The Difference Between Boys and Girls

When it snows, this is what the boys do:

And, this is what the girls do:

The boys will tell you that they are tough, rugged ranch horses and they don't need no stinkin' run-in shed.

The girls will tell you that they are smart and know how to seek, and use, shelter.

Lucy had to come out, into the snow, to get her breakfast.  She was not impressed.

I tried to tell Pistol that the snow would wash away the mud and that she would be beautiful.  She was also not impressed.

So beautiful, though.  Oak Creek Ranch in the snow.

On a Cold, Dreary New Year's Day

It was a misty, moisty, cold day.  I don't think we got above 40F and the temperature started dropping after lunch.  We are supposed to get snow tonight and tomorrow; how much is anyone's guess.  The forecast has ranged from three inches to 20 inches (currently at about seven inches).  We never believe anything until it happens.  Today was supposed to be partly sunny, with showers after 4pm.  It looked like this when we got up, and it looked like this all day long.  Sun?  What sun?  It started to rain mid-morning and dribbled and drizzled all day long.

What's a girl to do?  Make more sourdough bread for one thing.  It's a three day process, but so worth the results.  We finished off this loaf at lunch and I'm making more, that I will bake tomorrow, for us to have with soup tomorrow night.  I made the soup stock yesterday and the house smelled wonderful.

Kyle's birthday is today and when he and Camille were here to celebrate Christmas, I also made his birthday dinner.  He requested rib eye steak, potatoes au gratin, corn, Caesar salad, and homemade bread.  The crusty kind.  That's my son -- we know how to enjoy our food in this family.

This morning, there were sparrows scratching around in the leaves under the rose bushes outside the breakfast nook.  I recorded them in my book: spotted towhees and yellow crowned sparrows.

Yellow crowned sparrow (photo by allaboutbirds.org)

Spotted Towhee (photo Audubon.org)

Then I put away all the Christmas decorations and ornaments from the tree.  I always do this on New Year's Day -- my "fresh start" for the New Year begins with the Christmas clutter gone.

I got a couple coloring books for Christmas.  This one is my favorite.  Of course, I started with the chicken picture.  Camille was incredulous ... with all the pictures of wild and exoctic animals to color, I picked a chicken.  I'm thinking about colors for the chicken while I work on the background.