No Good Deed.....

goes unpunished, as it is said. My good deed involved getting new straw bedding for the barnyard. The bad part was that the horses found it DELICIOUS and I don't think it's healthy for them to be eating straw. But being it was a novelty around here, they wouldn't leave it alone. Like they don't have vast quantities of nice grass and alfalfa hay! Two days later I had two horses with mysteriously swollen pasterns. My guess is there was the weed, Hoary Alyssum, in the mix. I had this happen last summer where suddenly both horses had swollen ankles almost up to their knees. It takes a couple days for it to go away with the help of a little bute. Since no one is lame or limping, it makes it very intriguing. And everyone is back to normal today.

Winter Wonderfulness

I made a comment yesterday on Facebook stating that "I love winter". Surely, I jest! Blasphemy!

No, really! I dig winter--sometimes literally, but hey, here are some COOL reasons to appreciate our four months farthest from the sun. In true Letterman form----the top 10 list of Why I Love Winter.

10. Crisp clean air that can make the nose hairs tickle.
9. Getting to go cross country skiing and snowshoeing.
8. Uninterrupted time to devote to projects and reading. It's just like a vacation.
7. Feeding the birds and wildlife--those that are here for winter!
6. Fires in the fireplace.
5. Going for a long walk on the coldest, nastiest, windiest day--just to do it.
4. Baking bread and making other dishes that I never make in the summer.
3. Undemanding time with the horses. They enjoy the break, too.
2. No noisy motorcycles and all the excessive traffic.
And the number one reason.......
1. No mosquitoes, flies, wood ticks or other pesky creepy crawlies!

There are probably more but I'm on my way outside to enjoy the day I was given.

Patterned After Greatness

Here is a pattern for a patriotic lampshade I have been contemplating for awhile now. Several projects are in the works right now, so I'm not sure when I'll start cutting glass for it, but, like so many projects--it will get its day eventually. I usually don't make 3D mock ups, but this one needed a closer look to make sure the pattern would fit right on the corner seams.

I have been having lots of shop time these days. Winter is a good time to focus on creativity while there are fewer distractions like gardening and horses.

I sent in my application to participate in the spring version of the Fresh Art Tour. It will be held May 14, 15, 16 -- the weekend after Mothers Day. By then the days will be warming up and I'll be thinking about getting the garden planted.

Winter On The River

This will be my entry for the Wings Over Alma winter exhibit that will be opening in a couple weeks. It is, of course, another view of Catfish Corner. My most patient and beautiful muse. I just got it done and framed yesterday so I have a few days to enjoy it before it will be gone for three months. Time to start working on something for the spring exhibit!

Winter continues

Bbbrrrrrrrr!! Our deep freeze days are continuing and will culminate in a big windy snowy blast today before warmer temps arrive for next week. It has been easy to stick to the inside projects like putting Christmas away, cleaning the shop and sitting by the fire with a book. Horse hooves are going to get attention once it warms up and hopefully Don can get on the tractor and get the barnyard scraped off. The horses are bored and their only "fun" has been climbing on the snowy pedestals. An honest to goodness January thaw would sure feel good.

Perpetual Motion Machines

Yesterday was the Benson Fest at our house and  we managed to get a couple fuzzy shots of these little motion machines. Sammy Cat was a good sport and played along by being petted, picked up and generally harassed by kids and radio controlled race cars.

Molly made a brief appearance while Jack and Timber went in to hiding. After everyone went home all Anderson creatures resumed their posts in front of the fireplace.

What Day Is It?

Happy first day of the new decade! It has to be better than the last decade, right? The gang is pretty much sacked out in front of the fireplace. All they care about is having warmth and comfort. Just like the rest of us.

The thing about the holiday season is that there are so many days off that it's hard to keep track of what day it is. What day is it TODAY? It seemed like a Saturday, but in fact it was a Friday--which was an out of character day for today because it wanted to be a Sunday!

Last night (which was Thursday!) was the full moon night and a special Blue Moon on top of it. I went out for my traditional full moon evening visit to the horses to dance, sing, party, etc.

It was so bright out I could have read the newspaper to them, but they weren't interested in anything except what was hidden in my pockets. The big pockets full of treats didn't last long and nobody had to do anything in particular to earn them.