Why Is This Goat Smiling?

"Why is Jill smiling?"  you ask.

Because after what seems like forever, 

the sun emerged yesterday from behind the fog bank.

(And not because she has an obvious underbite.)

I wasn't the only one overjoyed to see its fiery presence back in the sky once more.

Even Oakley commented that he thought his shadow had permanently disappeared!

The chickens were quite chatty and excited as they snacked on their scratch 

in the afternoon sunshine.

Everyone spent some time facing it, soaking in its rays.

It still remains too muddy for the equines to go out to pasture, however,

but I can't help but think just the presence of blue sky was a pick-me-up for them

as they munched on their afternoon hay.

The sheep pen is situated on the northern slope of a hill, so they rarely get 

direct sunlight.

This works out well for them since they are stuck wearing wool pajamas in all seasons.

And by the way....

those wool jammies are about two inches thick right now.

I am so excited for spring shearing!

It will be fun to see how much fiber I end up with this year.

 It will also be nice to see clean sheep once again (though short-lived!)

I have been using this foggy week to knit, knit, knit...

sadly, though, I cannot share with you as everything I am currently doing is for gifts.

I just finished a second one of these...

Once Christmas is over, however, then I knit just purely for fun....

and may have some items to sell.

PS....the fog was back by last evening and we awoke to it again this morning!

PPS...

Carine...thanks so much for the link.  It's amazing!  I may have to add that to next years' crops.

Check it out here.....http://shop.nativeseeds.org/products/ts363

And lastly, look who Santa came to visit yesterday....

She seems quite happy with the old elf!

Not pictured here...in red letters on her bum..."Not Naughty".