Happy New Year Friends!

I survived

Did you?  

Gina

May I drink a toast to you?

And wish you the Happiest of New Years.

Thank you dear friends for sharing your world with me.  

You are responsible for giving me the Wanderlust.

I thank you for your visits dear friends.

May 2016 bring you all that you wish for. 

May you be happy, healthy and prosperous.  

Gina 

These could save your life

Two pieces of wood and a string.

And a sturdy nail into each end could save a life.

I love our pond... but not in winter.

See those footprints, they are heading straight for the thin ice.


  

Part of our pond never freezes, near the deep Spring where the water temperature is 65 degrees year round. 

After thinking long and hard we decided to lower the pond for the winter months. 

Large machinery and a friend with precise maneuvering skills made quick work of the task. 

He even cleaned out the ditches which carry the water to our fields.  

The water flowed so fast that many fish became stranded.  I gathered them into a bucket of water and carried them back to the Pond. 

An old farm Disk sat in one of the corners, getting in the way when harvesting our fields.  

Because the  equipment could only lift the Disk so far,

Our Friend backed up his big truck until it was level with the disk. He backed the truck into the machine (not the other way around) until it was swallowed up. 

When I asked him if he was going to use it as a "sculpture", on his farm, our Friend surprised me by saying that "he would see if he could make it work again". 
Not much is wasted in this small farm community.  

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 of the ice.  

Just in case and nearby our pond, a boat for the open water, a rake to reach with and what could be a lifesaver...a simple string with two wooden handles. 

By opening the spillway, we lowered the pond by more than a foot.

Much safer.

Now only a small pool open for the ducks. 

It won't be long, the days are getting longer. There will be Spring.

 And Summer

and Fall, when I love my pond most of all.

Have a great week my dear 
Blogging Friends.

Gina

Partial repost January 2013

The day after

It snowed all day

The only open water is by the spring.

Soon the snow will melt.

But before that, New Year's Eve will be celebrated with friends. 

Champagne is on ice.  

Gina

Merry Christmas dear friends

May this Christmas season bring joy to you and yours. 

Wishing you health and happiness.

I so appreciate your visits and every one of your comments is treasured.

Merry Christmas to you all. 

Gina 

Almost ready for Christmas

Only a few more fun chores to complete.

Fresh greens and fresh fruit for the table centerpiece.

It will be replaced with a white rose bouquet at dinner time. 

(Don't you hate to look across the table when a tall centerpiece takes center stage). 

Lifesaver Garlands are still my favorite Christmas Tree decorations.  

More and more of the "open" water is disappearing.

Early morning surprised us with new snow.

It's time to get out the cross country skis and pack up a picnic.

Geese need to fly south.  

Friends are stopping by to wish us well.

That is  my favorite part of this Christmas Season.  

May light and love be with you always.  

Gina