(AF) TALKING CRITTERS

I know I have posted this before, but THE NIGHT THE ANIMALS TALKED still remains my all-time, favorite animated Christmas show! I had to take a moment to share it with you again. I find it so very sad that it is no longer aired on television. And, sadly, we know why. . . . . .

An Adorable Nativity Pattern - Knitted

I just wanted to take a moment to let you know that over at Natural Suburbia, she has created the most adorable, rusticly simple, knitted Nativity Pattern. I absolutely love it!

She is having a giveaway for a couple of the patterns, so if you leave her a comment, you will be entered into her giveaway. Click on the name of her blog in the first sentence of this post and it will take you to the giveaway page. I wish I had that pattern right now. I would be setting the project I am working on aside, dragging out some more yarn and diving right into it.

(DF) IS CHRISTMAS REALLY OVER?

Yes, I suppose it is really over for another year, and in a couple of days the old year will follow. I sincerely hope that it was a really good Christmas for all. Whatever else the holidays have held, they have certainly kept me busy away from the computer, leaving me with much catching up to do.

Christmas this year was likely the best ever, for me at least. Anna and I celebrated Christmas with my family on Christmas eve, then with her family on Christmas day. Nothing elaborate either place, no massive piles of gifts (mainly simple and inexpensive or handcrafted), just plenty of food and conversation, getting acquainted and such.

Anna and I had both waited far too close to the last minute for shopping and preparing handcrafted gifts, which made it a mad rush. Christmas morning was frantic, with Anna finishing gifts while I wrapped, finishing just in time to go to her mother's house. With this in mind, we have vowed to make every effort to handcraft all the gifts for next year, starting immediately if not sooner. We would also like to encourage everyone who can, to do likewise, helping to make Christmas giving an act from the heart rather than from a factory somewhere in the world. For those who can't handcraft, there is the option of buying only handcrafted gifts, with the satisfaction of knowing that it is something not everyone has.

With the celebrations over and full intentions of catching up on email and postings, I was awakened early Tuesday morning by the phone ringing. The local rancher I have done some odd jobs for recently needed fence built. Seems his cows had been out every night for a week and the neighbors were getting angry. As much as I needed to be working at home, some cash is always needed for paying bills and building toward our independent lifestyle, so after two days of hard work, some crucial bills were paid and I am now acquainted with three very fine, hard working Mexicans who I would be proud to have on my crew any time.

With a check in hand and getting ready to leave the ranch, the rancher in question said, "oh by the way, can you work tomorrow? My mechanic needs help on one of the tractors". Still needing money, I agreed and today was another full day. At the end of today, it turns out I am needed tomorrow as well.

Please don't misunderstand, I am truly grateful for the wages. The money is very much needed.
It is just a shame that the work for money and the work that requires the money can't balance just a bit better. Seems that all too often it is one or the other instead of a mix. We will have to work on that aspect of balance in the coming year.

With the new year approaching so rapidly, I will take this opportunity (in case I can't get back to the computer for a couple of days) to wish you all a happy, productive and truly blessed new year.

Pudding for Dinner

Sad to say, but it is when there are long lapses in writing on here that I actually have the most to write about and just can't seem to stop long enough to get in a post!

I will be doing a several part post about my Christmas this year, as I did for Thanksgiving, but I kind of need to cool off a little get my emotions in control, before I write about it. So before I get to that, I will be making a few other posts, first.

Thanksgiving Day I felt kind of yucky, but just figured I was tired from getting ready for the holiday. Then the next morning I got up with the full-fledged flu! I ran a fever and had the aches for about 10 days, then it turned into bronchitis. I was sick for the whole month before Christmas, so, consequently, a large portion of my gifts never got made (and I couldn't just go out and buy them because I had lost two whole weekends of work while sick). I was just beginning to feel half way decent again, except for a lingering and very annoying cough, then....

A couple of days before Christmas I started feeling puny, and it just seemed to grow each day, especially the chills! Then the gut pains magnified and by Christmas day, all I could think about was going home and going to bed. That is what I did do yesterday.... all.... day .... long. I think I was up only about 3 hours out of 24, sleeping most of the rest. Today I am weak and tired, still a little achy, but not near so bad, we won't talk about what my gut is doing, but I have been able to stay up most of the day.

And now I am eating a small bowl of homemade vanilla pudding with a heaping serving of Diatomaceous Earth stirred in. I usually take it on a regular basis, as it helps with all kinds of things, but, I hate to admit it, I had gotten slack on taking it lately. It is suppose to really help with pulling viruses and all kinds of toxins naturally from your body. So I will let you know if it helps.

I hope your Christmas found you well and relaxed.

(D♥A) 'TIS THE SEASON!!!!!!!!

'Tis the season to be jolly, so they say. However, 'Tis also the season for last minute shopping (or better yet, handcrafting gifts), baking, frantically trying to co-ordinate celebrations and for spending more money than in the average month. The season for cheerfully working extra hours to make ends meet while looking forward to the final result.

The past week or so has been no less frantic for the two of us. Anna has been frantically trying to finish handcrafted gifts, extending work time far into the night. In the interest of a bit of extra cash, I have spent some of my already limited time building fence for a local rancher. I would have rather used that time for other things but am truly grateful for the wages.

On the really bright side, my lovely Anna and I managed to spend most of the weekend together. Much of the time was spent at a local flea market where Anna sells items and products she makes as well as resale items. I loaded up some cedar trees I had cut from the property (dave's farm) and we tried to sell them as well. We didn't sell much, no tree sales at all, but having the much needed time together was wonderful. Later, on our way back to anna's farm, we managed to give away a tree to someone who couldn't afford one, a young, single mother that has met upon a series of really rough, unexpected hardships. Her eyes that sparkled with disbelief and her grateful smile in return was worth so much more than any dollar value.

Now I'm back home and the air is filled with the smells of baking. Fruitcakes are in the oven as I type (before you say YUCK!, let me assure you they are not standard fruitcakes, more real fruit than cake) and cookie dough yet to mix tonight. I haven't talked to Anna yet this evening but you can bet she is busy trying to finish up those gifts.

Through all this busy confusion, I hope we can all take time to slow down and enjoy the Christmas season for all that it is and represents. Hopefully, we can also find it in our hearts to show tolerance of those celebrating this time of year who are of a variety of other beliefs. You see, 'tis also the season for love and compassion.

May you all have a joyful and truly blessed Christmas season, whatever tradition you celebrate.

(AF) If Not a Hippo, How About This

Okay, so if Santa can't manage to find me a hippo for Christmas, if they are all already spoken for, then I would like one of these just as well. Actually, this might even work better. I am sure he would produce loads more fertilizer to enrich my rocky, clay soil with, and he could help me lift the heavy stuff when Dave's not around. I could also put a seat on him and ride him when I needed to go in for supplies, thus saving a lot on gasoline. I bet he could carry an awful lot of supplies back home. As for the puppy dog... I think I ended up with him a little early... and his name is Dusty, lol.

Which do you think would be the better choice for our farm and why?
Yes, I am in a very odd, mood. Must have been something in that herbal tea. Actually, I think the cough syrup is getting to me.  Fever is finally gone, so I can't blame that, now.
To listen to more of my favorite, old, classic Christmas songs. look to your left.... (on the left sidebar, silly). They will take you back to a wonderful, heartwarming place in time.

HAVE A HAPPY AND BLESSING FILLED HOLIDAY SEASON, EVERYONE!!!

(AF) A Hippo on the Farm?

I absolutely adore this Christmas song! No matter what mood I may be in, it always perks me up and I have to stop what I am doing and sing along with it. Do you think I could find a use for one on the farm? I bet I could. They are pretty cute, too. And Dave does have a pond he could play in. *wink*  I would love to hear your ideas as to what wonderful use this beautiful creature would be on a farm. Please, leave your fun ideas in the comments below.