KA-BOOM

Crash! Boom! Bang! Happy New Year! Here is the first, and hopefully the last, downed tree for the year. We had a big wind storm with 36+ mph wind a couple nights ago. Found this gift in our pasture the next morning. Sigh. The horses find it fun to investigate.

Betwixt storms, I was able to make it to my local scrapbook store this week. I have wanted to get in there since just after Christmas, but was thwarted for one reason or another. I don't respond well to thwarting! My mood needed a jolt, or a sharp kick, and I decided exercise and time in my studio would be just the ticket. These supplies will be used for Valentine cards and for my All About Me scrapbook album. Craft on!

2009

Next...

What It's All About

Here we are again, as in olden days, oh so golden days... Or so the song goes. For this Christmas Mom and Herm once again hosted, and Mom prepared the usual superb supper. I think the adults especially enjoyed the meal because the 3 kids were downstairs rivited by their Lego sets and not to be seen or heard until later. Mom in her Christmas finery, chained to the sink. I did relieve her for clean-up duty. Thank you, Mom!

Here's me in my Holiday ensemble (Double D Ranchwear, darling), getting a hug from Bob on our 22nd Christmas together.

All Dressed Up...and CANCELLED

Are you bored with my snow stories? Well so am I! Two annual not-to-be-missed events didn't happen for me this year due to, ah hem, inclimate weather. First we were unable to get to our friends' Christmas Open House due to a snow storm. And today, Christmas Eve, Bob's family passed on traveling these trecherous roads for the 4 hour round trip to our Christmas Eve Open House. My horse babies sympathize with me. So, I'm safe and snug in the house listening to Christmas music from the 50's, drinking Jone's Apple Soda (pass the vodka, darling), and trying to figure out what to do with the party food that is way too much for us.

If I could fly, like Ghandi bird...well, I wouldn't in this weather. Keep safe, everyone. Oh, do ya' like the new music? Substitute "weather" for "man" in the "Blues in the Night" and you'll understand my mood.

Merry Christmas 2008.

YES! It's a WHITE Christmas

Today the snow didn't fall, but there is plenty on the ground. Here are faint footprints of a critter that prowls in the night. Probably a fox or coyote. The snow is so deep, a foot or so, that the prints aren't distinct. A few days ago after a night of powdery snowfall, there were countless footprints of large and small animals on our driveway. Here are my 3 muskateers ready to go to the barn after several hours in their turnout. Surprizingly, they weren't waiting at the gate, but were still exploring the upper reaches of their playground.

We have floodlights around our circular driveway. Last night the illumination of snow on the fir trees was so pretty. My camera didn't capture it very well, so take my word for it.

Bob tried driving to the post office this afternoon. He got out of our driveway OK, but travelled only about 1/4 mile on the road before turning back. And that was in 4-wheel drive. Our road won't get plowed as it is too remote for the road crews. Will I make it to Mom's for Christmas?

Mi Familia

Who lives at SeaHorse Ranch, besides me and Bob? Well, there's Buffy, pictured here on a snowy day. Then there's Garrett, my resident security, pictured here a couple days ago patrolling the property with a handmade paper weapon, dressed in his snow-day/no-school-day uniform of pink jammies. Here's Tom, our outdoor cat. As much as we love him and want him to come indoors, he won't. But he is thriving very well outdoors, thank you.

This character is Ghandi, a teenage scarlet macaw who is just plain evil and impossible to everyone except me and Garrett. The snow doesn't concern him at all.

25 Degrees on December 16th

I'm going Scottish this Christmas. Actually, Scottish and white since we had snowfall a couple of days ago. Pretty...and cold. Chipping away at the ice in the horse water buckets, mixing up a slurry of COB and warm water, blanketing, unblanketing...ah, what could be better? Since you asked, what could be better is sitting in front of the library fireplace reading the last of yet another Vince Flynn spy/assassin novel. Who knew I would be rivited by assassin Mitch Rapp? Or maybe in the kitchen baking a batch of jam thumbprint cookies. In previous years, I may have even ventured out to do some shopping. Well, those days are gone. If you know me, you know I'd really rather be home in front of my tree, or slogging back and forth between the house and barn. Here is the view from Sea Horse Ranch. Merry Christmas to all.