We Arrive At The Farm On Christmas Day

It was Christmas day and I arrived at the farm with all 6 dogs just after noon. The back door to my apartment wouldn't open, apparently due to a frozen lock. So I entered via the other door, causing much angst and confusion to several of the dogs, creatures of habit that they are. But I got all the dogs inside, turned up the heat and turned on the water line. I fed and watered the dogs and put the frozen door lock on the stove burner to thaw:

Neither the tenants nor the neighbors were home. I supposed that they were visiting relatives. It was quiet, cold and snowy outdoors. Quiet, warm and welcoming indoors. This was my Christmas:

Surely the local IGA would not be open, but I had some cleaning and rearranging to do and a quiet Christmas with my dogs sounded darn good to me:

But first I wanted some time with nature. So though the skies were darkening, I took the younger four pooches on a walk through the snow and across the north hay field:

We walked through the crusty snow cover farther and farther away from the house and closer to the woods:

The dogs were alert and seemed to either smell or hear some wildlife which remained hidden to me:

I saw deer tracks in the snow, but by the dogs' actions I wondered if perhaps they smelled the family of foxes which the tenants have told me about. We arrived at the edge of the woods and began seeking a place to cross the fence. Alas, that was not difficult. A herd of cattle would breach in in moments:

We found a spot where Fergus, Daphne and Clover could walk under the barbed wire. I stretched up the wire to allow giant Seamus to get underneath it. Then I verrrrrry carefully stepped over the top strand, first one leg and then the other:

Once across the fence and into the woods, we looked back at the farm house and barn. They sure looked like a Christmas card scene. I'll post more tomorrow:

Almost To The Farm On A Christmas Morning

I was driving up to the farm on Christmas morning with the dogs. When I passed a local chainsaw artist's front yard display, I decided to stop. His driveway had enough snow to cause me concern about backing out, but I pulled in anyway. Since I had a new chainsaw bear in my farm apartment, a gift from my sister, I considered getting him a little wooden brother:

There were small bears for sale on a bench. They were nicely carved with much detail. But even so, how much could they be? When I got close enough, I saw the price tag. $100.00 for the smallest of the litter. Well, that was the end of that idea. I backed out onto the highway and continued on my way:

The skies continued to cloud up, giving everything an opalescent patina. This is ice covered Barnum Pond with ice covered trees and ice covered mountains beyond:

The final leg of my journey is always Route 458, a high flat scenic road through the northern Adirondacks:

The firs and spruces were tipped with snow and everything was very quiet. I saw three very large Turkeys walking silently through the trees. I stopped here and jumped out with my camera because a large Bald Eagle had flown right above my car. Alas, it was out of sight before I could snap a photo :

The deciduous trees were all frosted, a perfect display for Christmas morning:

More icy beauty in the Santa Clara Tract:

And way ahead, off in the distance, I could see what I've always assumed was Canada. You can see that the road drops down into the St. Lawrence Valley with Canada just beyond:

And almost to my farm, I got another glimpse of Canada ahead in the distance. At this point I've only got about 4 miles to go. This sure is flat land, especially when compared to the adjacent Adirondacks. We were almost to the farm: