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We had a very merry Christmas at the farm, with a visit from all of the Burleighs (and one or two Burleigh affiliates) and plenty of surprises under the tree.  Even Daisy got several presents, including this star, rated 9/10 on the dog toy toughness scale.  She has since demolished it.

The next day, Jen tried out her mid-1950s Toastmaster dual commercial waffle baker.  We ate a lot of waffles.

We worked off some of them by climbing Burger Hill.  Sarah and her dog rested at the top.

We climbed down as the sun set.

On New Years Eve, we could see the fireworks over Burger Hill.  Happy New Year to all!

Sarah carried a carousel horse in the Sinterklaas parade on Saturday evening.  It was about 37 degrees and raining, but Sarah smiled throughout.  We watched most of the parade from our friend Guy’s office above Periwinkle’s on East Market Street, coming down to see our girls march by.  Sinterklaas, for the uninitiated, is the foremost holiday of the Sturch of Rhinebeck.

We sprinted up to the farm Tuesday night to beat a snow storm.  The lights flickered, but we did not lose power — although we did suffer a hellacious Wednesday without Wifi.

We got six or eight inches — just enough for a family snowshoe outing.

Daisy loves the snow.

Jen made a lovely apple pie for Thanksgiving.

Sarah contributed yams (topped with marshmallows).

Sarah patiently explained many board games, including Takenoko.

The snow is a pain, but it’s awfully pretty!

Daisy was worn out by a walk today with her friend Ringo, who energetically herded her throughout.  Daisy led Ringo into the swamp, but they did not brave the thin coating of ice at the edge of the pond.

We had a short, chilly weekend in the country, returning Saturday for a dinner party in Hastings.  Daisy enjoys the crisp weather.

We stayed in New York Friday night so Sarah could trick-or-treat.  She was Athena, the goddess of war and wisdom.

It was quite chilly in Rhinebeck, but that did not stop Daisy from going swimming.  She is very hardy.

Afterward, Daisy unwound on Sarah’s beanbag chair.

Most of our leaves have fallen, but some are holding on.

We are at the peak of the fall foliage season.  This weekend we had many plans: the Sheep & Wool festival, a visit from the Dizes, an auction at George Cole, an antique car show at Mills Mansion, and a 4-H open house at Southlands.  We accomplished none of them, mainly in favor of school applications, household chores, and work.  Daisy, however, enjoyed her weekend.  You can see her cavorting at lower right.

I never tire of this view.

Here’s another old favorite.

On Sunday, the Landsman Kill Trail Association’s Fall Hunter Pace came though.   While on a conference call, I looked out the window and saw a riderless pony trot by.  Jen tried to calm her down — apparently she (the pony, not Jen) had been spooked at a jump, dumped her rider, and ran across our front lawn.

Once again we had a rainy Saturday but a splendid Sunday.  On Saturday, Sarah had a riding lesson, in which she wrestled bravely with Cookie’s exceeding bounciness.  During the weekend, she offered her toil, sweat and tears (no blood, thank goodness) to her essays for her school applications.

Because my comments on Sarah’s applications are not universally viewed as helpful, I spent lots of time with Daisy.

We had a lovely day today — cool, dry, and sunny.  The trees are starting to turn, and it begins to seem possible that, some day, the barn roof may be finished.  On Saturday, in the rain, we had a visit from Zach Wolf, who farms at Stone Barns (the Rockefeller place in Pocantico Hills) and at The Locusts (André Balasz’s place in Staatsburg) and is scouting for farmland.  He found ours scenic yet hilly.

Daisy, who can be a very serious dog, enjoyed the walk.

This weekend, it looked like fall but felt like summer — beautiful flying weather for these geese.

We had a visit from the Meng/Kufferaths, including little Lucy, 15 months old.  On Saturday we went apple picking.

On Sunday we headed south on Route 9G and visited Val Kill, Eleanor Roosevelt’s home in Hyde Park.  On the tour we learned that FDR and Eleanor built a house there for two of Eleanor’s friends who oversaw a factory (pictured) which built reproduction Colonial furniture.  After that business failed, Eleanor converted the factory into a house where she lived with her secretary, her doctor, and her bodyguard, all of whom seemed to be involved in possibly steamy, sometimes unrequited, relationships with Eleanor.  I found the tour confusing, although the park ranger was endearingly fond of Eleanor, and a bit miffed at FDR because of his emotional distance.