Can we talk?

Does your cabinets get to looking like this?

Or does it look like this?

I spent the entire afternoon working on this pantry.  I did take everything off the shelves.  And while it may not look greatly improved, it is.

Now I have questions and would like any and all responses.  I may not reply back to you, but I will appreciate any and all feedback.  (Roger has a doctor's appointment tomorrow so I know we will be gone at least 4-5 hours.)

Anyway, what I want to know, does your cabinets stay neat and tidy?  Most times, within two weeks you wouldn't know this had been touched.

And how do you keep from hiding stuff behind other things?  On the canned goods side, things are together now, but they won't stay that way for long.  I would be so much simpler if things did not get mixed together.

Also, how do you keep your brown sugar from getting hard after it is opened.  I always have a problem with that.

And then there is the plastic bags.  I use them for small trash can liners, but have got to come up with a better solution to storing them.  I have been shoving them in a bag, and that is in a bottom cabinet.  And they just take up space.

Well, that is all I can think of right now...I think there was more I wanted feedback on but for the life of me I cannot remember what right now.

From this evening...

Look at that picture...isn't the sky interesting?  Do you see anything else.  Click and enlarge it...I doubt that you will spot it...it is almost exactly in the middle...go straight up from that pile of stuff in the water.  that dark pile...on up over the trees.  Do you see it now?

If not, be prepared...again, I took off with just my little point & shoot camera, again, because it was dark, cloudy and rainy when we left.  Figured I would not see a thing to shoot...by the time we were coming home the sun was in and out, and it had lightened up to a beautiful world.  And I spotted this:

This is what was 'fishing' that little pond.  It is what I wondered if you would spot.  In that first pic with the pond, it is flying straight towards the camera, over the far end.

Some shots are heavily cropped, but not the one above.

Almost the same views, but not quite...

Notice how he is watching down...he is really looking for a fish.

Really thrilling to see one of these....it made our day.

One of my favorite things....

Every time I look at this, I feel joy.  My BFF made it for me last year.  I don't think I have ever shown it to you.  I grabbed some quick shots this evening.  I want to encourage you to click on the photos to expand the view...the small size just does not do them justice.

So many beads, so many stitches...

everything done by hand.

I love the little chickadees, but I cannot say I love them best.  I love this poinsettia, and love the holly leaves,

and don't you just love the scene as a whole?

It is tempting to leave it out all the time...but I don't. 

Do you have a favorite gift or treasure someone has given you.    If so, how about sharing it in the comments.