Christmas was everything I wanted it to be this year. We had wonderful get-togethers with family and friends on the weekends before, but for Christmas day we stayed home on the farm. I had plans for our little family day, and everything went accordingly!
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We had lost most of our snow to rain, but on Christmas morning there was just enough snow to cover the ground and we could officially call it a white Christmas. The morning broke quite cold, however. We opened our few simple presents over morning coffee (more on the fun Luke had with that in a bit), and by the time the Dadz and I had breakfast and showered, it had warmed up just enough to head out for a morning walk. It’s not too often the three of us walk together, and I was really looking forward to finally getting to do that. Most times on the Dadz’ days off, I am off running errands or doing work, and he walks Luke on his own.
It was a beautiful sunny morning for a walk, and the recent rain had left behind some interesting scenery in our woods. We all enjoyed it, and I know Luke was happy to have both of us on his walk, as he kept coming to both of us and jumping up to give us kisses!
After our walk, the Dadz and I started dinner together. Dadz prepared a prime rib, and I prepared the vegetables. While the meat was roasting, I sat on the couch with Luke and read from a book of Christmas stories. Dinner was perfect, and both Luke and Samantha got to sample some of the prime rib as well!
In between our dinner preparation and relaxing, we watched the flock outside enjoying the day. No, we didn’t get them any Christmas gifts; but they were quite happy to get the scraps from the carrots I had peeled and prepared, and some grapes Dadz had brought home from work for them on Christmas eve. They were thrilled to just have sunshine and bare ground! They alternated between sitting in the sun on the porch, and cruising around the yard pecking at everything they could find.
The rest of the day was spent mostly relaxing, and Luke got to play some more with his new Christmas gift. Back to that:
I had almost forgotten how much Luke enjoyed unwrapping gifts until he excitedly started helping each of us open ours! Then he had his turn with his toys and treats which were wrapped and put into a bag. He had his head stuck in that bag for so long, I finally helped him by turning it on its side, so he could take a gift out more easily.
His Angel sister Cricket would be proud of the fact that he selected the West Paw ball*, unwrapped it, and then proceeded to romp around the house with it, all the other unopened gifts forgotten! He also received a new Quizl* with treats to stuff in it, and a root chew* which he hasn’t tried yet. We decided to set that aside and get it out some winter evening when he’s whining and bored.
You may have seen the photo of him yesterday with said ball in his mouth looking very happy. While Luke doesn’t play fetch like his sister Cricket did, he loves a ball that has just enough squish so he can chew on it, alternately playing keep away.
We’ll share a video of his unwrapping fun in the next few days. I’ve given up on trying to get a decent photo of that perpetual motion!
Senior cat Samantha doesn’t want for a lot. She likes what she likes for food and treats, and we don’t often introduce much new, but she did love her little pieces of prime rib! She doesn’t play with toys, so she’s tough to buy for! I ended up getting her a new mat/scratcher* for her window seat. She loves her current scratcher*, but she is starting to have a little more trouble getting around on her old bones and with her lack of eyesight. I had noticed her often tripping over the edges of it and decided to find her something more flat.
I think she likes it! She spent most of the morning sitting or snoozing on it in the sun, before going back to her favored fort*. I think she liked the fact that she could sit on the mat while eating her food as well.
Honestly, I still have a hard time with our pet family being so small with only one dog and one cat. Having the farm and the birds helps with that. However, I’m so thankful that we had a quiet Christmas day with just our little family on the farm we love. I was determined to make our day perfect, and it was everything I’d hoped for.
What made your Christmas day special?
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So incredibly happy to hear what a wonderful day you had, Jan-and planned at that! Sometimes plans set you up for disappointment, but not this time, and it’s about time!! Loved seeing everything your little family enjoyed, you all deserved that so much!
Thank you so much, Lynn! We really did need it, and I was actually quite surprised that all went according to plan!
I am so happy that you got to spend Christmas the way you wanted to!! Sounds like it was wonderful!
It was so nice to finally have a day go the way I planned! 🙂
What a wonderful, calm, and peaceful day you had. I loved the ice on the rocks and reading about Luke with his head in the bag 🙂 I also loved seeing Samantha on her new scratcher in the sun. I’m so glad that you had a good Christmas.
It seems like perfect days are really hard to come by lately, so this was definitely extra special for everyone. Now our ground is covered with ice so walks have become pretty difficult. It was much nicer when it was just on those rocks!
What a nice day! I’m glad it was an enjoyable one, which is just how it should be! No snow for us in northern Virginia, and none in sight, just more rain to make our yard muddier. Yay! 🙂
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(¸.•´ (¸.•` ¤Happy New Year!!
We’ve been getting rain now lately too, and unfortunately it’s been in the form of freezing rain. Everything is just a big mess out there now. 🙁
Hoping for snow in the new year!
I’m so happy that your Christmas day was special. We spent it with the grandbabies and ate grilled steaks w/baked potatoes. I was right about the weather…shorts! HoHoHo!
That sounds wonderful too – especially the shorts part!! 🙂
Glad you had such a nice Christmas! The weather looks perfect. Glad Luke enjoyed the walk and opening his gifts. Love the photo of Samantha looking out the window! Wishing you a happy, healthy 2019!
Thank you, and the same to you!
I am glad you all had a nice Christmas. Very nice photos. That was a good gift for Samantha.
I think she is enjoying it – I even heard her scratching on it this morning, though I haven’t actually seen her do it yet. 🙂
What a special Christmas you all had! Some times the quiet ones are the best.
We’ve had plenty of noisy and hectic ones over the years, so this was definitely a lovely change.
What a beautiful Christmas Day!
Oh that looks like a most wonderful Christmas and I’m glad that Luke and Sam had fun. Thanks for joining the Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!
I’m so happy for y’all to be able to enjoy a peaceful Christmas together! What a wonderful walk, too!
We had a quiet Christmas here at home. My brother is here with us, so Ducky is a bundle of anxieties; but we just enjoyed each other’s company. It’s the first time I’ve seen Doug since I came home at the end of May.
I’m glad you’ve had a chance to see your brother again, though sorry it’s so stressful for Ducky.
A good game of keep-away with a ball can be the cherry on top at Christmas time. 🎄
Forgot to tell you that I spent some good snuggle time with Samantha when I was there recently. She let me pick her up and was purring. What a sweetie. So glad that you had a nice walk in the woods. We did the same thing on Christmas day. We did a 1/2 mile hike up a trail on Mount Ascutney to see a water fall. Alex took some good pics. We went around noon and it was surprisingly warm! Some of the terrain was uphill and a bit tricky, so we even got a little workout. The fresh air felt so wonderful. We will definitely be doing this more often! The only thing missing from our hike was a dog!!!! You know how I feel about that. BTW I love the paper you wrapped Luke’s gifts in! 🙂
I’m glad you spent some time with Sam when you were here, and also glad you got out for a family walk too. Getting out in the fresh air makes winter so much more bearable I think; though this recent weather is not helping things. What an icy mess out there now! 🙁
What a wonderful Christmas you had and so did they. Good for you to make their day just as special.
Have a fabulous Thankful Thursday. Scritches to the furbabies. ♥
Thank you! Making them happy makes us happy too. ♥
What a beautiful walk and pictures!
It’s so hard to get photos when it’s so cold out, so the bit of warmer days we get here and there are very welcome!
So happy your Christmas turned out perfect for you. My Mom loves prime rib so she is quite jealous. We look forward to a more crazy Christmas and had one of those at Mom’s brother’s house. Luke looks very festive with all his red!
We got all of our crazy out of the way before Christmas, with my family, so we were ready for some peace and quiet!
that is like a walk through the area of da snow queen… be careful on that ocy ground 😉
It would be easier if we all had “four paw drive” like Luke does!