Holiday Mail For Heroes

Speaking of holiday cards, if you aren't already aware of this program, today is the last day to send cards to US troops serving overseas and recovering in stateside hospitals. Our cards must be postmarked by the 1oth!!! For the address and more information, use the link below.

Let's all send good cheer to some true heroes!

http://www.snopes.com/politics/christmas/soldiercards.asp

Six Sheep A-Skating

For the last several years Saint Tim and I have been designing Equinox Farm Christmas cards. The first year we just thought it would be a fun way to introduce some new animals on the farm and nothing more. I painted the scene and we put a diagram with their names on the back.



There were originally seven characters - listed four on one side and three on the other. For anyone who knows me, knows that just. wouldn't. work. So, back to the drawing board and that's how "the neighbor kid" was added (the inside scoop).



He was a huge hit and right away folks were saying they couldn't wait to see what he was going to be doing in the next design. Next design? Uh oh ;-). Seriously, we've had a lot of fun with these cards and boy, it sure doesn't seem like five years.

Happy Holidays everyone. We wish you peace and joy for the season and upcoming year.

"Six Sheep A-Skating"





(As always, click to biggify)

...Hah Hah Hah

Was asked for the posed portrait...



You gotta' admit, that's pretty darn cute!

Laughing All The Way

The neighboring Scott County Humane Society offers, as a fund raiser, pet photos with Santa Claus at the local Tractor Supply Company every year. Stella and I had taken Miss Henri several years ago and had a lot of fun. When our fabulous farm sitter (a SCHS volunteer) called to see if we could bring a sheep again this year, we decided that even though we didn't have the official sheep hauling car (it had gone to Green Bay for the Packer's game), we'd give it a try.

Sunshine had been the special request, but I was afraid that she would be too stressed leaving her momma at home. Let's see - who do we know that's really cute and has had some experience riding in the car? Woolliam!



And off we go!



First he had to meet Santa.



Then he got to do a little shopping.





Then some more PR work.



"I asked for lots of cookies! What did you ask for?"

Red Skies In Morning

What a nice rosy sunrise over our tiny little paddocks out back. Tiny little paddocks?!? What?!? Those are long, narrow 2 1/2 acre paddocks and the back paddock is at least five acres - while not big by Texas standards, definitely not as small as they look here. Those cows next door are a good way off!

This has happened before.



Buddy, Boudreaux and Ewen McTeagle

Miss Ewenice was watching her boys play from the driving arena - almost regulation size, meaning it's not small - and there is a small barn lot in between the arena and the barn. Not all jammed together like it appears.

So, I need a little photography help here. I'm guessing I should be using a different setting, lens, something... but being a hack photographer, I'm not sure. I'm using a Nikon D40x and had the 200mm lens on (maybe the problem?).

Any thoughts?

Self Striping

This little tree, by the way, was this tree last year.



And the lights this year came from this tree.



Well, except for two strands that are still up there - so high up that I couldn't get them down (that was a great tree, eh?). I would have done a re-run of that awesome tree, but had to turn the lights off last year because the cats were having a field day terrorizing the birds that were trying to sleep in there.

Frost On The P...

...pony?



When the weather gets super cold, or cold and icy, we put snugly warm turn out blankets on our horses, especially if they are old or in some other way compromised. Except Aria. I've decided this year that even though, at 26, she is not only the oldest horse and also the most arthritic, she's on her own.

Don't feel sorry for her though. She's thrilled. While most horses like some extra comfort when it's nasty out, she. does. not. For the last couple of years, it's been such a battle to get her covered up that as soon as she sees me coming with her well fitting, no problems that we can find blanket, her ears pin back so tight to her head that she truly looks like (and might bite you like one if you aren't careful!) a snake.

So, I'm going to trust her on this one and unless I see her shivering, she can run around naked all winter. And if I need any scientific back up, I just have to remind myself that she was the only horse with frost sitting on her back Thanksgiving morning. The only other animals that insulate themselves that well around here are the sheep.