Nearing the End

We are getting near the end of the year and I have been doing house stuff.  But it was so nice out today.

We played in the snow.

And enjoyed the beautiful blue sky.

Tried to get a flower shot that didn't work. But it's ok because the sun was shinning through the window.

And finally let the dogs help me play with some night pictures.  They were lots of help!

It's a different sort of full moon.

The Best Thing To Do

The best thing to do on the day after Christmas is not shopping!  A ride in the snow is the way to go.

The trails less traveled.

 Gus checks it out.

There might be "stuff" up ahead.

Or down in the ditch.

A boy has to check it all out.

Snufsnuff....snif.

Tracking tracks.

A little late afternoon sun on the rims.

Meanwhile, back at the ditch,

Gus is onto something.

But it got away 

and it's time to head for home

just in time to catch the last bit of sun.

Merry Christmas Eve

A day of food and friends, two legged and four..

the table is all set..

and Mickey is dancing with the skillets full of John's ribs...

till John comes to the rescue (looking a lot like Santa, don't you think?)

plucking the ribs from the pans....

and we all get to dig in.

Mickey laughs at a card..

and Jessica gets a big grin..

and so does John  ...

and Dan's trying not to grin..

and Cassie says  ....

BUT WHERE IS MINE?

Thank you for a wonderful time!

Gus stayed at home and guarded the yard

and is exhausted by the whole darn thing. visions of knuckle bones sugar plums dancing in his head cuz I didn't bring him any ribs..

The tulips in my winter garden are blooming and the snow is falling.

Merry Christmas Eve to everyone.

Sheep Portraits

Ginny and Lewis spent some time "outside" this afternoon.  They like to come out and pick about in the hay that gets scattered around.

Hey Lewis!  What's that stuff hanging around your face

 Decorations!  

Decorations my foot!  You are just packing a little snack around in case you get hungry before the next little pile of hay.

  I think you could win a contest for the sheep with the longest nose!  

And most handsome!

Of course, Lewis.  It goes without saying.

Ginny, are you finding something tasty over there?

Just some old hay.  Cookies?  You have cookies?  Be right there!

No cookies, but I'll give you a massage.

Coming just as fast as I can hop!

You are very fluffy, Ginny.
I am.  And I'm prettier than he is handsome. 
And you have lovely, subtle freckles on your nose too.

Christmas Garden

The puppy is asleep in his crate and Pickles is resting at  my feet.  The cats have been fed and the sheep all tucked in.  A nice fire in the stove is keeping us warm and I've shed my soggy cold jeans for warm cozy sweats.

We started out to take some snow and sheep photos.  But there was a piece of twine caught up on the axle.  So with Gus on the seat and the camera hanging from the grip and Lewis trying to eat  my cap I laid on the ground and worked at getting things fixed.  And worked.  And worked.  Until I came in to get just the right tool.  A small pocket knife with just the right blade.  It needed a little touching up.  Just on the tip.  And it slipped.  sigh.  Getting  band-aids out of the box and out of the wrapper while holding pressure on the leak in your hand is just a pain.  And then it won't stick.  sigh.  Gauze, tape, vet wrap (in a nice blue).  Add butterfly closures to my list of things to get.  Sometimes, not very often, but sometimes I wish I had hands that worked right.  But I have hands so I better not fuss!

I got a Christmas Garden from my brother and sister-in-law.  It sits on my desk where it gets lots of light, and sun in the morning.  

I wonder if I dare knit?

A Cat Compared and Some River

A couple of days ago I posted a picture of Yoda that neighbor Gary painted for me.  Last night I was looking through some old photos and found this

 It's an old picture of Yoda and so similar to Gary's painting it startled me.  He really did capture Yoda!

Gus and I were out taking a run yesterday (he ran and I rode) and took some photos of the river.

Upstream from the dam it is pretty frozen now.

And freezing below the dam.

Still some flowing water which may or may not freeze as the winter progresses.  It isn't very deep here.

 We went up stream to the west meadow and got some sun and snow and rims shots.

And another of the river.

Gus is behind me on the 4-wheeler now.  He got down after I told him to load up and stay.  I promised I would apply super glue to his little feets if he even thought about it again.  He wants to get in the river and doesn't understand the ice and safety problems.  No swimming until ice is out.

We did see a few tracks, deer, rabbit, and coyote, but not many.
The wind was cold and we didn't stay out long.  Gus got to run most of the way back home.