Posted by: Debra LaValley | February 7, 2026

February 7, 2026

Get Out the Cowbells! The Winter Olympics Have Begun!

I love watching the Olympics – especially the Winter Olympics! It is strange since I went skiing once and will never again; was always a terrible skater. I had to pretty much crash to stop and never could go backward. I went cross country skiing a few times, but snowshoeing was more my style. However, I really love watching all of the winter sports (from my couch)! Figure Skating is definitely my favorite. I have a couple Moen Olympic Cowbells. One is plain and the other is from the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics (an EBay purchase many years ago). I also have many Olympic pins in a box somewhere.

I am actually watching Pairs Figure Skating Short Program as I type this. It is snowing outside and it is extremely cold here in New Hampshire today, and it will be colder this evening and into tomorrow. Wind chills in the double digits BELOW Zero predicted! Perfect weather to stay inside and watch others frolicking in the snow in Italy!

Wishing everyone a great weekend! For those who like football, enjoy the Super Bowl tomorrow. I have never been a fan of the sport and luckily neither was my dad so we didn’t have it on at home. Once in a while, my dad would watch the Super Bowl even though he didn’t really know the rules, etc.

Below are more ChatGPT Calico (Maisey) images with her enjoying various Olympic Sports that I created.

Posted by: Debra LaValley | January 13, 2026

January 13, 2026

Sometimes – You just have to take what you get!

The weather has been very nice the past few days! There has even been sunshine! I drove around in hopes of seeing the local eagle pair or any interesting creatures. The best that I saw was a squirrel running across the street in front of my car! Luckily, I had time to slow down so he made it safely to the other side of the street! You never can tell what direction a squirrel will go!

When I got home, I sat on my couch. I noticed a flash of sunlight hitting the glass marble hanging from chimes I have out on my front porch. I grabbed my iPhone and snapped a few photos. I liked how the reflection was captured in the marble. It wasn’t a majestic eagle; but it was something interesting captured in the ordinary sights of a beautiful winter’s day.

Posted by: Debra LaValley | January 5, 2026

January 5, 2026

January has swept in . . .

I hope everyone had a great holiday season, and the New Year started off well for you all. We are still having very frigid weather; however, the meteorologists have said that milder weather is coming in for later this week.

It has been so cold that the town has had no problem getting the public skating rink up and running. I can watch young and older out skating on the rink from my kitchen window. I never was much of a figure skater. I had to glide to a stop or crash into something – lol. I did love going sliding, whether on a saucer, Flexible Flyer sled, or a toboggan. Tobogganing was the best fun. My favorite spot was the old ski trail behind Rolfe Park in Penacook. The side trail was fabulous, and we really could fly down the hill. Great times! The ski trail is all grown in now. We had many other hills in our neighborhood, and we often would stay out until well after dark. Snow would be caked all over us – especially our mittens. We also wore bread bags over our socks in our boots to help keep our feet dry.

Growing up, my mother knitted not only our lovely Christmas stockings, but also our mittens and hats. I loved our “tukes.” That what we called our long v-shaped hats with a tassel on the end. The name may have come from tuque or toque hats. I just know we always called them “tukes.” About 10 years ago (a guess), I asked my mom if she would knit me one for my Christmas present or birthday present (my birthday is 12/26). She needed a pattern since she hadn’t made one is decades. I found a “toboggan hat” that looked like one. It wasn’t as long, but it was long enough. ๐Ÿ™‚ Today, I put on the hat and my winter jacket in my living room. I set up my iPhone to take photo with a 10 second timer. It gave me long enough to sit in my rocking chair with my legs on the hassock. I was trying to look like I was in a toboggan. I then recreated the image above using ChatGPT. I haven’t been on a sled, saucer, or toboggan for quite a few years … but Never say Never! I amused myself with the creation and added my calico Maisey along for a ride. At least, I didn’t have to walk back up the hill!

Fun memories, for sure!

I

Posted by: Debra LaValley | December 21, 2025

December 21, 2025

Happy Winter Solstice! Yuletide has begun!

After tonight, the nights will get a little shorter each day! Yay! I am not a fan of the darkness so early!

The above Calico Yule Cat, I created in ChatGPT ๐Ÿ™‚ Enjoy!

Posted by: Debra LaValley | November 26, 2025

November 26, 2025

I wish everyone a safe and Happy Thanksgiving! Let’s all focus on our blessings during the holiday and every day! I am very thankful for my family and friends! Love you all!

Posted by: Debra LaValley | November 14, 2025

November 14, 2025

November Night Sky Ablaze!

November is usually very gray and dreary but not so on November 11th. Many areas in the US and around the world were graced with a wonderful display of the Aurora Borealis! I was able to get fairly decent photos in my back yard right in town, and we have a lot of light pollution in the area. I was able to see the northern lights with my eyes! Of course, the camera in my iPhone captured the colors even more brightly. These pictures are right out of the camera. You can go to my Flickr photostream to see more of the photos. It was such a treat to see them. It is very exciting, and I did not mind braving the wind and cold (windchill was in the low 20s). We were supposed to see them again on the 12th; but Boscawen had too many clouds. I am just happy that I was able to see them on the 11th.

Keep Looking Up!

Posted by: Debra LaValley | November 3, 2025

November 3, 2025

Happy Godzilla Day!

Who knew? I love Godzilla, and yes, I do have quite a few Godzilla figures. I also have a Godzilla bank that when you put a coin on top, Godzilla comes out of the sea (to music) and grabs the coin and pulls it into the deep. Yes, I am still a child at heart. The Godzilla on the left is the 1954 Godzilla, and the small glow in the dark Godzilla is a 1955 Godzilla. I bought him in Salem, MA last month. I was there the 5th through the 8th! What a fun experience! I have downloaded a few photos below.

I hope this finds everyone well! Happy November to all!

Posted by: Debra LaValley | September 12, 2025

September 12, 2025

Awww – what a cute baby mouse! Funny how cute they are when they are outside. I took this photo over where I view the local eagle’s nest. I do not find them cute this time of year when they get into my house. Maisey (my cat) fails to deter vermin from wanting to find a comfy spot in my apartment. My apartment is in a house built in 1840 and has a dirt cellar. When the nights start cooling down, it has not been unusual to have a tiny rodent visitor (better than a rat)! A couple nights I saw one scurry across my living room just before I was heading to bed. I put out some mouse traps (live capture). I baited with peanut butter. After a couple nights, I caught the little beastie. I took it in the car for a drive to the woods far away from my house and set it free. It has been a week or so, and I have the traps still out. Luckily, I have not seen any more signs or had any in the traps. I won’t be surprised if I do get another, but it won’t hurt my feelings if I don’t.

Happy Autumn to all of you! Take care!

Posted by: Debra LaValley | August 3, 2025

August 3, 2025

Lift-Off

The local nest that I monitor for the NH Audubon Society had a successful year. They had one eaglet and it fledged a few days ago. This morning, I stopped by the nest again, and the fledgling was out on the limb from the nest vocalizing. It probably was hoping for a food delivery. The parents are most likely close by and will be monitoring the juvenile before they head out on their own. I was happy to actually see the fledgling fly this morning. Yesterday, it was high in the nest tree. I watched for well over an hour, but it did not fly off while I was there. It is always great to see a successful fledge. There was not a successful hatch last year.

I hope everyone is having a great summer! Enjoy!

Posted by: Debra LaValley | July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Happy Summer!

Here in New Hampshire, we have been having some steamy weather. It is not my favorite. I would rather have it cold than hazy, hot, and humid! As I stay inside with the AC, I have been playing with my ChatGPT apt. I created the above image which I call The Ole’ Swimmin’ Hole. It has been fun playing. My sassy calico Maisey has been the star of many of my creations. I wouldn’t mind being at the swimming hole today! July arrived with even more mugginess! Ugh ๐Ÿ™‚

July has its share of fun! I love SHARK WEEK and SHARKFEST that will be on television this month. It is certainly more entertaining than all the repeats! Family will also be visiting this month! It will be great seeing those who live out of state!

July is also Summer-ween! It really is a thing ๐Ÿ™‚ I am all for Halloween type themes any time of the year!

Wishing everyone a safe and wonderful summer! Stay cool!

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