{...my wish...}

...for you all ~

>::<>::<
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We'll be enjoying a pleasant Christmas Eve at our neighbors' house this evening...
but we'll return home in time for a couple rounds of card games and some snacks before retiring for the evening...Santa Claus comes tonight!
AND
ever since I was little, my Mom always told me
that all Animals talk at midnight on Christmnas eve...
So, I always make sure that I'm home
in case there's something someone here might want to tell me!

{of course, having SO many animals here on the farm,
they will have to stand in line and take turns...
not so sure that Suzy my cat will allow that though...,
SHE is the most talkative one in the house anyway!}

Here's how I like to help my animal friends this time of year:

go to your local thrift shop or Goodwill store and purchase some old blankets that may be used as bedding for cats & kittens that may be strays living outside...

Leave some carrots for the riendeer,( ok...the donkeys) apples for the sheep,
or better yet, donate some food to your local animal hospital or pet-adoption agency...

Remember to fill your birdfeeders and birdbaths
{especially if you have snow like we do here!}

Check your dog's footpads in cold weather...
make sure they are not dry & cracked, which can cause severe pain & infection.

Leftover bacon-grease mixed in with some bird food makes a wonderful suet that gives our little feathered friends extra protien that they need to keep warm in frigid temps...put a dollop on an aluminum pan and set out near the birdbath,...watch the feast begin!!

and lastly...

remember to tell them how very special they are to you, and that you love them...

They really do understand every word you say.

for the rest of us,
Peace on Earth & Goodwill toward Mankind...

Lori

{ your new favorite Christmas Cookies...}

Jose Cuervo Christmas Cookies

1 cup of water1
tsp baking soda
1 cup of sugar
1 tsp salt
1 cup of brown sugar
4 large eggs
1 cup nuts
2 cups of dried fruit
1 bottle Jose Cuervo Tequila

Begin:
Sample the Cuervo to check quality.
Take a large bowl,

check the Cuervo again
pour one level cup and drink.
Turn on the electric mixer.
Beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl.

Add one peastoon of sugar.
Beat again.
At this point it's best to make sure the Cuervo is still ok, try anothercup just in case.

Turn off the mixerer thingy.
Break 2 leggs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit.
Pick the frigging fruit off the floor.

Mix on the turner.
If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaters just pry it loose with a drewscriver.

Sample the Cuervo to check for tonsisticity.

Next, sift two cups of salt, or something.
Who geevesa sheet.

Check the Jose Cuervo.

Now shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts..
Add one table.

Add a spoon of sugar, or somefink. Whatever you can find...
Greash the oven.
Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fallover.
Don't forget to beat off the turner.
Finally, throw the bowl through the window,
finish the Cose Juervo and make sure to put the stove in the wishdasher.

Cherry Mistmas !

{ 15 years ago }

our daughter Hannah turned 15 last evening...
(December 20th)

where has the time gone?

15 years ago,
Peter & I were Christmas shopping as I went into labor...
we called the Dr. and he said to continue our day,
as I wasn't ready
...so we did...
we laughed everytime a cashier would ask us:
"how are you today?"
my reply:

"I'm in Labor"
Peter's response:
"...she's not kidding."

15 years ago,
I was magically transformed at 10:00 pm into a Mother...
and I watched my husband fall hopelessly
& forever in Love with his brand new baby girl.

15 years ago,
we brought her home,
dressed her in an elf outfit and placed her under our Christmas tree...

our gift to one another.

15 years ago,
I couldn't have imagined the joy that Hannah brings us everyday:

with her smile, her sense of humor, her clutz-y-ness, her talent for making friends,
and for how she continues to remind me how lucky I am to have her.
{even on the days when she's downright mean-as-a-snake!}
but hey, a teenager has to do what a teenager has to do...
...and she is by far her very own person.

last night I baked chocolate cupcakes
with chocolate frosting for her,
and gifted her with a pair of "footie Pajamas"
...yes, they do make them for adults
{Target stores}
she's adorable in them...

just like she was

15 years ago...

Happy Birthday Sweetheart,
Love forever,
Mom & Dad

{ Snowbound }

it's the Stay-Puffed Marshmallow Man!
{oh...no wait...sorry, that's my husband.}

... snug as a bug in a rug.

can you spot Buddy?
{hint: he's closer than you think}

you're not getting me to sit on that toilet seat in there
...no way...i'll stick fast!

we have about 2 feet of snow...that's not counting the almost 4 foot drifts...

.....and they're telling us the 'heaviest' snowfall will begin today about 11:00....
what?
?????????????????

we're all stocked up on cocoa and popcorn...
candles and kindling...
...wool and kitties.

tell me...
what more could one ask for on such a perfect day?

wishing you all Warm Woolies!!!!
Lori

{ a little flaky...}

I'm happily snugged in the farmhouse today...
awaiting the predicted snowfall this aft of anywhere from 6" ~ 24" !!!!!

not typical weather for this part of the country, but VA has had it's share of snowstorms...

the last "good one" we were blessed with was 6 years ago,
the first winter spent here in this old farmhouse....

At that time, we had not yet renovated, and the walls had no insulation.

nor did we have indoor plumbing, as the septic system went soon after moving in.

we were left with a humongous woodstove, and plenty of woods to peruse for fuel...

we entertained ourselves by keeping the fire lit, and collecting kindling
(on each pass outside to the portable potty that we had to rent until said septic was replaced)

it was a challenge, you could say, for a transplanted Yankee City-girl like me, but I loved it...
when that first snowfall came, and blanketed this old homeplace and it's fields and woods in a good foot of sparkling white snow,
I truly felt like I was 'home',
as it reminded me of my CT winters growing up...

Today, as i sit here typing this, I'm looking out my sewing room window, across the way to my little shop...we've come a long way in the 6 years we've lived here, thanks to the hard work Peter has put into making this our 'forever' home....
I see a barn where there once stood none, housing our animal & chicken friends...
I can see the steel grey sky just waiting to' poof ' that first little snowflake into exsistence..

and I can see our gardens, once lush & green just a few short months ago,

now settling coldly into the deep sleep that can only come from a long Winter's nap

...only to be reborn again, in another few...short months.

Hannah will be coming home early today, and will begin her Winter vacation...
as the snow will fall this aft into eve, we'll bake some cookies and watch some old movies...perhaps take the dogs for a walk in the woods..

...simple country pleasures.

wishing you all the peace that comes from a freshly fallen snow,
the warm hug only your own home can give you
and the companionship of those you love most dear~

Peace & Plenty be Yours today,
Lori