Visit from Jack

The frost performs its secret ministry, Unhelped by any wind. - Samuel Taylor Coleridge


Well, it seems that the seasons have finally straightened themselves out.  We have a gorgeous frost on the ground this morning and I froze my butt off turning the chickens out.


I just went out to take a picture of the frost and had a bufflehead land on the pond, so I didn't get the picture, but watched him for about 15 minutes.  Now I really am cold, but it was worth it.


We had a wonderful day after thanksgiving open house.  Friends and family stopped by for a nosh and a josh.  The spread was pretty wonderful.  Jim cooked one of his heritage turkeys and all pronounced it the best.  We had ranch style beans, sweet potato casserole, sweet potato cookies, sweet potato pie and deep fried sweet potato chips, which were also a big hit.  I couldn't make them fast enough.  We had triple chocolate cookie balls, organic radishes (I ate so many of these I had a tummy ache the next day, then promptly ate some more), divinity, spinach dip, queso and chips, pound cake, sausage balls, and on and on.  Oh yeah, and wine.


I played hooky from church on Sunday and decorated the house for Christmas.  I used to think that is was so early, but my attitude has changed.  I love this time of year and love putting the decorations up.  Our poor artificial tree has seen better days, but it has so much tradition, I can't bear to get a new one.

Santaaaaaaaa

Many stockings

I TOLD Santa there would be trouble

Santa quackers

The mantle

I am going to the gym each morning, except I didn't go on monday and tuesday cause I was on egg patrol.  There is another rogue nest out there and I can't find it.  I spent monday and tuesday all morning watching the cockers and nothing.  It's very frustrating.  The one I found last week they abandoned as soon as I raided it.  They are getting smarter.

Jim shot a doe on saturday so he could have one in the freezer.  He collected a big bag of scraps from the bones for the chickens and they can't get enough.  Apparently, even with the drought, there are fat deer to be had.  This one had been eating our friendly neighborhood organic farmer's cover crop.

Oops, time for the gym, so more later.

bak bak