A Lil' Christmas

~I'm proud of what I know

and I've learned it the hard way.~

~Barbara Carter 1906~

It seems like it's taken me a very long time to get into Christmas this year. I've got the shopping done, but I still have sewing projects to finish and lil' bit more at the leather bench.

Yesterday I finally got the decorations up...less than a week from Christmas...better late than never?!?

The Sunday Stills photo challenge for yesterday was of course Christmas decorations...and I didn't get my post up. So, I'll do it today.

Juniper and holly. The fresh juniper fills the house with its Christmas fragrance. 

My ag survey job supervisor sent me a box of fresh holly, so I had to take the trip last week to find some juniper trees. This was a fun project!

The 'stand in' fake tree. But with the rich smell from the juniper wreath in the same room, we just pretend it's a real tree!

The wood stove kept me too warm! As I was dusting, cleaning and putting up decorations, I was also sweating! I let the fire go out, but by 3 PM or so it was starting to get chilly again...the temp was all the way down to 68*!!! I like my 75*, so I started another fire.

The Christmas stuffed animals...what would Christmas be without these cute lil' faces?!?

'The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicolas soon would be there."

Oops...I miss counted...we need one more for Gus!

Of course Santa is a cowboy!!!

And Christmas has to have at least one rocking horse...or a dozen or so?!?

And yes, snowmen really do ride horses!

Enjoy these final days as we quickly close in on Christmas day!  Remember...there is no X in Christmas.

Merry Christmas!  

SkyWatch Friday

~I can carry everything I own in my buggy,

and I just might leave this place.~

~Carrie Black 1901~

I found some beautiful sunshine when I went out to get some juniper branches to make a Christmas wreath...it was wonderful!

Lookin' east up Virginia Valley

Anderson Valley meets Virginia Valley

Lookin' NW up Anderson Valley...the butte in center left is Hat Butte that lies just east of our place

Enjoy skies from around the world by going to SkyWatch Friday!

Workin' Girl Wednesday

~I'm proud to be a strong woman,

even though the men don't like it so much.~

~Mable Smith 1898~

Ah yes...the workin' Girls of the Rough String Ranch. They literally finally got back to work!

Yea, I'm a workin' girl. They just want me for my eggs!

We started with six Barred Rock chicks last spring and one died. The Girls really didn't produce very good through the summer and fall. Then the molt came on and of course nothin' happened then.

I felt sorry for the poor Girls...half naked when we had that cold spell a few weeks ago! They have a heat lamp, so they all huddled up to it!

The Girls enjoy time out of the coop...but I keep a close eye on them.

All the pretty eggs in a row~

We even had to break down and buy store eggs...no taste and texture like rubber...oh we missed our  Girl's eggs.

None of the eggs are the same (like the ones you buy in the store)...we strive for individuality!

But, the Girls are back workin' again...

This beats McDonald's any day!!

Enjoy an eggstraordinary Wednesday!