Merry Christmas!

Minty says Merry Collie Christmas!

 Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!   I had stories to tell and pictures to post, but time ran away from me.   So here are a few pictures of our ice storm---which thankfully didn't cause much damage and no power outages and was outstandingly beautiful.  The trees were quite festive for the Christmas season and with the cold temperatures the ice has stuck around.  

If you'd like to read a couple of cute stories you can go to my sister's blog, Ruralhood and see a picture of me in my go-go boots and short short dress!   She has posted a couple of childhood stories, and I'm the little sister in the first one.  You decide--was it Santa or the Frisky the Cat?

Have a great day!

Merry Christmas!

Have a very Collie,er Jolly Christmas, from Ashley, Minty and Carly!

  

And ALL the crew at Fairlight Farm!

AND...........

A Happy New Year!

Christmas Countdown--Day 2

And lastly we have Noah---what a ham.   I think he quite enjoyed being a little Santa Paws, and doesn't he make a fine one too, with those round cheeks and wide eyes??  Noah spends about half of his time clueless, but he is a happy little soul and potters around his little kingdom with contentment. 

Noah---Here comes Santa Paws, Here comes Santa Paws!  That's me!

Here is a side view of this monstrously awful collar--as you can see Noah seems quite unaffected. 

And the very last of the last Kitty family---Tempe.  She was actually the first to try out the collar, because she is such a snoopervisor and was so handy....

Tempe----Merry Christmas!  Even though I can't believe she is doing this to me! ME!

Tempe seems to think she is 'one of me' and that we run the show around here together in partnership.  She gets very hurt if I treat her like a cat.  Fortunately the Christmas finery was pretty exciting so she didn't get her nose out of joint about the silliness.

Tempe--Santa Paws collar you must die!

Tempe---I tried furblings..to spare you the indignity...I tried to destroy the collar and the hat too, but they were too strong.

Merry Christmas Eve!!

Christmas Countdown Day 3

Today we have up first..Chaco....who was surprisingly cooperative.   In fact he makes a rather handsome Santa Paws, except for that darn tag sticking out.....

Chaco...If I must be Santa Paws, I will turn on my charm and be Handsome Santa Paws...

 

 

 

Then he collapsed and that was that.....

Chaco---Phew being Handsome Santa Paws is exhausting!

Next is the James Dean of the cat world...Gabe.  Everything is high drama in his world, so having to wear a Santa hat was the End Of The World.   His typical response when things get too much for him (which doesn't take much) is to freeze up.  So he did. 

Gabe--My life is over. 

Gabe--I can't go on.....(ed.  there is that James Dean Look again)

Gabe--Haha take that Santa hat.... Now you are mine!

Once the Santa hat came off he perked right up and snatched it and would have shredded it if I hadn't stepped in  (after all I still had more critters to torment!!)

Merry Christmas Eve Eve

Christmas Countdown--Day 4

Today we have modeling our Christmas finery two of the Silly Sisters....

First is Trinity--a mild mannered girl who likes to lay low most of the time.  I bet she'll lay really low now.

Trinity--I'd Like To Jingle Somebody's Bell....

Trinity-I can't believe you are making me do this!

Then we have Verity, who did not wish to cooperate, even though she thought she'd 'help' with present wrapping.   She tried to draw a line with her claws about the Santa hat though. 

Verity---I'm being forced to be Santa Paws!! 

Get it off...getitoff...getitoff!!

Christmas Countdown--Day 5

So...I bought this little Santa Hat and some Little Reindeer Horns....and well, let's just say I was the only one laughing at my house that day.  But boy, did I laugh...and lived to tell about it too.   So for the next few days I'd like to share a bit of the silliness--maybe make someone grin in a world full of far too much sadness and too many difficulties. 

Hope you enjoy!  (disclaimer...no kitties, Collies or picture-taking--rotten humans were injured in the process). 

Meshach-Really?  After 15 Christmases you put a Santa Hat on me???

Meows fail me.......

My dear old, somewhat bossy Meshach.  The best kitty ever!

The Grinch.  (aka Sage Grass Cat)

Sage--Come a little closer and I'll show you Santa Claws

Second in command--Sage Grass Cat.  Yes, he really would have shown my Santa Claws and it wouldn't have been pretty, but 'we' got lucky and moved fast.  

Meowy Fifth Day of Christmas!

For I Was Hungry --- Revisited

As Christmas rushes towards us and we scramble to get everything 'done', it's easy to get caught up in the stress and the hustle and bustle. Sometimes we just need to take a deep breath and refocus on what is truly important during this time of the year.

Over the past few Christmases I've had requests to re-post Boone's story.

For those of you who are new to the blog, Boone, my big French Mastiff was truly in a sorry mess and close to his end when I stumbled upon him. Since I can't figure out how to re-post short of changing the date, I decided to link to that post instead.

If you love dogs, if you need a moment to just sit back and rest and be reminded that miracles can happen, I would encourage you to read Boone's story...in part told from what I imagined his view point would be. I do want to warn you that there are some graphic pictures taken the day I first got him. I will also warn you that the story does have a happy ending! Click on the following links to read his story.

The Year Christmas Came Late--Boone's Story and for a short follow up to answer some questions generated by that post read here.

A few updates from the 'update'--Boone now weighs 130 lbs and gets to stay loose in the yard all the time. They (the dogs) still get to come in at night when I get home from work until bedtime. They rush in and.....sleep. I got Boone in January 2006---so it'll be five years here shortly since 'gotcha' day. I find this hard to believe. As Boone ages he struggles with arthritis and old injury issues, but on the whole he is still active and seems happy enough. He'd still be happier if he could be with me every second of the day.

Now off to finish wrapping presents and a little last minute baking!

Merry Christmas....

Rouen comes up for a good Christmas scratch

Tabitha relishes her Christmas hay and the warm sunshine

....from myself and all the critters here at Fairlight Farm The baking is over, presents have been wrapped (and already unwrapped), visits and deliveries made to dear friends, and Christmas hay and treats passed out to the critters. The sun is shinning and the animals are basking contentedly and quietly in it's warmth.Birdie forgets she is a wild sheep and rushes up for a possible Christmas treat

In the height of the hustle and bustle, I find myself losing focus of what Christmas is about. But then the peacefulness of the morning brings it back. The celebration of the birth of our Savior. That simple and that wonderful. I also find balance again, when I connect with my loved ones, family and friends. It's a time to make time to visit with friends and enjoy them. It's also a time to be so very grateful for the family that I have been blessed with.

Luna's "Cookies please?" face

Truly the world has become too fast paced for me and it's nice to have a chance to bring it back to what is important.

Here is hoping that your life and family and critters all have a blessed, peaceful and loving Christmas. I'm so thankful for family, old friends and all the new friends I have gained through this blog.

Silent Night

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin
Mother and child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night
Darkness flies, all is light
Shepherds hear the angels sing
Alleluia! hail the King
Christ the Savior is born
Christ the Savior is born

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth

Silent night, holy night
Wondrous Star, lend thy light
With the angels let us sing
Alleluia to our King
Christ the Savior is born
Christ the Savior is born

Last Minute Gift Idea

Start with a Rare Hubcap

Assemble your tools (ruler, Drill, (the dremel tool was back up to the drill), clock workings & stick on numbers.)

Finished Wall Hubcap Clock

So, I meant to get this posted weeks ago, but that didn't happen. I couldn't post it last year, because it was going to my brother and I didn't want him to see it. It's a pretty simple project to make, once you find all the 'ingredients'. In this case, my brother has always been a talented mechanic, so I wanted to make something car related. I had seen this idea somewhere on the Internets a while back, so that got the wheels turning, so to speak.

The hardest part was finding a hubcap. I know. Those things used to be everywhere, but suddenly I couldn't find any. I looked at flea markets, along the roadside, asked friends and family. I didn't go the junk yard, but they probably do have hubcaps there. Finally one of my friends came through and found one for me.

The clock kit itself can be purchased at a hobby store, like Hobby Bobby (uh, Lobby) for around $5-6 dollars, plus a little set of stick on numbers which is around $3. Unless your hubcap has a conveniently placed hole in the middle you will need to drill one hole. This hubcap had a plastic insert in the area I needed to drill and managed to crack a little. The clock innards covered that up though.

Once you get the hole drilled, you place the little stem of the clock kit in the hole and tighten up the back. It requires batteries to run and you are in business. I did have a little trouble getting the thing to run properly and since I waited to the last minute, I just went ahead and sent my brother this clock plus an extra set of the clock mechanism. He said it worked fine though and seemed to enjoy it.

Christmas is almost here! Ack! I've got to go and start the baking marathon, since I put that off to the last minute too.

After Christmas Slump...

Whew....I'm hustled and bustled right out.

Well, all the hustle and bustle of Christmas is over. Now its just putting away all the holiday stuff, finding a nook or cranny to keep my newly acquired treasures, and sift through all my old stuff to see what has to go to make room for the new.

It was a good Christmas--spent with family and friends. Eating lots of good food, visiting and of course giving and receiving presents. Trying to savor and draw out the moments, knowing it'll all be over in just a short time.

I got several new movies, and books and books on tapes to add to my 'stash'. (okay, its a huge stash...but whatever...) I also got lots of other nice gifts that I have been enjoying the last few days. I'm working on getting all the cards and paper and sacks tucked away in the Christmas tub. Every year I write out what I got on a slip of paper and tuck it in the box too. It's fun to look back and see how long I've had something. (For instance, looking at a picture of me on a birthday, shall we say when I was very very young, I saw I got a desk light. Hmmm... no wonder my desk light is so ratty looking! It's over 25 years old!)

Now its ORGANIZATION time. Just like clockwork, once Christmas is over, I hit my 'I'm gonna get this place organized' phase. Sometimes I really make some dents too. Sometimes. At the head of the list is rounding up all the receipts for taxes. Then I really need to organize and categorize my sheep files. I've gotten the work table cleared off (one of those four foot plastic tables which has revolutionized my life! I set it up near the stove in the back and in the winter it becomes the dining table, my paperwork station and crafts projects table. Except when it becomes a catch all...then its just a mess station). Now I just need to get busy with the 'files'. Yuck.

The local radio station had a rare moment of clarity and realized this would be a slumpy weekend, so they have generously devoted the entire weekend to 70s music. Nice.

Alrighty, I can't think of any other excuses not to tackle that pile of papers. Not even one.

A few Kitty Christmas Pictures......

Why it takes so long to write cards, and wrap presents.......

Meshach
(Sorry this one was an innocent bystander......)

..And the Light shineth in the darkness........

....and there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone around about them: and they were very afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST AND ON EARTH PEACE, GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying with was told them concerning this child. And all those that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
Luke 2: 8-20

Merry Christmas and God bless you in the New Year!