Christmas tree ~

We have not put up a Holiday tree in years.
This year, I wanted to do something.

Asked friends and family about fake trees and was surprise how many have them. 

Pretty fast and easy to assemble but takes a lot of time to fluff up the branches so to speak.

Not as full as I was hoping for, sure a little more time moving branches around will help.

Over the next couple of weeks, will put the hand made ornaments up.

Does put a big smile on my face.  :O)

Trees and plants ~

 I was good when DH took me to the Nursery plant sale this morning. 

Super great deals too.
This year is a little more special... my once a year half price tree, turned into 2 trees and a few other plants!

1 male ginkgo tree, 1 Rose bush, 1 Clematis,1 Japanese anemone, 2 wintergreen plants and a Fiddle leaf fig for my Art room.

Was hard, because soooo many other plants wanted to come home with me. LOL....

 Still need to get the outside ones planted, 

but DH has to do that.  :)

Japanese Maple~

Once a year in Nov, I buy a half price tree.

Last year it was a Birch that could take the heat.

This year... another Japanese maple. Same kind as I bought when I first arrived here, just in a different form.

We are still not sure if we will remodel this place or have a place built so it is easier for me to deal with.

Figure, I could take the Japanese maples with me,

 if we move.

New tree left, the one I bought about 6 years ago on the right.

Winterizing the Peonies ~

My DH and DS brought the Peonies from my Garden and put them in pots near the house so I could enjoy them last spring.

The winter wind here is strong and biting, easily killing plants.  To protect them in their pots, DH put them next to the house with bales of straw.
Once the first hard frost arrives, the top bales will be laid over the top until spring.

Indian Fantails set for winter ~

 Indian Fantails in their winter house...
 They are going through molt, so looking scruffy.

Hopefully I will catch them in their flight cages outside soon, so I can take better photos.

Kind'a of funny, I walked in... and I get.. oh its just you and you do not have treats... rather like being ignored by feathered cats. LOL...

One this years offspring, giving me the , eye...

Dark Hen to the left is one of the ones I really wanted to
show Nov 3rd. 

Hopefully I will be able to show her next year.

The 3 small Mini Indian Fantail Hens I bought from James... super scruffy from going through the Molt.

The Wells House Loft.
We do not get much color in this area of VA...Just a tiny hint.

Art Desk is Freed ~

My Art Desk became my Med Desk for over a year.

Figured I might want to clean it up before the surgery.

That way, maybe, just maybe, I can work on the paintings that have been sitting around for awhile.

Archery ~

These photos are from last year.

Have not been able to do any Archery over the summer, because of the heat.
Today, was the first day that was cool enough I 

could give it a try.

Was only able to do 7 rounds of 8 arrows.
Not able to do the hours of Archery any more,
but I am happy I can still do it.
Shoot with a 35lb Horse bow, at only 20 yards. 
The bow is easy to pull and does not stack.
(back when, a 55 to 65lb bow was the norm and I shot at 100 yards)

Pumpkin Pie ~

 Decided to try to make a pumpkin pie yesterday afternoon.

DH found some gluten free pie crusts at Wegmans, only 10mg of salt, was surprised by that.

Normally he would make the pie crusts

Used a combo of Almond milk and thick goat milk kefir. 

Used half the sugar but I think next time, will use 

brown sugar instead of white.

Putz goes for a Walk ~

Infant Putz, 

has become bored with her inside cage,

 so when I can,

I like to take her outside so she can explore.

Surprising how fast she can be for such a tiny creature.

Photos taken with my cell phone.

More young Indian Fantail photos~

 You know how everyone takes beautiful side 

photos of their young Fantails....

Well, mine had different ideas. LOL....

Pretty much feathered out now.

Love my Mini Indian Fantails !
Think both will be Ribbon tails.

Mini Indian Fantails growing up ~

The two baby mini fantails are nearly feathered out.
Astra, their mother is in the middle in the photo above and to the right in the photo below.

Color seems to change depending on, wither I take the photo in natural sunlight or camera flash.

They both the offspring are going to be Ribbon tails.

The above photo is more true to the their colors.

Tortoise Garden ~

Few days ago, I finally was able to tame and clean up the Baby Tortoise garden.

Have been trying to grow Dandelions for her to eat but I am not able to keep them alive.

Think it might because they have very long tap roots like baby trees do and my pots are too shallow?

Never knew this weed could be such a challenge to grow inside. 

This morning, I went ahead and added seeds to the empty pots.
Trying the Hawkbit dandelion seeds again, and various other tortoise safe greens.

Mindian Fantail babys~

Interesting that they seem to change colors 

depending on the light. 

One in my hand is in natural light from the window, the other two photos are with my flash. 

Shed floor is darker than it looks in the pictures.

They are Mini Indian Fantails.

The one on the right side of the photo, is the one I am 

holding in the photo above.

They look to be the same color with natural light.
Normally my original pair, throws different color offspring each time.

Goats ~

 Daisy above, Dam to April.

Blossom jumping onto the water tank.They have a lot of fun shoving each other off it.

April ,  she had to try to play with the cane after Blossom did.

April is a sweet heart, no where near as rowdy as Blossom is.
April jumping off the water tank.... ok shoved off by Blossom...

Blossom playing with my cane.

 
Blossom became tired of trying to figure out what to do with the cane, so she tossed it to the ground. LOL

April jumping onto another water tank and scaring one of the chickens at the same time.

Theo and his squabs ~

Was worried since Theo lost his foot while he was gone, that he would not be able to have offspring.
So I let Astra sit on some eggs, so I would know 

one way or another.
Both hatched.

This is the only set of babies I will let them have, since we are heading into winter.