Happy New Year 2019!

Happy New Year to everyone!  Can you believe it is really 2019?  For old people like me, I can remember a time when the year 2019 seemed like it was so far into the future it was unimaginable.   And yet, here it is.   As you can tell from the looks of this blog, I have changed the theme and the general appearance.   I always like to start off a new year with a fresh format.  Somehow looking at the same old same old every year just doesn't seem right.  A new year deserves a new look! I will be starting my 7th year of blogging.  The past 6 years have been very enjoyable writing about stuff here on the farm.   I never seem to run out of ideas because life is always changing.   While some posts might seem the same from year to year, they are really different.  One thing we can always count on is that change always happens!  Harold and I look forward to 2019.  The past year has been a very good year for us, and we hope for more of the same this year, too! 
     I encourage my readers to comment on the blog.  You can post comments under  "name/url" or simply "anonymous" and then sign your name or not.   I especially encourage my foreign readers to comment!  Let me know who you are!  I have blog readers from all over the world, and I am flattered that you find my blog posts interesting.
     This morning it was very cold here in northern Minnesota.  We woke up to -24 deg F, which is -31 deg C. That is cold!   We put a heater in the cat's shelter to help the kitties out, as this kind of cold is quite tough on them.   We have about 7 or 8 inches of snow on the ground.  Here is a photo of the view from my kitchen window:

As I stand at the sink in my kitchen, this is what I see every morning in the winter.  I think it is a lovely view!   Sometimes I watch herds of deer walk across the frozen lake.    In the summer, the trees are thick with leaves and underbrush, so my view of the lake is gone.  But in the fall, the beautiful colors make for pretty viewing.   Living in an area with 4 seasons, makes for constantly changing scenery.

This is the beautiful and peaceful looking view from my computer desk!  As I sit and write blog posts I often gaze out across the lake.  In the summer I watch the trumpeter swans and ducks.  In the fall there are lots of migratory birds.  In the winter I see deer, the occasional fox or coyote, and the other day I watched a mink "hop" across the lake.  I found out that mink don't really run, but sort of 'hop'.  I thought the animal was wounded until my husband and the neighborhood guys around here set me straight on the movements of mink. In this photo you can see where the deer have made a path across the edge of the lake.

 We built our house in such a way that this would be our view of the farm every day - trees, a lake, and plenty of open spaces.  Our home sits on a slight hill, so we have a wonderful view of things from a higher perspective.

     I hope that this will be a good year for everyone!  Let us enjoy every moment of the year, and walk with the Lord every day!