ICE FISHING

On this frigid January morning DH and I don our long underwear, flannel jeans and layer up. Our instructions were to head to Tricky Pond in Naples Maine and look for the ice shack in the distance. Wrong ice shack, we are now informed it is painted red.Okay, spied the red ice shack....
and a newly drilled hole....

and bait on the line....
Notice the pink ice trap, made in Maine.

The cutie tending the trap is Megan, our youngest son's girlfriend...

and as we say in Maine, this gal is a "keepa."

IT'S HERE!

Finally, the surprise for the girls arrived on Saturday. Winslow was the first to inspect the arrival, just to let you know he was not impressed- I on the other hand was very excited.
Pip, my lovely girl you are to be my first victim, um
let me rephrase that, my first student- okay how about model.

Now girls, be patient everyone
will have a turn in due time.

Wait till you see it, it's quite pretty- if I do say so.

That's correct, one day soon you'll be walking through this door

Really, I'm not kidding you'll be able to listen to Imus In The Morning with me, maybe share a bowl of oatmeal, yes you can have blueberries too.

Ta Da......

Yes that's right a diaper! now aren't you impressed? But girls it has flowers on it....

Girls where did ya go, Pip oh Pip.....

Oh Pip my pretty girl you'll look lovely in black, I promise.

DIGGING OUT

Here at Dog Trot Farm we are digging out from under fifteen inches of new snow. I personally have been digging my way back to the land of the living. For the past month I have had a headache, yes you read that correctly a month. Monday it turned into a severe migraine, cluster, tension headache. Coming from stubborn and stoic stock, I felt I could win this battle on my own. Wrong by 4:15 Monday I was in urgent care, and then proceeded to the CT scanner. Being that it was late in the day the radiologist was long gone. This urgent care doc was wonderful, my CT scan was sent via technology to New Zealand, you read that correctly, and by the time I walked through my door, there was a message waiting for me. The results were normal and I now had an appointment with a Neurologist Tuesday the next morning. I am not a huge fan of pharmaceuticals, but after this experience I will gladly administer anything that brings relief. Hence my lack of computer and blog time. The medications are beginning to provide relief, but I still have a ways to go.

With all that said and done, I would like to express my thanks to Leslie from the wonderful blog "In The Shadow Of Juniper Hill " honoring me with a Best Blog Award. My small blog can not compare to some, but I do enjoy sharing my stories from Dog Trot Farm. I have found so many wonderful blogs each different and unique in their own way. I enjoy them all. As soon as my head returns to normal I will complete the conditions to the award. I also want to thank cousin Eve, who posted the award for me via technology, she's my go to tech gal, and with a brain like mine I need all the help I can get!!!

S-N-O-W

Winter has found it's way back to Dog Trot Farm. Ten inches of snow fell over night and is still coming down. Not a good morning to be out and about. Winslow Homer has returned to his bed and the "girls" are "hunkered" down in their coop. DH is off plowing and it's time for me to start the snow blower. Good news, we have 27 minutes of extra daylight! Hope the sun is shining in your neck of the woods.

HEN HOUSE RAMBLES

That girl of mine- she just can't keep a secret. She ran to the hen house just as fast as her little legs would carry her.

Before I knew it the "girls" were at the front door. Henny Penny wanted to know if what she had heard was true. "Why yes my dear it is and you may be the first to try it out". That is all I'm going to say about that till the mystery gift arrives.
Next time Henny Penny I think you might want to consider flossing before I snap your picture.

My Christmas Amaryliss is in full bloom and such a welcomed sight.

My motivation for crafting has been lacking. It does help however, reading all the wonderful blogs that offer such interesting crafting ideas and inspiration, you all put me to shame. I did manage to find my dye pot and proceeded to dye more wool for my "Emma" rug. The sky this evening was just beautiful

and did you notice the days are getting longer?!
Now where is my Johnny Seeds Catalog.

WINTER DAYS

Winter scenes to warm one's heart. Little did I realize how much pleasure, happiness and entertainment chickens would offer us here at Dog Trot Farm.

An angel keeps watch over my snow covered herb garden. Plants are still asleep, however with Springs impending arrival new life will once again surge forth.

A lovely old covered bridge located not far from our home. In my mind's eye I am drawn back in time to the sights and sounds of images of long ago. I wonder about the people who lived in the area and those who crossed this bridge daily. With the quiet of winter my mind day dreams. While standing in this quiet surrounding you can almost hear the clip- clopping of horses travelling by.

Winter days, they are perfect for daydreaming.

CRANBERRY BANANA BREAD

This morning (or to be truthful early this afternoon) I collected eggs. My "girl's" are not morning layers, but have usually finished up by one o'clock in the afternoon.Yesterday I had been looking through my cookbooks for a CRANBERRY BANANA BREAD recipe with little luck. I sat at my computer and began to google when "low and behold" "OLDE CROW PRIMITIVES" had just offered a recipe on her blog. Exactly what I had been searching for. I gathered the ingredients, however, I did not have cardamon which this recipe called for, but substituted fresh orange zest instead. I have to state I love anything with cranberries- granola, stuffing, muffins, homemade cranberry relish, cranberry raisin pie, so I just had to add a few more cranberries than this recipe called for. Just a few mind you.

An hour later the breads were out of the oven and on the cooling rack. My kitchen smelled amazing and believe me when I say this is a delicious recipe. I definitely will make this again. Now, go check out "OLDE CROW PRIMITIVES" and make some of these breads for yourself. Don't forget to add cardamon to your grocery list, I have.

DAY DREAMING

These cold winter days find me sitting close to the wood stove daydreaming. Not dreams of future flower gardens or new vegetable seedlings, or even new rug hooking patterns, but of new feathered friends. Saturday I received my Hobby Farm and Hobby Home magazines, but look what else arrived in my mailbox, Murry McMurray Hatchery Catalog. Perusing this catalog can't help but put a smile on one's face.

And lookie here: Frizzles. I fell for the frizzle the first time I laid eyes on one at our local county fair. Their appearance looks as if it had been caught in a windstorm and their feathers blown backwards. Or as if one had stuck it's feather in an electrical outlet and the end result was the curly effect.

And then there is the fancy Top Hatter Polish. This bird appeared a little high strung, but then again most birds appear high strung at the county fair. I'm not sure if the Polish have an attitude or not, but with that mop on their head they certainly deserve one.

I still have a few months to daydream and of course there is a certain someone I need to talk this over with. And no it's not Winslow Homer. But really when you think about it chickens are like shoes, you just can never have to many!

BURRRRRRRRRRRR

On cold days such as these it's kinda nice to lounge on the couch and peruse new books, especially cookbooks. The Pioneer Women Cooks by Ree Drummond is a spectacular cookbook. Not only is it filled with wonderful cowboy tested recipes, but included are glossy photos, step by step instructions, and an insight into her humorous world as a ranch wife and home schooling mother of four. This book is just plain fun, you gotta get yourself a copy! Make It Fast Cook It Slow is the big book of everyday slow cooking by Stephanie O'Dea. In 2008, Stephanie used her slow cooker every single day for one year. This cookbook offers recipes from beverages, breakfast, meatless mains, to desserts and more. Each recipe has been taste tested by her family and in return they offer a "verdict"- some flops and others mainstays. All recipes in this book are gluten free.
Well, If cookbooks don't make you want to head straight to the kitchen pop in the movie Julie and Julia, a wonderfully delightful movie! Meryl Streep is (what else?) "amazing" and Amy Adams just plain "lovable". Now, go tie your apron strings and get the butter out.....

and don't forget to wear your pearls! Bon Appe'tit!

I love this movie!

MAINE WINTER WEATHER

Maine the Pine Tree State... This morning we woke to a temperature of 28 degrees. A normal temperature for the State of Maine this time of year. In Northern Alabama where Eve (my cousin) proprietor of the blog Sunny Side Up now resides it was 18 degrees. I can almost bet she was not SUNNY this morning. I think she believed that relocating to Alabama would put the cold, snowy, tundra of upstate New York behind her. Wrong. I checked out another blogging friend in Florida and you guessed it- a degree colder there than here. Flurries in Miami, what in the world is happening with our climate change. Is it caused by global warming? I'm still on the fence on that subject however, my DH says I blame it all on George, George W. Bush that is. He's right, I do.

WINTER

SQUIRRELS, we have a love hate relationship. Now I don't mind sharing birdseed with them, but it would be nice if they actually did leave some for the birds. Yes, I am talking to you Mr. Squirrel. As you can see we've had to bungee the feeder down. Mr. SQUIRREL has attempted to relocate the feeder to his liking. These rodents can be very crafty. Now enter Winslow Homer, if you mention the word SQUIRREL or spell the word, he becomes a wound up- spring hopping phenom. Out the door he flies and off to the woods the squirrels head with Winslow hot on their heels.

But this morning Winslow just sat there contemplating. I couldn't figure it out. Mr. SQUIRREL however, to his delight enjoyed a very lengthy breakfast.

The day dawned bright Everything was quiet at the coop, no late night shenanigans as far as I could tell.

As I sat looking out my window I decided I am going to enjoy this winter season. I am not going to hurry and take down decorations , I am not going to peruse seed catalogs, I am just going to enjoy winter. I will keep my snowflakes up ...

and sprigs of fir in my Christmas bottles...

I will enjoy looking at my snowman...

who now resides in front of my new little log cabin, a gift from my sweet husband.

My jolly snowmen will fill me with warmth...

and my snowman angel will continue to guard our home

This snowman will put a smile on my face...

and this one will make me feel happy inside... No, I am not going to rush winter. I will enjoy sitting by the wood stove whether it be rug hooking, stitching or reading. I will not be in a hurry to see winter leave. I will take the time to enjoy each and every winter day......