As I sit here on the last night of the year, neighbors seem determined to scare off 2023 wth gunshots and booming fireworks. Poppy and Leo have stopped reacting to most of them, but us humans are still a little wary after getting the news earlier today that a person with an outstanding warrant is wandering the area. She got picked up on our dead-end gravel lane last March for violating a restraining order and being in possession of a firearm. Other than those bits of excitement, it has been a lovely, dry-if-sometimes-foggy New Year's Eve day in which we all got needed things done, the ewes got fresh pasture, and I had a decent ride on Stella. We're all looking forward to more – of the quiet part – tomorrow.
All our visiting family members left early Wednesday morning. A good time seemed to be had by all, together and separately. In the first five days my mom was here, we canned a final batch of applesauce together, made various trips to town for work, Christmas program practice, grocery shopping, agility class, meeting up with my cousin at Costco, a surprise birthday lunch for my MIL, church (and said Christmas program) followed by a second birthday dinner for my MIL at her house (after her daughter and SIL flew in), and a Salem Tuba Holiday concert at noon on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day everyone came to our house for Christmas dinner, and on Tuesday I drove Mom to Portland to meet up with an old employer from more than 50 years ago (he's 98 years old now, and absolutely fascinating!) before driving back to enjoy one more family dinner at an Indian restaurant. After that it was a short night's sleep before getting up at o'dark thirty to deliver my mom to PDX for her 6:19 am flight! What a whirlwind; what a lot of wonderful memories made.
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| An unposed Poppy shot; really! |
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| She wanted this, a gift basket we won in a local feed store's drawing |
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| It was full of dog goodies |
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| Leo enjoying one of those dog goodies |
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| Salem Tuba Holiday concert in the fabulous Elsinor Theater |
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| This number was new to me; I loved the words |
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| Another very special number |
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| I slipped out to use the facilities and got this unobstructed shot in the lobby |
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| My festive cords |
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| Christmas dinner selfie by our niece |
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| This one doesn't include my DH (the photographer) or BIL |
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| Leo says company is exhausting! |
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| My mom with her former boss |
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| Joining us at the Indian restaurant was my MIL's new fiancé (light blue shirt) |
After all the making merry, it was back to my quiet, pastoral life. 😉
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| Ewes sheltering from the drizzle under the big fir in their pasture |
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| The boys sheltering under their feeder |
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| All I wanted for Christmas from my honey was a warping board like my mentor's, and he made it! |
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| Weighing the last yarn spun and plied in 2023 |
And finally, I thought this was a pretty good motto for the new year:
That's all for 2023 from . . .
8 comments:
Sounds like you had a super busy, super lovely holiday. I have to say that the blue lights on your tree are stunning. And it's so nice you left a spot for Poppy under the tree. :)
The warping board is is beautifully made and you will love having it.
Happy New Year!
Really like the church board motto!
Happy New Year. I'm so glad you had happy holidays with family. And I love the Woods Grove sign. I stop at our Woods Grove church regularly while birding as it sits lakeside.
Leigh, for some reason the blue lights show up more in photos than in life. I hate to take down the tree (probably today) because its lights are our best ever. I hope to initiate that warping board today!
I do, too, Sharrie! Reminds us to "stay in our lane." 😉
Happy New Year and happy birding, Sue!
Happy new Year Michelle! Have fun with the warping board- what a lovely gift. The Walnut Grove message is awesome.
I, too, like that church sign! I've never seen one like it before.
Your holiday festivities sound really great. Ours was very quiet.
The picture of Poppy under the tree is really precious. The doggie gift basket looks huge! I'm sure Poppy and Leo will really enjoy the contents.
Your mom's former boss looks really good for his age. It's good that you got to take her to visit with him.
That concert must have been wonderful. I'm familiar with both of the songs you mentioned, but it been so long since I've heard the Huron Carol, I can't bring it up in my head!
I wish you and your family a most blessed 2024!
Happy New Year to you, Denise, and thanks for stopping by and commenting!
This was an unusually full holiday season for us, Jeanne; usually it is very quiet here, too. I must say I enjoyed it all, but wouldn't want keep up that pace ALL the time. 😉 A friend had shared a video of the Huron Carol so I'd heard of that one, but the "Some Children See Him" was new and delightful to me.
Happy 2024 to you and yours, Michelle. Wishing ypu many blessings.
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