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".....

the day before the day before

One of my favorite days of the year... "the day before the day before"... even my family remembers and offer me "happy wishes for my favorite day". I think why I have always liked it, is the Christmas hustle and bustle was always done, and the good things had not yet begun and as a young Mom, this felt like a day I could breath before it all began. It's not exactly the way it was... my life over all is a quiet one now, with no young family to raise... but I still enjoy this day. 

Warm weather continues, and it's been hard to find the spirit of the season.... I know Christmas is just two days away, but it doesn't feel like it. I also did things a little different this year, and either made gifts or order many off line.. so I haven't really been into any stores and felt that rush of Christmas. This on line ordering thing is good and bad... I like being able to sit and think about the things that I am choosing... I haven't done any impulse buying (which is always good).. everything comes to the door... but there is something about stores, crowds and the sights that is (sadly??) a part of Christmas. I can't remember the last time I was even in the mall... or big department store for that matter.. though anytime I go, I think "why" am I here.  I'm going to have to think on this a bit and see if I continue this new trend or go bad to the other way... more than likely, I'll try a bit of both.

Logan is doing really well and growing like a weed. I'll be starting her out in public soon now that her housetraining is coming along. course once we get some snow... if we get some snow... that might put it out the window.. but she's doing well. 

She's a sweet sweet baby, and I am liking her very much. She reminds me so much of Debbie dog... perhaps her color is part of it, but her willingness and smartness to as well. I can't wait for her to see snow.. puppies are such fun on that first snowy day.... and poor little Reagan!!! almost everyday he is asking his Mom about the snow.... everyone seems to be waiting.

 Since it's a Wednesday.. Livy and I are heading into school to read with the children. It's the last day before their break, so I wonder how many will be in a reading mind frame. But that's ok, I am excited to share their excitement. I made these little candy cane covers to give to them. The brown dogs are for Livy's kids and the black are for Brutus's kids. I got the idea of when I was a child and they made pony candy cane covers (which I made a couple of them as well)... I think the kids will like them. Just something different and fun to begin their holidays.....

so, a quiet, peaceful happy day before the day before for me....and I am just taking in every moment....

shortest day.... longest night.....

Mild temps, no snow and a quietness makes this "shortest day of the year" seem so not seasonal. The sun wasn't shiny bright this morning... but it's nice to think that after this evening, the days began to get longer once again. 

It's kind of funny that I work nights, because I never really like being out away from home at night. I remember a very long time ago, I was offer a "job" selling Longerberger baskets.. and as much as I loved them, I didn't think the job would be right for me because I would be away from home mostly in the evenings. Then the dog training business really took off, and where am I ... out teaching classes most evenings. I have really been enjoying my break between classes, Ed has been getting "real"dinners at night, and it's nice to do chores and then get to settle in for the evening.  But, I'm only going to get away with this for a couple more weeks and it's back to work. I love my work, so that is helpful, and even more helpful will be driving to and from in daylight... though that is still going to take some time. 

The little "wild" things are having a good winter. Food must be easy to find when it's open like this. I know the coyotes have been on the run, and we have been hearing them almost every night. They're close by too and sometimes sound like they are right in the back yard. I have been trying to get the doggies in and out "early"... I highly doubt a coyote would jump the fence and bother the dogs... but I just like them in when the howling begins....

Thinking of the birdies.. I have asked for a couple of bird feeders for Christmas. With the deck completed I would like to have them out there. I could easily see them enjoying the feeders and wouldn't have to worry about the bears getting into them... 


so, on this shortest day, longest night... all is well and again I realize how extremely blessed we are.....Happy Winter