Funny I never regret early morning walks...but it does take very special gear on these extra cold mornings ..................................................................

Pearl and I walk week day mornings with friends from down the road. We walk 2miles at 6 am. When it's really cold I wear the very special gear you see Pearl modeling. My talented daughter made my garnet colored scarf. The first layer of hand warming gear are glow in the dark tropical print gloves my wonderful cousin from Florida sent me. The next layer of hand gear is a pair of apple green mittens hand knit by my Farmer's market friend "sheknits." I wear jeans, with green paint on them, and a old barn coat, that went to many of my daughter's equestrian events, a hunter's orange cap my mom made, 2 or 3 layers of socks, and sturdy pink and white walking shoes too. Pearl dances all about with enthusiasm each morning as soon as she sees me begin to pull out my very special walking gear. When we reach the front sidewalk Pearl is prancing with her nose in the air, then to the ground and then all around and the joy of our morning exploration begins. No matter how cold it is. Watching the break of day is incredible. We greet our friends in a quarter mile and down the road we all go grateful for having these opportunities to share recipes, watch the sun's light meet the horizon, see the moon's light cast shadows, watching falling stars, listening to deer graze in the pasture, visiting with friends, and so much more. By the time we return home and Pearl runs to the biscuit drawer in the kitchen, I'm refreshed and ready for the day...after I put away my very special walking gear for tomorrow's day "break."

I love paper whites this time of year. They are a beautiful reaffirmation that spring is on its way and daylight is increasing bit by bit. These two photos are taken about ten days

apart. While the paper whites are growing the countdown to spring planting begins. Seed catalogs are scoured and researched, seed lists are made, and then seeds are ordered. When the paper whites are almost through blooming packages and boxes of gifts(seeds) arrive by the UPs truck. When the paper whites are ready to be compost the first cool season seeds are ready to be planted and spring's first blooms on the hardwood trees in the forest are emerging, the gift of new life. Honeybees will clean out the hives and soar to the hardwood blossoms for nectar while bluebirds scout out houses for nesting. Paper whites...the bridge from winter into spring...heaven scent...ahhh.

We finally have this tree about whittled down to size....

Pearl, our westie, has been by our side for about 4 weekends while we have been cutting up this huge oak. Last summer's drought took it's toll on the big oak. The squirrels have diligently propagated many of it's acorns about the farm leaving their sent all over this log pile. Pearl believes it is her duty to send the squirrels to the tree tops and make sure that no moles have tunneled under the logs.

This pile is a magnet to Pearl, she sprints across the pasture every time we go out. She has single focus to have fun and investigate this pile of fire wood...her determination is giving me a good bit of extra exercise too. I have to cross the pasture to see what she has discovered and bring a few more logs up at least once a day. Pearl is a great inspiration in so many ways.

The moon and stars are so bright tonight there is hardly a need for a flashlight. We went out to the garden shed to admire some new bee hives we received today and relish the potential honey in the season yet to come. When we could no longer bear the cold we came out of the garden shed only to look up and adjust our eyes to the night when what did we see but "7 Turkeys by the light of the moon. " Sounds like the title of a good country song.

Saturday after Christmas we decided to make a old fashion Brunswick Stew to share with our family. Bravely the Bourbon Red Turkey flock came over to investigate the recipe.

The turkey's job is to eat the June bugs off the zinnias and they do a very good job, but they are all so a great source of entertainment at Hickory Green Farm all year around.