Christmas Eve

This holiday, we got the gift of sheep. Seemingly overnight a temporary fence had been strung between metal stakes surrounding our prop and following the roads that flank the open alfalfa fields, and hundreds of sheep were happily munching away.

That was probably one of the most wonderful surprises since moving here, and there have been some serious contenders for that prize. Tom stopped by to drop off a book and said that the shepherd pays him for them to graze. I wonder how it works when they breach the fence and come into our yard. We appreciate the hand with the weeds, but will we also get paid?

Dogs are so great because they are curious and earnest in their desire to explore.  Leashed and well heeled, the Hubs took Sammy out for introductions, especially to the low volt but definitely making a point electrically charged fence.

However.

That lesson was lost once Sam's friends arrived for Christmas and one of the family innocently let them out for their constitutional. The pack wasn't sure what the sheep were, but they intended to find out. They were out and in the back and rocketed through the electric fence before we hit the porch.

The sheep ran for it, of course, and the dogs following a little ways until they noticed something more interesting underfoot. Mud. Gooey, fresh from the rain, perfectly smelly and interesting mud.

Oh man, first the snouts shove in and then they rub their faces and necks in it, and before long plop on their sides and do the back roll thing. All we mortals could do was stand by and weakly holler to them to return.

Getting back through the fence proved more of a challenge, and the Divine Miss S got a shock or two by the sounds of the yip. Fortunate for us they all returned and there is a utility sink in the laundry rm, plenty of space to accommodate a variety of sizes of four legged mudballs, and they took turns.

Once done, with dog cookies and brushings out of the way, and everyone nearly dry, we all curled up on the sofa to watch Miracle on 34th Street, the black and white version because that one's the best.

Our Brand of Christmas

A Definite Guy Job

It's been raining but not enough that the ground won't dry out between innings. The wind kicks up along the flatlands and chatters through the trees. There's nothing bad about that.

Oh, but the water smells bad again, like sulfur. The cold water is fine but what comes out of the shower and kitchen faucet is rotten eggy sour.

It's all bad  - well, except the part where the hubs sprays himself with cologne before work because he thinks his sulfur coated body may not be pleasant to be around, and when he kisses me goodbye it reminds me of our yummy dating years.

And so I put it to the Internet to help with research about this problem, and possible solutions. At first glance, the ideas weren't too grim. *In-The-Know-ers* recommended a couple of solid ideas, such as flushing the water heater and putting an auxilary filter at the well to trap the sulfide particles.

So we're going to divide this project into two parts. The first part which I was surprised the Hubs has never done with owning a house for 15 years, is to drain the water heater. Lucky for him I'm here. I've done this before. Not sure we need to do it, with a 6 month old water heater, but it's worth a try.

And the second part will be in two phases. The first (insane part) is to wrench off the bolt on the side of the well that holds it closed, and - one would guess - stand back, wearing hip waders and praying - while flushing the line until it runs clear. That doesn't sound like a good idea at all.

This idea came from the guy who installed the well, with an offhanded - you don't need to hire this out - it's easy as pie - but seems anything but easy. Maybe for someone in the business who has the knack, but it sounds like it could be ... fraught with peril for us. I mean, it's not a hose with a spigot. What if the bolt won't go back on? Or snaps while being removed? Or drops in the mud as the tsunami of wellwater mud careens toward the house?

It was discussed that Sunday would be a good day for the big well flushout. And if this is accomplished without washing away the gravel drive and the garage, the second part of part two, installing the clay filter, would be done to trap the sulfides forevermore. 

I swear I am not making this up.

The At-Homers

Our holiday tree has priceless heirloom ornaments: a paper mache globe with first grader smiles that are missing teeth; a Santa so heavily antiqued that it resembles an atomic bomb survivor rather than a Christmas ornament; and a glob of clay with broad strokes of red, shaped into a candycane with a kindergartener's name scrawled across the side.

Tangible childhood. 

This year, except for the tree, the holiday lights will stay where they are. There'll be no glitsy display along the front and looping down the posts. In honor of our landing spot, there are garlands with simple natural decorations. This is what gratefulness looks like, as we practice more joyfulness with less stuff.

May 2013 be everything good, and inspiring, and hopeful. May it provide many opportunities to learn how to give and take, and love in large measure. Peace to all, and Merry Christmas.

Randy and Nanci

Random Storm Pics

It was coming down in buckets. And right in the middle
of the worst of it, a rainbow peeked through.

It rained like it would never stop. High wind gusts. Bunnies
hid under the porch and wild grasses burst forth. This
citydog scratched at the door to be out in it the whole time. 



The drive has some rock but is mostly mud. A lot of
 leaves were still on the trees, and the high winds knocked them
off. They created a soft bed to walk on, over the mud.

Inside, 2 kinds of soups were simmered on the stove,
Tuscan Minestrone and a new experiment with
Cream of Potato with bacon, onion and kale.
It tasted good on a stormy weekend.

The first casualty of the Season was a big glass Santa globe
that the Hubs has had FOREVER! We harvested his parts and
now he looks out from his temporary headquarters on the
water cooler. Any ideas on how to replicate his body?

I made this Apple Wreath in 1988. Just love putting it
up at Christmas. I can't believe it has lasted - a straw wreath,
plastic apples, ribbon, glass bulbs and one stout glue gun.

The Hubs h-a-t-e-s glitter but in this case it looks good with the garland
accents around the windows. So please! Nobody touch it...and it won't shed



Blurry pic, but the twigs from the trees outside still have some
 leaves attached. We tried those advertised Command hanging
hooks that are supposed to stick to the wall and not leave
marks when they come down. Waste of money. 

The place did alright except for a leak from the windowbox
in the hall bath and water on the sill upstairs, everything
else was tight and right. Feelin' grateful for that.



Favorite Weekend Moment: when the Hubs figured a
way to plug welcome lights above the cabinets so we could display
the Christmas train in the perfect spot! The grandparents gave Mike and
his first cousin Rory matching wooden trains for their first
Christmas (1982) - they were born 4 days apart.