THREE TO GET READY....

When I get up in the morning, the first thing I do is let the dogs out in the back yard. This is what it looked like today.

Clear and cold.....

The view is very different from the pasture. That old dead tree presents me with great subject matter, and I get a clear shot at the sun coming up.

After I give the horses their grain (which Dream refused to eat this morning), I load up my plastic sled with hay and drag it to the warmest spot. Today that would be the middle pasture.



Gucci and Phoebe watch the whole process.

Taa Daaaaaahhhhh!!!! I thought I would try Dream with the rest of the horses. Set out about 8 piles of hay, well seperated. She was out there first, and then I let the rest join her.

Pretty smooth sailin.

Barb came over at 10 to help me, but the deed was already done.

I made her let me take this picture, as I knew it would make Tina happy!

Gary did a few errands and brought back some supplies I needed for tomorrow nights dinner.

I'm making Swedish meatballs, ham, korv and rice pudding. The others are bringing dishes to pass and we have quite a menu lined up. Above is the way I start the mixture for the meatballs (this was over 6 pounds). Below is my secret ingredient. Can you see it?

Gary got in on the process and told me there was only enough for 6 meatballs!!!!!

Cornball humor....very typical of him.

We turned them into almost 200 meatballs. Do ya see that big pan? It is a commercial size and used to belong to my Mom (who was a cook/chef). We had it all loaded up with 140 meatballs and guess what!!!! The pan was too big for the oven and they all had to be moved to 2 other pans.
Duh.............

Then I made the sauce. Cream of mushroom soup, a little milk, white wine, dill and sour cream.

The meatballs turned out well...we took some of the mixture and made 2 hamburger patties for dinner....they were delicious.

Out to do chores at 5. Got everything ready and opened the door for the horses to come in. First Masterpiece, then Abbe and Berlin, followed by Pony.... Dream was next and was kind enough to move so Winnie could get in her stall.

Ahah! Tonight she wanted her grain! So I gave her some extra. When I got to the barn this morning she had eaten every drop from last night as well as 3/4 of her hay and at least half of her water. She is getting used to the routine here and I am very happy to have her.

The barn light makes things all weird looking at night.



Had to take a couple of shots of the twinkie lights on the porch to the kitchen....just because I like the way they look.

Today I started working on the tables we will be using Christmas Eve (as I have 26 people to seat). 8 will be in the kitchen....

11 in the studio/dining room....

and 8 in the library.

I will get out my new camera and catch all the action.

Now I am off duty. Night all!