~MERRY CHRISTMAS~

MERRY CHRISTMAS...

FROM ALL US CHICKS AT DOG TROT FARM...

~A DECEMBER DAY~

As the temperature climbs above freezing one brave soul ventures from the confines of the hen house...everyone appears to be getting along and egg production has increased...always a positive sign of contentment...

 Evidence remains from late night visitors...deer tracks are detected close to the coop... multiple trails leading  from one field to the next are evident... along with depressions in the snow which disclose popular bedtime sites...

 Travis and I make time for outside play...

 Winslow Homer would rather guard the playroom...

 Yes, I, Wo Wo, turned another year older this week...Wo Wo is the title Travis has given me ...Now, I don't know where or how he came up with this, but what Mr. Dog Trot and I find interesting... Wo Wo is what Travis's dad Tristan called his older brother Kristopher...only time will tell if I will  be called GRANNY...but I rather like Wo Wo...

  I am learning first hand, growing old is not for the faint of heart...this morning... I underwent  a procedure called Vnus Closure for varicose veins...the procedure took about an hour... my leg resembles the leg lamp from the movie " A Christmas Story"... Tomorrow I can remove the bandage and don the old lady prescription compression stockings ...while it's nice to get the procedure over with, I still have Christmas errands to address...

 As darkness finds us...rain is on it's way...

  and an ice storm is heading our way... power outages are  expected...preparations will be addressed

 but tonight, with my leg elevated... I'll be watching It's A Wonderful Life...

Tomorrow at 12:11 PM, winter officially arrives...

~TWO WORDS~

SEVENTEEN BELOW!

~MONDAY MORNING~

We weathered Sunday's snow storm and are preparing for yet another...

more snow is predicted for tomorrow evening...but...tonight... the temperature will dip into negative digits...Now I ask you, don't ya just wish you lived in Maine? Stay warm...

~SNOWED IN~

Let is snow...

 Let it snow...

 Let it snow...

 Fa la la la la...la la la

~SNOW~

In the darkness of the night snow begins to fall...

 The first major snowstorm of the season has begun...ten to eighteen inches of snow has been predicted...we here at the homestead are nicely nestled in...the wood box has been topped off...and after a day of running errands I join Winslow Homer next to the wood stove...It is an evening for wrapping Christmas presents and watching favorite Christmas movies...Mr. Dog Trot heads to bed early...he has been a bit under the weather...the cold and flu season has arrived...I enjoy the enchantment of my warm surroundings...a mug of hot cocoa in hand and watch the snow flakes dance outside my window...It remains to be seen just exactly how much snow we will receive...but this I know, Mr. Dog Trot will rise early and a day of snow plowing will begin...

~PAST AND PRESENT~

As I sit to admire our Christmas tree..Winslow Homer has tucked himself as near to the wood stove as possible...Andy Williams sings holiday songs in the background...my mind wanders...I remember when I was a young teenager I wanted to marry Andy Williams...I think of Christmas's past and present... 

Christmas is to me a time of sentiment...a time to remember those who have touched our lives and those who... sadly... are no longer with us...December is my favorite month...it  is the month of my birth...but also the month of death... Both sets of grandparents, maternal and paternal ( as well as my dear mother in-law) passed away in the month of December... I find the goodness of this month...December is joyous... it is filled with "hustle and bustle" and the offering of  goodwill to men...It is a time to help those less fortunate...Here at Dog Trot we choose to support local animal shelters and play Secret Santa to the elderly ....I fondly recall those magical childhood Island Christmas's where Thumbelina, Chatty Cathy, Barbie, The Dating Game and Creepy Crawlers came into my life...December meant skating at the "Marsh" on long  moon lit nights...sledding down Roars hill...and building snow forts with my brother...we were "outside" kids...As children we happily participated in our school play and Sunday school pageant...knowing Santa would be making his grand entrance where  each child were given small gifts...Things have certainly changed since those days... I make a point of saying "Merry Christmas"...after all it is the birth of the Christ child...I have much to be thankful for... a loving family... a warm home...food to fill my belly...and most importantly Travis Lloyd who is doing his best to keep me young...December is the month of giving thanks and I thank my lucky stars every day...for both the past and present...   

~WINTER~

I prefer winter and fall,



when you feel the bone structure of the landscape.

Something waits beneath it; the whole story doesn't

show...

~Andrew Wyeth~



~IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE~

In the blink of an eye winter arrived...a few inches of soft white snow coats the cold earth...My flock of fifteen remain warmly nestled in their coop...on cold nights such as these I use a heat lamp to add to their warmth and well being...as with anything there are pros and cons concerning the use of a heat lamp, but it works for me and my birds...I was never much of a winter fan, summer was my season..but, over the years my attitude about winter changed...as I recall it began when I started having hot flashes...need I say more...

 I now relish the cold weather...I don't mind living in long underwear for the next four months..."layering" is the key to surviving and enjoying the great outdoors...Soon there will be snow shoeing, cross country skiing and ice fishing to enjoy...but most importantly... introducing Travis Lloyd to the fine art of making snowman...When Travis grabs my finger and says "snow, boot, out"...I don't hesitate...I gather our winter finest together, the mittens, hats, ski pants, sweaters, coats...twenty minutes later (on a good day) we are out the door...Ah, the joy of winter it's just beginning...

 

~SUNDAY STILLS~

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...In the wee hours of Saturday morning the snow softly fell...just a dusting... but enough to cover the landscape...

 Sunday...the temperature has dropped...winter is now  close at hand...

 The old homestead is donned in her holiday finest...

 Byers  Carolers...a Santa painting by artist Lori Brechlin of Notforgotton Farm...a wooden shoe brought home years ago from Denmark...

 

a  tinsel tree...

Shadows of the day arrive early...December is quickly passing...I stay away from the mall...I keep the true meaning of Christmas in my heart and thank God for Amazon...Good afternoon from Dog Trot Farm...

~TIS' THE SEASON~

I hope each and everyone of you...my friends...had a lovely Thanksgiving holiday...We here at Dog Trot Farm enjoyed a wonderful day with family and friends...Bright and early Friday morning...with the aroma of turkey still lingering in the air...I joined my parents and headed down the bay to Long Island, my childhood home...It was a windy, brisk, cold day... but beautiful nonetheless...

The main item on the agenda, putting up and decorating the Christmas tree...Now, for many years my parents had a live Christmas tree, one cut from their surrounding property...as the years passed artificial trees came into the picture..one Christmas it was a white Christmas tree... naturally offsetting my mother's beautiful Christopher Radko and Old World ornaments...this year it is a tall, slim tree... equally as stunning...(my mother will probably kill me for telling you she picked this tree up off  the side of the road...yes, it was in a box that said "free for the taking") 

Sunday,  I boarded the noon ferry for my return trip to the mainland...Once back at Dog Trot Farm the boxes, bulbs and bangles quickly made their appearance... soon the Christmas tree was up...The month of December is such a busy time of year,  I attempt to remain committed to enjoying each and every moment...however rushed and hectic it may become...

The Tasha Tudor advent calender is in place and as you may have noticed I have neglected to open it's windows for December... day one and two...Travis LLoyd and I became so busy making cookies...we completely forgot... Mr. Dog Trot has been busy too... the sawdust has been flying down in his workshop...  a special Christmas present is under construction for Travis...Christmas after all, comes from the heart...

but... thank goodness  this jolly old fella comes to help us out...

Believe...always believe in the magic that is Christmas...

~THANKSGIVING ~

Like most of you I spent the majority of my day in the kitchen... I had a little helper named Travis Lloyd...

While I worked on Thanksgiving pies...Travis worked on his first Thanksgiving art project...a footprint turkey...after a bit of trial and error...

 his project was complete...

 the dough was rolled...

 into the oven the pies go... soon the kitchen was filled with the scent of cinnamon and spice...



The turkey has thawed, the stuffing is made... tomorrow we will give thanks and then we will indulge... of course some of us more than others...Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving...Warm regards, Julie...

~CHRISTMAS AT THE WALKER HOMESTEAD~

The Walker Homestead...

The Walker Homestead is an ancient old house, located off the beaten path in Brookfield, Mass.  It's owner's are dedicated to creating an 18th century experience while offering primitive wares and antiques...

The homestead, is a typical old New England home, it's rooms small with low ceilings...the Homestead was decorated simply for it's Christmas open house with fresh greens, berries, dried fruit swags, candles...and the presence of Father Christmas...I enjoyed touring the old house with it's wide pine floors and large fireplace...I was however, disappointed in the open house...it was a three hour drive from Maine to Brookfield, our visit lasted perhaps twenty minutes...

I did however, enjoy meeting the peafowl...I may not have purchased anything...but I did come home with an idea if you will...

I think a pair of peafowl would look pretty darn good here at Dog Trot Farm...what do you think?

~HAPPY BIRTHDAY~

Winslow Homer...

Today we celebrate Winslow Homer's thirteenth birthday, it is a milestone birthday one Mr. Dog Trot and I thought Winslow might never reach...Three years ago our boy became extremely ill...after much testing and many needle pricks Winslow was  diagnosed with diabetes, a failing liver, and to top it off a collapsible trachea...we were informed  that Winslow was living on borrowed time... well...I am happy to report It has been three years since we were given that grim news... Winslow Homer may be a blind senior citizen, but thanks to modern medicine and dedicated care, our family remains intact...I am  grateful and thankful for each and every day  Winslow Homer remains in my life...after all he is the "Dog who Trots" at Dog Trot Farm...Happy Birthday Day Winslow Homer  we love you...

~A NOVEMBER DAY~

~November~

"November comes and November goes,

with the last red berries and the first white snow;

With night coming early, and dawn coming
late, and ice in the bucket and frost by the
gate.
The fires burn, and the kettles sing,
and earth sinks to rest until next spring."
~Elizabeth Coatsworth~

 Mother Nature has given us a gift...a delightful day in which the temperature reached sixty-five degrees...It's November in Maine...no snow, no ice, no frost...no need for a fire in the wood stove ... As I enjoyed a late afternoon walk... a small flock of geese flew over head ...their honk, loud and clear...  procrastinators heading south...time is fleeting...we are smack in the middle of November...and this is Maine after all...where the weather can change in the blink of an eye...

~PERHAPS NEXT TIME~

Today, I made a visit to our local animal rescue league...It is the same shelter where I befriended and eventually adopted two of my cats  "Sweet Emma Lou" and "Sadie Mae"...prior to my visit I did a bit of online  research viewing the stats on the cats available at the shelter with hopes that one might like to make their forever home here at Dog Trot Farm...

Our new family member would need to adapt and accept the presence of  old and blind Winslow Homer...he or she would be required to put up with the occasional "chicken in the house" and tolerate an inquisitive eighteen month old ... last, but most importantly agree to be an INDOOR only cat...with the disappearance of Sadie Mae INDOORS is a must...My hope was to connect with an older cat or perhaps a pair of older bonded cats... Like most of you I adore kittens, but  kittens with all their cuteness  typically have no issue finding a forever home and are soon adopted after their arrival...it is the  older/senior cats  which are most in need...I adopted Emma Lou at the age of five, Emma lived to the ripe old age of  21...My research contained  the names of six cats,  male and female, their average age between 10  to 12 years...To my unexpected surprise five of the cats on my list had been adopted, (good for them!)  one cat remained...however... was unavailable for adoption due to an unexpected illness..Sadly... I came home empty handed...I know eventually I'll find the kitty who is out there waiting for me...I'll just have to be patient and give it some more time...Sadie Mae we miss you...

~AND THAT'S HOW IT BEGINS~

My attempt to remain true to the Thanksgiving Holiday has begun to waver...each year I commit myself to enjoying THE holiday...that is...one at a time... with no infringement upon the other...but, that all flew out the window yesterday morning...you see we here in Southern Maine woke to a temperature of eighteen degrees...it was my signal to gather boughs, greens and berries...time was of the essence, the window boxes needed to be filled before the dirt froze...next... 

... to take the cold morning chill off  the old homestead... the wood stove was lit...deciding it would be rather nice  to have a pot of spices simmering...the aroma of Christmas soon filled the air...along with Andy Williams singing an old favorite... White Christmas...



and just like that...a bit of greenery made it's way to the windowsill...

...a little house emerges from storage...

along with a favorite snowman...



soon to follow...a Christmas rug...and that's how it begins...one Christmas item leading to the next...

 you're on a roll...an old stuffed cloth turkey now shares it's space with a lit... but undecorated... twig Christmas tree...

~VETERNS DAY~

 Veteran's Day...a day to honor and remember this nation's men and women, both past and present,

 who have put their lives on the line to keep our country free...It is a day to say thank you, a day to remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice... 

~As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.~ John F. Kennedy