we'll frolic and play, the eskimo way

Walkin' in a winter wonderland!!  Isn't it beautiful?  I awoke this morning to a frosty, wintry wonderland.  It's not snow, it's freezing fog.  Nobody can outdo God's artistry!

 And here's our oaks on their knoll all decked out in the frost.  I have more pictures in my cache of these two trees...it's amazing.  Our weather has continued to warm up, and this afternoon they're predicting the possibility of freezing rain as the precipitation meets the frozen ground.  Sure hope it's just rain by the time I need to drive home.

 This beautiful work of artistry is my lilac bush that my friend Claudia gave me.  I love all the icy little spikes, and if you look really closely, they're all unique little works of art.  Just like snowflakes!!

 
Our grand old Black Walnut by the hay barn...all dressed up in his winter finery.  I love this old tree.  :)

I took this picture shortly after arriving at the clinic this morning.  Ruby was running all around acting like a "crazy woman" and was having a blast!!  Such a joy to have this little dog in my life...she gives me so many reasons to smile, and laugh, every single day.

This was her, "I don't want to come in yet" look.  When in doubt, she just sits down and goes all freeze-frame.  Look at her white whiskers...so cute!  *sigh*  Love this dog!!  Even though this looks like snow, it's just freezing fog.  We have a steel mill in close proximity of the clinic, that spews large amounts of steam into the air.  That's the reason we have such an abundance of the frozen fog here this morning.  If I were to drive a few blocks west of here, it would be gone.  We're in our own little eco-environment here.

Such a Christmasy scene...maybe even card-worthy.  You think?  Some day our little pine tree will grow big and strong like these pines.

I adore pine cones!!!  I use them in so many different ways...from starting fires, to filling baskets around the house, decorating my wreath among others.  The squirrels love them too...ever eat a pine nut?  Delicious!!

This was Ruby's reaction to my calling her in.  :)  No momma..."I don't hearrrrr you"!

By this weekend, we're supposed to be back to temps in the 40's and some rain...I guess it's alright for a change.  I'm sure the horses will appreciate getting those blankets off and having a nice roll in the mud...the clean, shiny coats couldn't last forever, right?  I bet our little pellet stove will heave a sigh of relief too, as it's been running 24/7 for over a week now.  Normally we turn the stove off at night and just bank the wood stove.

Can you imagine that just 2 weeks from today, Christmas will be over and finished?  And then New Years is just around the corner...whew!  Don't look now, but this year is almost a goner.  If time doesn't slow down a little bit, I'm going to wake up tomorrow and be a little old lady.  :)  I'm not ready to be a little old lady!!

I'm not sure what all is on tap for this weekend, but we plan on going to church, picking up our Bountiful Baskets veggies and if nothing else, I'm hoping to get started on a little cookie baking.  Or, we could forget the baking and go into the city and see the sites!  I'm thinking the latter sounds much more fun, and relaxing!

I have a hair appointment next week, and a date with my best girlfriend...a little strolling in downtown Carlton, check out the shops and have a couple of Christmas season drinks over a lot of great conversation and laughs.  Now that's what sounds fun to me!  It isn't very often that I get a chance to get together with a friend, and I'm really looking forward to it.

Cheers all - here's to Christmas!!