Winter is the old apple tree bearing up under the new snow as it faces the weight of another year.

It is the gathering of birds at your feeder which has become their winter home.  They keep us busy with the corn on the ground, sunflower seeds in the feeder, and suet on the tree—our obligation and our enjoyment and entertainment through the windows.

There are nuthatches, goldfinch, tree sparrows, all kinds of woodpeckers, and today there were two pileated woodpeckers.

And we walkers mustn’t let winter stop us either; there is cross-country skiing or snowshoeing to do. Last Tuesday my neighbor called and we took our skis and drove to the Indian Trail, part of the Sleeping Bear National park.

Skiing Sleeping Bear National Shoreline pastel by Carol

The road was snow-covered and a light rain had begun.  What?!!  When we arrived there was only one other Tuesday walker but after a little discussion we decided to hike the trail, for it would be a little icy for the skis.

The rain had changed to snow and the woods were beautiful as we headed towards Lake Michigan.  When we reached the dunes and the lakeshore the wind was fierce and our stay on the dune was short; we soon headed back to the protection of the woods.

By then the cedars and pines were now snow-outlined and looking like lace tablecloths, really making for a beautiful walk.

It all made for a good winter’s morning and the hot soup we would soon enjoy looked even more inviting.

Here’s Lulu’s favorite idea for a winter’s day.

Last year at this time........

If you made it through the first couple of weeks of your New Year’s resolutions, pat yourself on your back!

Sunrise last Thursday

Ahhhh, January!  Usually the first of three to four months of snow and cloudy skies.  The days are starting to get longer, ever so slowly.  Many are wearing some of the fun and silly presents they got over the holidays.

Funky Chicken?

Others are finally working on some hobbies and projects they are happy to have time to do in winter months.

Getting ready for St. Paddy's Day

I FINALLY got to do a painting I have been thinking about since September.  It was inspired by my new daughter-in-law waiting in the bridal party staging area for her debut as “The Bride”.

"Anticipation" pastel by Julie 24x19 $600

It was a magic day.  Hope you enjoy!   Julie

I remember Christmas eve services with my mother and everyone in the family carrying out the little cupped candle into the snowy nights.

I remember the thrill of waiting for the first spaceship to come around the moon on a clear Christmas eve, and how wonderful if was when they appeared safely to say, “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus”.  I think I was the only one up at that time, but too excited to sleep.

And the child who got up at 4 to await us and all the doings to come.

There was always someone still wrapping presents or trying out a new one in the basement.

And I remember with a smile the Christmas eve of meeting a daughter arriving by train at a little station in Bryan, Ohio.  She was bringing a boy to meet us.  All the rest of us, there were ten, drove down to greet her.  We wore brown bags with antlers labeled as Santa’s reindeer—except for the two extra who became Grouchy and Dopey..

As the train pulled to a stop, we all lined up.  The daughter yelled with laughter, but the new boyfriend turned to get back in the train!  Do you blame him.  An eve to remember.

Today there is snow and this Christmas eve will be all we anticipate, I know.  Another to remember?

It's Christmas Eve, I'm ready and waiting for everyone to come!

Always a dog underfoot as you work in the Holiday Kitchen, sometimes even putting a paw on your foot, lest you forget his presence…….and you could drop whatever you are preparing on the counter, pleeeeaaase!

Everyone knows I keep free-range chickens, and enjoy the ever-entertaining things they do. 

At my manger, there is an injured rooster, as Carol so apply describes:

  ” Earlier, just before dawn this light snow had made a fairyland of bush and tree and I remembered its beauty.
     But you have heard of the bird of dawning, I’m sure.  It seems Julie’s bird, a rooster, has a foot problem that had him limping and not putting weight on the one leg.  When Julie saw this she tried to get closer to examine him, but of course could not catch the wily bird.  So, in the dark of night she crept out to the coop to snatch him off the rafter as he slept.
     She took him into the bathroom to examine him, where he stood stunned and blinking in the light.  She decided the best thing to do was to keep him inside for the night until she could get something for him the next day.  She bedded him down in a cage there and went to bed.
     Guess what happened at 5 a.m. the next morning?!  Yes, the bird of dawning did his thing, his crow reverberating through the house made Julie’s husband leap from the bed!  “  WHAT WAS THAT?
     Do you suppose he didn’t know there was a rooster in the house?  I bet that bird sleeps outside tonite.
     Christmas is only a few days away and here are a few lines to remind us.   ”
                        BIRD OF DAWNING
Some say that ever ‘gainst that season comes
Wherein our Saviour’s birth is celebrated,
The bird of dawning singeth all night long:
And then, they say, no spirit dare stir abroad;
The nights are wholesome; then no planets strike,
No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm,
So hallow’d and so gracious is the time.
                                w. shakespeare

P.S.  There are two lab puppies left with papers that one of the other realtors’ daughter brought in yesterday.  I did the lay-them-on-their-backs to see if they are hyper or not, as prescribed by Pete, and they passed!  Let me know if anyone is interested in taking one home!

Family is starting to gather now, until tomorrow……….Julie

Not much time to blog today, got to do some running for the “Jolly Ole Elf”!

I can see why earlier man set huge fires to light the long nights of winter.  I, too, long for the glorious sunrises of Spring.  Now, if there are sunrises they are far into the day and we are busy with our daily chores and miss them.  Sunrise today is to be at 8:14 (it is now only 8).

Some historians have said that the days of Christmas were chosen for this time to coincide with the winter solstice celebrations of light.  We  certainly celebrate today with lots of candles and miles of lights on our evergreen trees to make Christmas a wonderful and bright time. A beautiful time in the “bleak midwinter”.

Right now I understand the hibernators and those who want to sleep in.  I think I am with Lulu and will curl up with the fire and be warm.

Pastel by Carol

Happy Solstice.   Carol

Fixit gives up as Lulu has pestered him to the floor.  He is certainly a patient dog.

With a table full of candies, cereals, beans and sprinkles, it was sometimes a hard choice.  Where to begin?

Looks like one sister is dubious of the other’s choice—”Really? Green tree peeps?”

The houses were all different in decoration and style; this house comes with candles in the windows, a lentil walkway, marshmallow fir trees, and an outhouse with stained glass window.

  Another house had thatched roof, greens trimming above windows, a flagstone walk, chocolate fountain, and a Tiki bar.

  This meticulous one had Santa in the hot tub and poor Mrs. Claus flat on her back where she had been ice skating.

      As I looked at all of these pictures it seemed that they fit the song we all sang a little later.  The lines from “We Need A Little Christmas” from the musical “Mame” by Jerry Herman  seemed to be just right.

              ”For we need a little music,

               Need a little laughter,

              Need a little singing

              Ringing through the rafter,

              We need  a little Christmas now”

Enjoy.   And to all a goodnight.

As the south- setting sun gets ever closer to the Winter Solstice, the kitchen is a-buzz with the final touches on the Paella we will soon share.

The leaves are inserted in the dining table, making much needed room for our little “workshop”

Carol beats up yet another batch of frosting, the much need glue of the gingerbread house assembly.

Joe needs some more frosting!

We all get busy, and concentrate on our creations.

All this candy and gooey frosting brings out the forgotten “kids” inside of us, or is it the cassette tape Carol is playing of 8 yr old Jessie singing carols with a cold (sniff!).

Tia and Lulu under the table

The dogs guard the under-table lest any goodies hit the floor!

Looks like progress is being made.  Let’s see some results……………………..

Now that the houses are decked, and a wonderful dinner enjoyed, we gather around the piano and do some old-fashioned Christmas Caroling.

As the dogs tussle under the fresh picked Christmas tree (cut in an earlier advent), all are so thankful for the time we are allowed to spend with each other this holiday season!

Lulu and Fixit wrestling by the tree

Merry Christmas everyone!

“ According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year, male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid-December; HOWEVER, Female reindeer retain their antlers till after they give birth in the spring. Therefore, according to EVERY historical rendition depicting Santa’s reindeer, EVERY single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen, had to be a girl. We should’ve known…

ONLY women would be able to drag a fat man in a red velvet suit all around the world in one night and not get lost.”

In that spirit, I donned some homemade “antlers” on Fixit (must be how Rudolph does it, right?).

He reluctantly agreed since I am going to be making our traditional family “eggnog”, which isn’t eggnog at all.  The true name is White Christmas Punch, and is a Christmas Eve staple for at least the last 30 years or so.  It is simple to make, and is sooooo smooth!

Since all my family members seem to lose the recipe from year to year, I will post it here for their benefit, and hopefully yours, taken from my ancient faded and spilled upon recipe card:

White Christmas Punch

3 quarts vanilla ice cream

2 cups bourbon

1 cup light rum

*  *  *

14 cups of milk

fresh ground nutmeg to garnish

In a large bowl, stir ice cream just till softened:  blend in the bourbon and rum.  Return mixture to freezer untill needed.  To use, turn frozen mixture into punch bowl, blend in milk, stirring slowly with up-and-down motion.  Garnish with fresh nutmeg……..mmmmmm!

Fixit is ready!  Maybe he won’t get some actual punch, but he always gets to lick the ice cream carton!

At least I'll get to lick the carton, since I put up with all of this!

Enjoy your time with family and friends this season!     Julie

Today we got our first dusting of snow, and really I have more in my house—-dust, I mean.  So Lulu and I went out to the woods and gathered more greens to decorate the house and she had a great time exploring.  Now she is worn out and sleeping it off.  Lucky dog.

I remember as a young wife with two little girls living here in the late 50′s and early 60′s when snow was the thing you expected and received.  Now, like many of my contemporaries I relate tall tales of it to anyone.  “Oh yes, I remember—-”.   And truly, it was amazing to see the roadsides and drifted fields.  The orchard man next door used to trim the cherry trees wearing snowshoes.  And once the county brought snowplows with huge V-blades from Wisconsin by car ferry because there was so much snow that the local plows couldn’t push it off the road anymore.  And Frankfort’s famous arch over the highway blew closed with snow.

I guess I wouldn’t ask for that much snow, but it would be good to have enough to cover the ground and give light to the land.  I am listening to all the Christmas songs about it, so let’s go!

I will probably be back soon to eat my words.  Until then, enjoy the season.  Lulu and Carol