Recently

We have been trying to make the most out of the little snow that we have.  I found a great place for cross country skiing in Waterville called Quarry Road Recreation Center.  We have only made it down there once, but the weather and the trails were great.

At home, we been doing a little work on the house.  We have removed the bar and added an office loft.  Greg is excited to have his own office space and it really defines the kitchen.  A new and smaller bar will be build soon and then the flooring projects can begin.

I have been down and out with a bad case of the stomach flu and am currently at the laundry mat doing sick bedding as we speak.  Later, I will decontaminate the rest of the house.  I am very hopeful that Greg will not come down with it.

We still don't have much snow which makes for an icy driveway, but easy walking in the woods.  The dogs love to investigate the bog.  We're still hoping for at least one big snow before the end of winter!

Winter Ready

The pond is ready for skating!

 Greg and I shoveled and swept off the little snow that we had.

Moose loves winter.  It is the only time that he benefits from having a pond in the backyard.  It is much easier to get the ball when you don't have to swim.

There is a pretty strict no skate policy on the left side of the pond, where the stream enters.  I tried to make that clear with the snow line.  Though I don't think any one would drown, I bet the water is pretty chilly right now. 

We are ready for winter, but still waiting on snow so that we can get the skis and snowshoes out.  

What We've Been Doing Lately

Not a whole lot.

The surgery was kind of an eye opener for me as to how much one relies on their stomach muscles.  I was able to get off the couch and out of the house a few days after the surgery, but still couldn't really do much. I have never been more bored in my life.

Christmas was quiet, with a little Dutch tradition.

We did get out and do some easy hikes in Orland and in Camden.  It was just a little icy.

This is what Moose has been up to, pretty much all the time.....

The other dogs do this most of the time.....

And the outdoor animals......

Those goats will do anything to get to their food!

Rope and Surgery

Greg surprised me two weeks ago with this rope.  Yes, it is in the house.  It was hanging and ready to climb when I came home from working at the barn.  It is really a Christmas present, but since I was scheduled to have surgery on the 23rd, Greg thought I should be able to use it before I was laid up.

I did have hernia repair surgery yesterday.  I was super nervous to be anesthetized, but it all went well.   I am super sore and really bored.  It is a good thing I got some use out of the rope earlier, because I can't even sit up by myself right now.  I'm hoping to be a little more active in a few days.

Christmas Card Bloopers

We did our Christmas photo ourselves with the camera placed on a muck bucket and on time delay.  We lucked out with the final picture, but overall, it was a pretty comical experience.

Someday

This is land that Greg already owned when we got married.  We can't afford to build the house we want yet, but someday this will be our backyard.

Late Fall Biking and Hiking

We managed to squeeze in a quick trip to Acadia today.  The roads were a bit snowy, but mostly OK for biking.  We finished the day off with a quick hike up the Beehive and lunch at EPI's.  A little chilly, but totally worth it!