At last! On to better days, longer days ahead…
This was such a nice day, I dressed in my riding breeches, confident that we would ride. The birds provided morning entertainment, as always. We had a visit from a pair of Carolina wrens, who tend to be camera shy.
“Did I hear a cat?“ 
It was a pleasant day for barn work, all doors open to let the sunshine in. The cats were basking as I worked, and Roscoe visited his sister, Rosie.
Rosie and Roscoe and Twizzler
Harry worked in the studio while I had a number of errands to run. I happened across Jane on the way out, walking with Gus, but I had forgotten my camera.
I arrived home to a delicious lunch of cauliflower cheese, my favorite. It was warm enough to be on the porch, which the dogs and Roscoe love.
Cedar and Weedy 
Roscoe catnaps 
Adam Long sculpture on the porch
The wind kicked up and conditions for riding became too gusty for fun. Anyway, I had another errand to run over to Rebecca’s. Before I left, I took a banana peel out to Oisin. He LOVES bananas. The other two horses think bananas are disgusting.
“Oh, look! A banana peel!” 
“Yum!” 
Bart sticks with hay 
Stone sticks with water
As I was about to leave, our neighbor, Rick, stopped by with a Christmas present and his new Akita, Tenshi. Tenshi means “guardian angel”. Rick commissioned a sculpture of his last Akita, Keiko. Keiko means “blessed”. When she died, we were very sad, and Rick was too devastated to get another dog. Luckily, he realized that the way out of his loss was to move forward. He found Tenshi at 7 weeks of age in Rolla, and the breeder checked up on Rick, then agreed to let the puppy go to him. She is a sweet and impressive dog, and his loneliness has eased. Dogs are the best for whatever ails us.
Rick and Tenshi 
Beauty, Tenshi’s collie friend, appropriately named 
Tenshi
Off to Rebecca’s for eggs and a brief visit. Her farm is full of love and joy and chickens and two beautiful Great Pyrenees (as well as goats and horse, mule, donkey, and cats) . I forgot my camera, but had my phone and took a couple of pictures, missing the best ones, as usual.
The girls who provide the eggs 
Rebecca and a Christmas tree
By the time I was home and various chores were finished, it was evening. No riding today, but Laura called and reminded us about Jupiter and Saturn’s alignment, the Christmas star, which we saw. You may not see it in this picture, but we saw it through binoculars. We were so lucky that skies are clear tonight!
Out in Montana, it was wet this morning, but skies cleared for a chance to see the alignment that won’t happen again for 800 years. I expect Rainy assumes the Christmas star is shining for her. Nancy sent some wonderful pictures with the Montana hay round bale. It might be the most beautiful hay I have ever seen. Not to mention the beautiful mule!
Sleeping mule
And here, not sleeping yet, but Goodnight, horses!
Stay safe, stay well, wish upon the Christmas star.
Yes…. I can see it when I enlarge the photo…beautifully framed by branches.
Luckily, we were able to view it here in UCity.
gRRREATTTT Christmas tree at Rebecca’s. Solves a lot of problems, like honoring your vow never ever to drag another xmas tree in the house and what to do with extra , ancient ornaments. Great work, Rebecca! I’m headed out to do the same.
If I were a Carolina Wren I’d be in the Carolina’s! I guess I saw the alignment also, but didn’t realize it at the moment. I expected fire works or something more, well, just joking, but larger maybe? The bird shots are great, Anne. Sure enjoy your blog! ❤️
I didn’t see the stars so I guess I wait around for the next time.
That Montana hay looks GORGEOUS! Let’s go up and get a couple round bales, or to visit Rainy and Nancy. I love wrens as well as all birds. My father admired them and I can see why. Loved your visit, I wish that there were more Anne’s in the world.