A week ago Saturday, before Christmas, we invited a small group of local friends over to get the dogs out and have some pre-holiday fun.
As the sun rose that Saturday morning, I reluctantly got ready for the trek from the Wee House back to the main cabin. Snow was over my boot tops as I faced the elements. I was fighting illness, and just plain cranky.
The morning air delivered -0 degree temps, which stung my face and snagged my breath as I hurriedly walked along a shoveled path. Any slight misstep and snow was in my boots. By the time I got to the main cabin and flung open the door, myself and the house dogs attempting to enter through the door at once, I was definitely cranky. I wasn’t sure why.
It wasn’t because I was unprepared for Christmas, which I was at that time.
It wasn’t because work was stressful being “Santa”. Who am I kidding? With my job, I’m Santa (or at least an Elf) 365 days a year…it’s just more difficult leading up to Christmas ~ you want to make sure people have warm houses and full bellies. Especially the children. Always the children.
OK, so it wasn’t those things. It couldn’t be my understanding and comedic husband, Rustic Russ. Although the night before, Friday night, Rustic Russ had his late February melt-down. You know the kind…where you are so tired of winter you aren’t sure you can make it through.
We now refer to it as “Spring Break Up”, after seeing similarities of Holling Vincoeur in Rustic Russ, in an old episode of Northern Exposure. I guess discussing all our options on Friday night spilled over to Saturday, I caught the “winter blues”. Rustic Russ, however, was back to his old self on Saturday morning. Me? I was getting “bushy”, as they say in Alaska.
Things just weren’t going my way. My filmmaker son, Charlie, and family had to cancel (actually postpone) their flight from California to Michigan for the holidays. This past week was to be our gathering time. The void of them not arriving hung in the air.
However, once our company arrived, the sun peeked out and all was good. Albeit cold, we had a wonderful day of dogs, people, and chickadee’s.
First on the menu, skijoring.
I don’t know who had more fun…Joy or Jordan.
Speaking of fun…was it the dogs? The speed? The skiis?
I’ll let you decide.
Idita-Brats Colton and Andie lovin’ on Jeff. Jeff (a.k.a. Rock Star) needed consoling, as he was the only dog left in the kennel that day. Still on the injured list.
Rustic Russ and team.
Joy with her team of Berners, wanting to follow our dogs into our dog yard. “But why not Mom?”
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Amy, digging the snow out of her jacket. (Hmmm…how did that get there?)
Hey, she never let go…
Jordan, a look of concentration, manuevering his team.
Good runs.
While in the dog yard, some of us experienced a Chickadee landing on our head. They were congregating near Rustic Russ’ chopping block, snagging bitty pieces of meat.
Andie tried to lure one in.
When just standing there didn’t work, she resorted to a piece of meat on her hat.
Nothin’ doin’. No takers.
SIDE BAR: However, when I returned the next morning to place an official bird feeder by the chopping block, one landed on my head immediately…shhhh.
We ended by they day with a gathering at the Wee House. Joy’s now-famous Chicken Heart Chili, Amy’s homemade Oreo Truffles, Andie’s homemade caramels, our farm Brats, and lots of extra goodies.
Rustic Russ treated Jordan to a snowmobile-powered sled ride.
Jordan, not wanting the day to end, finds another power source buried under the snow.
Jordan fits the description of what Rustic Russ refers to as “Gadget Kids”.
As everyone was packing up to leave, we were treated with a visit by AC Ellen. She would have come earlier to run her team of dogs, but her Serendipity Ranch is a 24/7 operation, as are all farms.
That day, she rebuilt her disabled tractor. Tractors are crucial to the necessary daily snow removal.
We ended the day with a wonderful sip & chat trio, sprinkled with stories of the past weeks and months. And future dreams for her ranch and our farm. And the dogs. Always about the dogs.
The evening ended on a nice note, unlike my cranky beginning. A day filled with friends.
Good friends warm the soul and feed the heart.
Until tomorrow ~
Woodswoman
The whole day was AWESOME! Jordan enjoyed seeing the day retold in pictures! Me, too! The snow in the jacket was nothing compared to what was in my pants!! You don’t know fun until you’ve been dragged on your stomach back to the yard by a team of dogs!!!
Comment by Amy — December 29, 2008 @ 11:34 pm