Season's Senses

SIGHT:



The chicken ladies have gotten into the holiday spirit. We decked their house out with a strand of lights on Saturday, and I think their little home is so sweet and festive. I defrosted their water twice today - they were so appreciative! I know it's cold out there girls, but hopefully these cheery lights are adding just a touch of warmth on these chilly chilly winter nights.

FEEL:



Yesterday was bitter cold with an arctic wind coming in from the north that caused already cold temperatures to dip even lower.

Calder and I ventured out with our buddy Raquel in search of "the tree" while Jeff worked at home.

Our first stop was an in-town tree farm. Their trees were lovely, but we couldn't bear the cold wind long enough to walk around and take a good look at their crop. So after a warming cup of hot cocoa, with a candy cane dropped in for good measure, in the family's ceramic studio we piled back into the car and moved on.



We found last year's tree in the $10 pile at the Boy Scout's lot, and returned yesterday to see if there was anything good in the discount section. No luck, but I was able to find a lovely Noble - not too tall as it's to be placed on top of a piece of furniture in our smallish living room. I think we were helped by the same Scout as last year... little Ralphie we called him. He's so grown up now.

SMELL:

A bonus at the Scout lot, they let you take their off-cuts for free, so the back of the car was filled with boughs which were brought home and made into wreaths and swags that made the kitchen - our workshop - smell so good.

And back to SIGHT:



The Christmas tree reflected in the living room window with the hen house just outside.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! (But lately I've enjoyed thinking of the lights as a Solstice celebration of sorts actually. And though it may still be so cold, I really can't wait for the annual Solstice walk through our neighborhood with friends and lovely candle and lantern-light.)