Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Tuesday's Treasures & Things

Welcome Lori Skoog, a new follower of my blog. I have followed Lori's blog for a while and know that she also has a Swedish heritage. 

Thank you for all your comments -- I'm so glad you liked my Swedish Christmas tales. Part 4 will come soon. You are right that my recollections are vivid and I think that was something really good that my parents did. If I had had children, much of that would have been passed on to them. 

Today's treasures don't belong to me, they are just here, all around for me to enjoy.


Looking out my window on Christmas Day, I saw this cloud and realized that to the southeast the sky was blue with just a few clouds but on the northwest side of our house dark clouds were gathering. Since the rains, I see green grass here that I never knew existed. 


Good friends are such treasures. Rachael came for Christmas dinner and our friend, Bob, joined us as well. 


Rachael is one of the most generous people I know. I got so many wonderful gifts that I will enjoy for a long time to come, including one of my most favorite movies, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. A film one can enjoy over and over again. The necklace I'm wearing was a present from another friend, Judy. It's from Chico's made for a benefit for St. Jude's Children's Hospital that Judy supports. And, how cool is this, it's actually a magnifying glass. Old ladies like me need those.

Then I put the camera away and never took a picture of the gorgeous dinner my husband cooked for us. I'm truly sorry because it was a feast to behold and the table looked so lovely. My husband is my treasure for sure. 


Another treasure is the wildlife around here. Yesterday, I had just started the car when I noticed movement in the grass to the north. This bobcat came out from behind a juniper tree and slowly walked through the tall grass. He knew I was there, but he wasn't about to look scared. I jumped out of the car and got this photo as he stopped and turned around to check me out.


This is the same photo before I enlarged it. You may recall I talked about accidental pictures in my post about our visit to the Buddhist temple. This is another example -- the branches framing the cat.  


Then I dropped off a Christmas present for another friend, who is also a neighbor here. Like Rachael, she is someone who just steps up and helps when you need it. As some of you know, I've had a year of injuries, first from a fall and then from a car crash – so this person is someone I truly treasure.


On my way there I drove past the upper portions of our land. It's in the foreground of this photo and reaches down to the fields below.


Then I went to town for a blood test at our local lab. After that I drove around a bit until it was time to see the chiropractor. Since I had my camera, I took a few pictures. This one faces east.


And this faces west. The mountains, fields, clouds and the big western sky here are also treasures for me to enjoy. So, as it turns out, my treasures don't all sit in my china cabinet, they are all around me. 


When I came back home, the bobcat sat on our road. Wow, he was beautiful and so big. He took a look at my car and decided it may be best to take off -- of course not at full speed, but at a good trot through the fields. As I sat there and watched him disappear among the bushes, I felt so blessed.




29 comments:

  1. Some awesome photos, Inger!!! And what a wonderful array of friends you have!! You are right... blessed. You're friends are blessed as well, to have you. I loved the photo of the bobcat. And the scenery is spectacular!! Thanks for sharing these blessings in word and photo...

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  2. Wow! Two sightings of the bobcat and enough to get a picture! I'm so impressed! Your landscape treasures are truly wonderful. Just beautiful territory you live in in the canyon. And such good friends near you too. :)

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  3. Inger, you are so right that your treasures are all around you!!! And that Bobcat...how awesome was he?!!! I love your surroundings!...:)JP

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  4. Beautiful country. Glad you had a nice Christmas. Have enjoyed your posts.

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  5. Blessings generally come to those to deserve them. The important thing is that you know that you have them all around you.

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  6. WHAT WONDERFUL TREASURERS!!! Actually, these are my favorite kinds of treasurers. It's great that you have the ability to see the treasurers around you that don't cost a penny (and don't have to be dusted!!!). LOL!! I so enjoy reading your posts. I hope you have a great week, Inger!

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  7. Oh Inger, I would say you do have treasures all around you. You live in an amazing place and I know you must love it. The bobcat photo is awesome. Do you ever get scared of them? Sounds like you had a wonderful Christmas with friends and loved ones. Good for you. Happy New Year Friend :)

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  8. Hi Inger!
    Great Christmas, for sure! (Have been thinking of wearing a magnifying glass, myself) That rain did beautiful things for your canyon! I would say it was worth the drear for green grass and freshened air - and who knows, maybe flowers you have yet to discover!
    You have the best treasures and isn't it great when we mature enough to recognize that we have them?
    I like that you got another picture of a Bobcat, I wonder if it is the same one as before?
    Have a great afternoon!

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  9. Hi Inger, I absolutely LOVE your surroundings, the mountains, etc. We have rambled all around out there in the West, in fact, all of the western states except OR and WA. I want to go back someday...Maybe I am a western cowgirl at heart..haa. You look very pretty! Happy New Year, Gerry

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  10. I love the photo of rachel
    good friends are like gold arnt they

    good to catch up with your blog!

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  11. WOW!! The Bobcat pics are great. I have never seen nor got a picture of a Bobcat even though they're fairly plentiful here in VA. Best I've been able to do is cut some tracks occasionally.

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  12. Bobbi: Thank you -- I am truly blessed with good people in my life.

    texwisgirl: To see the cat twice in a day was so great. Angel smelled him this morning, I believe as we walked on that road.

    JP: Thank you -- it is lovely around here.

    Christine: I'm glad you enjoyed my posts.

    Louise: I agree.

    Jeff: I have always loved nature. Another Swedish trait -- we are out there at a very early age, enjoying the woods, lakes, and sea.

    Verde Farm: No, I'm not afraid of them, they will move away. Had a great Christmas.

    Sharon: I think it may be the same as the one I didn't get a picture of. They were both large. I think the one in my sidebar is smaller. I have to read up on their range and roaming habits.

    Gerry: Maybe you are a cowgirl at heart. Hope you can take a trip out west sometime. Thanks for the compliment.

    John: Glad you liked Rachael's picture. Yes, they are.

    Joe: This is the third and fourth sighting since this summer. I also saw tracks in the snow of one, when we had snow, seems like a long time ago now.

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  13. You have truly impressive wildlife! And your desert canyon is just beautiful.

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  14. beautiful photos...1st time visitor...I'll be back for sure...

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  15. Terry: We have bigger critters too, but those I hope will stay away. Bear tracks are enough for me.

    Deb: Thanks for visiting my blog. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

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  16. You live in such a beautiful place. Glad that you have wonderful neighbors who are there for you.

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  17. Hi Inger!! What a delightful day and pictures too--I cannot even imagine the awe of spoting a bobcat, and being able to take such great pictures I know was such a thrill!

    I hope your week is going well!!

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  18. Wow!!! I can't believe you got to see (and take pictures) of a real live bobcat!!! That's amazing!

    It looks (and sounds) as though you had a wonderful Christmas! (I like the fact that your husband is your treasure too:))
    Hope you have a wonderful rest of the last week in 2010!

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  19. That first pic is so good! You have an excellent eye and are a natural 'framer'.
    These truly are treasures way surpassing materialistic inanimate things. Great post Inger.
    Jim

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  20. Oh you are so blessed to see that Bobcat. They are just lovely creatures and rarely seen in the open like that.

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  21. The photos are awesome. Your friend Rachel is very pretty and she looks so kind :-) Sounds like your other friends Judy and Bob are real gems also. I think you are blessed with many treasures. I would have been afraid of the bob cat myself. But that's just me ;-) Happy New Year!!

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  22. It was wonderful to spend Christmas with you and your family:) The dinner was indeed an amazing feast! I especially loved the dressing. And, very cool pics of the bobcat!

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  23. All I can say is "wow." The photos of your land are spectacular, Inger. So different from what I am used to. Looks like Spring -- which I am longing for right now.

    And what a sweet friend you have in Rachael and your hubby, I might add. You seem to be surrounded by giving, thoughtful people. But that's no surprise -- we reap what we sow. :)

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  24. What beautiful treasures you have...friends as well as the natural ones!

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  25. What beautiful pictures! It was especially nice to see you and your friend... you are so pretty! I hope I have such lovely hair when I'm your age. :)

    The landscape is simply dreamy. I wouldn't mind feeling the desert wind blow through my hair right now... it brings back memories of shooting in the desert with my dad so long ago. Thank you for that. And a very Happy New Year to you, Inger! xoxo

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  26. Farmchick: Living as isolated as I do, it is beyond wonderful to have two sets of neighbors, the rescue manager and my girlfriend up the mountain.

    Kim: I've seen three bobcats this year. But never one twice in a day.

    Dawn: Yes, my husband is my treasure and love.

    Jabacue: A natural 'framer'..hmm. I thought it was just luck. But once again, you gave me an idea for a blog post. Thank you.

    Nan: I know I am so blessed with these sightings.

    Joyful: I don't believe someone who went to help out in Africa can be afraid of a little, OK, bit cat. They are more afraid of you. Rachael is very, very kind and does a lot for animals. Thank you on her behalf -- I'll let her know.

    Rachael: I'm so glad you enjoyed your Christmas with us and I loved having you here.

    Nancy: I'm longing for winter myself.

    desertsandbeyond: I thought all these good things in my life deserved a treasure post. I'm so glad I did this one.

    Allison: Thank you for your compliments. I've been lucky with my old age hair color -- I don't have to do a thing to it, which makes me really happy.

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  27. You are blessed indeed -- those wonderful skies and a bobcat that will pose for you!

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  28. Hi Inger! I've been remiss in reading and catching up on my favorite blogs during the holidays. I had to go back quite a ways to read yours. Love your pictures! You live in a most beautiful place, the desert is so appealing to me. I can tell you had a nice Christmas.

    Happy New Year, too!

    Liz

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  29. Wonderful treasures for sure. Thank you for sharing with us. I do love your blog Inger! Alice

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Thanks for leaving a comment.. ~~ Inger

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