A new dawn, a new day, a new year and a new duck.

Seem to be getting there. I moved the duck food and drinking water to where they seem to be happier, and both ate and dunked heads and drank from the water. Our original duck had not eaten anything since the other one disappeared, and Smoky Robinson therefore hadnt worked out where the food and water was, as he is following her around. So that was a relief. We still had the same runaround to get him into bed. But this time it was me that grabbed him and got soaked in the process!
So tis New Years Eve. The time for making resolutions. Why is it we are expected to do so and promise we will do things we dont like, and dont want to do? Well mine are I am NOT going to stop drinking, eating what I want, not eating what I dont want. So there. One I will try hard with is doing more housework.....Mainly so it doesnt pile up and swamp me.
I hope we all get what we would like from 2011.
Health, a bit more wealth, and lots of happiness.

Two posts in one day.

Just had to show you this amazing picture that Mike took on my phone. The tweed sleeve is mine, and I am trying to choose a duck/drake, from these masses and masses of poultry that came to be fed. Pity there is no sound as it was deafening!

A Duck Day!

When Mike put the ducks to bed last night, there was only one......
He searched this morning, still only one.
She kept calling, it was most distressing.
So - I spent all the morning trying to find a replacement. Eventually we were offered a drake by the New Ark Animal Rescue. After some discussion we decided to accept the offer. We were really looking for another duck, never had a drake, and not sure I want my daily duck eggs to have been fertilised. I draw the line at cannibalism.
So this afternoon we set off to collect the duck/drake.
When we arrived the man said he was just about to feed them and this would enable us to select which one we would like, and for him to grab it.
Then his partner came out and asked if we knew we had a flat tyre. This was after driving for nearly half an hour, including up their farm track, deep potholes etc., and me saying "This car is leaning heavily to the left and is extremely sluggish", and being poo pood.
It was down to the rim....
So Mike and the man set to to change the wheel. Everyone up to their knees in mud and slush.
Eventually wheel changed and we had the drake in a box in the back, donation made and came home.
Apart from looking as if he was going to fly home every five minutes, he met Mrs Puddleduck and followed her around making quacks which next to her deep bark sounded very falsetto, hope he isnt a gay duck.
We had spent so much longer at the rescue place, owing to the wheel change, that it was soon growing dark. One thing we had decided on that that was the time for ducks to go to bed, as that was the time that any foxes around would be arriving for supper. I wish I had had the camera on me. Mike came along, "Into bed, " and our original duck dutifully went into the duck house. Smoky Robinson, new duck, discovered the pond. Mike went in after it, thinking easy peasy I can get it while its stuck in the pond, but its bigger than Jemima and just leapt out and off round the courtyard, followed by Mike. After a few turns he finally cornered it and grabbed it and into bed he went. Smoky Robinson that is.
He is called Smoky Robinson as he is the most beautiful, shade of grey on his body. His neck shows possible mallard ancestry and his posture shows runner duck in his ancestry.
So that is the whole day spent on ducks.

The road to Greenbrae.

You can just make out our roof on the right hand side, covered in snow, with trees on either side.
The picture was taken on Christmas Eve.
Today the snow has begun to melt and temperatures were, for a while, above freezing.
Our friends finally made it, bearing gifts. Not the same somehow, is it, after Christmas. But all very welcome. And we handed over ours.
Christmas cake, made by moi, with Wensleydale cheese. Pecan Pie, made by Mike and lots of little cakes made by Emily, and iced by Zachary.
They are all off tomorrow.
I might just do nothing and savour the quiet!
But far more likely will be loading up the washing machine, stripping the beds and sweeping up all the silver stars.

Wot I did on Christmas Day.

I set the table!

Amy not getting the cracker joke.

Granddad and Zach doing a puzzle. The latter far better at it.

This afternoon I shut myself away and wallowed in my dvd of Downton Abbey.

Just waiting for someone else to cook the tea and set the table.

Job done.

Thats it then - for another year!

Before the opening ceremony. (T.V. is on as the dvd player is playing The Messiah, one of our Christmas Traditions. - Not particularly religious, just love good music.)

The last present to be opened. Having worked with children for many years, and had a few of my own, I sort of knew that once this was opened that would be it. And indeed he even wanted it in the cot with him!

Probably my best Christmas present was that Emily, daughter number 2, cooked and prepared the whole Christmas dinner. Goose and the vegetarian option, starter and three desserts. All I had to do was open the wine. Something I am quite adept at. Surprising art for someone brought up as Methodist. I blame it on being a rebel and being forced to sign THE PLEDGE at the age of eight.

Now late afternoon and at least two people have crashed out. Our grandson lasted right up till the last present, had to be peeled off the car and took off for a nap. So he now has his second wind.

I have done really well this year, didnt start on the sherry till 10.45. shared a bottle of wine with Mike, when sharing bottles of wine does not come within my understanding, and am still upright, although ready for more - in a bit.

Got lots of lovely presents - though there's always one isn't there, where you think, what the hell is this? Do these people know me? Do they care? And the New Year's Resolution begins to form in your mind...............

A White Christmas.

Amy, Zachary and Jonathon build a snowman. Apparently this is not the right sort of snow for building with. Well, that was the excuse for him being so small!

There is enough of it. We have had a lot more snow since I last wrote here. And it continues. Heavy snow showers early afternoon today, and more promised up till Boxing Day. Mike had to drive to Aberdeen yesterday to collect the above three. But once down our road the roads were okay. Or, as they say, passable with care.

Sensible Grandma back in the warm. Zach and I made the playdough yesterday. And had a lot of fun washing up afterwards. Today we tested the playdough. And again, had a lot more fun washing up afterwards.

Aunty Emily arrived in the afternoon. Another journey for Mike into Aberdeen.

I should say here that there was no delay on the trains today, just a small delay yesterday. All this doom and gloom at Heathrow and Eurostar, how come we cope in Scotland and have far more snow and lower temperatures?

Although less than half the family here the house seems full to bursting! So I am having time out just now before re-entering the fray.

Our friends, who normally spend Christmas Eve with us have chickened out. So we have rather a lot of savoury snacks, sausage rolls and mini pizzas, Christmas cake, chocolates and cheese etc.etc. to wade through this evening.

But then, there's more booze for us also!

A Happy Christmas to you all.