Goops

These were some of the most freakish, and yet also the most awesome
stocking stuffers ever. I can't tell you how many times I've
shamelessly whammed! them into the floor today.

Saved from the stewpot

Finally, the girls have started laying again!

Home, lap, home

And now Harry's had his turn on charlie's lap too. Everyone is happy.

Home again

After a long two day ordeal, stranded in Denver, we're finally home
from the holidays. Henry is overjoyed.

Dec 25

Happy Christmas, all.

Dec 24

On the twenty-fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: a
shining star, one goldfish, one bluebird of happiness, one acorn, one
golden bell, a yellow candle, one candy cane, a gingerbread man, one
jolly snowman, a nut brown bird, a holiday tree, one green tortoise,
one grey kitty, a holiday wreath, one sparkling snowflake, one blue
ball, a spangled pink ornament, one frosty tree, one batman symbol,
one nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie Brown ornament, one
bunch
of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

Dec 23

On the twenty-third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: one
goldfish, one bluebird of happiness, one acorn, one golden bell, a
yellow candle, one candy cane, a gingerbread man, one jolly snowman, a
nut brown bird, a holiday tree, one green tortoise, one
grey kitty, a holiday wreath, one sparkling snowflake, one blue ball,
a spangled pink ornament, one frosty tree, one batman symbol, one
nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie Brown ornament, one bunch
of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

Dec 22

On the twenty-second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: one
bluebird of happiness, one acorn, one golden bell, a yellow candle,
one candy cane, a gingerbread man, one jolly snowman, a nut brown
bird, a holiday tree, one green tortoise, one
grey kitty, a holiday wreath, one sparkling snowflake, one blue ball,
a spangled pink ornament, one frosty tree, one batman symbol, one
nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie Brown ornament, one bunch
of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

Dec 21

On the twenty-first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: one
acorn, one golden bell, a yellow candle, one candy cane, a gingerbread
man, one jolly snowman, a nut brown bird, a holiday tree, one green
tortoise, one
grey kitty, a holiday wreath, one sparkling snowflake, one blue ball,
a spangled pink ornament, one frosty tree, one batman symbol, one
nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie Brown ornament, one bunch
of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

Dec 20

On the twentieth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: one golden
bell, a yellow candle, one candy cane, a gingerbread man, one jolly
snowman, a nut brown bird, a holiday tree, one green tortoise, one
grey kitty, a holiday wreath, one sparkling snowflake, one blue ball,
a spangled pink ornament, one frosty tree, one batman symbol, one
nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie Brown ornament, one bunch
of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

Dec 19

On the nineteenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: a yellow candle, one candy cane, a gingerbread man, one jolly snowman, a nut brown bird, a holiday tree, one green tortoise, one grey kitty, a holiday wreath, one sparkling snowflake, one blue ball, a spangled pink ornament, one frosty tree, one batman symbol, one nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie Brown ornament, one bunch of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

Dec 18

On the eighteenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: one candy
cane, a gingerbread man, one jolly snowman, a nut brown bird, a
holiday tree, one green tortoise, one grey kitty, a holiday wreath,
one sparkling
snowflake, one blue ball, a spangled pink ornament, one frosty tree,
one batman symbol, one nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie
Brown ornament, one bunch of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

Dec 17

On the seventeenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: a
gingerbread man, one jolly snowman, a nut brown bird, a holiday tree,
one green tortoise, one grey kitty, a holiday wreath, one sparkling
snowflake, one blue ball, a spangled pink ornament, one frosty tree,
one batman symbol, one nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie
Brown ornament, one bunch
of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

Dec 16

On the sixteenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: one jolly
snowman, a nut brown bird, a holiday tree, one green tortoise, one
grey kitty, a holiday wreath, one sparkling snowflake, one blue ball,
a spangled pink ornament, one frosty tree, one batman symbol, one
nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie Brown ornament, one bunch
of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

Dec 15

On the fifteenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: a nut
brown bird, a holiday tree, one green tortoise, one grey kitty, a
holiday wreath, one
sparkling snowflake, one blue ball, a
spangled pink ornament, one frosty tree, one batman symbol, one
nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie Brown ornament, one bunch
of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

Dec 14

On the fourteenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: a holiday
tree, one green tortoise, one grey kitty, a holiday wreath, one
sparkling snowflake, one blue ball, a
spangled pink ornament, one frosty tree, one batman symbol, one
nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie Brown ornament, one bunch
of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

Dec 13

On the thirteenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: one green tortoise, one grey
kitty, a holiday wreath, one sparkling snowflake, one blue ball, a
spangled pink ornament, one frosty tree, one batman symbol, one
nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie Brown ornament, one bunch
of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

Dec 12

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: one grey
kitty, a holiday wreath, one sparkling snowflake, one blue ball, a
spangled pink ornament, one frosty tree, one batman symbol, one
nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie Brown ornament, one bunch
of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

Dec 11

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: a holiday wreath, one sparkling snowflake, one blue ball, a spangled pink ornament, one frosty tree, one batman symbol, one nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie Brown ornament, one bunch of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

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the seed mix always looks prettiest before the shake

The secret to my bread? Take a standard milk bread recipe and add a seed mix. Some days it's regular milk, some days buttermilk. I use at least half bread flour and the other half is baker's choice: wheat, rye, graham, whatever bits I have on hand. Then I add about a half cup of my pre-mixed seeds per two loaves. This batch includes flax, sesame, anise, poppyseed, and caraway. If I want something crazy and strong like a jolt of rosemary or cumin I add that when making the bread.

Dec 10

On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: one sparkling snowflake, one blue ball, a spangled pink ornament, one frosty tree, one batman symbol, one nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie Brown ornament, one bunch of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

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Now that Sappho's birthday has gone by I can safely post a photo of her party dress. I found some soft, soft tiny wale corduroy with hip birds and almost a peacock design. It was calling out to be a smock dress, meant to be worn over a long sleeved shirt and pants. Because it's cold outside!


Harry thinks it is very cold, and the only way to deal with it is to curl up on a recently-vacated chair and cover his nose.


I've been snip-snipping at this year's snowflakes. One of my favorite family traditions is the labeling of gifts with snowflakes as gift tags. Snowflakes are cut from little squares of paper. And you know what comes in a perfect square? Origami paper. None of that white christmas stuff for me....I am quite partial to the brilliantly metallic purple one up top.

Dec 9

On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: one blue ball, a spangled pink ornament, one frosty tree, one batman symbol, one nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie Brown ornament, one bunch of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

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Water has been restored! A pipe burst underneath one of our neighbor's houses and drained the holding tank. It was 14 degrees this morning, which made it almost impossible to get out of the warm bed filled with Charlie and cats and go to crossfit. But we both did. I'll save my "get out of workout free" card for the first snowfall.

Dec 8

On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: a spangled pink ornament, one frosty tree, one batman symbol, one nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie Brown ornament, one bunch of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

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One thing we didn't get today was water. It was down in the teens last night, and something has gone awry at the well. Fingers crossed that it gets fixed soon! The chickens are keeping warm under their heat lamp.

Dec 7

On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: one frosty tree, one batman symbol, one nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie Brown ornament, one bunch of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

Dec 6

On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: one batman symbol, one nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie Brown ornament, one bunch of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

Dec 5

On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: one nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie Brown ornament, one bunch of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

Dec 4

On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: one letter B, one Charlie Brown ornament, one bunch of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

Dec 3

On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: one Charlie
Brown ornament, one bunch of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

Dec 2

On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: one bunch of
grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

Dec 1

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: one bearded
Santa.