Winter Wonderland

This is my most favorite barn in my neighborhood and is quite picturesque in the snow. The hills in the background are the foothills of the Coast Mountain Range. These shots were taken by my hubby on our way into the clinic yesterday. He just held the camera out the window while I drove.

This is the same barn and homestead from a different angle. I thought the shot was quite lovely with this tree in the foreground.

The two shots above are just a bit closer in towards town. I thought this view of the snow covered hills and trees was very pretty. Quite the winter wonderland. I just wish those trash bins were in a different spot. The building on the right is one of the hundreds of local wineries in the area. The entire area is going to the grapes. Everywhere you look, farm fields and hay crops are being planted in grapes and wineries seem to pop up overnight. One reason why our hay prices have skyrocketed in recent years.

This shot is the small town that I pass through each morning on my way to work. It looks so pretty all blanketed in the snow. Small town America. I had no trouble driving, but my top speed was about 30 mph and I did have the truck in 4-wheel drive just to be safe. I don't have very much experience driving in snow and ice, but it just seems to be a matter of common sense to me. I drive slowly, make no sudden movements with the steering, avoid using my brakes and leave plenty of space between vehicles. And...I sing. This morning my song of choice was Silent Night...all the way to the clinic. Helps me relax.

This shot here is from our back door on the deck. It was a beautiful sunrise. Do you see all the kitty tracks in the snow? It always seems so very quiet when the world is covered in snow. Maybe we'll have a white Christmas this year...that would be a nice change of pace.

This last weekend was a very quiet and relaxing couple of days for my hubby and me. My kind of weekend to be sure. Friday evening we got a pizza and watched a movie on tv after the horses were all fed, watered, blanketed and tucked away in the barn as snug as bugs in rugs. Sabbath morning we went to church. The service was lovely and we sang bunches of beautiful Christmas hymns. Truly one of my most favorite parts of Christmas. Then in the afternoon, my niece Shelley came over and we baked Christmas cookies and made candy all afternoon. But, wouldn't you know it, I was so wrapped up in what I was doing, I completely forgot to get any pictures of our labors. We made oatmeal-chocolate chip, no-bake chocolate coconut cookies, peanut clusters, rice krispie treats with peanut butter and chocolate, Thumbprints with strawberry jam, Snickerdoodles and butter cookies with homemade butter frosting. Yum!! This coming weekend I hope to finish up with my baking projects and begin assembling my homemade goodie baskets. And...on the way home from church, guess what we found?

This absolutely gorgeous Golden Retriever!! She's so friendly and probably about a year and a half old. She narrowly missed being hit by both our truck and someone else coming in the opposite direction. She was soaked to the bone and disoriented acting, as though she were lost. There were no houses in the nearby vicinity and we felt that we couldn't just drive away and leave her there looking so forelorn. So...softies that we are, we loaded her inside our truck and brought her home. Shoowee, she stunk too!! My hubby gave her a bath and she and Annie had a grand afternoon. These pics were taken Sunday afternoon shortly after the snow began falling.

See those two - what a pair!! They had a blast frolicking in the snow and playing with Annie's beloved ball.

Here is Buttons making snow angels. Every time we would let her out in the snow, this is what she wanted to do...silly girl!! Yep, we did indeed find her owners and they had been missing their beloved "Buttons". She has a family complete with two little boys of her very own. A happy ending to be sure!

I know that Annie enjoyed playing with her newfound friend, but I can't say that she was upset when Buttons went home either. What a jealous dog we have!!

Hope everyone stays warm and toasty in this beautiful, but frigid winter wonderland.

Blessings from Cingspots