A January Day

Dramatic sunrise between the storms. I think we've had the wettest January on record and the month isn't quite over.

We spent the morning transplanting red flowering currants to the rental and trimming back the monster laurel bush taking over the corner of the lot. Everything at home is as usual. Hattie with her ball.

Tux finds her way to a dry spot under the trees.

I love my girls but I think they've been pulling the wool over my eyes. They've been on winter egg laying hiatus but I just learned a neighbor's ducks have been laying all winter!

Clay work:
A fourth fish. And I might make one more to fit into the kiln for the next firing.

Bigger orchid pots to replace the porcelain ones that shrank so much in the last firing. Matching dishes not pictured.

2020 Snowmageddon

There was lots of work to do this morning moving the wet heavy snow that fell last night. Forecast is for more to fall today. Tonight it should warm up and melt all this (hoping!).

Ducks are the first to be dug out. The various small birds are waiting for the ducks to be fed, too. I think they eat more of the food I put out than the ducks do.

The sheep are waiting at the barn for someone to bring some food. This is not their idea of fun.

Stomper looks asleep on his feet. The boys must have had a rough night.

Tim, showing how he can wear his breakfast.

Sheep don't have very expressive faces but Gimpy always looks so sweet and lamb-like to me.

As does Mocha. They really are a couple of love sponges.

Hattie hasn't been in with the sheep since Boots got injured. She's taking it pretty well but is ready to get back to work. Even the boys miss going on the walk-about. All of us are hoping Boots is better soon.

Winter White

A cold air mass from the Fraser River valley in BC blew in last night. It brought a fluffy light snow to us. Puget Sound got the worst of it. Temperatures are expected to stay cold enough that this could last a few more days. The ducks complained a bit when I let them out and the sheep weren't delighted but are taking it in stride. Boots injured his leg and has been badly limping for a few days so all the boys have to stay home to let him rest. They are a tight group and cannot be separated. This year we're prepared for a cold snap. A heated water bucket for the sheep barn and a heated dog bowl for the duck water means no more chopping ice. Pretty as the snow is, I am ready for it to be gone. I spent the morning shoveling paths and knocking snow off the shrubs that were damaged by heavy snow last year in case more falls before it melts.

Tux. I think she's 14/15 this year. Blind and deaf, yet goes outside by herself, navigates by scent, and still likes her daily walks.

Hattie, very deaf now but not blind, loves me, but posing for the camera is asking a bit too much.