Another Walk

Often on a Sunday if the weather cooperates we choose a different walk from our normal 'around the nearby lake' walk.  This time we drove to Willband  Creek and Detention Pond.  It's a nice flat walk with gravel paths amid marsh and grassland.  Almost always an assortment of water fowl to be seen. Today was no exception. We saw Common Mergansers, Buffleheads, Widgeon, as well as the ever present Mallards and Canada Geese.  The highlight  though, was seeing the Swans. Six swans, just like in the 12 days of Christmas ( or was that supposed to be seven swans a-swimming?)

There was a bit of mist hanging around. 

Now that we're back I think I'll see if the grands want to finish off the jigsaw puzzle we've been working on.

I hope you're enjoying your Sunday.   Thanks for visiting.

Granny Marigold

Morning Walk and Grocery Shopping

Thank you so much for all the sweet comments on my Doll House.  Maybe I'll do another post soon showing more of my miniatures.

Another pleasant morning, dry, no wind at all.  Lovely weather to walk in. Here are some of the pictures I took.

Can you spot Mr. and Mrs. Bufflehead in this photo? 

Sea Gulls lined up on a log.

 This tree is where the Eagles often sit. As luck would have it they were not there today ( and I had actually remembered my camera).

Friday is grocery shopping day ( first day that the sale prices come into effect).  Glaced fruit was 30% off so I stocked up.  I love  this shopping bag. Not only does it hold a LOT it's even reversible.
 ( Bought at a garage sale of course).

I treated myself to these Paperwhites, a bulb I've never tried growing outside let alone forcing indoors.  But as you can see in the next picture they had already sprouted so in 5 to 6 weeks they should be in full bloom.  Just in time for Christmas.

Thanks for coming by today. I hope you're having a good day.

GRANNY MARIGOLD

Decorating the Christmas Tree

Yesterday I went to the thrift store with the hope of finding Christmas tree decorations.  For a miniature tree that I want for the miniature house.  (I can imagine some will have read the title of today's blog and thought that Granny Marigold has gone Christmas crazy).  No, I'm not putting up a regular Christmas tree just yet!!
Anyway, I had a couple of these little trees and I did my best to make a nice one to go in the living room of the little house.

Here it is  complete with tiny gifts under it.

Many of you have seen my little house before but I though more recent followers might like a peek into the other rooms. The dining room is very narrow!! Not much room for more furniture in there.
Incidentally, the light fixtures all work.

I love the little kitchen. It wasn't part of the original house kit but my DH and oldest daughter ( who did most all of the work building it) added a lean-to onto the house.  On the picture of the house it's barely visible on the left side. As was the case in many old houses the kitchen is a step down from the dining room.

The bedroom upstairs.

And last of all, the bathroom. See the tiny plunger beside the toilet? 

I hope you enjoyed this look into one of my treasures. If I had the room I'd love to have another little house but there's absolutely no room so I have to be satisfied with just one.

I hope you're having a great week!!

GRANNY M.

Quiet Saturday

It's been a quiet day here. The morning temperature was 1C and the high was 11. I ventured out to go walking ( my foot is much better now). There were two Eagles sitting high up on a bare tree. It would have been a good photo if I would have had my camera. Here's a picture from past years of those Eagles, taken by my DIL who is a much better photographer than I.

This night is the dreaded time change. We're told that Daylight Saving Time will soon be a thing of the past or maybe we'll stay permanently on it. Either way no more twice a year bother with turning clocks back or ahead not to mention adjusting oneself to the new time.

I haven't done much today apart from running the vacuum. Yesterday I baked my DH (dear husband) his favourite Oatmeal Raisin cookies also made a batch of fudge. The simple recipe that calls for a can of condensed milk and 3 cups of chocolate chips melted together. I made it in the microwave and it took next to no time at all. I'm set for whichever kids/grandkids come by.

That's about all that's on my mind today. I hope you had a good day!

Thanks for coming by,

Granny Marigold

Tales from the Back Yard

It was interesting to sit and watch the goings-on in the back yard this morning.  We have a Hummingbird feeder that has been very popular all summer.  Both male and female Hummingbirds came often to sip sweet syrup between visits to my flowers. Now that almost all the Hummers have migrated we are left with at least 2 females one of which is very territorial. The second one was making darting visits to the feeder as often as she dared. Almost every time she was chased away by the first one. So we hung a second feeder only to have the territorial one defend BOTH the feeders. It's keeping her very busy!

Another visitor this morning was a extremely persistent squirrel. He was determined to get at the sunflower seed feeder but that feeder has proved to be squirrel proof ( as well as pigeon, starling and other larger bird proof as well). The white stuff in the feeder is probably oatmeal that my DH dumped in to see if any bird was interested. They are not).

It's very chilly again today. I didn't walk because for some reason my left foot/ankle is very painful.
I don't remember swisting my foot yesterday so who knows what's happened. I hope it goes away as quickly as it came.

Happy Halloween to those who pay any attention to it. I've turned the calendar page to November. I know one is not supposed to change the calendar page before the month begins but I did anyway. 

Thanks for coming by.  G.M.

Tuesday's Treasures

We have had the same Christmas CD's for so many years and I went looking for some 'new' ones, which the thrift store had plenty of. I found a nice mix from classical to Blue Grass which will especially please DH. I want to wait until November to play any but it's very tempting to listen to one or two sooner. I know, many of you are horrified that I listen to Christmas music so early in the season but why not?  Makes me happy!!

This adorable Susan Branch book was .50. I love all her books!! And her blog.

I make scones and biscuits often and I'll have fun browsing though this little cookbook. ( lots of coloured pictures too)

No teacups today. Oh, there were lots available but none that I really really wanted and none that were half price either.  This little bone china pitcher was marked down however and I mean to use it. One of you dear followers mentioned just recently how much nicer it is to pour milk or cream from a pitcher rather than from the big jug. I agree!

We've had chilly mornings and clear sunny days this week. Lovely weather. DH has been making some rustic Christmas trees out of used (free) wood pallets.  Yes, I mentioned the C word again. Sorry.

I hope you're having a great day!  Thanks for visiting.

Granny Marigold

This and That

I've been keeping these old milk bottles for years and I'm ready to get rid of them My oldest granddaughter, Kate, has expressed an interest so I'll ask her if she still wants them.

My DH's first job was as a milkman delivering milk in just such bottles door to door. He remembers that the cost of a quart of milk was .21 and how annoying it was to make change. Why not just .20 or .25?  He also remembers that his route took him past the local high school at noon and how students would flock to his truck to buy chocolate milk in half pint cartons ( which cost 8 cents).

My poor Amaryllis  have had no water since August but still are so slow in going dormant.  Since they'll need at least 6 weeks of dormancy they better hurry up or none will bloom in time for Christmas. ( If I'm correct then dormancy only begins when all their leaves have yellowed and fallen off).

How do you like my Broccoli tree?   It's actually one of those ornamental Kale but the bottom leaves turned yellow and limp so I plucked them off and this is the result.

I hope you're having a pleasant Sunday.  Here the sun is shining and although the temperature was just one degree above freezing this morning because the sun is shining in the windows it seems very lovely.


Thanks for coming by,  G.M.