Warm Greetings on Winter Solstice!

We had 8 more inches of snow last night...but hey! it's Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. Now the days will be getting longer and the next thing you know Spring will be here (and none too soon)!

This pic of a raven weathervane that my brother-in-law made for me kind of sums up how I feel about all this snow lately....a little overwhelmed. I have to admire you folks that deal with snow like this all winter long and with below freezing temperatures too! My hat is off to you (but only after I'm back inside)!


Even my osprey weathervane on top of the garage, aka the "dogs hangout", was looking a bit frosty....

Could I interest anybody with breakfast on the patio?

Maybe some tasty frozen raspberries? (no, they're not as tasty as they look...bleh!)

Here's the view from the front porch....


I decided to go with everyones suggestions and hang out by a warm fire instead...hey Finn! Move over! Make room for another old dog! :)

And though I love a good hot chocolate I decided to go with something that had a bit more kick.....a nice steamy cup of coffee enhanced with Irish Cream.

If you're a Irish Cream fan I have to tell you about one of the best I've ever had. I've been drinking it now for a couple of years (not very often...whew! the calories!). It's called Knickers and it's imported from Ireland by Hood River Distillers in Hood River, Oregon. It has to be the creamiest, tastiest and most reasonable priced Irish Creams.

Here's wishing you all a beautiful winter Solstice!

Sorry, Boss,.....I won't be in today....

I was a good employee, braving the ice and crazy drivers to make it to work the last couple of days. This morning, however, when my alarm went off at 3 am, I took one look at my Subaru and my Ford truck and said "Nah". There was no way I was going to spend the wee hours of the morning digging out. I actually sent two pics to my boss so he didn't think I was exaggerating.

(As always, click on the pic to "bigify")

The Subaru....

and my Ford truck.....


I drank a couple of nice hot cups of coffee preparing myself for my chores. I put on polar fleece pants, waterproof shell pants, a sweatshirt, wool Cowichan Sweater, snow coat, hat, wool socks, Caribou packs and gloves. Went outside, strapped my snowshoes on and away I went.

Why is it when you are going out to do chores in the snow it's not as enjoyable as when you're just out playing in the snow? It's the same beautiful, powdery stuff....

The dogs definitely know how to enjoy it.....

Finn...


This is the usual pic I get of Kylie.....I dream of the day when I have a digital camera that can take serious movement shots!


Though every now and then I can stop her in action....



Sheba, I think, believes she is in camouflage, hoping the other dogs won't pester her if they can't see her....


What's this? Harley? Are you trying out some camouflage too?:)

Nah, he's just getting into his "work"....

So, down over the hill we go to the barn.



Jasmine has been a bored donkey. She managed to bust up one of the water buckets pretty good. Easy to do when it's 16 degrees out. She plowed a few trails in the paddock which the young ewes and Uncle Carl used rather than breaking their own.






Jasmine did NOT like my snow outfit, especially those scary looking snowshoes!

I fed and gave fresh buckets of water to Duncan's group of Shetland ewes....

Then Lawrence and his girls....


Checked on the chickens, gave them more food and a pan of water. Everyone was crammed into the coop, even the guineas, turkeys and peacocks who normally roost outside.

The male peacock decided it was a bit crowded with me in the coop so he went outside. Not sure he thought that was a good decision....

I think I felt the most sorry for the emus, Fred and Ginger.:( I wish I could convince them to stay inside their shelter where it's warmer and helps them keep in their body heat.





I finally had to stop and try and defrost my toes for awhile in the hay room

After everyone was cared for and I had dug out around the gates so I could get in and out easier we headed back up the hill to the house.


Last but not least were the ducks, who managed to keep a small part of the pond defrosted.

Ice is no ones friend when it comes to losing your balance....

I thought I would end this posting with some random shots around Wrensong Farm....







Did I hear someone say that winter wasn't here yet???

I think Winter is early........

More snow.....no temps above freezing for the next week and maybe longer....trying to think positive....great photo opportunities right? I just feel bad for my barnyard animals. :(








If it weren't for my constant worry about my animals I might even have felt sorry for myself. The times I slid backwards down the hill (actually a mountain) yesterday, trying to get home and wound up stuck sideways with the sphincter factor definitely going (the drop off on one side of the switchback would definitely be the end of me....and that was the way my vehicle was pointing), then the almost three hour wait to have my snow tires put on at Les Schwabs.....to the 3 hours spent getting my new braces on my teeth.....(hello Ugly Betty!).


But then I do make it home, I get to admire the snowy valley.....






Then there are the dogs, who definitely know how to enjoy a brisk day!





I hope I continue to think positive and I'm sure hoping everyone across the US (and anywhere else it's really cold now) are managing to stay warm!