another tree decoration Monday...

 we wore our matching scarves...i took them off soon after this as they got a bit wet and trashed.  doesn't take long with these pups

 we had loads of ornaments...thanks to all who supplied us and who joined us and who joined after for coffee!!  a fun day all the way around.

 LS brought these huge tennis balls!!  always a treat.

 in the past we have put them up on those trees out there, but they looked a bit rough so we selected some closer to land.

 the pond is nicely frozen though at this time.  still some open bits on the other day as you come in to the boggy area.  we ended up opting to return and walk around the ponds.

 we had a fun and festive time out there though.

 TO always makes these sweet tennis balls with our  dogs at the bridge. 

 hopefully, these make the trail feel festive for the season.  I'm sure there will be a few happy dogs out there who get tennis balls.

 got most of the local gifts handed out so i can check that off the list and i got the last of the Christmas cards sent out.  tonight bills...so exciting.

 after the walk and Kaladi's Ivy and i snuggled up together for a long winters nap.  she had gotten more snuggly as she is maturing. currently she is snuggling with Miss Breezy Chatterbug. Tusker is also out next to them.  so sweet to watch the critters sleep.

 my sweet Blossom also represented!!

 thanks to SH for taking some scarf pictures.  the pups were for sure more interested in the tennis ball action than in the photo action.

 nice to have the ponds icing up...finally starting to feel like winter around here.

 the Mormon church is doing quite well.  100 billion bucks not being used for charitable funds but instead stock piling these donations.  what church needs this much money.  amazing how many folks could actually be helped by this kind of money.  more and more i wish these tax exempt status's could be denied to more of these churches.  it was never the intention of Jesus for churches to become store houses for cash....i really don't know how folks square the extreme wealth of their religions with the teachings of Christ. 

 it seems the charitable works done is far less than the cash they collect.  I'm sorry but imho many of these non-profit religious groups are no more than fronts for tax free corporations.  greed is everywhere.

 scientology has been granted and maintained tax exempt status so i doubt there will be any changes.  it would be nice if churches, being tax exempt would at least put their 100 billion spare change towards helping society...i mean aren't the same folks who don't want their taxes used to help the poor screaming that this is a role for churches...well that doesn't work if churches just pack money into their wallets or under the mattress as it were.  help the homeless, pay for the meals that trump is cutting, take care of the elderly that this administration is kicking out of assisted living due to lack of funds. 

 it's time the Christians take stock of their religions that they donate to and hold them accountable.  we never asked where the money went that we donated to church.  we had faith in the leadership...well the leadership in a religion has a much higher risk of being taken in by greed unchecked. 

 the leadership's response i guess is basically, they are saving for the last days.  so people with financial issues are still expected to pay their 10% while the church sits on billions so they can be ready for the second coming. 

 the evangelicals are horrible...collecting money from poor while then turning around and living lavishly.  i suspect when the second coming does hit God will not be impressed at the wealth these religions have collected and held back while his children die of starvation, diseases, live homeless, families can't pay medical bills, lose houses, do not have access to healthcare or education....God will take care of the cash flow. 

 as i always say, it's fine to have faith in God, but do not have faith in religions as they are run by man...and i mean man literally.  most religions are run by men.  humans are not always honorable.  humans are subject to greed and wanting power.  they are known to take advantage of the money and the women in their orbit.  faith in God but not faith in religion and for shits sake do not have faith in any politician.  faith should be reserved for only the few, not the many. 

 we are in a crisis at the moment.  too many have faith in trump and the GOP like it's become their religion.  it's not a religion.  they aren't going to wake up though. 

 trump will no doubt be impeached but not removed.  i suspect as has been happening, more and more crap will keep coming out about the real trump.  his financial woes and connections.  the crap he has allowed Putin to get away with...Putin is talking about releasing their transcripts of those private conversations....trump and his administration have been such idiots to have allowed him to have unscripted discussions with putin.  he's led him right into his web.  even trumps closest allies don't know what has happened in many of these meetings.

 if there are transcripts they are hidden away. 

 obstruction is the game this administration plays.  he could be impeached for that alone....but there is so much more

 no way our fool of a rep will vote for the articles to pass.  this will not end well for the GOP folks.  they have aligned themselves with this idiot and they will now never be able to cut ties with what they have allowed under this idiot.

 the conspiracy theories have not played out, big surprise...and their only response to that is to further trash and demoralize the CIA/FBI...you name it.  they are chasing butterflies while putin puts a big net over them. 

 i am sure he can't believe his good luck.

 dogs play on the ice. 

 need to spend the next few days cleaning house...will i though?  need some major purging again.  too much crap.

 a few leftovers from the last week in here.

 it has been a lovely stretch off of work again.

 I'm hearing there have been loads of sick calls.  flu going around.  hope i do not get that.

 enjoying what winter has to offer.

 solstice is just a few days away...then the days will again start to get longer.

 i need to start putting in for vacation days for summer and fall.

 really was beautiful out there past few days.  the temperatures are dropping

 not too cold, it was actually good temperatures for tree trimming today.

 a few times it's been below zero.  tough to get that tree trimmed in that.

 we had a lot of fun with it today. 

 have made these bird seed ones in the past.  they are actually easy and fun to make.

 this is 12-12:30...the sun is low.  it never gets high in the sky in the winter just moves across the horizon. 

 the moon is higher than the sun in the winter.

 SH kept the pups busy with the tennis ball while we put up the ornaments.

 they are not much into celebrations.

 the crew on the ice.  looked pretty solid.  never heard any cracking

 the winter light is always just so amazing.  long shadows

 guess i will try to get to bed at a reasonable hour.  may try to hit the rally to impeach.  pointless, but best to go down trying.

 you gotta stand up and try to be heard...not look the other way and hope nothing bad happens.

 Happy Impeachment week. 

thankful for: A. cool temperatures  B.  another fun Monday walk...thanks to friends for making them what they are. C.  snuggling with the pups and kitty.