I’m usually relieved when this time of year passes us by and we step into a New Year. The fuss and stress, watching peoples’ pained faces in the grocery stores, especially the folks that work there. The hypocrisy of religion and peace when at heart many humans are not like that at all. Power, greed, weapon sales, bombing, killing children and defenseless people. It happens all over the world. I am not sure as territorial mammals when and if we will ever evolve but this Holiday BS, well, it gets tired quickly some days.
I try to focus on the good, the people we meet and share a meal with, the ones we can help, or help us in their kind ways, even if it as small as holding a door or offering a smile. It is sometimes those little things, the sharing of grief, or joy, cats…ha! Yes, I did write cats. Our two boys are currently on the bed giving each other a big bath…happiness. Take every small trinket of it that comes your way!
Maybe it’s just the gray days and the long wait until Spring, yes, I need to get over that and go out and find the beauty, however frigging cold it is! I thought we were going to have a white Christmas perhaps but by tomorrow it may all be melted away. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate that we won’t have a plowing bill, yet…it is those little things! 🙂
We have seen a lot of Spitz recently, must be the cracked corn. One of these days he is going to walk right up to me and eat out of my hand I think. It is magical that connection to something wild, like feeding the swan. The cats have enjoyed watching him as well…Is that a big dog? 😉
The walk out to check the mail, not that we get much more than flyers (good for fire starting), is a constant search for colour and texture, what is that. The turkey tails are still clinging to their decaying branches and trunks along with various other types of fungi. A few freeze dried berries are clinging to their vines. Wild clematis seeds look like sea creatures swimming if you squint your eyes and just imagine…
The leaves, mostly oaks are scattered on the road in places, they become imprinted in it after being run over a few times. The creek was running after the thaw this week, it’s a wonderful sound, running water, and those bubbles! The forest cloned in every one of them!
The road is quiet, apparently the birds are all around the house house now!
It’s been pretty chilly the last few morning to spend much time photographing them. Finding a spot out of the wind was a must. So far no new birds, waiting for the Pine Grosbeaks and Common Red Polls to show up still!
All I could think of was Statler and Waldorf from the Muppets as I watched the bluejays! Ha! We did get to see a magnificent pair of Bald Eagles on the drive down to the barn. Mike is used to me yelling, OK, not yelling but excitedly exclaiming, or would that be proclaiming “STOP, STOP, STOP!” while we are driving, and this time it was “You have to turn around! He does, so wonderfully. This beautiful Eagle was perched beside Highway 5 near Chantry, and his mate was flying around much to the aggravation of some crows. I couldn’t have asked for a more patient model! Look left, look right! Perfect!
On the way back we went through Motts Mills and spotted over sixty wild turkeys in a farmers field, picking away at the left over corn. They were a ways away but what beautiful colours! And we always have the peanut chasing Bluejays as a constant source of amusement!
I’ve been up, checking on the sunrises but we haven’t had much colour…anywhere! We had ice, then slush, then melt and beautiful patterns and a few reflections, now back to a light layer of snow on the ice. When it blows across the lake it creates beautiful patterns. We have about 4″ of ice, only a few spots in the middle of lake look slushy where it is deeper water. It is an astounding changing view! Right now, all I see is fog! The Little Red Canoe has been put to rest on the dock until Spring…Only 86 days now.
December, we are almost done with you. It hasn’t been without its very, very sad moments. We had to say farewell to Quizzie, possibly the saintliest pony that ever lived. She was 24. I looked forward to seeing her each visit with the horses and my heart breaks with Jennifer’s. She has been at the barn since she was 6 months old. Jennifer has had a tough year saying goodbye to some wonderful friends, human, four hooved and pawed. We have felt that sadness and pain. Our hearts breaking as well. It seems so quiet without her furry afro forelock and muzzle greeting us as we arrived. RIP beautiful pony, you are missed.
Maybe this is my almost year end novel…:) We’re not quite done with 2023 yet. I told all the other wonderful old horses and donkeys in the barn that they better do their best to stay with us! Let’s all celebrate Spring together guys. Until then…
Peace, love and health for all! Whatever your beliefs or religion may be…May the yellow birds of happiness brighten your way:)
La paz, el amor y la salud para todos!
La paix, l’amour et la santé pour tous!
Zu Frieden, Liebe und Gesundheit für alle:)
