Presents

Packages mailed early this year and all made it safely to their destination under everyone's tree.  

A candle and golden ornament for my friend Chantal in Knoxville.  She is always there to help me transport a chow.

At the time of this photo I was in the process of making my chow garland for two friends.  

Had fun using decorative tapes and stickers instead of wrapping paper.

My mother didn't think my paper was very "Christmasy".   Haven't a clue what she's talking about with all the "happy holidays" "cheers" and santas???!!!

Next year I need to make a string of chows for my mantle!

Tomorrow will be the second attempt at our anniversary celebration, photos to come.  In rescue this week (yes, even though it's the holidays, dogs still need to be saved!)

This is Simba, a chow/husky mix.  His photo came across my computer a week or so ago and not one person was interested in this beautiful dog.  Through the grapevine, a shelter volunteer contacted me asking for help, I suggested a video, and within hours Simba went viral and there was a line of people wanting to adopt him.  

This is Steve Marcus from Richmond, VA, who was the lucky adopter and drove down to NC to get Simba.  I now have some new friends, Steve and Marjorie and get daily updates on how Simba is doing with his new sister Maia.  

I keep saying, if this was a real job, I would be making a fortune LOL.  

The Christmas Mantle

The Christmas mantle just kind of evolved as I brought out the decorations.  The Ikea elf candle holders were just right for the flickering string of lights.

I initially was going to use greens collected from the grounds, but this sparkling garland is perfect and goes nicely with the vintage bottle brush trees and wreaths found at one of the Frog & Swan estate sales.

Vintage tree toppers don't always need to be on trees.

I wanted to do a Christmas tree with rows of Putz houses as seen in a Martha Stewart Christmas issue, but after buying two, realized it would cost a fortune to achieve.  I will show the Putz tree when I do the Christmas tree post.

The mantle can be more fun to decorate than the tree and a lot easier!

33RD ANNIVERSARY POSTPONED DUE TO SNOW

Started off a warm day for December with roses blooming.  

Then come afternoon that all changed.  We had plans to go to Asheville, sit in the lobby of the Grove Park Inn with an Irish coffee and take in the Christmas atmosphere, gingerbread houses, bellhops in red tails and top hats for our anniversary, but that is now postponed with Asheville getting nine inches of snow.

I never tire of the snow-covered bamboo.

Snow-covered bamboo forest outside the kitchen windows of the tiny farmhouse.

One A.M. yet another tree bites the dust, and, of course, it has to be over a fence line.

The snow brightens the berries.

The tree is up, the mantle decorated, the packages have been mailed.  I am way ahead of the game and happy I did that since we got this early snowfall.

Moonstruck

Thanksgiving Weekend

A very laid back Thanksgiving.  Trees still have their vibrant leaves despite several strong winds.

Decided to go to Mindy's goat farm and bring some bamboo as a T-day treat for the goats.

Couldn't stuff anymore in!

The leaves on the hills were tones of gold and rust, but a lot of trees are now bare.

Huggy Bear the Great Pyr was there to greet us.

The goats seemed to know they were getting a treat.

They loved their bamboo Thanksgiving feast and will probably appreciate it even more once the winter comes.

Nice to see Mindy wears her PJs stuffed into Wellies in the middle of the day like I do!

Mindy is starting a goat cheese business, and we got to bring home a block with red pepper flakes to go with our meal.  She is also giving me whey to add to dishes as a protein source.

My other goat farm friend Frankie received this book as a gift and said it's a good read.  I may just have to have my own goat farm one day!