Night and Day

We are checking in from beneath a mountain of snowy flour.  Yes, we have been baking up a storm, cooking soups, lasagna, etc. and getting food into the freezer for the upcoming holiday season.  Being able to visit with overnight guests without the pressure of all of the holiday cooking will be a luxury this year.  All it takes is a little early preparation and lots of freezer storage!

We've been enjoying a week of beautiful sunshine and daily highs in the 40's.  Hunting season is over and we are back in the woods once again.  Oh, how I missed those walks!  And so did the dogs!  The puddles left from Sunday's rain are beginning to disappear - finally.  We had a few very soggy days here!

I snapped a few photos the other evening while the dogs and I were outside for the final feeding.  Winter evenings are so peaceful... especially this week with no bright moon to light up the sky.  I am sometimes asked if I am scared outside in the night by myself.  

I actually love the night and love being outside when it is dark and peaceful.  As for fear... well, I always have three dogs for company, so... no.  I always tell my grandchildren that there is no difference between night and day except for the sun's presence or absence.

A study in light and dark....

Can you see why I love the dark?

During last evening's walk, the dogs were quite excited about something up this tree.

I shone my headlamp into the top branches and saw this...

Great escape, buddy!!

We have finished the Christmas village and train set.  It's ready for our young engineers.  How they love working the train and making it whistle!  It's several hours of work to get set up - but the smiles make every minute worth it!

PS:   I apologize for taking a while to answer this question (I forgot).  The pecan snowball cookie that I make is this recipe.