Winter Wonderland

I awoke one morning a week or so ago to a frost covered landscape, so I went for a walk with the camera as the sun came up.

A lone dove and a small flock of starlings at the top of a tree.  Why do birds feet not freeze when it is below zero?

The calves lined up at the feed bunk eating breakfast.

Nephew Clayton spent a couple of evenings at our house last week doing some long needed plumbing repairs for us.  He replaced our tub drain, added a hand shower, and fixed some leaky faucets.  Now our bathtub is usable again.  It's going to be nice having a plumber in the family!

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water
Hebrews 10:22

Snowfall

I love the pristine beauty of a fresh snow that falls on a wind-still night.  It appears that we received about five inches of the dry fluffy stuff.  I took a walk before daylight this morning wearing my new (Christmas gift) High Plains Sheepskin Blizzard hat.  It's warm.  Very warm.



Of course my family still makes fun of my hats.

A mostly full moon made the whole landscape a sparkling wonder.  The day remained calm, so the cold temps did not bother me too much while working.  I like it when the snow stays where it falls.

Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? . . . 
Job 38:22

The End

In the past week we attended three visitations or funerals.  Two local farmers died; an older active farmer from cancer and a retired farmer who lived to a ripe old age.
 Jack Krantz also passed away.  Aside from being close friends and in a potluck with my parents, he was our farm electrician for many years.  Jack was an electrician in the Navy during WWII and was one of the survivors when the Japanese sank the aircraft carrier USS Liscome Bay ( 644 men died) in the invasion of the Gilbert Islands.  The book Twenty Three Minutes to Eternity tells the story.  Jack's information and story are included in the book, but he is not credited because he asked to remain anonymous.

After New Year's Eve services, I began having stomach and intestinal distress so I was in bed by ten o'clock.  I slept in on New Year's morning, but was out working (slowly) later in the morning.

Our family gatherings were spread out over eleven days this year, which was less hectic than some years.  We had our last Christmas gathering on the First, and opened our last gifts on the Second (the California box arrived!).
Over the holidays, I received a total of nine books plus an Amazon gift card (and other exciting gifts)!  Did I ever mention that our family likes books?
It was a good Christmas in many ways.

And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year's end.
Exodus 34:22