Wisconsin Barns, Sunshine, and Winter Reflections

 Wisconsin Barn - Ours

Early Morning, December 29

After 19 consecutive days of gray dreariness, we've seen the sun at last. We're in the dark, cold days of winter, so seeing the sunshine is an immense boost. Of course it also means that the temperature is likely to drop pretty low tonight.

 The Neighbor's Yard Light

Early Morning

 Truck Waiting for Mid Day Corn Transfer

 A huge combine is roaring its way through an adjacent corn field. Here a tractor and wagon are transferring the corn to the waiting truck. See those shadows? That means sunshine! In fact, it was so bright that it was hard to get a decent photo. I am not complaining. I love that bright sunshine!

 Late Afternoon

view from the deck

Sunset reflected in the windows

(about 4:30 PM)

Now we're coming to the time of year when it gets really cold and dry. The snow squeaks beneath your booted feet and the boards of the boardwalk sound hollow when you walk on them. I don't mind the cold when there's no wind. We are blessed with wood to burn to keep the house warm. Of course, that doesn't mean that I don't wear polar fleece nearly every day in the winter. 

 Some of us love the snow.

I also am in no rush to take down the Christmas tree. The added cheer of the lights and ornaments helps during the dark weeks (months).

There is a reason they delay the airing of Downton Abbey in Wisconsin until January. ;-)

***

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Although I usually forget to do it, there is a chance that this post will be linked to one or more of these great linky parties:  Amaze Me Monday and Inspiration Monday and Mosaic Monday and The Barn Collective and    Treasure Box Tuesday and Vintage Bliss Tuesday and KatheWithAnE and Rubbish Tuesday and Our World Tuesday and Tuesdays at our Home and Tuesday with a Twist and  Knick of Time Tuesday (vintage)  and   Tweak it Tuesday and Vintage Inspiration Wednesday and A Creative Princess and Ivy and Elephants Wednesday and Adorned From Above  and Artsy Corner Thursday and  All Things With Purpose and Home & Garden Thursday and Good Fences on Thursdays and  Time Travel Thursday and Freedom Fridays and Vintage Inspiration Friday and Saturday's Critters

Evening and Morning at the Bird Feeders

 Juncos at the Bird Feeder

See the little fella perched on top?

What? A lamp in the bird feeder? I took this photo about 4 PM. Check the photo below to see 'the rest of the story.'

 I loved how the sinking sun threw light onto the glass of the bird feeder, and of course I had to grab my camera. Late afternoon light is fleeting, and a few seconds makes all the difference.

Finches, Junco, and Chickadee

They're eating what the others kick from the feeder.

 You two can actually eat together?

Desperate times call for desperate measures, I guess.

Bluejay and Cardinal

Red-bellied Woodpecker

The four preceding photos were taken early morning.

Do you feed the birds?  It's not exactly cheap, but our first real snow arrived November 10. Where else would the birds find food with all this snow cover? Birds are such beautiful creatures.  I'm so thankful that our loving and generous God gave us birds to enjoy. I'm also thankful that my husband has never called bird seed 'shredded money, ' as he has nicknamed the dog food. Grrrr.

***

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Although I usually forget to do it, there is a chance that this post will be linked to one or more of these great linky parties:  Amaze Me Monday and Inspiration Monday and Mosaic Monday and The Barn Collective and    Treasure Box Tuesday and Vintage Bliss Tuesday and KatheWithAnE and Rubbish Tuesday and Our World Tuesday and Tuesdays at our Home and Tuesday with a Twist and  Knick of Time Tuesday (vintage)  and   Tweak it Tuesday and Vintage Inspiration Wednesday and Ivy and Elephants Wednesday and Adorned From Above  and Artsy Corner Thursday and  All Things With Purpose and Home & Garden Thursday and Good Fences on Thursdays and  Time Travel Thursday and Freedom Fridays and Vintage Inspiration Friday and Saturday's Critters

The Barn Collective

November 6, 2014

November 6, 2014

 Our driveway
November 14, 2014

Our driveway
April 14, 2013

Thought I'd add this late note:  I was just on my way home and listening to the radio. They were talking about the deer situation in Wisconsin because deer gun season starts next Saturday in Wisconsin. As you may know, I dislike deer hunting. I love 'my' deer that eat in our fields and sleep in our yard or in the woods. BUT, I'm becoming more worried this year that this long winter will mean more deer starving. That's not a good thing.

We still have a lot of standing corn in our county. If we get much more snow, the farmers will have to wait until next spring to harvest it.  I know that is not a good thing for the farmers, and I'm not happy about that. But because of it, there is a little glimmer of hope that the deer will find something nutritious to eat and survive (those who don't end up in people's freezers, that is.) And actually, I'd rather have the deer in someone's freezer than to have it die a slow death of starvation. I think you know that my issue is really with people who enjoy killing things, not those who hunt to eat.

***

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...and more! Check out all my handcrafted soaps at

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Although I usually forget to do it, there is a chance that this post will be linked to one or more of these great linky parties:  Amaze Me Monday and Inspiration Monday and Mosaic Monday and The Barn Collective and    Treasure Box Tuesday and Vintage Bliss Tuesday and KatheWithAnE and Rubbish Tuesday and Our World Tuesday and Tuesdays at our Home and Tuesday with a Twist and  Knick of Time Tuesday (vintage)  and   Tweak it Tuesday and Vintage Inspiration Wednesday and Ivy and Elephants Wednesday and Adorned From Above  and Artsy Corner Thursday and  All Things With Purpose and Home & Garden Thursday and Good Fences on Thursdays and  Time Travel Thursday and Freedom Fridays and Vintage Inspiration Friday and Saturday's Critters

Preparing for Winter - The Woodpile

I'm trying to prepare myself for the dreaded. incredibly-long and dark winter ahead. It definitely is a cozy time of year because we have wood to burn (because we don't have money to burn). It's the time of year when, if any time, I will get some knitting done, more reading done, some sewing done (hopefully), and a good time to plan a late March vacation. Planning is half the fun, but I don't dare voice that to Mr. C. or he'll tell me something like, 'Well, then, just plan a vacation twice and look how much money we'll save.'  No, he hasn't actually said that - yet, but I can hear those words in my head for I know him so well by now. After this many years, we hardly have to converse, for we tend to know what the other is thinking. Even that gets us laughing sometimes. Scary, isn't it. But comfortable.

Anyway, here's an explanation for the collage above:

Top Row:

• Painting an X on dead trees while we could still tell which trees were dead and which were not.
• Cutting down a few huge oaks. They were each over 60' tall.
• What we don't want to happen: Cut trees get hung up on other trees and later have to be dragged down with a tractor and chain. Frustrating.

Middle Row:

• Middle son helping Mr. C. cut wood
• Taking a break from cutting
• Tools: The two favorite chainsaws

Bottom Row:

• Last year's wood pile - and what we're going for this year with probably even more wood if the predictions for a harsh winter are accurate
• Last December - burning wood in the Quadrafire living room stove
• Burning wood in the 1913 Home Comfort kitchen cookstove

 Auxiliary heat - for when it's minus 30 degrees F. or below

Yes, we remove the items from the top before building a fire in it. :-)

We don't have too many of those -30, -40 degree days, but it's nice to be able to feel cozy in the house on such bitterly cold days. They're usually sometime between mid December and mid February.

A minus 19 degree F. December morning 

It's Coming...

Are you ready for winter?

Do you hibernate, escape, or embrace?

P.S. Carla doesn't need to answer that. She's probably already praying for snow. ;-)

***

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and at

Our ETSY Shop 

 

Although I usually forget to do it, there is a chance that this post will be linked to one or more of these great linky parties:  Amaze Me Monday and Inspiration Monday and Mosaic Monday and The Barn Collective and    Treasure Box Tuesday and Vintage Bliss Tuesday and KatheWithAnE and Rubbish Tuesday and Our World Tuesday and Tuesdays at our Home and Tuesday with a Twist and  Knick of Time Tuesday (vintage)  and   Tweak it Tuesday and Vintage Inspiration Wednesday and Ivy and Elephants Wednesday and Adorned From Above  and Artsy Corner Thursday and  All Things With Purpose and Home & Garden Thursday and Good Fences on Thursdays and  Time Travel Thursday and Freedom Fridays and Vintage Inspiration Friday and Saturday's Critters

Snow in Wisconsin - Nearly Wordless Saturday

Shoveling the Snow

The thing that you're thinking is a snowblower is actually a 

wheelbarrow - for hauling wood to the house.

Photos taken February 20, 21, 2014. And I'm not even complaining about the snow (this time).  It was beautiful. Maybe I'm just desensitized to it.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

This post is linked to Sweet Sharing Monday.

*** 

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and at

Our ETSY Shop 

This post may be linked to one or more of the following: Mop it Up Monday  and Mosaic Monday and Barn Hop and  Get in My Tummy and  Cure for the Common Monday and  Clever Chicks Blog Hop and  The Marketplace  and  and  Market Yourself Monday and  Mix it up Monday and Make it Pretty Monday and Le Chateau des Fleurs and   Making the World Cuter Mondays and Make the Scene Monday and   Motivate Me Monday and  Making Monday Marvelous and You're Gonna Love it Tuesday and Treasure Box Tuesday and Knick of Time Tuesday and  Creative Showcase and   Tweak it Tuesday and  Coastal Charm Tuesday and  Take a Look Tuesday and  Tasty Tuesday  and Adorned From Above and  Love Bakes Good Cakes and Mom on TimeOut  and Cast Party Wednesday and  We Did it Wednesday  and Whatever Goes Wednesday and  All Things With Purpose and Home & Garden Thursday and It's a Party at Creative Princess and Artsy Corner Thursday  and The Girl Creative, Thursday and Be Inspired and Time Travel Thursday and Thrifty Things Friday  and  Friday Fences and  Thursday's Inspiration and  The Self-sufficient Home Acre and  I'm Lovin' it Thursday and Creative Things Thursday and   Mandatory Mooch   and Foodie Friends Friday and Freedom Fridays and From the Farm and   Anything Blue Friday and Junkin' Joe and  Serenity Saturday and Get Schooled Saturday  and Inspiration Friday(ThursNite) and Vintage Inspiration Friday and Photo Friday and Share Your Creativity and   A Favorite Thing Saturday and Sunny Simple Sunday and Sunlit Sunday and  Saturday Nite Special