Breaking Trail!

We got 10 inches of snow, and Clara and I decided to "break trail" in the back yard. We have a narrow 1.5 acres, and a lot of empty land behind us. Unfortunately the guy who's property backs up to ours, practically clear cut it, and there is a lot of fallen trees now. It is hard to do anything more than a loop around our property. (Maybe we'll do a little clean-up this summer.)

We were kind of racing around the loop, and I could hear Clara, but I thought she was yelling because I was winning. Well, when I went to check things out, all I could see were skis standing upright in the snow. Clara was like a turtle on her back, and couldn't get up. It was hard to get a good picture while I was laughing.

Here we are at the back end of the property. It was a really pretty day!

What a cool character! She is actually smiling with teeth showing!

New Year's Eve

These pictures are from our New Year's Eve Bonfire. It was a very pretty night, but bitterly cold. We had to stand very close to the fire to keep one side of our bodies warm at at time.

Bill and Lance really lit the fire up good!! Of course give them some propane and a weed burning torch and there was no way they could mess it up!

We did our best to keep Mary warm. She has on polar fleece jammies, snow pants and 2 hats (besides the hood on her coat). For the most part she had a good time, but I think she preferred it inside.

My champagne was freezing to the glass after every sip. I think it even had ice crystals in it. I was the coldest wine I've ever had.

Speaking of cold drinks, we accidentally played a joke on our friends. When the got there we offered them beers that were sitting on the porch to chill. Little did we know that they had frozen. So, they upended the drinks and voila! No liquid!! Ha! Ha! We brought the beer in immediately!

Sparkles was laying right up next to the fire pit. I'm surprised she didn't get singed. I came away with a couple little holes in the back of my coat. It was a very sparky fire.

Just as a side note: I know Dawn will appreciate me letting everyone know that, that is her butt in the picture.

Proof of coldness!

It was probably a little colder than this because this thermometer registers a little warmer anyway, and it is above the door to the garage which was warm.

Kids watching the display. I wish I had my camera on a tripod. This would have turned out much better!

8 kids in a small house on New Year's Eve

All I really have to say is..."Who needs fancy toys when you have a pretend skill saw and a carebear?

Please let the days start getting longer soon!

Here's a couple pictures of the trees in my front yard. It is cold today, only in the single digits, and the sun is just beginning to dip down on the horizon. These were taken at 2:45 in the afternoon.

Getcher finger outta yer nose dammit!

Hard to resist posting this one!!