Christmas Past & Present~

Every year since forever, I've sent out a Christmas letter & photo card.  Originally it was a hand-written letter!  Once we moved to the Homestead & computers became the norm, in the workplace anyway - I started typing our letters.  I've kept copies of them all in a notebook that we enjoy going through once a year. 

2015~

It wasn't until I'd sent out this year's Christmas card that I started thinking that it wasn't the first time these three Grand-kids had been in our Christmas photo.   The notebook came out & I started going back through the years ~

2003 - Kitt, Mason, Grammy, Abby, Ben, Papa & Cassidy

How quickly twelve-years have flown by!  The kids are so big now that we'd never all fit on the swing!  Our Grand-children For Sure have been that "Gift of Old Age"!  All five of them - make each day we get to spend with them Merry & Bright!

With another Holiday season well under way;  Butch & I wish all of you - a 

Very Merry Christmas!

When the Sun Shines~

First snow of the season~

We wake to a world of white, blazing blue skies & brilliant sunshine!  Cold too, with temps in the 20's.  Just the kind of snow that packs into the horses feet & makes those icy, hard balls - especially when combined with Farah's brand new, last shoes of the year!

The Cottage

As badly as I'd like to ride, it's icy, frosty & slippery...  I'm Hopeful that the sunshine & 40's forecast for next week - will pan out!  In the meantime, we're going tree cutting & pulling the boxes of decorations out of the barn loft.  Every year I say I'm not going to do as much - & every year I still do it all...

Dogwood Gulch

This year we'll celebrate our 25th Christmas on The Homestead!  Unreal how fast those years have flown by!  Time to do my annual Christmas letter & have finally ordered the cards.  I was going through the notebook where I've kept them all - since our first.

Here's one of my favorites - from 1994!  Back when Khaz was finally old enough for Butch to ride, when Jas was good for Jentry & before I sold Alexi & Jas became mine.  (Alexi & Khaz were full brother/sister.)  Abby - our first Beagle & the most defiant, was the only one who would pose for photos!

COLD!

Farah

It's not often in this state that we get freezing temperatures for long stretches.  This December is the exception.  The temperatures started dropping over last weekend - by Monday our high was only the mid-30's.  Today, we woke to 18 degrees & more of the blazing sunshine that has accompanied the cold, along with a breeze that seems to be coming from the north.  That breeze creates a good wind-chill & I don't want to know what that might be!

Santa looks festive on the Barn~

I did put our Santa flag up on the barn - when I went up to do chores this afternoon.  Farah was Very Full of herself & used watching me walk/crunch down from the woods, as an excuse to do some running & bucking & even flagged her tail!  (Something my 1/4 Arab doesn't do often!  :-) 

Coming my way!

Fun to watch - but not when the ground is so hard, frozen & slippery.

Half-way through her seventh year~

Luckily - it didn't last long & she was smart enough to keep it under some control.   Once that was out of her system, she snorted, blew - then walked up for attention :-)  I'm really starting to see maturity in her face this winter.  Now...  if it would ever warm back up a little - we could get out on the trails again.  Instead - I'm relegated to house work, more decorating & baking! 

Tis the Season~

The Sun wins~

Wrapping presents, baking cookies, making candy - taking time for a hot cider, enjoying a calm day between storms...  It's that time of year, time for reflection, celebration, enjoying Christmas music, time with friends, family & holding close all that is dear to us~

Clouds part~

On my trip north a couple weeks ago, I was very lucky to witness these views.  When we speak of the Washington "Alps" - the title does not go undeserved.  I was spellbound by the rapidly changing vision of clouds & mountain.

The peak appears~

I offer this glimpse of the beauty of the Pacific Northwest Cascades & especially the magnificent Whitehorse Mountain.  On the Homestead, we're looking forward to the holiday with our two girls, sons-in-law & grandchildren!  Amazing how it only took ten-years to go from our first grandson to a second, then three Granddaughters!  Five!  How did that happen?  :-) Our very best to you & yours this Holiday Season! 

Merry Christmas!