I have about the same thing to say as she, in Alberta

... and I would like to thank her for the red sweatshirt that is now bobbing around in my head.

Fortunately the Maple tree got decorated a few days ago. UNfortunately that seems to have made it snow. The sky - not the tree. Of course it happened when I wasn't looking so I can only assume it came from the sky and not the tree. The snow, not the decoration.

Should I have checked off "nonsense" under the labels as well, do you think?

Yeh me too. Too late. Awwk! Pretty baubles! Awwk!

If you build it, they will come

Well okay I didn't exactly build the feeder. I did get in the car, drive to the store, etc etc....

And here you see what I am actively seeking to have hang around in my yards this summer; and here you see one (actually two but one is on the other side of the feedbag) of the only critters that's caught on to that fact. The bird I mean, yes. I don't just mean to have the feeders hang around.

Now, I've since bought - yes I am just that wealthy - an "upside down finch feeder". Once you get by the question of whether the feeder is upside down or the birds in question are just odd, it's a nifty idea.

Finches - and I'm told nuthatches - stand on their heads to fill their stomachs. So, though knowing this is going to cause quite a stir and have you all in a dither, I have photos of that as well.

But you'll just have to wait for those. We start out small at times, you see.

Must not make a point, must not make a point ....

If you look out the right side of our hovercraft you see the receptacle, at least in this room, for neck chains that are put on, taken off, changed about .... sounds kind've like the hokey pokey, I know.

The idea behind showing you this is to illustrate in what regard I hold some of my pieces (ohhh, now doesn't that sound all hoity-toity). Okay, I'll admit that the pendant you see on the left is my name in hieroglyphics and came all the way from Egypt so I'm partial to that one but as you can see even it gets perched rather than housed.

Why do I bring any of this up at all, you may wonder.

Well, not to make a point or anything - chiefly because this is an inappropriate time of year for pumpkins - I just wanted to mutter how glad I will be when international make-men-feel-obligated-to-buy-stuff day is over.

It's bad enough that Christmas advertising begins in October with ads designed to either have people feel obligated or lustful after diamonds and gold. Just as a side note, no, the wise men didn't carry those. You know, if there actually were any. Wise men, I mean.

What peeves me is the "and NOW reduced to $899 from a gazillion dollars". They do try to make it sound like a bargain, don't they. And how handy that prices drop specifically in December and February!

I'm guessing that it works for them or they wouldn't drone on year after year but having been in the line of fire in a real career at one point and having witnessed a buyer for a large retailer admit that jewellery is marked up a minimum of 300 per cent (yes that many zeroes) these ads make me a tad cranky. Oh and the company was facing a type of fraud charge under a business practices law.

So.

How about a handwritten note rather than a six dollar card, possibly mentioning sharing some sort of common experience; a trip to a cabin, tickets to an event you can make memories from.

I do believe all that glitters is not gold. Catchy phrase, that.

K, I'm done.

And so another pointless photo

... of what a particular pup thinks of the past year, maybe? Never mind that she is fast asleep here, snoring like a sailor (do sailors really snore) with a tongue that can't make up its mind whether to attack or retreat.

Oh and her head is resting on Phil and yes, she's in her crate because according to her behaviour, which clearly leads me to believe she's thought it through, there just isn't a better place to be left alone. Before you ask, Phil is the name of her pillow.

Because, I said so.


Notice how we've avoided any sort of point or topic thus far. I'm getting much better at this than I'd imagined. You know, had I given it any thought that is. But that would've been pointless, you see.

So keeping to the bail before you find a topic rule, I'll simply say enjoy your day. Unless you have other plans, of course.

Yes them again and one of them not even on the ground

What could be more lovely, really: a girl, her trusty canine companions, a toy to enjoy the interaction. Oh, oh! I know! If it were at least five degrees warmer on the C scale! That most definitely would've helped.

Not that I'm complaining. Erm , well, yes, I am.

I have been lulled thus far but today smacked with reality of November weather; last week, 10 degrees one day, then *poof* five. Today it's a minus something, meaning there are NO degrees running around out there. None.

And for she who is paying attention, yes, the poof was for you. Tomorrow, winnowing.


Oh and the dog. She went from stand to all four off the floor in 2 seconds flat. All 87 pounds of her. Makes me self-conscious to say that some days I just hate to even roll out of bed. The photo was taken, as you can probably tell, as the sun was setting just a little bit ago, hence the red chocolate Lab.

I shall stop typing now as there is reduced feeling in my fingers. I think they need to be wrapped around a very large mug of hot something-or-the-other. And I think I have a small container of that around here somewhere.

Oh and I've come back to sneakily edit this to say that, yes, there was a treat involved in the height of the dog. She should really carry a placard "works only for food".