "Daddy?" What could I do? We got Bob four years ago after we lost Lucky to liver failure. Our vet has a rescue shelter and Bob was the perfect remedy for our grief.

Choosing the perfect pictures of the boys is tough. I can look at our pictures of them and think they should all go on the blog, but this is a gardening blog. The pics with snow are from last November. The city requires that they be on lead.

Fred in his pensive mood

Fred in his "gallant elder" pose

Bob "emperor of all he sees"

Bob the "goof'

we got snow

Well, sort of. There is a debate whether there's more snow on my blog site or on Mr. Rabbit.