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We had a fantastic 10-day vacation at the farm for Christmas and New Years.

We arrived the Friday before Christmas to find that the overgrown hedgerow between our fields had at last been removed.  You can actually see the old stone wall now.

On Sunday it snowed, guaranteeing us a white Christmas and a happy dog.

We had Rinda, Lew and Lewis for the holiday.

Sarah made beautiful pictures for everyone.

And, of course, Sarah made out pretty well herself.  Happy new year to all!

We had three or four inches of snow on Saturday — just enough to justify a blazing fire.

Daisy doesn’t mind the snow a bit.

On Saturday we observed Rhinebeck’s 10th Sinterklaas celebration.  Sarah was a bit over it this year, but we persuaded her and her friend Anna to pose with this polar bear on East Market Street.

We celebrated Thanksgiving with our highest pie/people ratio yet: 3:5, or .6 pies per person.  That’s a lot of pie!

Stacey lit the festive candles.

Sarah and Jen led a game of Celebrity.

Julie seemed to enjoy it too.

We have in fact skipped autumn and headed straight into winter, with bare branches and stormy skies.

However, our burning bush is making a late appearance.  Could it be trying to tell us something?

The phragmites surrounding the pond are in perfect health as they prepare for winter.

We seem to be bypassing autumn entirely: on Saturday we could see ice forming on the pond.  We put the garden to bed, installed storm windows, stacked firewood, and generally tried to be as ready as the phragmites.

This is about as close to peak foliage as we are going to get this year.  A warm, dry, fall has left us without the vivid colors we have had in other years.

Some of our star performers did pretty well, nevertheless.  You’ve seen this one before.

On Saturday, Sarah participated in the horse Halloween pageant at Southlands.  She and Hero (the Wonder Horse) took “Most Creative” honors for their matching panda costumes.

Today we visited the NYS Sheep & Wool Family Fun Festival at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds.  It is knitting ladies’ nirvana.

Not straying far from the ovine theme, Sarah found a litter of border collies for sale.

Back at home, Daisy took advantage of the continued warm weather.  It was in the mid-seventies both days this weekend.

Sarah participated in her first horse show at Southlands on Sunday.  Riding Owen, she won a third place and a fourth place ribbon.  She hopes to do even better next time!

Sarah showed nice form today aboard Owen at Southlands.  Next weekend she has her first show.

Jen rooted for them both.