I had a fantastic and blessed Christmas with my three wonderful kids and husband. Here's some photos from over the holidays to share.
My two beautiful girls enjoying a skate at the arena.
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My apologies for disappearing for the past ten days! I did not intend to but with last minute Christmas shopping, family gatherings, Christmas, kitchen renovations, a heating system that went on the fritz, plus squeezing in as much free skating over the holidays at the local rinks, I've been overly busy. I had every intention of at least coming on to wish everyone a merry christmas but again, life got in the way. So it's a little late, but Merry Christmas to all my blog friends and visitors and I hope you had a wonderful and safe holiday surrounded by those you love. I had a fantastic and blessed Christmas with my three wonderful kids and husband. Here's some photos from over the holidays to share. My two beautiful girls enjoying a skate at the arena. The boy finally learns to skate!! Yay, this was a big event. He's a late learner but I knew this would be his year. He was determined. Santa stopped in at the barn again this year and left all the barn critters treats in their stockings. And, of course, in the house as well. The boy was ecstatic to get everything Penguins, his favourite team after the Leafs, thanks to Sid the Kid. The girls are older now and have part-time jobs and buy everything they need, so we keep it simple for them but they always act like it was the best gift ever. Love them! The three spoiled pooches also got stockings under the tree. Hubby got a new snowsuit that he loved so much he refused to take it off! And I got a new barn coat and hat. We had a green Christmas afterall which was good for those travelling. My inlaws and my sister and her family came for a visit, but we were able to avoid any travelling ourselves this year. We've lost a couple barn critters including Coco, the chocolate muscovy duck (very disappointing) who got stuck under the ice in the pond and drowned as well as one of the Brahma chickens who we were unsure of their gender, we found him also floating in the pond. Not sure what happened there. Plus a couple more chickens to unknown causes. The cold weather I'm sure is the major factor in the death in all of them. Next winter I will be better prepared.
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Look what has happened to my snow! It up and left...ten days before Christmas! How rude. No matter, me and the boy tried to get into the Christmas spirit by building a gingerbread house. We had big ambitions. That fell apart. I'm no baker. So I headed outside to do some productive work. The boy snapped a photo of me to show that I actually do chores around the place and not put all my kids to work...but heck, if I can, I sure am! He might have cut off my head, but honestly, it's me. And though I may want snow for Christmas, I don't miss it when it comes to cleaning the coop. The barn is toasty warm but the hen house is freezing so having mild temperatures while cleaning it out has been nice. That's Buffy, our youngest chicken keeping me company. She's a home girl, not a fan of leaving the nest to venture out into the great big world...or at least my yard. Even when I scooted her out and blocked the entrance to lay some fresh shavings down, she was right at the door watching and waiting. And lastly, I had decided awhile ago that these two were roosters. I already have a brahma, Sophie, who I know is a hen (pretty sure she's laying) and these two outgrew her quickly, have those long necks that Sophie doesn't have and one has had attitude from the moment it arrived at our farm as a day old chick. So I was certain I had two brahma roosters on my hand. But then I was speaking to someone the other day and they reminded me of something. Something that appears to be noticeably missing. My roosters lack spurs. The bad news is I may be down two roosters. The good news is I may be up two hens.
We went out yesterday to find the perfect Griswold Christmas Tree. As in the movie I took a grumpy child hiking in the woods looking for the perfect tree. Hubby brought his saw and went out in serious pursuit. There was a nice layer of snow on the ground to make it look Christmasy, but there was more water and mud then there was snow. Whereas the boys wore rubber boots, I was only wearing hiking boots since back where we live (which really wasn't that far) we have zero amount of snow. Though the boots got very wet they did a pretty good job of keeping my feet dry but I wasn't about to chance it through some of those huge puddles. The boy, naturally, fell in one and increased his misery of the occassion. In the end we did manage to find a tree (up at the front on the tree lot, haha), and boy even managed to produce a smile for the camera.
Have you started yet? Finished? I'm nearly done except for the tree. We are getting a fresh tree this year and hopefully (if we can find a place) cut it down ourselves. We have woods not far from our farm and we were hoping to find a tree in there, but there wasn't a single pine tree to be found. Odd. The previous owners had planted a bunch of douglas fir trees around the one side of the property but they are only babies...and a pain in the butt to mow around, so would only be too happy to cut one down, but they are far from ready. Meanwhile, I gathered a bunch of pine branches from the mature pine trees on the property to hang some swags throughout the house. This year I added some cinammon sticks to give that fresh baked smell along with the scent of pine. But I'm not smelling anything. Anyone know if I'm suppose to do something to the sticks to get that aroma flowing? I love decorating the mantle. And how cozy Christmas lights can make a room look. (My boy keeps reminding me to take down the fall wreath in the back of the room, and as soon as I find something to replace it with I will.) I'm not a fan of old farmhouses...except at Christmas time. Nothing says old-fashion country Christmas than an old farmhouse lit up for the season. And this year, we had a barn to also decorate. All that is missing now is the snow. And our tree.
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