spring is on it's way!

all the birdies have nesting on their mind... must be a sign!

hello gorgeous

gone fishin'

it was super-bowl sunday, but who wants to sit inside and watch tv when you could be outside having an adventure? not this family! (no offense to football of course, i enjoy watching a game now and then, but there's always something better you could be doing!) so we went up to the hills to go trout fishing!

we passed massive flocks of migrating snow geese along the way

it's always incredible to see. thousands of these birds fill the sky sometimes.

turkey vultures may be ugly, but they sure do look like they have fun riding the wind!

dad was the first to catch a trout!

they sure are pretty fish!

i had better luck catching crawdads, however...

a pretty nice little mess of fish, all-in-all!

 

mom mixed up some hush-puppies to go with the fish when we got home. yumilicious!

lovely golden fillets, the fruit of our labor...

introducing...

what has four paws, one cute little nose, and is soft all over?

yep. you guessed it! :)

today, after much anticipation, we finally brought home the newest member of the family.

he was quite confused, but had a happy ride home. he promptly fell asleep as we discussed name ideas. after much brainstorming and discussion we finally settled on one. 

introducing...

Boone!

who i affectionately also like to call: Mr. Boone Butterball Biscuit. <3

we had to prepare our dear old man, Farley, for the introduction...

there was a little tension, but i think they will soon warm up to each other. i believe Farley just wants to make sure everyone remembers that he is still the boss!

bath-time!

 i don't think somebody likes baths...

but he sure smelt purdy afterwards! ready for snuggles!

i think it is the beginning of a beautiful relationship... oh dearie me, how cute!

"happiness is a warm puppy..." -charles schulz

couldn't have said it better. <3

all the pretty little ponies

We went to visit some nearby neighbors this week...

Izzy was waiting for us at the door. 

"well hello.... Dolly!" ain't she gorgeous?

Scout, Izzy's companion, made a break from the barn, leaving Izzy behind.  from the amount of braying coming from the barn, i don't think she was none too pleased about it!

trying to lure Scout with feed

we've got him cornered!

the little rascal is too cute to get very mad at him, though

Cody looking on in disapproval of Scout's behavior...what a big sweet sugar head his is!

Izzy was waiting to scold Scout upon his return to the barn....

near sunset we groomed a few of the horses, but it was too dark to take any pictures. i think i have found my calling, though. i think i would like to be a professional horse groomer... :)

let's go for a drive

if you haven't guessed yet, one of my favorite times of day is right at sunset.

and it happens to be my family's favorite time to go for a ride. you never know what you'll see down an old country road. owls, coyotes, deer, sometimes a raccoon or two...but usually just an awe-inspiring sunset.

see what i mean?

"Two roads diverged in a wood and I - I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." -Robert Frost

and wherever we drive, we always seem to end up at the river. :)

Merry Christmas!

here is our Christmas dinner. this year, we strayed from the traditional meal and tried something a wee bit different. beef bourguignon served on mashed potatoes, oven-roasted asparagus, and of course a hearty hunk of toasted bread. delicious!

hmm, and what's this in the oven?

ah yes, creme brulee of course! i admit, we were a little anxious over this dessert, and all held our breath as we waited for it to come out of the oven. but it was a success! bravo mom and dad, on a fine meal! i'd like to think julia child would be proud.   

Merry Christmas Farley! <3

after dinner, we took a ride down some country roads to enjoy the sunset. isn't this a marvelous old tree?

and let us not forget why we celebrate:

"So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God." -Galatians 4:3-7

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him." -John 3:16-27

Praise God!!

Merry Christmas!

winter days

still winter days are some of my favorite.  peaceful...mysterious...
 perfect for long walks...



view from my tree stand down on the river, where dad and I were hunting.



this pretty little starling enjoying the sunset.

hey there, mr. adorable!

coffee anyone?

nothing like a nice hot cup after a long day at work...don't you agree?

looking back...

i found this drawing tucked away in my sketch book, several weeks after we had returned from our trip out west this summer. i wonder whose handiwork this could be? :)