Bandits!

It’s been snowing!  The raccoons have been crossing from field to hay barn to beyond.  I suppose they do this every day, but today we have photographic evidence!
It’s pretty cool to examine the tracks.  See if you can figure out how the Raccoon ambles along, back paw moving up to where a front pay is touching the ground … or so it appears to me.
Try walking  like a Raccoon!
Raccoon Tracks - photo by Jane Valencia

A Red Fox! And New Leaf

Shell here.  Wow, our families went off to a wildlife park, and we spotted this red fox!

Red Fox - photo by Jane Valencia

And here’s the red fox with eyes glowing!  Totally cool ….

A Glowing Fox Eye! - photo by Jane Valencia

Anyway, I just wanted to share Jane’s photos, and also let you know that the latest Leaf is posted.  Head on over to Leaf 3 – Bert The Gamesmaster, and prepare to be shocked!  (ok, I was shocked).

A Winter Solstice Fantasy

Santa here.  Hey, Jane’s got a story here about Shell and Grayhorn SilverAntler.  Oh, you haven’t met Grayhorn yet, but he’s another magical friend.  Anyway, this story is done up in Abracadabra House dolls.  No, wait — Jane wants you to know that her friend Lisa Mathias at Journey School Stories creates these dolls.  Not Aunt Elin?  Now I’m confused!

Anyway, here is the tale, created on the Winter Solstice!

Shell on Grayhorn SilverAntler

On a bleak icy Midwinter’s Day, Shell Wakefield rides with her friend Grayhorn SilverAntler out into the bone-chilled fields.

Shell and Grayhorn encounter the hens

A herd of giant hens roams the weary field, pecking open rotting pumpkins and jabbing at the frigid innards. A frightening sight!

Shell and Grayhorn SilverAntler remain steady, watching this amazing scene. Who would have ever expected that giant hens would have “a field day” through the Hundred Acre Wood Farm Community gardens!

Miracle of spinach

The more Shell and Grayhorn gaze, the more wonders they spy–everyday miracles of a row of spinach poking forth despite the freeze.

A radish too ...

… and even a perfect radish.

Shell - doll by Lisa Mathias

“So much is hidden away in all these tired rows–” Shell begins.

“Plenty, even with the giant hens,” Grayhorn says. “Amazing indeed!”

“And not just greens–” Shell gasps, “Oh, Grayhorn–look over there!”

Calendula!

… A row of newly blooming calendula cheers on the tiny life of the emerging winter sun.