Zzzzz....

We enjoyed a quiet weekend at home. On Saturday we finally finished the front line of the mares' pasture. That freed up several metal panels, which I hope to use to build a round pen for schooling the horses in. We also did some more work picking up the yard, so it's really starting to look good - less cluttered. We picked up one of the boys' friends, and he stayed the night. They were going to camp in the back of the pickup, but after about 15 minutes they decided it was too COLD. Yup, winter is settling in up here in the mountains....

On Sunday we didn't have much ambition. Dad worked some on firewood and then took a nice long nap. The boys played outside most of the day, and had a ball! Late in the afternoon we took their friend home, then came home to a supper of baked beans, steak and biscuits, soaked in the gravy from the steak. YUMMY!!

I'm starting my Christmas cross stitching. The Just Cross Stitch Ornaments issue arrived late last week and I'm anxious to get started on my favorite designs. Yesterday I finished the first one and I LOVE it. It is the Poinsettia design by Michelle Lash of Brittercup Designs. The thread that she used to make the flower petals is "Cinders" from The Simply Shaker Sampler Threads collection by The Gentle Art. It is variegated from a dark red to a deep, deep chocolate color. GORGEOUS!! I couldn't wait to stitch with it, which is why this is the first ornament of the season....

While I was stitching the beads into the center of the flower, I remembered an ornament that I had stitched from last year's issue, but never finished beading. So, I went and got it and put the beads on....

The pattern is from the 2006 ornament issue of JCS and was designed by Elizabeth's Designs.

I realized that I hadn't taken any photos of Daisy last week, so I took her out to play fetch this morning and tried to get some pics. She is growing like a weed! We can't believe how big she is getting so fast!! She's such a good girl. She's settling down and now the boys are more interested in playing with her. They didn't like getting nipped all the time, but she's learning not to do that as much. She still does it to Haley though! Boy, do they play rough. Haley gets worn out, but I keep telling her it's keeping her young. ;-)

That last one isn't a great photo, but look at her LEAP!!

Several times over the course of the weekend military helicopters did fly-bys over our valley. They come in really low and do maneuvers around the hills. They were back again this morning, so I ran for the camera (and hoped that they didn't shoot me down for being so presumptuous!) I'm VERY curious about what they are up to! The boys, of course, LOVED seeing them and even said that they wished they weren't friends, but were fighting 'cause they'd like to see them up close, after they crashed. I told them to bite their tongues!! Be careful what you wish for.....a peaceful country is what I wish for...sometimes it's hard raising boys - they're so bloodthirsty...