Irish Blessing

May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.

2010 Alzheimer's Association Benefit Teddy Bear

I'd like to introduce my second annual Alzheimer's Association Benefit Teddy Bear. He is being previewed here, so you can meet him before he is sold, with the proceeds from the sale going to the NM Alzheimer's Association via Memory Walk, and my Memory Walk team.
This Teddy will be offered on eBay through their Giving Works program. Watch this space and this blog for the exact date of the auction so you don't miss your chance to bid. 100% of the sale price will go to the NM Alzheimer's Association. Buyer is responsible for $12.00 shipping costs which are separate from the sale price. Shipping is via USPS & will include delivery confirmation & insurance.
For more details about this teddy, please visit his page on my website, or this previous blog post.

2010 Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk

About Memory Walk
Memory Walk is the single largest fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Association, both locally & nationally. The New Mexico Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association offers educational programs & trainings around the state, caregiver respite assistance program, a free quarterly newsletter, & a toll free helpline. In addition, the association assists with registration in the Safe Return Program for patients who wander, acts as a legislative advocacy body for patient rights, & maintains a network of more than 40 support groups statewide. All of these services are provided confidentially & free of charge.

Memory Walk is the nation's premier fundraiser to help those battling Alzheimer's disease. Since 1989, Memory Walk has raised more than $200 million for programs & services for individuals with Alzheimer's, their families, & caregivers.

As many of you know, I had a loved one who had Alzheimer's disease and I saw first hand the effect this disease can have. So, the Alzheimer's Association and the work they do is very important to me. Since 2006 I have participated in Memory Walk, first in Orange County, CA and now back home in Albuquerque. Please take a moment to visit my Memory Walk donation page either by clicking here, or the link on my sidebar. I appreciate any and all support and thank you in advance for your help!

Wolf Sanctuary Photos

So, in case you were wondering where they were, our visit to the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary was delayed a week, as my husband got the flu. But I do have photos to show you! It was awfully hard to pick which ones to post as I took over 250 photos that day. I've done my best to pick a good representation to show. And if you get a chance to visit them, do! It was amazing. The guides are wonderful and full of stories. The drive is beautiful even though it's long. It was snowy and we had the place to ourselves. We also drove by El Morro and didn't have time to take the hike. (Plus it was cold). But plan to go back to visit it in the spring or summer when it's green and blooming. So, without further ado, on to the wolves!Most of the buildings on the grounds were similar to this one.

The first wolf-dog we saw was this momma.

Here's one of her babies. It's thought dad might be a Labrador!

Alice, Forest & Thunder

Cheyenne was sad. She just lost her mate a couple of weeks ago and wolves mate for life.
Geronimo

What a handsome wolf!

Brutas & Akela

The Look

On the hill.

Sttrrreeeetttcch

The New Mexico Alzheimer's Association

THEIR VISION

A world without Alzheimer's disease.

THEIR MISSION
To eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.

To learn more about this charity, the important work they do, and how you can help, please visit the link on my sidebar or go here.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Did He See His Shadow?

Will Phil see his shadow? I am ready for spring myself but we shall have to wait and see...

Happy Groundhog Day!

Gonna Be A Bear

In this life I am a woman. In my next life, I'd like to come back as a bear. When you're a bear, you get to hibernate. You do nothing but sleep for six months. I could deal with that.

Before you hibernate, you're supposed to eat yourself stupid. I could deal with that too.

When you're a girl bear, you birth your children (who are the size of walnuts) while you're sleeping and wake to partially grown cute, cuddly cubs. I could definitely deal with that.

If you're a mama bear, everyone knows you mean business. You swat anyone who bothers your cubs. If your cubs get out of line, you swat them too. I could deal with that.

If you're a bear, your mate expects you to wake up growling. He expects that you will have hairy legs and excess body fat.

Yep, gonna be a bear!

Sepia Bosque

I had been playing with my camera settings and forgot the last photo I took was in sepia tone. So the next day when we visited the bosque, all 50 or so photos we taken in sepia!This guy was on the nature trail.

The turtles lived in a marshy area near the building that houses what I believe is a gift shop and education center.

Here's a bunny that was hiding in the brush along the trail.

And a pretty wooden bridge. It's too bad you can't see the colors from this beautiful May day. I'll have to go back this year and try again!

Winter Hike

On New Years Day we took a scenic drive and a short hike in Tijeras.
This cactus doesn't seem at all sure about the snow!
We were not totally alone up there as we saw some tracks. I think these are deer.
And these...
are snowball! :)

I had to stop and take a picture of these two. I thought the scene was beautiful!

Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary

“Located in the high-desert country of Candy Kitchen, New Mexico, Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary provides a permanent home to over fifty wolves and wolf-dogs. Our mission is three-fold: to educate the public, to rescue abused and abandoned captive-bred wolves and wolf-dogs and to provide our residents with permanent, safe Sanctuary.”

I will be visiting the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary in February with members of my family. While I had the pleasure of meeting 2 of their wolf pups several years ago, this will be my first visit to the sanctuary.

I am is planning on taking a “Valentine care-package” for the wolves when I visit and would love to include any items you might like me to take.
Below you will find a partial list of items needed by the sanctuary:
Bragg's Liquid Aminos (Whole Foods/Wild Oats)
Frozen French Cut Greenbeans - 16 oz
Frozen Matchstick Carrots - 10 oz
Ground Beef Chubs
Large Industrial Strength Trash Bags
Minced Garlic - 32 oz
Waggin' Train Chicken Jerky Tenders
Water Buckets - Metal and Plastic (Can be bought at feed stores)
*JOINT DISCOVERY™ DOUBLE STRENGTH for Dogs and Puppies
*3V CAPS SKIN FORMULA for Large/Giant Breeds
*Vinyl Gloves size S, M, & L
*Latex Gloves size S, M, & L
*Gift Certificates from: Santa Fe Greenhouses/High Country Gardens
Holiday Nursery
Greenhouse & Garden Supply Inc

I would be happy to pick up any of the above items from anywhere in town.
You can email me at diana(at)butterflybequest(dot)com to make arrangements.
Please arrange to deliver/have these items picked up before February 13th at 5pm
If you would like more information about Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary, please visit their website at: http://www.wildspiritwolfsanctuary.org/index.htm
Thanks!!!

*for suggestions/information on where/how to obtain these items, please visit the sanctuaries website at: http://www.wildspiritwolfsanctuary.org/wish_list.htm

Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit corporation licensed and regulated by the USDA, as well as a Class C exhibitor.
The Sanctuary is funded primarily by private donations and receives no government funding.
FID#: 85-0424026

Happy New Year!

Christmas Photos

So I'm going to be more prompt about posting my Christmas photos. (Unlike the ones from Thanksgiving).
We did not have snow on Christmas Eve but it did snow a couple of days before and stuck around for several days.
Zeke went crazy in it.
Holly was unimpressed.

Do you have a family ornament that has been passed down?
This one has been in my husbands family for over 100 years.
It spent this year on my niece's tree.

Here are some ornaments from my Aunt and Uncle's tree.
Teddy bears anyone? :)
These are some of the lights from the "Bugg House." This is only part of a huge display containing over 200,000 lights and numerous characters, that now lives at Menaul High School but at one time, the entire thing was at the Bugg's single family home.

Christmas Tree Toppers

Or I should say, non-traditional ones :)
This is ours...

And this one is not ours, but I really like it!

Merry Christmas to All!

Christmas in Southern California

Our previous 6 Christmases have been in Southern California. So, I thought I'd share some of those photos with you. Since Orange County doesn't get much snow, they bring in their own.

These are the lights on one of the homes in Huntington Harbor. Folks even decorate their boats!
We put up luminarias one year. The stand with the candle on it tells the story of why we put up luminarias, since most of the people in our neighborhood had never seen or heard of them.
And finally, picture of our tree. Several of the decorations were ones I had made myself from the time I was little. But most were made of various sea shells. We accumulated a lot of sea shell decorations over our 6 Christmases there, so many that I can decorate the tree with sea shell ornaments alone!

FREE Priority Shipping Upgrade

Still looking for those last minute Christmas gifts?
Now through December 18th, receive a Free upgrade to Priority Shipping when you purchase any of the hats on my website.
Want a Teddy under the tree? Please contact me for the cost to upgrade your shipping and make sure they will make it in time!

Yikes! Thanksgiving Photos

I know! It's taken me forever to go through my photos this past month, so these are from Thanksgiving. The first is of our beautiful table. We were crowded but it was a nice crowd!
Next is of the horse that was so happy to see us when we went on our after dinner walk.
And this is Lucy, who belongs to a neighbor of my Aunt and Uncle, and got to join us on our walk.
And don't forget to check out the SALE that's still running on my website. The prices are fantastic and the Sale is running through Sunday the 13th of December. Any items purchased during this sale will be shipped so you have them in time for Christmas.