by afternoon the snow had begun to fall yet again....
this my friends is my new means of transportation....
A lace tablecloth used for special occasions on the old farm table....
A German figurine.... my mother in-law shared with me her special memories of horseback riding with her father. Years later when she and my father in-law purchased the farm where my husband grew up she had horses of her own and rode through the fields and woods on what is now our land. She also had a love for and raised Brittney Spaniels.
A pair of eagle mirrors which I have always admired for many years now find a place of honor in our "big room"....
a favorite platter....
Discovered tucked in a bookcase a long forgotten favorite childhood book of my husbands....Mrs Piggle-Wiggle....
and finally two old Christmas ornaments once cherished by my mother in-law will now have a place of honor on our Christmas tree.
What makes an rememberence special is not the monetary value but the heartfelt feelings, special memories that one remembers. I hope you all have cherished possessions of your own, those which tug at your heart and put a smile on your face.
Meanwhile, the snow did fall. It was said to be the storm of the century with eighteen to twenty-four inches of snow predicted. People made their way to the grocery store and gas station in preparation of the big event. You would think by now we would have become accustomed to winter and it's weather....Just look at the people in Chicago, cars stranded and snowed in on Lake Shore Drive. I am so grateful to be snowed in by the wood stove with a cup of warm cocoa in my hand. By three this afternoon the snow came to a halt with the cold temperatures remaining. With the accumulation of last night's snow and today's we have a good fifteen inches of new fallen snow on the ground. During the storm I watched as the birds darted back and forth to the feeders. Such mighty little birds they are.
The Tufted Titmouse....
Chickadee....
Cardinal....
Nuthatch....
During this time of year I make sure our bird feeders and suet holders are always full for our feathered backyard friends. I have to admit Winslow Homer has been know to lug off the suet and secretly dine till his heart's content or till I can manage to get it away from him. Not an easy feat, since being on such a rigid diet Winslow will try and run off with just about anything that is edible. I look at him and sigh, "Winslow Homer, I know how you feel.... dieting is never easy....and that is an understatement"....I hope all of you out there in blog land are safe and sound and nestled in under the roof you call home. Blessings....
"There is a privacy about winter which no other season gives you. Only in winter, can you have longer quiet stretches when you can savor belonging to yourself.
The hot chocolate machine that I discovered at Goodwill has been in full use, what a buy I got for $2.99!! I do admit to the fact that I have been consuming more than my fair share of hot chocolate each day. Ghirardelli's sweet ground chocolate and cocoa is so decadent, but oh so satisfying. Accompanying my hot chocolate was my rug hooking, progress has finally been made in the hooking department. I have finished hooking a mat, a Payton Primitives design. This evening I hope to get the binding pinned and with a little luck completed next week. I need to inquire, am I the only rug hooker who hates this part of the rug hooking process? If you have any tips or suggestions I would be more than happy to receive them.
On a quick note, thank you one and all for the kind and thoughtful comments offered in regards to my post on Winslow Homer. From the bottom of our hearts we thank you. We are so fortunate to have such caring blogging friends, blessings from snowy Maine. ~Julie and Winslow Homer~
Winslow as most of you know is the mascot of Dog Trot Farm, he is the dog with the trot. For the past month there have been many highs and lows regarding Winslow's health. For a brief period our weekly vet. visits began to show much improvement and then a slippery slope of declining health set in. Winslow's blood sugar remained high, as in off the meter high. Our once weekly visit evolved into twice weekly with some all day stays. The word Cushing's disease remained lurking in the conversations with our vet. I had declined to further educate myself on Cushings as I knew it was not going to be good, not an easy disease to treat in dogs. One day as I was checking out an owner brought in a Cairn. Princess was ten, as is Winslow Homer, but appeared much older. In a matter of a week with declining health Princess was diagnosed with diabetes and had become blind. I was looking at the worse case scenario. My heart sank. Along with the diabetes Winslow has a skin condition. Unable to take steroids due to the diabetes Winslow is on a antihistamine. To top it all off he has a collapsible trachea. What was first diagnosed as Kennel cough and then bronchitis turned out to be his trachea. This condition does occur in dogs and treatment could consist of having his trachea rebuilt or as benign as a cough suppressant and stress management. We have opted for the later. Now for the good news, Monday Winslow's blood sugar was near perfect and his heart and lungs sounded clear and strong. No need to see Dr. Rust for two weeks, two weeks....I could jump for joy! Our day begins at 5:30.... breakfast and an insulin shot and one doggie treat between breakfast and dinner. It's difficult, Winslow takes after his human mom we love our treats, but if tough love is going to keep Mr. Winslow Homer with us for a few more years than that is what we are commited to. So there you have it dear friends....today was a good day for both Winslow Homer and myself.
I worry about my ladies on these cold winter days. Not so much from the frigid temperatures mind you, but being "cooped up" day after day with one another. I do worry about their mental well being. Eleven ladies together ....someone I fear will snap. 
In the early afternoon when the sun is highest in the sky I let the girls outside just long enough for me to rake the shavings and fluff their nesting boxes. Hygiene is most important especially in winter. This outing offers the girls ample opportunity for a quick sprint around the house and clean air in their lungs. Bravest of the girls are Fern and Phoebe the silver laced wynadottes. The remaining girls are not so forth coming and take a moment to ponder the situation ....
"Come on Gladys you can do it"....
the situation of course needs to be sized up....
Winslow....lets go out and see the girls....come on lets go get chickens....
He's not thrilled with this snowy winter weather either. Good Boy....
Snow continues to mount on the picnic table....the measurement appears to increase daily....
With another snow storm forecast for mid week it will be spring before these chairs see the light of day.
However, the evening sky sure is pretty when the storm blows away....
Just another day in paradise here at Dog Trot Farm....How is winter treating you in your neck of the woods?
I had hoped I might have the opportunity today to do a bit of rug hooking....maybe get the binding on my crow mat....
or cut some wool for a new runner I have begun....
no.... no such luck.... the better portion of my day was spent with the Toro snow blower....a girls best friend when her DH is out of town on business....
"The summer chair
It is winter in Maine after all....
My Island coat is an old wool Maine Guide coat purchased in the late sixties by my dad. It is one of the warmest coats you'll ever find. My dad kindly relinquished the coat to my mom and she kindly shares it with me. I am often reminded "Julie you never dress warm enough" or "where is your hat" or "do you have something to put on your head"? I myself am a headband type of gal, my hair is so thick and wavy that hats have a way of "popping" off. 
After a walk across Singing Sands beach it is time to check on ELLIOTT the communal Island kitty. Elliott does have a warm home at her disposal however, her preference is to remain "outside". Islanders take the time to check on her and make sure her needs are met.
Elliott is always pleased to see my dad.... first thing in the morning her breakfast is delivered, with treats to be follow in the early afternoon. Believe me when I say Elliott is well cared for. 
A summer resident's vehicle awaits the spring thaw....
As I walked along bird songs filled the air. Chickadee.... Cardinal.... Titmouse.... Blue jay.... Mourning Dove.... Robins....
What a lovely sight to see on such a cold winter's morning....
Magnolia buds....
"In the depths of winter I finally
Evergreen Methodist Church, our Island church....
To complete such a perfect day....a magnificent sunset was waiting for me when I returned home to Dog Trot Farm.
Also waiting.... one hungry husband.... one tail wagging dog....one kitty warming my bed and eleven hens wanting to know when their dinner of hot oatmeal with raisins would be served. Life is grand! 
