Thursday, December 31, 2015

goodbye 15

It's a known secret in my family.. that I absolutely do not like New Year's Eve... ever since I was little.. it always was the mark  of the end of the holiday season. And even to this day... it still feels that way to me.  So, to balance all of that.. we have been hosting an Open house on New Years day.. sort of one last little hooray before it all goes.  Since we lucked up with a bit of snow for the New year.. it would seem that we will be able to offer some sleigh rides tomorrow when people come. 
The little sleigh needed some slight repairs after sitting all summer... so Ed got those done. Abi has come to spend the night with us, and she was a big help to Papa with the sleigh. I though it would be best to make sure it was pulling well.. and to break a little path so Duke won't have to work so hard... and this was the answer Papa and Abi came up with. 
I don't  know.. do you call this a one "deere" open sleigh???? Either way they thought it was a pretty good idea, and Abi got to say that she had the first sleigh ride of the season!!!!
Tomorrow the weather is suppose to be fine.. not too cold... and we're expecting a number of family and friends.... 

so, it saying goodbye to 15..... thanking the Lord for the blessings He has given to us over the past year.. and looking forward to the year ahead..

I am thinking of family, friends, parties and sleigh rides....

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

the first snow......

Well.. the snow did not arrive in time for a white Christmas... but it looks like it will be a white New Year's instead. Finally a few inches showed up last night and today. I couldn't wait to see what Logan thought about this.... it's her first.  Stepping out on the stairs, she was a bit taken back...
but in moments (as I knew she would).. she was racing about and having a grand time. Course the down side is... housetraining... she is really getting the idea of it, but distractions are not helpful when a pup should be thinking of other things. So, the next few days - until she gets used to this - could be interesting. 




It actually was pretty cold, so we didn't stay out too long (and she did manage to do her "thing")... but she is going to have fun this winter for sure...
It's been a little hard having the Christmas spirit with it being so warm and green. But, we have seen this before, and I'm guessing we're in for a fairly easy winter if this is what the snow is going to be like. 
The nice thing is... we can pull the sleigh out and hopefully offer some rides at the New year open house....
The horses don't mind the snow... even though there is a nice big "warm" barn to go in, they mostly choose to be out. Duke came in looking like this.... 
There wasn't a huge clean up, which is also kind of nice... and now that we have a real walkway, Ed managed to snow blow that... 

so I guess winter has officially arrived... kind of about time....

Saturday, December 26, 2015

happy Christmas...

And Christmas has arrived once again..... it's a busy 24 hours, with us (as usual) packing in every good event possible. But I'm glad it starts out in church... on Christmas Eve, a chance to reflect on why we celebrate Christmas and just enjoy the "quiet" side of it...
We attend the early service at Kass and Nate's church.. it works well.. because it is early in the evening, and I love seeing the families... everyone comes, even the little ones and that just mean so very much

Afterwards we went to Mom's and Dad's.. they are doing well, but didn't quite feel up for church. Everyone decided it would be easier for them to just go to their house. Beepa (my Dad) has a new phone that has him a bit bamboozled  so Kelsey sat and went over it with him, as it is much like the one she uses... ah yes, technology so easy for the "young", but not for "us"...


Reagan wasn't interested in the visiting and food, those pretty boxes under the tree were much more interesting....

And he was super excited when he learned that it would be OK to open a few things early.... why not... let's keep Christmas lasting as long as we can!!!!



Mom has the nicest collection of Santas, that she has collected over the years. I don't think she put all of them out this year, but certainly a good number of them. Some are really quite wonderful....


Christmas morning found us up early.. rushing threw the chores and heading to Reagan's house!!!! The weather was incredibly warm and very un-Christmas like... but once we arrived and saw this happy boy (who had opened a few present while he had to wait for the grandparents to show up!!!).. the spirit flooded in and it is Christmas at it's magical best. 

A big jumpy house filled the playroom....

And we were told that tractors and trucks like to jump in the new jumpy house!!!!

Kass and Nate like to host Christmas brunch... it's always so good, and I love to have all of the families together... 


This is a very special photo... Reagan with three of his great grandparents.... Deb's Mom... Dave's Dad and my Dad.... how blessed we are to have this generation still here....

And then, the real chaos begins... one little boy with so much family is going to have much to deal with... I fear we all just enjoy spoiling him way too much... (his poor Mom!!!)

As I have said before, "hand made" are truly my favorite gifts.. and this one that Kass did for me has to be the best... all my grands!!!  Abi... Reagan... and on the way Calvin.....I love the quote.. "it doesn't get better than this".. that is the absolute truth...

Logan was interested in all of this business... she watched when Reagan opened each gift and he was happy to show them all to her.... 

This will be the one Christmas that we will have with this sweet dog... next year, it could be that she will be matched with her "real" owner... I can almost mark the past few Christmases by "what" puppy we were raising.....

Because it was so very warm...it was in the mid 60's... we got to play outside. It's not totally unusual for us to have warm green Christmases.. but I don't like it. We're in the north.... we're suppose to have cold and snow... it just doesn't fit.... but, since I can't change that... I just enjoyed watching this little boy, playing outside in his pjs with his new trucks...





After Kass's, we headed back to the farm. We will be going back to my parents for supper and the evening, so this gives us the chance to do evening chores.. let the doggies out, and actually take a minute to catch up. Sadie and Jessie popped in after have been with Jessie's family and we were able to give them their gifts. 

Just as we had hoped.. Jessie was totally surprised by the antlers that Ed had mounted for him. They came out very well, and I'm glad we tried and did that project. 

And then, back down again to my Mom and Dads... I have a feeling that tomorrow we will be happy to stay home after all this back and forth travel... well... maybe, I like the hussle and bussle of Christmas and usually find the day after more of a let down that a relief... but, that's tomorrow... now...

it's loud... happy and fun!!!!

Sadie brought Abi... she had Christmas day with Matt and his family... I guess that's the "hard" part of extended and split families.. trying to do everything with everyone... the kids seem to handle it OK.. but it's a lot. I remember as a child how exciting and overwhelming Christmas was for me.. and that was just with "my" family... now that we have all the other families, it's a whole new thing. But, again, I just treasure every part that I can..

Rachel made these wonder bird baths/feeders for everyone. She makes them from old pieces of dishes... great idea...



When we got back to the farm at the end of the day... Ed had a surprise for me...

Our farm sign.. which I have had for a long while...

has a home!!!. Ed made this bracket, and because the ground is not frozen yet.. he got the post in, the bracket hung and...

the sign too......



And so, Christmas comes to a close.. and is tucked away in the memories here on Sweetgrass Farm. It rushed by, it was full of treasures and I am happy and tired. We are so very very blessed and not a day or holiday passes when I am not very aware of this.... 

and to quote a well known verse.... "happy Christmas to all and to all a good night".....