Charlie, snow, and birds

Charlie loves winter. I like and sometimes Love Winter too. He has a thick hound dog coat with many layers and deep fuzz that keeps him quite warm. 

The only times he has had issues with cold was when the temps are below zero [F]. His feet will get cold. 

 Boing Boing Boing through the snow... 6 seconds of Charlie having pure fun following a scent.

I find it amazing that a dog with 3 inch front legs and built like he is has so much power. He is half miniature Dachshund and half Pekinese. It makes more sense for him to be a coach potato. But the hound in him says go-go-go. 

I intended to go for a walk and find amazing snow photos. Instead, I just enjoyed watching Charlie bound through the snow.

We did see quite a bit of activity with the birds during the snow storm.

The Cardinals were so colorful in the pine tree. The shots aren't the best, but I enjoyed trying anyway.

                         


I was surprised to see the house finches too. I didn't see them last year at the feeders so they are a nice colorful addition.

Another surprise was the Mourning Doves! 

I leave you with this from Sunday. 

The Great Vole and Mouse Hunter!

He actually caught a Vole!

He stands super still and cocks his head to listen, then leaps into the snow like a fox would and sometimes ends up with a mouse or vole.

It is amazing to watch.

Snow, snowfall, Frank the Plow Guy

Saturday morning. We had 4 inches by 
chore time. 
How can I tell?
It was chest high on Charlie.

He is a reliable measuring 

dog.

Sundance during the 

storm.

We ended up with about 7 inches depending on where the wind blew. 
 

I stressed all morning wondering if Frank the Plow guy was still plowing this year and if he remembered to put me on his list.

ALL morning. I paced, I cleaned the house, I dusted, I must have put on  quite a few steps pacing.

I cleaned up my Lego Medieval Village and considered starting to take out my Christmas Legos. I paced some more and moved a large cabinet to clean behind it.

[I texted him and asked if he was still plowing this year and if he was, please not to forget me. He never really checks his texts, he is an old fashioned farmer/earth moving guy who has a gravel pit.]

He is just Frank. 

Around 1PM I gave up pacing and got dressed to go out and shovel another walk way. 

I heard the rumble of his ancient red pickup. There he was just a grinning away. We spent a few minutes discussing the weather and the passing of his brother and his father this past year.

With a big smile on his face [and one on mine] he continued to plow that long driveway hill of mine and I felt a peace come over me.

When I came back inside I announced, "Frank was back!" I knew the house was empty, but I also knew that I was telling this to my hubby.

A friend suggested I purchase a side by side and a plow and do it myself. I weighed the cost vs. paying Frank and decided I would never spend the price of a UTV in plow fees.

I just have to be patient because as Frank said. "Oh, I'll get to you eventually!"

Now to get out and enjoy some snow scenes and shovel an area for Charlie to do his business. The snow comes up to his nose.

Gun season ends at sundown.

Goodbye November.

Land of snow and ice and whatnot

The other day we had a little bit of snow, just enough to cover moss and areas of grasses. Charlie and I took a quick morning walk to double check the gates to make sure that the deer didn't knock them down.

I stopped and sat in the snow to take some shots of snow crystals and moss in the bright sunlight.

I found some more beautiful lichen on an oak branch. It was a challenge to get the shot as the branch was swaying in the wind. Challenges are fun though.

This shot of Yarrow was even harder. I had one still shot and tried again when a gust of wind blew it around. I combined the photos for fun. 

The fences were all intact and the gates were still up.

Black Friday was spent getting ready for the large snowstorm that was being predicted. I ordered some things on line so I wouldn't have to fight crowds. When I picked up my order, I realized I needed a couple of other things and had to go in the store.

It was only 8:30 and the place was dead as a doornail. Associates were standing around all over the store. I was surprised, although I have never set foot in a store on a Black Friday. I suppose things have changed so much with online ordering.

I grabbed my items and was on my way home. The weather service put out a Winter Storm Warning for most of the state, so I asked my youngest son to reschedule a visit. No use in having them get stuck here for days.

The storm came in quietly early this morning and has been piling up. I don't know what it is like up on the ridge, but it is rather peaceful here. The birds are enjoying  the feeders and I am enjoying the quiet while watching them.

Chores weren't bad at all. I used the large sled to haul the hay to the mules.  I give the sled a shove with its pile of hay and the mules part ways so it can slide past them. I go in and dump the pile. Since these three get along so well, I don't have to put hay in separate areas anymore.

Everyone is wearing a snow coat. Little Richard thought he check to see if I had brought his sweet feed.

This pony is in his mid thirties and still has quite a bit of energy. He is the only equine I have that will go indoors. I'll probably put him in tonight when the winds start up and the temps drop.

Everyone has plenty of hay and heated water. This morning they were giving themselves snow baths. 

We are pleased not to have to travel today.

The snow will fall, we'll watch the birds, and take short walks to check on things.

Here is to enjoying a peaceful winter storm day.
 

It's been a few days

I decided to divide my time between with some more fun with the Medieval Village.  After all, I have to do something while waiting for paint to dry.

Below. The Elfin Twins enjoy a morning chat with Charlie who happens to adore their herd of goats. Charlie wants the goats to come out to play. The Twins say, "Not today!"

Yet, this happens. Below Charlie explains to the Blacksmith that he thought he'd just take the goat herd for a walk. He assures everyone that he has everything under control.

Sometimes my brain does these things. It seems the chain of events just pops into my head and I have to set it up. 

Many Lego Photographers usually highlight just one character in a scene. I admit, that is much easier to do.

But I like to create a scene that shows more.

Lego 'portrait' scenes look like this:

I try to make the scenes epic. Well, at least so the viewer thinks it looks like something out of an epic movie.

I had a brilliant idea. Well, I thought it was brilliant. I took a Lego Building in a tote through the woods [not far from the house] to try a scene I thought of in my head.

I wanted it to look like it came out of the movie The Hobbit. I had everything set up and the sound of shots from a mile away echoed through the woods.

Charlie who was with me, jumped through the wizard's cart and knocked things around. I spent the next 20 minutes digging through leaves to recover minifigures. Charlie kept trying to get in my lap and shaking. 

So, my epic shot never happened. I packed everything up and walked back to the house. However..........

IF I go back to this spot after the hunting season is over, I will rake all the leaves away and prepare the sight for the next day that I can try this again. It will take quite a few tries to get what I imagined. I'd like to do this once more on a very foggy day and see what happens.

Note to self. Do not take Charlie.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, that was earlier this week and now I can make a quick comment the chair I am doing. I've gone with some blues for the main part of the chair with a 'shimmering Rose Pink' color for the very top. It looks red, but is a rose pink.

Gold and silver nobbies and hues of blues for the rest so far. I'll finish off the top and seal coat it before the weekend so the chair can be used if my youngest son and his crew come to visit.

My Lego build is going well. 

Here is a hint at what I am making:

Each day I think about getting out for a walk and just as I think I can go, I hear gun shots. Yesterday morning someone very close shot. Close enough for us to feel the concussion. The mules actually had a bit of a freak out while looking west at my neighbor's farm.

The next morning I got to see what the ruckus was all about.

My theory from the mess in the snow was that the deer that was shot at came through my winter fence and knocked down  a section by getting tangled in the hot wire. 

My mules took the opportunity to go looking for greener pastures last night.

They were fine and not too far off. They were in a section on a knoll which is not where I want them when hunters are out shooting.

They had gathered quite a bit of burdock in their tails and short manes.

They enjoyed their time out overnight and were happy to find a huge pile of hay with some grain in it when I walked them back to the winter pasture. They are good girls, I just came up and asked them to follow me back and they did.

Today is Thanksgiving Day. Normally we don't do anything after it became too difficult to haul both hubby and his mom to his daughter's house. I couldn't do it with wheel chairs, oxygen, and medications. So in the end Rich and I would have Lasagna, pie, and build Legos together.

I had an invite to go to a friend's house [actually a few friends from the gym invited me --isn't that incredible of them?--]. 

We've had a good friendship with Kristi and her family for nearly 10 years. Her husband was my husband's Hospice Nurse.

I'm pleased to decide to go. There was a point in which I thought I'd turn down invites so I could stay home and relish some time to feel sad and sorry for myself.

How nice. I'm not going to!

Tomorrow will be a busy day, IF my youngest decides to fight the snowstorm and come on Saturday, then I need to get some things on Friday. This means I will break my rule of NEVER shopping on Black Friday. 

But this year has been full of changes and adjustments for me.

Huh

Well from the lack of noise today, it seems either the deer are not moving or everyone got what they wanted yesterday.

The sounds of shots in the forest where I walk rang out early yesterday from predawn to about 8am. Then.

Silence.

I played loud music so Charlie couldn't hear the distant shooting waaay off. We can feel the concussion of shots that are within half/quarter of a mile. But that pretty much dropped off by midday.
Sunday on that land is usually pretty quiet as the hunters are mostly hung over and tired from the first day out.

I actually LOVED a day in PJ's [I wear coveralls for chores]. Charlie and I hung out together and had a lazy day of building, 

Figured it out yet?? 😋

Practicing indoor photography, 

Reading,

and listening to music. 

I got the stare from Charlie when some happy and lovely music came on when I broke into a jig and sang along. I'm sure my singing was horrid as was my jig. But I thought. Why not? 

I moved about from one thing to another doing exactly what I felt like doing at any given moment.

Oddly enough, that felt incredibly wonderful. I'd walk into the kitchen to get a drink of water and pause at the Medieval Village and think of a brilliant idea.

It seems that the Ivar and his Barbarians were simply looking for some rooms!

Sadie, who runs the Inn with her husband Mack get busy in the kitchen. Feeding Barbarians can be quite the chore.

Late in the day, just before dusk, a stranger rides into town.

[I don't know about you, but I am sensing a Clint Eastwood sort of theme going on here. 

I keep hearing the theme song to The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

And it feels pretty fun. I love it when the toys dictate the story.

Opening day blues or Let's build Legos!

Time for indoor projects.

That will include a deep cleaning of the house this coming week with washing windows and pulling off a couple of screens so I can photograph birds in the pine tree near the house when the mood strikes me.

The new Lego project was started last night. I'd purchased it last spring when I had Lego Insider Points which made it cheaper from Lego than from any other retailer.

We always started a Lego build on the eve on Deer Gun Season. It seemed to help hubby to relax and take his mind off from not being a hunter anymore.

So this is the start. I'll take progression shots as I build but I won't say what the set is. 😉

Below is my Medieval Village. This was last year's Gun Season Project along with some addition to the Christmas Village scenes.

I was excited to pull it out of the storage bin and set it up on my arts and crafts cabinet. I'm only going to have it up for a week right now. It provides some comic relief and indoor photo fun.

I took advantage of the nice weather and sanded down this chair to be my next art victim. I'm leaning towards a dark blue theme with wild colors. 

Too bad I can't practice like I did 40 years ago and add the face of a roaring lion or an elephant busting through the brush.

I had chairs like this I'd done eons ago. They were fun projects also. The kids had a huge old trunk that I repainted. The lid had my drawings of a volcano erupting [if I recall correctly and a hint of dinosaurs]. [This was in the 1980's. I also took one of their beat up dressers and dressed it up with paint was it even popular then?]

No matter, fun memories!

Pine cones are nature's gift for decorations. I'm starting to replace some of the old ones I did 20 years ago. A bit of paint and a bit of glitter glue and there you are, a basket of pretty pine cones. 

I pick them up out of the yard, let them dry and then enjoy adding colors. I need to go grab a few milkweed pods to add to a winter bouquet along with some grasses and golden rod tops.

My grandmother always gathered nature's dried gifts for her winter bouquets.

So. 

I did have to play some last night to divert my attention and enjoy some creative thinking.

King Ivar marches into town with his entourage of Barbarian warriors. You would be surprised to learn that half of his fierce warriors are female.

The Villagers watch from the Inn. 

A Bard on the street sings a song of bravery and of course, women.

 

Imagine my surprise this morning when I found that a wizard had moved from the craft cabinet to where I lit the morning candles.

Huh.

Toys can be a bit magical. I wonder what they are up too when I am sleeping.

Poor Charlie. Already he is a puppy puddle that is quivering with the first gunshots of the season. 

Music is helpful. So he is listening to music while I go out to do chores and take care of business.

Update on the chair

Here is the chair I started with. This is actually a favorite chair of mine as it sits me at the correct height for doing things at the table.

It is sturdy, strong, and cost me all of $5 at a barn sale. Rich said I'd ruin it by painting it. But I like color and this chair was begging to be prettier. I started by sanding it as much as possible and then just got going.

I rarely plan colors. I just start and go with the flow of what feels right. Blues and greens seemed to be what the chair wanted. Somehow the purple snuck in, but I really liked it.

You may not be able to see it but there are 7 shades of blue-green and green on this chair.

So the seat is covered with Chalk Paint, that old color green that is found on really old chairs under a brown paint like my Christmas Chair [it is patiently waiting for its turn with the paints]. 

Anything turquoise-ish is sort of my favorite color to paint. 

I like greens also. I like anything that is colorful and bold.

The chalk paint is pricey but really spreads nice on the larger parts of the chair.

Those little bottles of acrylic paint for crafts really go a long way. I was surprised at how much coverage I can get with a tiny 2 fl oz bottle of paint. 

The purple just happened. I don't know why but I thought it would just be appropriate for the middle of the back of the chair.

I was stumped by what to do with the bottom half of the chair. I added another chalky blue-green paint I used for the first chair I did for the rungs underneath. That gave this chair 8 shades of greenish colors. 

I tried a few different things for the front legs. I thought I'd use two tones for it and then decided to go with purple again.

I couldn't decide if I wanted the metallic purple or the flat purple. I liked the darker color with the shiny surface.

It will take a few coats to get it to look even.

When I am finished with the painting, I go back to touching areas up. Then I will do a little bit of stressing and sanding to give anyone looking at the chair [mostly me] a way to see beneath the paint in areas to remind me what was underneath.

The chair will be finished off with a Satin Sealer and after a couple of coats, it will then reside in its honorable spot around the table. I've done this before and the painted chairs stand up quite well to everyday use.

Don't get me wrong. I appreciate the beauty of wood and the wood grains. But I also crave color and cheer. My old unmatched chairs that sit around the pretty table all want to be works of art as well as chairs.

And there it is, vibrant and ready to take its place around the table.