Got the Winter Blahs? Stop in here for some Solsken Cheer!

[Solsken Farm]

Okay, so finally some more blah relief seekers besides Rose and me.

Rose, my folks cottage is an hour west of Killarny on the Beara Penninsula. We spent a month in Dec/Jan once. Chicken Salad! You are correct! Light at 10 and dark at 3 with Gales so strong a wind bent our rental car door off! So it is tough there, but gorgeous from April to October, between the rain.

We loved Kinsale, Dublin, and all along the southwest, including the Ring of Kerry. Haven't been in a few years, just not the right destination for our kids yet.

I have been dying to see Benjamin Button! We watched Mama Mia on boxing day too! I do love Abba and I especially love Pierce Brosnan, who surprised me with his pretty good voice. I thought Meryl Streep was pretty lousy.

Rose, we are not as remote as I whine about.

We are about an hour from Portland. But I miss NYC, Broadway, and all the museums, etc. We are only 20 minutes to major shopping.....and our farm is 200 acres of gorgeous fields and woods overlooking a lake. I should NOT complain. It is just a very rural town, without a lot of cultural folks. I accept this as the price I pay for my kids being safe and climbing trees and having our beautiful animals.

Rose, great for your DH that he got out when he did!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just poured a Baileys and we arfe getting ready to take down the tree. It may have one needle on it by the time we get it out the door.

 

[hoosier]

Cottage Rose. :

Any recommendations for must see places in Ireland?

I am sure SF will have a lot of ideas.
We almost didn't go to the Ring of Kerry since it is a big tourist attraction, but did at th last moment. We are so glad we did. It was incredibly beautiful and the colours seemed more vivid.​

 

[Solsken Farm]

Frozen Frozen Tundra today.

I changed all my waters this morning, to get that chore over with during the light of day.

Now I am huddled in front of the fire with some yummy hazelnut coffee. Time ot search through our past pictures of trips to sunny destinations.....

Happy new Year, winter blah-ers!

 

[Cottage Rose]

Happy New Year to Everybody!

Same here last night...down in the single digits.
Brrrrr!!!
I haven't checked on my Marans chicks this morning yet but they will be happy to see me. I got them some wheat grass and alfalfa sprouts at the grocery store last night.
Maybe I should offer them some hot coffee too.

 

[Birch Run Farm]

I am trying the get-through-winter in blocks as well. So now New Years is past but it is bitter cold here today, -30 wind chills. All the chickens and muscovies are fine.

I am trying to pick a 'next block' still. Sugaring season is a bit far away which is early March. I tap my maples and boil sap to syrup. I also start my garden plant flats then.

Any time now there will be sufficient snow for snow shoeing which is a lot of fun here. I got my snow shoes last winter and enjoyed jaunts into my woods. Here's a few pics from last year:

 

[Solsken Farm]

Morning Rose! You are spoiling your babies! My poor chicks are just getting chick starter, but I put some hay in for them.....

Hey Birch Run. Great pics! I love the one of your doggie smiling.

Why can't I get the tree down? I HAVE to do it today. It is dry, drooping and definitely dead.

 

[Msbear]

Yeah, Happy New Year

I woke up to a cold house. Our central heating unit is not working!! We started a fire but it will only heat the living room. ....so we'll be camping out there for the evening til the electric supply store opens tomorrow

 

[Rosalind]

Here the seasons are broken into chores. Right now, between holidays and Feb 1st is Sewing Season, because on Feb 1st the garden seeds will get started indoors. I'm sewing a couple of quilts, only one of which is at all likely to get done before Spring Gardening kicks in.

 

[Cottage Rose]

BTW everybody my name is Vicky not Rose.

Jennifer, I felt sorry for the little buggers.
Some of their combs look pale so I better quit being lazy and give them
some greens more often.

Birch Run...what gorgeous photos!
Thanks for sharing them!
I must admit there is something very special and mystical about the woods in the winter. When I had my horses it was almost a spiritual experience to ride quietly through the woods after a new snow fall.
Like a fairytale land.
I miss those horse & rider experiences SO much!

msbear...so sorry to hear about your dilemma.

We've had our share of power outages and know what its like but after an awful 5 day power outage many years ago we got a generator. Never again!
We've had a wood burning stove for 30 year and love it!
Little extra work but well worth it....plus I can cook on it if need be.

 

[Solsken Farm]

Welcome MSBear and Rosiland. Oy, Bear, HOW AWFUL to not have heat! Glad you have the woodstove. We have had power outages in the winter, and ice storms, but now have a generator too. Having horses and no water was indescribable. Stay warm.

Rose, I know your name is Vicky, but wasn't sure you didn't have it in your siggie, so figured you might not want your name out there. I'll call ya Vicky