Those snow-burdened winter greens.

And this…

The little pine cones I’ve had for years. The XXL cones followed me home this year.

And this…

Shiny and a little futuristic looking here. The Jetsons do Christmas.

And

Did

This…

Which days ago looked like this…

The martini shot…

That’s a wrap.

Holy December, Batman!

I’ve been uploading and editing images from the-camera-I-have-yet-learned-to-work and found these shots.

During the holidays — there’s a dim memory — Mr. G, honey comes home bearing gifts. Gifts he’s been given. Gifts he’s found under the office tree. Gifts he’s purchased. Gifts.

He came home with this –

No, he isn’t in pest control, but I could definitely see the advantages. A useful skill. I don’t have it.

It was filled with yummy things, which I think I might have eaten. Yes, I’m sure it was me. But I saved the ribbon for Mr. G, honey. That’s just the kind of gal I am.

If I hold it in my right hand, I see this –

There’s probably some way to get the glare off this image, but I haven’t learned it yet. I am unskilled in the ways of picture-snapping and should probably spend more time at The Pioneer Woman. I do spend time there — a lot — but it’s usually in the Cooking section, or the Confessions section. I can’t help myself. Ree makes me laugh. Ree makes me hungry. Ree makes me wish I had an iron skillet.

If I hold it in my left hand, I see this –

I know why those buzzy little, fat-cheeked bees are laughing. They’ve had their espresso shots for the day. I could look like that if I had my espresso shot.

Mr. G, honey — I’ve got your mug, and I’m drinking out of it.

That’s how I roll.

Elen

This is what I’m doing today. The yard needs to be put to bed. Snow’s comin’. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But — it’s comin’!

This is good. I’ll burn a calorie. Mr. G, honey has disappeared upstairs, mumbling something about writing a proposal. Does that proposal have the phrase Saturday afternoon nap in it?

Heading out to smell the leaf mold.

Elen

In the end, it was simple. We didn’t choose our pup, she chose us. She came and plopped her fat little Golden butt on my sneaker, while the four other little pups rolled and tumbled and chewed each others’ ears.

I looked down at this white furball on my shoe and said, “You’re gonna be a Gracie Allen, aren’t you?” Her little shoulders were shaking with laughter, I’m sure, and a “Lady, you don’t know the half of it.”  Gracie Allen has lived up to her name in every way. She’s a smart screwball who’s not afraid to make a fool of herself, much like her beloved namesake.

One of these blogs, I’ll tell you the bee story and the cliff story and…

Today, I’m thinking she’s not the only Gracie Allen in the house.

Who would do this? One year, Mr. G, honey gave me my very own little office toolkit. I’m sure it was self preservation. The message was clear. Keep your hands off my big red toolbox. And, he meant that in the nicest possible way.

My little blue toolkit has some pliers, a hammer, and screwdrivers with different heads on them that coordinate very nicely with screws with different heads on them, a glue gun that I’ve never quite gotten the hang of, and a tape measure, which I have gotten the hang of — love that automatic retraction button  — and a bunch of other stuff. I must say, I’ve used the hammer quite a bit. It’s great for spiders. However, if you give me anything like this you should put a skull and crossbones on it, because I’m sort of one socket short of a full wrench set, if you know what I mean, and I’m sure you do.

This brings us to the staple gun. I love the staple gun, as in true love. I needed the staple gun this morning in the worst way. What I couldn’t remember was whether or not it was loaded with staples. So, I took the little safety thingie off, held out my hand, pointed the staple gun at it, and fired.

Yes, there were staples in it and, yeah, there are no words. The answer to the question, Who would do this?, is me, me, me. Don’t tell Mr. G, honey. He thinks I’m smarter than that. Okay. Maybe not.

So, Miss Gracie. When you sat on my foot, it was just one Gracie Allen recognizing another.

I’m on the road today.

Elen

see more puppies

This be a busy day. kthxbai

Elen