Brrr!

As I type tonight, it is -19C outside which is pretty nippy for mid-December! And we also got our first real snow dump yesterday and today. Not huge, but a good 15 - 20 cm. Today I strapped on my snowshoes for the first time this season and headed out for a walk. The dogs get so excited in fresh snow! I wonder if they like the new smells? From the way they roll in it, I know they like the feel!

Sophie hurtling towards me with a big smile on her face. She is so well-muscled, and can run like the wind.

It was only around 3:45 pm but it's getting dark early these days!

Creek not yet frozen over. I saw a blue heron on it just the other day.

That's the moon peeking through the very top of the tree.

Snowshoes!

I just love the late afternoon light at the time of year.

Ye olde barn. I let the chickens run around the downstairs for about an hour this afternoon before shutting them back in the coop.



Can you spot the five deer?

Click on photo to enlarge.

They were snacking on leftover soybeans! Our tenant farmer missed a patch when he was harvesting in October. The deer and wild turkeys love soybeans.

I'm trying to wrap my head around Christmas and all that. My mother-in-law is coming for a few days, so we want to make it nice for her (and for us!) It is very weird getting Christmas AND sympathy cards all at once. Gordon suggested a new type of card, the Chrympathy card. I said that Hallmark wouldn't like it as it would halve their business. Better to sell two cards than one!

Stay warm!

PS: Did I mention that after getting back from a week in Toronto, I found a severed mouse head in front of my washing machine? I think the cats were none too pleased with my absence!