New Year News...

Out of the old and into the cold! It even went down to -10° for a short while  as the sun came up. This was taken at 7:15 am. Brrrrrr!

Now for the bad news....My brother is in the hospital with a sudden problem. He drove himself there last night and left his water in the kitchen trickling as we all do when extreme cold temperatures prevail. He has called several family members to have his dog let out today and to feed both the cat and the dog. My brother-in-law drove out there this morning and found the water NOT trickling. Pipes are frozen. Dog has been let out. Another of his friends nearby is going to care for his chickens which are kept at a different location.  My brother-in-law will return later this afternoon to again tend to the dog and cat's needs as brother will probably stay in hospital for a couple of days. If his son, who does plumbing, gets his girlfriend's frozen water situation problems fixed in NJ he may drive up here and see what he can do about these circumstances.  

And, my brother-in-law's daughter, who lives in Delaware, has a furnace failure. It is good that there are two wood stoves in her home. It's hard to get furnace repair help on a holiday.

The Mister simply cannot tolerate this cold air with his COPD and, even though we want to help, we cannot. What a predicament! 

I guess we all forgot to hang a lemon in the doorway to keep the GOOD energy flowing. Is it too late?

P.S. (please click on an image to view them larger)

Memento

I'm a sucker for mementoes. I love to handle and see them in my home. Sometimes they are large and sometimes small. Crude or sophisticated - it doesn't matter. What matters is the item was given especially to me. They are treasures and I have several similar to this special one. 

Tom stands 33/4" tall and is age 38. He is in great shape. Thirty-eight years ago he was presented to me as a Thanksgiving gift from a 7 year old niece. I treasure him. I am thankful to remember her presentation. I wonder if she remembers him too.

please click on image to view larger

Output Thoughts

My  niece, who is a veterinarian, lives in Harrington Delaware is currently settling into her recently acquired ten acre farm. Since she was a very young girl, she has had dreams of having her own horse farm. It is a dream that has come true. She is taking root and establishing her life at the early age of forty. This very busy woman is a partner in an equine clinic in Dover Delaware and has been with the practice since June, 1999.

It might interest you to know that the "farmette" consists of ten acres, three pastures, two run-in sheds, a two horse barn, and a horse trailer. To date the other residents are two horses, two cats, a dog and a significant other. At the end of a long driveway there is privacy and a lovely home. They all are "living the dream." 

I understand that the farm is being called Pipedream Farm. She probably never thought that it would come true. Well it did! Somehow this name seems "off" to me because I always thought that a pipe dream was an unrealistic hope... a fantasy...wishful thinking. When it does come true it is no longer a pipedream. Well, that is only my critical thinking, BUT my mind has conjured up so many other names for her farm that I'm compelled to at least make my list. (I'm always making lists!) This will not be shared with her, however. 

Forelegs Farm

Forefoot Farm

Fourlegs Farm

Four Feet Retreat

Footbeat Retreat

Sweet Retreat

Neat Retreat

Reality Farm

Peppertree Farm

Gumption Junction

I'm impatiently waiting for photos of her dream farm to arrive.