❄️ Wintery Weekend ❄️

Winter arrived this weekend, without fanfare or parties.  It arrived Saturday, bringing with it a serene silence and a fresh dusting of snow.  Nature is hushed, as if holding its breath in anticipation of the season's magic.  The landscape, once a vibrant tapestry of autumn colors has transformed into a tranquil winter wonderland.  

And though Christmas is nigh, I couldn't help but feel the quiet contemplative nature of the season this past week.  The land, lying dormant now, replenishes its energies for the growing season that seems so far away.  I, too, am using this time to allow stillness to seep into my soul.   Sadly, we missed having our family Christmas celebration this past weekend - Jack had a nasty case of the flu and is just now starting to feel a little better.  In spite of that, we took time to sit in front of the fire and enjoy our Christmas tree...

and the rest of the festive decorations that have been under-appreciated this year. 

Thanks to a couple sweet farm friends, there are now a few mushrooms hanging on our tree!!  Thank you!

 The Christmas village and train waits, silently, for our Littles.   They will spend some time here at the farm later this week while their parents work - and the train will be a highlight for them.

It has gotten extremely cold these past few days... temperature dipped into the single digits at night time.  Extra helpings of hay, fueling their internal furnaces, help to keep the equines warm on days like these.

The cold doesn't seem to bother the chickens.  They fluff up their feathers, becoming twice their normal size, to keep a layer of insulating heat next to their bodies.  Everyone takes the opportunity to graze in the afternoon sun.  Although, with the sun the furthest away from us than the rest of the year, there is precious little heat radiating from it.

Daily walks continue.  

They help to keep this active pup (and us) sane.  

Late Friday afternoon, as it snowed, Forrest and I headed into the woods for a long walk.  As we headed towards the woods, a bald eagle flew across our path towards the woods.  Then later, as we entered one of the side trails in the woods, he flew from his perch above our heads and continued on his way.  Bald eagle sightings are becoming more and more common in our area - thanks to The Endangered Species Act (federal legislation), reintroduction programs have helped to increase their population in our area.

Anytime we ask Forrest, "Do you want to go for a walk in the woods?" he goes a little crazy.  I believe it is his most favorite thing in the whole world.  It doesn't matter how quietly we say it... his ears prick up and he's ready.  So, if we are planning that as an activity later in the day we use code.  Jack and I will say something to each other like, "how about a W in the W later today?"  So far, Forrest doesn't know the alphabet.  Who knows, one of these days he may understand a few letters!

Friday's solitary walk (just Forrest and I) was relatively calm.  He darted off trail a couple of times in search of who knows what, but quickly returned.  He seems a bit more timid when the other dogs are not with us.

Much of the time he was focussed on finding the biggest stick to play "keep away" with.

Everything is a game!  Happy winter, all.  And a very Merry Christmas to you!