At the Ranch! Day 1.....

We arrived at the Ranch last night.

It didn't take long to turn on all the Christmas lights and make ourselves comfy!

One of my main goals for this weekend is to finish all my Christmas paintings.

While I didn't set up that art table, I did prop up all the canvases.

This is a good place to paint because of the light - and that I can keep an eye on Louis Dean while he's out there working on the bathroom....tomorrow!

We closed out the evening early and were in bed at 9:00!

You would think since we were early to bed - we would be early to rise.

NOT! It was 10:00 when we got up.

One quick cup of coffee and we went down to do Critter Chores bundled up like we were in Alaska.

It was 37 degrees but warmed up to 45 and we warmed up even more while feeding and watering the critters, taking off our scarves and gloves.

I first checked on the incubating eggs.

No new chicks.

There were three babies in here last night and, alas, I found one of them dead this morning.

I could hear the ducks calling so I went out to feed them first.

Then I let them out....and they were excited to start their day.

It's one of my very favorite 'chores.'

There are lots of chickens and roosters down here.

This cage is divided and these feather footed chickens are easy to feed and water but do you see those banty roosters down there at the other end?

One of them has a really bad attitude! I had to ask Louis Dean to help me and he got his hand pecked pretty hard!

Gathering up the eggs is always a fun thing to do.

BBQ was being a good boy. I gave him part of a pumpkin we brought down.

Always thinking about goat food and they do eat just about anything and everything.

I brought carrots for the horses as well as apples and sugar cubes.

It feels good to be back.

After we fed and watered everybody, it was time to fix us something to eat.

You don't get eggs any fresher than this!

Louis Dean worked on the plumbing today and I did laundry.

Our washing machine broke the other day so we brought our laundry down here to do.

I

In between loads, I painted.

By day's end, I had this one finished except for adding a twinkle to his eyes.

It was fun to paint the snow.

I loaded up a fan brush with turpentine and thin white paint and tapped the handle on my wrist.

The paint spatters just right!!

It's not even 9:30 as I write and Louis Dean is already in bed and I am about to follow as soon as I post this.

It's been a good first day in the country!

Three more before we go back home but then we will be back to welcome in the New Year!