2012 Here We Come!




Grandson Riley.

 .....dr momi

Flying Dog



No we don't have snow -- old pic :-)

     On the news tonight, I heard about the kid and dog that had to be rescued from the side of a cliff.  A bottle was thrown over the cliff, and the dog tried to retrieve it. Then the kid went to rescue the dog.  A happy ending, both were fine.

     It reminded me of when our golden retriever, Billy, did the same kind of thing.  It was when our house was being built.  Nothing but the shell was up.  Late afternoons after the builders were done for the day, I would take the dogs over and check out how things were coming.

      Billy is a retrieving machine.  I think if you kept throwing the ball, he would keep retrieving it until he died of heat exhaustion or a heart attack.  I was throwing the ball for him out the future doors, and, occasionally out the future windows.  If I threw it out the "window",  he would run out the "door" to go get it.  Until the time he decided to fly.

     I can still feel how my face froze in disbelief as he decided to follow the ball out the window this time.  He didn't casually jump out.  Oh no....he used the sill to jump high into the air as if he was a dock dog.  There was one problem.  The bottom of the sill was 6 1/2 feet off the ground.  When he arched into the air I bet he was almost 12 feet off the ground.   .....and he didn't land in a pool of water!

     I thought for sure he would break a leg or something.  No, ....we just kept on playing fetch.  To this day though, if he over exercises, he has a gimpy leg....his "medal of honor" I suppose.

Retrieving is in his blood,

.....dr momi  

My New Cheese Press

     The kids all got together, for my Christmas and birthday present, ( I have a December birthday)  and bought me this:




A NEW cheese press.

 

.....which is so much better than my OLD cheese press.
(which has a story....here)

     I can't wait to use it.   .....jean

Linked To: Farm Photo Friday

Need A Funny Caption

What's Your Caption This Week?

Last Week:

yes, i'm the real santa! now where's the cookies and milk?

from TexWisGirl over at:

The Run *A* Round Ranch Report

Hop over to her blog and check out the picture of the

Cedar Waxwings around the "birdbath bar".  Cute.

Other Captions were:

I wear Santa's hat when he naps. The rest of the time Mrs. Santa

 makes me wear those stuffed reindeer ears from the dollar store!

from Patrice over at:

Everyday Ruralty

Hey Mom, you're really pushin' it with this hat! Do I look like one of Santa's Helpers?

from Lori Skoog over at:

The Skogg Farm Journal

"yes, there really is a Santa Paws..."

from Dicky Bird over at:

Dicky Bird's Nest

"Santa baby, I've been a really good dog!"

from Candy C over at:

Lazy J Bar C Farm

OK,where are my milk and cookies?

from Melodie over at:

Laughing Duck Farm

Yes, she did it too me again, what can I say?
from Sandie over at:

Chatty Crone

Do I really have to wear this hat?

from:  Ellen from Georgia

This is a picture of our 1/2 miniature poodle named Happy.

She was the best lap dog ever, and grew up with all the kids.

She lived to be 17 years old.   .....jean

Christmas in Pictures

It's a fake tree, but real snow!
We finally received 2 1/2 inches late afternoon on Dec. 23.
Just in time for a white Christmas.

 

Reaching in the stocking to pick out a "truck".





I have no comment on the shirt :-)













It's hard to get to the bottom of the stocking.














Ryan was in heaven with his "second-hand" remote controlled fire truck.













Helping Uncle Tyler find his "gift-certificate" :-)

..... dr momi

God Made Flesh

Joy of the angels

  Awe of the shepherds                                                            

      Adoration of the wise men.                                                     

As I kneel before this baby boy,

   Do I have the

Joy of the angels, the
   Awe of the shepherds, the
       Adoration of the wise men?

Oh, God made flesh and more! As
   the realization hits me.  Before
      me a baby, yet my salvation.

                                                       The sacrifice for my sin
                                                                                for my sin
                                                                                   for my sin.
                                                                        The sacrifice.
                                                                           A baby.
                                                                              The sacrifice.

                                                        The adoration becomes the awe,
                                                        The awe becomes the Joy!
                                                        We're talking celebration time!

                                                        The joy of my salvation,
                                                           The joy of my salvation!
                                                              The joy of angels,
                                                                 The awe of shepherds,
                                                                    The adoration of wise men.

                                                         My joy,
                                                            My awe,
                                                               My adoration,
                                                                  My sacrifice,
                                                                     My righteousness,
                                                                        My God,
                                                                           My God,
                                                                              My God,
                                                                                 My all.



One year I was sitting at a McDonald's enjoying a cup of coffee and my own thoughts, when these words started to flow.  I had nothing to write on but a napkin.  I like to think they were Holy Spirit inspired.  :-)  .....dr momi
                    
                Have a blessed Christmas everyone!

Need A Funny Caption

What's your caption for this week?

Last Week:



These must be turkey kibbles-I'm so sleepy.

coined by Patrice over at:
Everyday Ruralty
Hop on over to her Chats on the Farmhouse Porch (which is her couch
this time round )  I love her way tall tree :-)



Other captions were:

                                                                             "I miss my mama's milk...."
                                                                               coined by Dicky Bird over at:
                                                     Dicky Bird's Nest

"Did you slip something in this? I suddenly feel so sleepy."

coined by Judy over at:
My Freezer is Full

Got Milk?

coined by Michaele over at:
Sprout 'n' Wings Farm

No,no I am not full..I can eat it...I just need to rest a little first...burp..!

coined by Melodie over at:
Laughing Duck Farm




  "I'm gonna eat ALL of my kibbles and I'm NOT gonna share with nobody!"

                                                                                        coined by  Candy C over at:
                                                                                              Lazy J Bar C Farm
                                                                                                                          


                                                   "I know it's early, but I think I've already over-eaten this holiday season . . . burp." 
                                                                                              coined by Mama Pea over at:
                                                                                                 A Home Grown Journal





                                                            "Please be here when I wake up! Please be here when I wake up!" 
                                                                                             coined by 1st Man over at:
                                                             Two Men and a Little Farm



                                                                                                
                                                                                          Is this it Where's The Beef??? 
                                                                                                  coined by Ellen over at:
                                                                                                 Hard Work Homestead



                                                                     Go ahead - I dare ya. Don't even think about touching it.
                                                                                                 coined by Rae over at:
                                                               The Old Weather Vane


       This is a picture of my third Future Leader Dog puppy,  Brinkley.  Brinkley didn't make it as a Leader Dog, they said he didn't want to work......ya think?  He is now the mascot at a greenhouse and he gets all the pets he could possibly take in.   He is truly loved by his new owners.  Read about him being a hero here.  Thank you so much for playing everyone!



.....jean

Super Thank-You

     A super thank-you is going out to Jacky over at Dicky Bird's Nest for the cute trio of bird ornaments that I won at her give-away.  They are so cute on my tree!  My tree is decorated in wildlife ornaments anyway, and they fit right in!  Thanks again Jacky!




A Cardinal, Blue Jay, and a Dove..... adorable!


.....jean

Decorating Cookies...Kid Style

Traditional Sugar Cookies

1 cup lard
1/2 cup butter
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
(don't you love how yellow free range eggs make the dough?)
2 tsp. homemade vanilla
5 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. salt
Mix, chill, roll, cut, place on greased cookie sheet, bake at 400 degrees for 6-8 minutes.


Side note:  do you think if I forgot the 2 cups of sugar in the sugar cookies that anyone would notice??
That's what I did the other day...uuggghhh!  So much for speed baking.

Frosting

2 lbs. of powdered sugar
1/4 cup melted butter
1 TBL. vanilla
enough milk to make a good spreading consistency.



So, we decorated the sugar cookies with the grandkids last night.

They had a great time,

....and made some beautious masterpieces.



However,





 

...there was an awful lot of








....finger licking going on!









....adult cookie seekers were forewarned.





When they were all done, they got to pick one cookie to eat.     .....decisions



.....jean

Sunday in Pictures

Another picture and a little about him here.



Yesterday Billy was scheduled to go to the library for kids to read to him.
When I told Rick my plans for the day he said, "Oh no, I was going to go hunting!"
I said, "Hhmmm, it just so happens I have another dog."
Retired Leader Dog Sonnet has been moved in with us for 2 weeks now.
I took her.....



....and she did extremely well....it's her new job.  :-)
A little more of Sonnet's story here.

 

Tato wanted a "football hat".
So his Mom got right to work.

.....jean

Fox Food?

     I hate it when this happens. I'm in bed, almost asleep.  Suddenly, I'm wide awake with the thought;  "I forgot to close the ducks in."  I now have two choices.

1)  Snuggle back down into those warm covers and try to convince myself there is no way the fox will show up tonight.  Or,

2)  Get up, go out into that cold air and close the door.  That cold air is guaranteed to keep me awake for at least another  hour.





.....you know what I did.

  .....jean

Linked To: Homestead Barn Hop

Preparations




The outside trees have been lit.

 

The inside tree is lit.



The doors have been decked.













Decorations for the grandkids are in place.
(The only place it's snowing is in the house!)



The mantle has been trimmed.




.....and the reason for the preparation is up front and center.
Come Lord Jesus Come!

 

.....jean

Linked To : My Simple Country Living
Linked To: The Great Holiday Barn Hop




 

What's Wrong With These Pictures?

It's 11 days before Christmas.....



.....and all of these pictures were taken today......











......and I live in Wisconsin!!!!



Need A Funny Caption

What's your caption for this week?

Last week:



Somebody pllleeeaaase...scratch a bears back!
coined by Melodie over at:

Laughing Duck Farm

(I loved your caption Melodie because that's exactly what I wanted to do for him!)


If you need to laugh some more today, please go over and read Melodie's
 post about a duct tape straight jacket for her chicken....way funny!  I'm still laughing!





Other captions were:



                                                 (Think Dr. Doolittle with Eddie Murphy - Chris Rock as the Guinea Pig...)

"This feels Gooooooood - Real Gooooooood"

coined by Dicky Bird over at:
Dicky Bird's Nest

And Dear God, it it's not too much to ask, how about that picnic basket?

Coined by Ronda over at:
The Pauley Principle



"sneaking out on recess at the school was never the same once they hired the new playground director..."
Coined by gowestferalwoman over at"
"Go West" Feral Woman
(so good to hear from you girl :-)



Backed into a corner again, Mr Bear didn't know which way to turn.
coined by Gail over at:
Familiar Spirits



Sung in his best Louis Armstrong voice -
"Nobody knows the trouble I've seen, nobody knows my sorrow".
coined by Marissa over at:
Life On Our Side Of The Mountain



...but it feels soooo good!
coined by Rae over at:
The Old Weather Vane



'why didn't i take that on-line locksmith course? why?!'
coined by TexWisGirl over at:
The Run *A* Round Ranch Report



"I'm first in line (la la la) I'm first in line"
coined by Nancy over at:
Welcome To Babbelot



Oh Mr. Ranger, Sir, I promise I won't be stealing anymore 'pic-a-nic baskets'!!!
coined by Lisa over at:
Country Kids



I so enjoyed all your captions this week....

So many new people playing -- thanks everyone!

This is the bear at the N.E.W. Zoo. (North East Wisconsin)

 I so wanted to scratch his back for him :-)

I  wasn't so sure that chain linked fence was going to hold him...it did.



.....dr momi

Sunday in Pictures

The back side of my old barn.  Taken a few years back, on a different full moon.















The other side of my old barn with the old silo.
The new owners want to make the old silo a climbing wall.
He was up the old ladder chute trying to knock down some of the old roof cement
when a big hunk of cement fell down and broke his foot!
The boards on top of the barn blew out with a bad wind storm. 
 We had a guy try to fix it, but that whole corner of the barn is "unstable". 
He came flying down his ladder that day (afraid the whole thing was going to cave in) and said, "not going to happen".





....and the side of the barn facing the road.
A tennis court was built by the previous owners in the old barnyard.
Notice the basketball net and the tennis practice wall.  The kids spent many a day down there.


We often looked into replacing the roof and keeping the barn up.
Quotes for the roof (that needed all new rafters) were 4 times 
more, than putting up the same size new metal pole building.
Pure economics left it just the way it was.

Linked To: Barn Charm


 .....dr momi