Merry Christmas from the homestead up the holler. “I’ll be Home For Christmas” is playing (the Bing Crosby version), the wood stove is glowing and Snookie is pondering another cookie. “I’ll be Home for Christmas” rings true this year, just not in original way it was meant (it was written from the point of view of a WWII soldier stationed abroad). With Covid numbers spiking, my wife Julia and I are hunkering down on the farm with the critters instead of visiting family and friends.
Here are a few photos from around the homestead I thought you might enjoy.
Around the Homestead
This year’s eastern cedar Christmas tree. Julia cut it out behind the horse pasture. We don’t have a tree holder so Julia made one with a clay pot and a mason jar full of water (not shown) to keep the tree watered. The decoration are homemade. Isn’t that what milk bones and red ribbon are for?Inside our cabin. That’s Snookie enjoying a bowl of milk. He started partying early this year.Our beloved wood stove. Peering up from behind it, a sculpture by Julia’s dad Harlow Carpenter made of cast off agricultural parts. The wood stove is our only source of heat and we cook on it a lot. Wood stove butter beans with homegrown oregano and cayenne pepperPear pie off our the old timey pear tree out backBrick and Crack enjoying a holiday tussle. This photo was taken from the front porch. We can hear their teeth clacking as they wrestle. Grazing behind them, Pie and Polly of the Lost Sea Expedition series (which you can stream here if you haven’t already seen it).My version of “All I Want for Christmas” – a trail ride to the top of land with Julia, Pie and Brick – and yes, some home made pear schnapps!
I wish you a good Christmas where ever your are and who ever you are with. If you are alone for parts or all of this Christmas season, I sure feel for you. That can sure be an up and down bugger of a ride. One moment you’re surrounded by nothing but your thoughts of being surrounded by….nothing but your thoughts. Then a friend might drop by or call and you’re pulled back up. I say this because it reminds me of a memorable Christmas I spent alone on a boat about 20 year ago.
And now, I am signing off with a final photo. Of course there’s a mule on our Christmas tree!
“Mule Polly”, a hand felted Christmas tree ornament made by Julia’s closest friend Beth.
