Merry Christmas....

to all! Christmas just rolls around so fast. We got this message in one of our Christmas cards. It's very shareable and I find it's very true, too.

"The older I get....

       the simpler my holiday preparations become,

       the closer I feel to old friends as I write Christmas cards,

       the more I cherish the oldest ornaments,

       the more fondly I remember Christmases past,

       the longer I hold onto a Christmas hug,

       the more I realize that Christmas is a matter of the heart,

       the more I enjoy giving than receiving,

       the more I try to see Christmas through the eyes of a child,

       the longer I sit at night in the glow of the Christmas tree,

       the more wondrously beautiful the Christmas story is,

       the deeper my awe at God's infinite love,

       the more I love Christmas!

                     Author unknown

It's been a really nice day with about 4" of fresh new snow, and mild 20 degrees which made it just right for trying out the snowblower for it's first official outing of the year. That and a fresh batch of homemade donuts and the warmth of the fire .... a lazy afternoon it is!

Hanging out with Santa at Refuge Farms - The Store 

Something to Crow About!

When the little chicks arrived just before the 4th of July my lone rooster in the bunch had a little green dot on the top of his head.

When that little green dot wore off, I lost track of the little guy, and frankly, I thought he was gone. A hawk here, and owl there.....the pile of feathers in the pasture. Not everyone makes it to be of old age around here. It wouldn't be the first time a young rooster met an early demise.

But early this week when I let the flock out in the morning I heard the unmistakable call of a young rooster! The tin-horn, weak bellering.....not really a cockadoodledo, but the sound of someone stepping on a kids toy that has half-dead batteries. There he was....right in front of me and I didn't even know he was there!!

Ideally dressed just like a female barred rock hen, there he was! It's embarrassing!! He was camoflaged as a hen all this time. Other than the fancy comb and wattle. 

He blends in while he struts around with his little group of hens and guards them. Now that he's old enough to start a crowing, I can hope that those hens will be starting to lay any day now.

Flag Raising at CC

I bought Don, the Happy Norwegian, the Norway flag for his birthday in March. We got the flagpole in July and managed to get it installed in November. Procrastinators that we are.

This link for the Norway flag had some interesting history about the origins of the flag designs:

http://mylittlenorway.com/2009/05/flag-of-norway/

It's notable that this style of Norwegian flag was first officially flown in 1899.  In 1905 Norway regained its independence and could now fly its flag openly to welcome its new Norwegian King -- who was Danish!

Just Hangin' Out and Horsin' Around

Nom, nom, nom.

Alex and The Fisherman

Fall fishing at Catfish Corner has been productive! Alex is very curious about the whole process and helped recycle some of the parts that we find less palatable.

Alex has earned himself another name. Don thought he should be given a more nordic name....like Eric. Which is fine....Eric it is. However, I had to expand on that moniker to be Eric the Complainer.

Eric the Complainer is quite deaf and I don't think he can HEAR himself because his voice is horrendous. Loud, plaintive and, well, it's kind of annoying. Hate to say that, but a complainer he is. He doesn't like commercial cat foods. Which is probably a good thing! But it comes to me that I have to have a menu for his voracious appetite.

Fish guts! Yum! A fried egg for breakfast, raw hamburger for lunch. Evening dinner might be some roast and mashed potatoes. You name it, he'll eat it. As long as it's not "cat food".

Moods of Wisconsin

The intrepid band of Art Girls installed the new exhibit at Wings Over Alma yesterday. Moods of Wisconsin will be up until mid January so there is plenty of time to take in the show.

Jan Brunkow (l), and Wendy Ike (Art Girls!) stand next to Wendy's beautiful watercolors. The theme this time is focused on the abstract and impressionistic views of Wisconsin scenery and objects.

It's a colorful and intriguing display of oils, photography, watercolors and other multimedia art!

Visit Wings Over Alma Art and Nature Center and get your MOOD on!

More Stained Glass.....

It's been a very productive summer out in the shop. And right now lots of new glass is being placed at The Store, in Menomonie, and also to the White Oak Gallery in Alma for the fall season.

I really love the warm autumn colors and I am constantly trying to find new color combinations that are fresh and exciting.

It's not 50 shades of blue, but 8 or nine for sure! 

Panels for kitchen cabinets. The long narrow shape made traditional stained glass techniques less desirable. These were done with individual copper motifs that I cut out and distressed then glued directly to the opal pale amber glass. The barbed wire was created with copper wire twisted with the barbs just like the real thing only in miniature.