Then and Now

Here were the beautiful bluffs at Stranger Creek about two weeks ago. 

They shone red. 

Same view, today. 

Yes, winter is coming to Leavenworth County. 

Here was the callicarpa in front of the Ag Hall this morning, when I 

went over to do some office work. 

See why it's also known by the name "Beautybush"?  It is a ray of color 

in a now-dreary landscape. 

Before I left, I took some treats down to the hens.  Something new 

was in their pen, too... if you look closely, you will see that their 

heater has been connected, the heater that will keep their water from freezing. 

It is running through the pophole door.  

I am going to take some heavy plastic over on Friday and close that 

broken window on the left, enough cold air will come in the pophole, remember, there 

is no one there at night to shut the door for them. 

Keith and I had to do some errands yesterday morning... look what 

we saw in Leavenworth!  Gas, at 1.68.  In fact, we went again 

this morning to get his truck, and it was at 1.64!  What a change from 

the last five years. 

I saw this goose at the lake last week, and immediately was upset that someone had turned a 

domestic goose loose, because I didn't see how it would survive the winter. 

Guess what?  I realized after watching it for a while... that it was a snow goose.  

A single (so far) snow goose. 

It flapped it's wings several times, and I could see the black on the undersides clearly.  It was a LONG way from me at this point. 

This beautiful little girl was calmly eating in a pasture down the street from us as I went by the other morning.  I wanted to yell to her "RUN" because deer season is ongoing.  

She must have picked up the vibe, because I haven't seen her again. 

Has anyone started their Christmas prep yet?  I have about half of our presents bought, 

and we will get some more done early next week. 

We don't decorate here until the Saturday AFTER Thanksgiving. 

One thing at a time! 

A Bunch of Pictures

Another gray day in Leavenworth County... ugh... 

but I am NOT complaining... we just had on the news stories about the terrible, terrible weather on either coast, and my heart goes out to those folks who are going through that mess.  

I hope they are safe over the next few days. 

The dogs and I did not let the cold and grayness keep us from going out. 

This is on a barn about a mile from us... near the alpaca farm. 

All the alpacas were in their barns today, with the cold and drizzle. 

This guy flew over the pasture fast... and no, I don't think it's a hawk.  I think it was a 

black vulture.  He literally went so fast I could hardly get pictures of him, and I suspect he was watching Jester. 

This, on the other hand, IS a hawk, one I pictured a few days ago.  He does NOT like it when I stop the car to take his picture. 

See where I found him?  I have gotten really good at scanning trees and telephone poles.  

I didn't steady myself enough to get a good picture... and he was pretty far away. 

Then he took off, but circled back around. 

Look who is back in the pasture with the other mares.  

I just love her spots.  

They seem to have ample hay this year, unlike last winter, when I worried every time I went down that road. 

Can you BELIEVE THIS?????

I saved the best for last.  You know that Lilly completely ignores Jester... and 

he follows her around constantly... and goes where she has been, because if he gets too close, she goes after him.  So...

He uses the circling tactic 

As soon as she left the goat yard, he rushed in to see what she had been 

investigating. 

Then, he followed her down to the bottom of the pasture.... 

Where she actually had her face down in the opening under the fence into the wooded area on the Spehar's side. 

I'm always afraid she or he will try to tunnel under there, so I watch them closely when they go down there. 

How I've grown to love this dog! 

Tomorrow, I'll show you how we have decorated the house for our Christmas gathering with Keith's family on Saturday.