Wonderful Christmas

Christmas morning dawn over the James

We all had a very wonderful Christmas.  We were greatly surprised by Dale, Jill and Reeder’s Christmas present and 40 inch flat screen tv. It looks great in room. 

Dale, Reeder, Will and I spent most of Monday splitting firewood.  We should have enough for all to last till February. 

Gas is at lowest it has been for a while, guess that is the oil company’s Christmas gift.

There seemed to be a lot less “bell ringers” at the store entrances this year, for some reasons.

Started raining this morning, but the high will be mid 50’s, so no snow!

Enjoyable few days

 Will & I went to Bass Pro today to shop.  We scheduled our trip to see the fish feeding.  

After shopping we enjoyed Santa Land with the games and arcades.  Will scored a 327 for the first time on the shooting range, he sure to get a deer this year with his skill.

Cedar Ridge barn party last night was a lot of fun.  Awards and good food was the goal for the night.



Cold and raining

Yesterday high 60’s and today 50 and dropping with light rain.  Looked at an I Pad, however the experience of going to the Apple Store was the highlight.  It sure is the store of the future with excellent customer service. 

Will and Grandma are making cookies, and I am eating as fast as I can.



Photo award

My photo of the kit fox was awarded 2^nd place in the Camera Club of Richmond 2011 competition in nature group.  

The year has flown by once again; I guess it is the sign of getting older.  Edna is into her Cornell Backyard Bird Count project, which lasts 4 months and started in November, and looking forward to the spring when her pony will have its foal. 

Our Lab Polly died of cancer this year. Shortly after Edna was at a horse show and Danny & Ron’s Rescue had dogs up for adoption.  Danny & Ron’s Rescue is run out of a large A Show Barn in SC and takes dogs they have rescued to all the shows and find homes for them,. To date they have found homes for over 3000 dogs.  On with the story, Edna calls me and says she has found a dog she likes and would I come over and see it?  I could not make it that evening, but went with her first thing the following morning.  It turned out the dog she liked had been adopted, but there was this “benji” looking dog just laying there, while all the others were jumping up on the pen to get your attention.  I said lets look at him, he is calm.  So home we went with Baxter and calm he is not, come to find out he had just been neutered and was not feeling well.  He is a great dog and adapted very well as the very next day we went camping for a week, so that was his introduction to our family.                               

Our small engraving business has had it best year ever and we are expanding the number of shows we will be going to next year. 

James out of its banks

30 degrees this morning and high tomorrow forecast to be in the 40s.  Last evening attended and enjoyed Elizabeth’s Christmas Band Concert.  She is playing the trombone in her school band.



Will awaiting concert to begin



With the severe wind and rain storm Wednesday night the James is now out of its banks.  Our lowlands are under about 5 feet of water and still rising.  Parts of Richmond were without power Thursday as the winds were as high as 60 MPH. 





Thursday morning



Firday morning



Starting to have December temperatures and need a fire every night and need to start thinking about splitting the cut wood we have piled up.  

Warm and overcast

It was in mid 60’s today with on and off light rain and overcast all day.  Forecast is for rain all day tomorrow, so lots of shop work planed.

Baxter had the right idea, stay in bed all day.

Almost finished with the large bracelet order and then will finish the tack trunk for a customer for Christmas.  

Very nice day to be outside, would not know it is December.  Forecast however is for rain and then cold weather and possible snow on Thursday.  This evening a glass of wine by the fire, with a book and Christmas music. 

Last of the engraving from the shows mailed today, now on to the big Christmas order we have to get out by December 11.  Sold the propane stove insert today form an add creigs list, have had lots of luck selling items on this free list.

Fixed a few fences this evening, that the ponies had broken during the day, horses sure are destructive.    

36 degrees and fog

It is 36 degrees with heavy of fog.  This is a view of our fish pond area looking toward the river.   

Reeder going to play golf, so Woody, Baxter and I are left on our own. Edna, Jill and Elizabeth are off to the awards banquet.  However already getting calls from them with things they forgot to do, I should do.

November was a very full month

Thanksgiving has passed and December is here.  The month of November was a very busy month for us, two engraving shows and lots of internet orders to fill. With our old engraving machine not dependable and sometimes stop working at the first show, we had to buy and overnight a new machine for the next show when we returned home on Monday.  It was a different brand machine and I had to learn enough to use for certain items in one day, the old machine still would engrave some items and the logos that people requested.  Still have a very large order to fill before Christmas and one for late January.

Seems Edna spent all waking hours shopping the Friday through Sunday after Thanksgiving Day.  She even for the first time went with Jill to the Black Friday sales that started at midnight.  She got home Friday about 3AM and was out again Friday afternoon and all day Sunday.  The rest of the week she knitted and worked on a school project with Elizabeth. 

A hawk got my last bantam hen last week, so my plan of having eggs to hatch next spring has gone away, unless I just order some eggs to incubate.  With the leaves off the trees, we have a good view of the river from our great room, which is very high because of all the rain up river.  

View from our great room 

 Will and Dale have been hunting for the pass week, but have not seen anything.  I told them I have a hawk that the can have.  Edna, Elizabeth and Jill leave tomorrow morning for The Homestead for a VHSA Associate banquet where Elizabeth will get an award for Best Medium/Large Pony rider for the year.  It is a 3 hour trip each way, so on my own tomorrow.  

Should have more time to keep the blog current during December.

Cold here but no snow!!

We had our first fire Saturday night, spent Saturday picking the garden as we knew we would loose a lot of produce that night.  We had lots of tomatoes, peppers, and beans still on the plants.  This morning we woke to a chilly 31.6 degrees and tonight is projected to be colder.  The leaves are starting to turn and I saw my first wooly worm today. 

Panda is spending the next 4 days with us as Reeder is in Las Vegas with his friends, while we are getting ready to go to the Virginia Horse Center with our engraving booth for the next 2 weekends.  Baxter does not understand why Panda is here, and Woody say’s don’t worry it happens all the time and she goes home when her owner returns.  Both Baxter and Woody will go with us to the Horse Center and stay with us in Escape Too on the show grounds.

Worked on an area today to seed with orchard grass tomorrow, as Dance (Edna’s pony) is in foal and can’t be on the fescue grass we have here. 

Fall Days are here

We have enjoyed two great fall days with days in mid 70’s and nights in high 40’s.  Saturday was a great day for the CCR Picnic and I had a good time and enjoyed the location.  Think some were disappointed they could not go to the river because the gate was locked.  Park said for liability reasons; thank all trial lawyers of America for that.

Next Saturday I am one of two photographers for the American Heart Association Heart Walk in Richmond and looking forward to the day.    

I found a nice pattern in a piece of drift wood.

Thuesday 10-13 A day of Sadness

Today we lost a very close companion.  Alvin was a great dog and personally, and until he was gone I never realized how much a part of our lives he was.  Edna summed it up very well she said “I fell like I have lost a job in life”.  Alvin had just come back from a week camping trip with us from SC and towards the end of the week we noticed he was having control problems and just not he old self.  By Wednesday of this week we knew his quality of life was gone, but he remained alert and still loved his bone at bed time.  

Alvin will be missed by both us and the Carters.  He now is with Bobby Sox and Polly.

Alvin, Woody and Dave on the beach in SC

The beach has been great!

Thursday Oct. 6

56 this morning, as we walked around the campground with the dogs, the smell of bacon cooking over the fire filled the air.  After our coffee we packed the bikes and we were off to photograph and bird. 



Our campsite is full of butterflies along with a lone rabbit.  None seem to care we about us or the dogs being around. Also lots of spider webs on the trails.

The wood storks are gorgeous when flying view from a distance, but up close they are as attractive as a buzzard.   After a late walk on the beach, home for some snacks

Friday Oct. 7

Up early as we had to dump our tanks, and then Edna made pancakes.  We went for a long bike ride to both the causeway and far ponds and then a walk on the beach (lots of jellyfish on beach). Having a campfire tonight, with hot dogs, can of beans over the fire with somemores for desert.  Tomorrow it's go home time, this has been way to short of a break!

         Above view of far pond

Sun, Sea and Birds

Temperatures was 56 this morning and with a high of 76 mid day.  Walked the dogs and off to our Bird Walk.  The group leader was very knowledgeable and personable.  We saw numerous birds and Edna added a bird to her list an immature yellow crowned night heron.  

I watched an ibis catch a crab and the eat it.  After walk back to the camper for a shrimp roll-up, our invention for lunch, they were great!

Found a magnolia tree with the seeds still in the seed pod which I had never seen before. 

On our walk we saw numerous bushes loaded with “beautiful berry”, which we are told will be eaten by some birds.

This evening we sat on the beach had some cheese and crackers with a few brews as we watch the moon rise over the water and enjoyed the sound of the surf.  

Horse Show and on to the beach

Sunday Oct. 2

Edna convinced me to go to the CHSA Classic and take pictures, as she said it would only be about an hour.  Arrived at 11:30 and left at 3:45, I previously mentioned “some” down time at horse shows.  Abby was 2011 CHSA Pony Classic Champion, so the time was worth it, and I was able to take some nice pictures.

After show we needed to do some last moment grocery shopping for the trip and then to finish packing for our “beach fix”.

                                                                                  

Monday Oct. 3

We got a late start after the barn was work was finished.  Upon arrival we stopped at our favorite seafood market and loaded up on fresh seafood for the week.  We got 5 pounds of shrimp, some clams, scallops, and a fish we hade never had (Mase). When I asked what it was the market owner said it was a local fish that tasted like flounder and was the favorite of the residents.   All the seafood was local except to scallops.  Then on to register for our camping site and after set up went for an evening walk on the beach with the dogs and then Edna cooked several pounds of peal and eat shrimp to have with our beer.  I am sure that this would not be considered a balanced meal.

Tuesday Oct. 4

A relaxing morning, took the dogs for a long walk and then returned them to Escape To and walked over to the Education Center and the Marsh Board Walk.  It was mid day so not good for photography, but did see a man casting a net for bait fish to use in the surf.  He said had fished for two days and had caught nothing yet.  Then walked the Causeway and saw a few birds and two small alligators sunning.  I plan to return this evening and see if I can get a few pictures in the right light.

Spent time on Causeway in the evening and then went back for our Al Roker’s seafood dinner.  In aluminum foil we placed clams, shrimp scallops, fish with celery, parsley, garlic, and wine.  Sealed foil and let cook on the BBQ grill for 30 minuets.  With the rest of the wine it was great!  Took dogs for lone walk and called it an evening.  Up early tomorrow as we are going on a Causeway Birding program.   

                                                                       Casting for bait fish  

                                    

                                                                         Wood Stork

                                                   Spoon Bill 1st time qwe have seen this bird here

First fall day

This has been a fall day. Very cool this AM 46 with a high of 62 this afternoon.  I spent most of the day getting ready for our beach trip.  Needed replacement bulbs for lights in Escape To and shopped for a few pieces of fishing tackle I wanted to take with me in case the fish are running when we are there.  I hope to try new artificial bait (Gulp Alive), Will and I have tried the freshwater minnow with very good success.  I purchased the shrimp for saltwater.  The bait looks feels and tastes alive”.  The latter I cannot attest to, but when finished with the bait you return it to container and solution and it “recharges”.

Edna has two days of horse shows, so we will leave Monday.  She left for the show at 6AM and still not home at 8:00PM.  Horse shows seem to have some time you just stand around and wait.  Some being relative but the same I guess could be said for fishing as you spend some time waiting for a bite.

An idea that its time may have come

This is a mail box on the RT 711.  Don’t know if this would help our government accomplish anything, but sure would get their attention.

Overcast most of the day till evening and then the sun came out.  It is currently 75 and humid.  Started to get Escape To ready for her beach trip.  We are trying a leaf mesh cover over our pool cover, hoping this makes opening pool a lot easer next spring,  as we should not have to remove a pool cover filled with wet leaves.

Time marches on

Today has been a warm humid and mostly overcast.  It was Junior Day for deer hunting here in Virginia and Michael got his first deer.  It seems appropriate timing as this morning Edna was boxing up all the children’s books and puzzles to donate to BSH School, as all grandchildren have outgrown them.

Elizabeth is home from the hospital and sore, but in good spirits.  Spent some time cutting and splitting fire wood, and then filling the hoop on the front porch.  Hope we don’t have to use for another month or more.  Needed to move a dead tree that was covered in poison ivy, which has fallen across the trail we use to take horses to our back pasture.  Covered myself in Ivy block, put on long sleeves and gloves and off to attach a rope to the tree and pulled it out of the way.  Removal from the area will wait for another day. 

Elizabeth is back in hospital

It’s a humid day, with off and on showers.  High is to be in low 80’s, with heavy rain forecast for tomorrow.  The “fun show” has been postponed as Elizabeth went to the hospital last night and was operated on this morning.  She will probably be in hospital until Saturday.  The same problem as happened on her vacation in July.  

We are off to see her after Edna picks up Will from school.  She wants’ us to bring her some fries from Burger King and doctor said that is fine as she has not eaten since Yesterday morning.

Rain for the next few days

It looks like next 4 days will be off and on rain, but the weekend should be nice for the “fun horse” show.  The recent weather has resulted in a bloom of mushrooms all over the place.  Some in the back pasture were very interesting and I spent time photographing them.  

Last spring I bought 6 chicks to replace the hens that the raccoon got and when I went for feed to Southern States they gave you 6 chicks with a bag of chick started, so I ended up with 12 chicks.   They are now all laying and we are getting 10 to 11 eggs a day.  Elizabeth is selling them for $1.50 a dozen and is saving for a new riding hat.  

In addition I bought 2 bantam chicks at a chicken swap.  I was taken, they developed into two fighting cocks and they now live at Reeder’s.  Reeder also has a large blue heron who has decided his fish ponds are a great place to dine. His fish and frog population are way down and the heron is there ever morning and evening for its meal.

Rain and drizzle in the low 60's

Last two days have been cold with rain.  Today is the type of day all you want to do is take a nap, high in low 60’s and low in the mid 50’s with rain and drizzle.  Even these three deer think so.  These deer were laying down in our side yard all morning.  Glad we got the pool closed last Thursday, and that is our official end to summer.  

Little less than a week till Jill’s and Edna’s “fun horse” show and most of the “to do” list is complete.  In two weeks we leave for the beach and a week of relaxation and photography.  

A day of fall type activity

Tuesday was a day of smoking fish and drying herbs from the garden for winter enjoyment.  It is forecasted to be fall like weather end of week, high 60’s and low 50’s.  Everybody is getting ready for the fun show in a couple of weeks.  From our sun porch I watched a bee go from flower to flower in our rose of sharon bush, so spent some time photographing the bee.  CCR meeting tonight and I submitted the picture for evaluation.

Morning Visitors

Every morning as we drink our coffee on the sun porch, deer are within 20 feet eating the persimmons that have fallen off the trees during the night.  One is always a large 6 point buck, but I have had no success in getting a picture of him.  This morning when I slipped out to take his picture, he run off again, but the doe and fawn just looked at me and went back to eating the fruit.  Temperatures in the mid 80’s during the day and high 60’s at night.

James River level at home

Will and I went to the low lands to look at the James; a tree had come down across the trail, so we got off the tractor and walked the remaining distance.  Saw lot of deer and turkey tracks and more down trees in the woods.  The river was high, but still about 10 feet below its banks.  There were no signs that it had ever been out of it banks, so flooding that was predicted did not happen at our location.  When we returned to the house, we filled the bird and humming bird feeders.  We are starting to see some birds that are migrating through Virginia.

Lots of Rain

Storms have passed, but we are left with lots of flooding.  Plan to get to the low grounds behind our house today and see how high the James River level is.  After the storm Toby and Reeder gathered wood from Irene storm damage that had been cut up and piled for removal.  They spent an afternoon and we now have 3 truck loads for firewood for the winter.  Just have to split and stack.

There is a two day horse show at Deep Run this weekend, and I will be working on our ring, for the “fun show” we are having for our boarders and Jill’s clients the end of September.  Less than month before we get away for a week of beach fix in SC.