~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

~NOVEMBER~

November...  where the landscape is  stark...our once colorful scenery is now stripped down to it's bare bones..

 darkness comes early...

with the wood stove keeping the evening chill at bay...

November...where turkeys appear...

  the fragrance of drying  apples and oranges  fill the old homestead...

 cranberry relish for Thanksgiving is in the making...

November is the month when we begin feeding the birds... also the month  my battle with the squirrel population begins...

 aging and blind, Winslow Homer remains a strong presence here at Dog Trot Farm...

 Sadie Mae I fear remains forever lost...my belief is a house is not a home without a kitty...

So here's my question, is it to soon for me to look for a furry friend? Please let me know how what you think...Oh...last Thursday... snowflakes!!!

~HALLOWEEN EVE~

Wet... dark and dreary was Halloween Eve...ghosts and goblins, sadly did not appear...nor witches on broomsticks... pumpkins remained faceless...faux pumpkins with battery powered candles used instead...



Our little train engineer... with favorite blanket in hand...was readied to visit his maternal  grandparents... 

 Today, November 1st finds temperatures in the seventies...late October's "trick" on "us"  The wind is howling, temperatures soon to dip...tomorrow...I'll pack Halloween away and bring those Christmas totes to the forefront...