Merry Christmas, everyone!! Hope you have a wonderful day in spite of the yucky weather! (Mother Nature is definitely not in the holiday mood...boo hiss) Dennis and I opened our gifts to each other this morning at 7:00 then had some fried eggs and toast. (Dennis got me a couple dozen eggs on Wednesday so I could make some for his office luncheon yesterday. He didn't realize I had already gotten a couple dozen and so needless to say, we are eating lots of eggs lately! haha) Saw a deer below the deck and tossed out some bread but it seemed more interested in chewing sticks. But what do I know? Maybe sticks ARE better than day old white bread. hmmmmm. My suet feeders were empty and so I had one left to refill. I always just grab whatever is handy and this package was the "hot pepper" variety! Now the wood peckers are chirping "mucho caliente' !!!" and flying backwards!!! ahahahahha

Yay for UGG boots!

What a busy day! Went to work for a few hours then went on the search for Uggs. First the Huntington Mall, then the Ashland Towne Center! You would have had more luck finding a sweater with three arms than those boots! At least in my size! Dennis had seen them at the Scioto Shoe Mart so after stopping by to pick up Mom, off we went on Ugg Hunt 2009. After finding the store, we found that they had about 4 different boxes with shoes that could possibly fit my big dogs, as Dennis affectionately calls them. Two size 7's and two size 8's. Turns out, I am a 7 so it was good that I didn't just order them online. They had one pair of the above boots in a 7 and success! I had found my Ugg's! They are super soft and I would be wearing them now but I had to pretreat them to help keep them clean. I also like the fact that they have a higher sole on them which will help too. Love them!

I also just finished making a buzzilion "evil eggs" for Dennis to take to work with him tomorrow. That egg cookin' is a real good time........ Oh, and Mom and stopped by the "Flowers Bakery" store that sells discounted, old bread stuff. The Christmas break means no snackies for my deer buddies and I had to find an alternate snack source. I picked up about four loaves of the cheapes bread then turned around and there they were. I swear there was a heavenly glow surrounding these giant bags filled with old loaves of bread, buns, and bagels! So heavy, I could barely lift them and all for just 4 dollars! Boy, what those little deer would do to get a few hours in that store! Who knew that they actually sold such things just for the little animals? Seriously awesome! So I paid my 4 dollars and hefted it out to the Jeepster like Santa loading his bag of glee inspiring goodies into his sleigh! We now have 5 deer licking their lips with a satisfied twinkle in their eyes. Merry Christmas, little dudes!

The weather outside's delightful!!!

"Shaggy" dog wasn't diggin' the snowball feet.

A flurry of blurry birds!!! Say that 10X fast!

"Hey, get those buns and apples out here!"

Laska and Shaggy are buds. She's a sweetie!

Got out early this morning to snap some photos before the traffic messed it all up! Actually saw a blue pickup truck with a blade on the front plowing the tiny road that goes off of Lynnwood....what about Lynnwood buddy???! Anyway, probably just as well as he will be helping to create a thin sheet of ice when it freezes tonight. Lynnwood, on the other hand, will have plenty of lumpy, frozen snow. This will create traction and possibly help us as we attempt to get to Dennis' company dinner in Huntington tonight! All the little neighborhood animals are freaking out. We must have had about 40 gold finches eating this afternoon! I shoveled some snow off the deck and it was sooo heavy I couldn't lift the shovel. I just pushed over the edge. Big globs of snow kept falling on my head and it felt like being pelted by snow balls. So pretty though, I love it!

Christmas card photos that didn't make the cut!

"I am so not looking at you with the camera!"

....just soooooo not ready when the shutter clicked...

"You just tackled me in the snow!"

"I think I see "Little Deer" over there!"

"This is the most uncomfortable fence I have

ever been on!"

(And remember, you can click on photos to enlarge them and get the whole ridiculous effect up close! hahaha)

Santa's on his way...and I'm still raking leaves???

Hey everyone! I decided it was time to get rid of the Thanksgiving theme page and move on to the Christmas-ier one! Time sure is flying by....Dennis and I got out this morning and he picked up enough sticks to build his very own wickiup. I, on the other hand, spent the hour raking that same darn pile of leaves from the front of the house that keeps reappearing everytime the wind blows!!!! Hopefully, this is the LAST time I have to get that rake out. My pond was frozen over about a quarter of an inch and I decided to remove my netting - again - so the sun could shine on it. My heater from last season is refusing to heat. They last about one winter and that's about it. boo hiss While I was taking the netting off, however, I noticed what looked like a small dark fish about two inches long. I asked Dennis, "Is that a fish??!" He said , "No, that just a piece of mulch that fell in." "Well," I said, "that piece of mulch is starting to swim around!!" Just when I have decided to get rid of my fish, they start multiplying. I am surprised one survived since big fish usually gobble up the babies. This one must have a super stealth mode built in and managed to escape not only big, hungry fish but my netting as well. I have scooped out more leaves and acorns off the bottom and he never got caught! I am just worn out with the maintenance and the wall that is holding it on one side is not looking too happy. There are going to be some major renovations this summer, I'm afraid. Don't know how yet but we'll figure something out.
The deer are still coming every evening to eat cafeteria leftovers. Haven't seen the foxes the past few days but the possum is pretty regular. Cleo thinks that he is about the ugliest feline she's ever seen......Filled up my NEW, replacement bird feeder off the deck this morning . The other one got destroyed during the big wind storm so I had to get another. Half an hour later this one crashed to the ground. The squirrels use them as pinatas. I think I even saw one with a stick in his paw and twinkle in his eye. I used duct tape to stick it back together and a stiffer hanger to hang it with. Hopefully, that will do the trick! Nasty squirrels!
Kids at school (and teachers) are sooo looking forward to Christmas break. The year has flown by and I am getting used to my cart. Not fond of running all over the place to get my supplies and every classroom is a different temperature, but it's a paycheck and the kids are good, most of the time! Looking forward to getting my new student teacher on January 11. Boy, will she get a good workout! After that, everything will seem easy to her though.
Gotta' run! 'til next time! Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!!!!!! Eat lots of turkey and take lots of naps.

Love,

Lee Ann And Dennis

(and Cleo too!)

Yes, I am still alive!

Boy it sure has been awhile! It seems I don't have a spare minute to do anything anymore! I know that this time of the year, the days are getting shorter but this is ridiculous! I think the second hands on clocks throughout the world have actually sped up, causing little Lee Annie to have to operate her life at warp speed. It seems that I get up at 5:30, rush to get ready, drive about 80 to get to work, run my little cart room to room, do errands after work, drive about 80 to get home, eat, watch TV, go to bed just to get up and do it all over again. I do manage to get in a run/hike out in the woods every now and then, which is such a wonderful diversion. Keeping up the exercise routine in this weather is quite a challenge.
My classes are going fine, which is a good thing. Enjoyed driving my Benz on all those sunny days and top down days always make you feel good. Dennis is still stressing over his rip-off of an adventure race. Unfair scoring makes Dennis hate adventure racing! I don't know what he'll get into next. Maybe he can just race me around the yard! A guaranteed win and all for free! haha
Looking forward to Thanksgiving break and getting some rest! Oh, and the little foxes have decided to return for evening snacks along with our deer, who are regulars. It's apples and grapes on the menu this evening!
'til next time!