A New Year

 

There were sad times 

Leaving sadness behind

Making new plans

Plan a  Garden.

Read a good book.

Plan a trip.

Catch up with friends.

Wishing you, my dear friends,  a 

 New Year filled with happiness and good health.

Gina

Skating at your own risk

 

I'll put on the Ice Skater's Waltz

Champagne is on ice.

I'm already celebrating, 

Gina 

Snow, the Artificer

 

Many reasons to celebrate.

After many months of no moisture, it finally snowed.  

It snowed for 2 days. 

And more snow is coming

Evening light. Snow is falling in the mountains.

That is where it is needed. 

Today is a good day.  

Vaccines are arriving. 

Gina 

White, the other Christmas color

 

Christmas and white Orchids are made for each other.

White Moth Orchid

White Amaryllis

  

White, with just a touch of gold  for your Christmas table.

Paperwhites

grown inside.

A bouquet of white roses.

I remember making these easy butonnieres
for all the gentlemen who were also  guests at 

the Geyerhof in Sopra Bolzano, Italy,

,

a Galax leaf and a single flower.

Your florist will order Galax leaves for you.  They last many months in your cooler. 

You can make many Tussie Mussies with them. 

They make charming gifts. 

Happy planning dear friends. 

Gina

Ice is treacherous.

 Recently I watched heroic humans rescue dogs, horses, deer, elk and more, from ponds, lakes  and icy streams.

 Two pieces of wood, a string and two nails could save your life. 

Two pieces of wood and a string, with a long nail at the end, 

will pull you on top of the ice. 

If you live near frozen waters you must have one of these in the ready.  Wear it around your neck and if you should fall through the ice, these handles can pull you up and on top to thicker ice.  

Just in case and near our pond, we keep a boat for open water, a rake to reach with, a large inner tube with a long rope attached, and what could be a lifesaver...a simple string with two wooden handles. 

In Alaska,  travelers on snowmobiles, are never without this simple device always wearing it around their neck.

No snow yet but plenty of treacherous ice.

Have a great week my dear friends

Gina

The elusive Fliegenpilz

 

It was a fine and sunny Sunday morning in the Italian Dolomites

We were hiking in the Dolomites, near Soprapolzano (Oberbozen) Italy when 

two handsome young Wald Polizei Officers (Forest Wardens) came charging down a mountain, ready to arrest us. 

Are you hunting mushrooms? Yes

 Now we WE MUST ARREST YOU! 

But dear officers, what I meant was that I am hunting mushrooms with my camera. I am looking for the elusive little Fliegenpilz. You see it was Sunday and picking mushrooms is VERBOTEN on Sundays. 

We had a difficult time convincing the officers that we were looking for Fliegenpilze to photograph. They noted that there were no Fliegenpilze in the area. They were almost right because these two were hiding very nicely. 

The amanita muscari toadstool is known to many children. It is so attractive but oh so poisonous.

 Did you know that this mushroom can be used as an insecticide? It kills flies if crushed and then sprinkled with milk. 

 Siberian Shamans use them for inducing a condition, similar to extreme alcohol intoxication. 

Often poisonous plants can also be used as medicine...could they be a cure? 

But for what? 

Stay healthy and happy dear friends, 

Gina