Cold Days

Yesterday was blustery cold.  22 degrees when we first went out for chores.  By afternoon, the temperature had risen to 40.  How does everyone spend these chilly days?

Why, munching, of course.

Who is that peeking out from the pig house?

Two sheepy girls- who have found that the pigs' bedding can also serve as an easy source of snack food.

Meanwhile, sound asleep in the cozy warm corner surrounded by toasty warm sheep in wooly sweaters (the perfect fluffy insulation from cold winds... not to mention the warm heat lamp hanging overhead).  It's pure piggy heaven on a chilly day.

As for me.... this is my heaven on a cold day.

Tyler was my sidekick for the day yesterday.  He helped with chores...

and practiced driving the gator (can you believe he is old/big enough to do this?). 

We hiked the dragon-tree trail and scoped out all of the spots where the gnome houses will eventually sit.

As you can see, Bobby is always eager to accompany us on a hike.

We also spent a little time working on a watercoloring tutorial of this sheep...  Tyler's drawing/painting is on the right.  He loves to do artwork, too... so I am sure we will spend many hours together exploring this subject.

Why is it that my motivation for making Christmas gifts happens right about now and continues after the holidays?  I only wish that I got this bolt-of-lightening inspiration in June.  Then, I could have oodles of
wonderful handmades ready for Christmas.  As it is... I have so many ideas for cute little handmade gifts and not enough time to bring them to fruition.  

Every day I received emails with more ideas from my creative sources.  Fun little projects like these...tiny tree ornaments, or toppers for a wine bottle... Personally, I love anything with a pom-pom.

or this cozy, old-fashioned Christmas stocking...

Both patterns are available from Churchmouse Yarns.  I have made several of their patterns over the years and always love the end results!

I have decided that 2022 is going to be handmade year.  I am starting to work on Christmas gifts beginning on January 1st and continuing all year long.  This may be a hard-to-achieve goal as gardening eventually takes precedence.  Perhaps I just need a longer autumn season.  Well, I can't change time... so I guess I will just have to work on motivation!

While we are on the subject of creativity... Hubbs has started another gnome house.  This one he has made in the shape of a gnome hat.  It will sit on a particular stump that looks like a gnome head - complete with nose and ears.  I will paint eyes on the stump and then we will add this hat, painted red, of course.  I also think it needs a bell to hang from the tip of the hat.  

It wasn't until Hubbs' retirement that we realized we make a pretty good creative team!