Day 23 of blogging 4 Sunday of Advent, Breakfast , Our Yule Log and more...

Here it is , the fourth Sunday of Advent.  We lit the candle of Peace. 

We have had a very stressful Advent.  And to deal with it my husband has always used humor. Whenever someone begins to lose their temper or raise their voice we say our dog's name in an exaggerated Boston accent..... NAAAMMMMAN!  (his  name is Norman)

So breathe.... 

We began the morning with egg cups but with a twist.  I put hash browns in the bottom of the tin. 

Then bacon wrapped on the edge, crack an egg and add pepper and parsley from the garden. 

Bake 400* 25 minutes.

Perfect.

Putting a load of laundry I see these two out the back window. They crack me up. 

They walk and hunt together. The dog will also drag the cat like it's a puppy and then they will begin their trek all over again. 

We took the dog for a walk today. 

Step by step , a little conversation, a little nature and home. 

I did glean some leftover corn from the field. 

Picked some Russian Olive branches.  I think they are pretty. 

Plus carrots... we are trying to eat a carrot or pepper a day. Today was carrot day. 

I brought in and stacked fire wood. It is a chore I actually like doing. 

For another long but not as long as the last night... a yule log is going into the fire. It smells wonderful.  Our log is not from a sacred tree but a symbol of the light to come and the ashes will be use to bless and nourish our garden. 

 

Dude is watching football I will be wrapping his presents and sitting in my favorite spot... reading.

In case you missed today's reading:

"Blessed are you among women, and blessed 

is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of our Lord should come to me?  For at the moment of the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled."

peace

Tuesday Morning on the Homestead

Dude comes home from the hospital today. He got a new shoulder, literally.  Family is coming to help on the homestead today. For now, the chores and home are up to me. Luckily, the animals were in the fields when I got home last night and I was able to quietly put hay in their troughs without being noticed.  The animals were waiting for me this morning.  They weren't too happy that I wasn't Dude. There were grumblings and foot stompings. 

Libby took her feed but was a bit perturbed it wasn't Dude to talk to her and brush her. She needs brushing. She has been rolling in dirt and mud. Tomorrow.

Next, I was over to the birdhouse.

They get fed and water.

Plus I throw crack corn out for everyone.

Then to the greenhouse.  I needed goodies for the day. 

 I checked on the mums I planted yesterday. They were near gone when I planted them. The dog had found them in their pots while I was away and flung them about the yard.  Now they are planted, safe and sound. The perked right up over night. 

All turkeys are accounted for.  I have been feeding the turkeys and guineas separate since the guineas took their job seriously as security of the homestead and killed 2 turkeys and a chicken.

Prudence was adorable as usual this morning when I went back to double check on the animals. 

Libby was still not speaking to me since I wasn't Dude.

Molly came up to say Hallo... she loves to speak with an English accent.

Spinach for breakfast and beets for lunch.

Chores went well until I heard a little meow coming from the train container... I had accidently locked a cat in the container. Thank goodness it is a cool morning. 

I found a couple of feathers to add to my collection. 

Breakfast

I sat out on the porch with the dog eating and writing in my journal. It was only in the 50's and not to get to hot in the 70's* ...must better than the hot 90's of yesterday.

Lunch is in the oven. Roasted veggies with balsamic and olive oil . Later I will top it with goat cheese. 

I am listening to the book The Last cowboys, A pioneer family in the new west by John Branch.

Dude called this morning and wanted a poncho made so he could wear it home instead of a shirt. I love that I am able to do this. 

I need to get working. 

peace

Many faces of a prairie storm

Thursday was a gorgeous day in the upper 70's, not a hint of cool air.  But it was coming from the east was wind and rain and over from the west rain and snow.

This is the western view with clouds and rain coming over the mountains.

This is the north view with the clouds from the west moving in . 

And the east view with the rain clouds coming to meet the west storm. 

By 5pm it began to look like this, like a dust bowl.  Even though it is still warm there is a nip of cold air on the edge of the wind. 

Dirt flying every where.

Then all got calm and this happened. 

Over night the wind whipped around like it owned the place. Midnight the rain began. Around 2am the thunder and lightning was none stop. We got what we wanted, rain and lots of it. It is in the 30*s this morning and just 20 minutes east of us the roads are closed due to snow and they continue with blizzard warnings. 

We set out to feed the animals and take out the trash and laughed when we were attacked by tumbleweeds.

They lined up overnight in the fence.

Time for breakfast... hard boiled eggs with pepper gravy and leftover cranberry soda bread.

Still cold and windy. Stay comfy. 

MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

-Thomas Merton

peace