The unusually warm days of December have us fooled into thinking autumn might last forever. Scooter still thinks it’s good weather for a swim in Coulee Creek, although he doesn’t linger in the water as he did back in August.
When daylight doesn’t spread across the land until after 7am, and the sun tucks away behind the horizon well before 5pm, there is no mistaking that we are close to the Winter Solstice. In the evening, the hen house is dimly lit with a string of solar-powered Christmas lights. We can fool a few of the younger chickens to continue laying eggs. Some of our hens are well past their prime, but busyness mixed with a dash of sentimentality (especially for the little grandma bantam hen) means they will be around for awhile longer.
Oliver the cat showed up in our barnyard back in October, and slunk around on the periphery for awhile. We’d see him down at the garden before bolting up the hill into the pines as we approached on the driveway. Or he’d be perched on the sandstone cliff behind the house momentarily before disappearing behind a boulder. Finally one morning I caught him in the shed on the cat shelf cleaning up the kibble that Bear and Suzie had left behind. He was skittish, but curious and talkative. After a few days he cautiously climbed into my lap. A week later and we are pals. Welcome to the barnyard community, Oliver!
We are looking forward to gathering with friends and customers at the Audubon Center’s third annual Holiday Market on Saturday 12/9 from 10-2. Come down to pick up a few stocking stuffers (beef snack sticks for the lucky ones on your list!) or a summer sausage for your charcuterie tray. We’ll also have a few steaks, meaty soup bones and some cuts of lamb on hand. The other vendors always have an impressive array of quality goods, and I manage to accomplish much of my holiday shopping in one convenient stop. We hope to see you there!
Coulee Creek Ranch 