Maybe its the time of year or the weather or both but its been a time for noticing things that are new. Some of them are wonderful some of them are sad.

When we moved here the area was already a couple of years in to a drought. Even Katrina roaring through did little to quench the thirst of the crops, critters and farmers' wells. Two grass fires that hit our property after some fools mess with fire when everything is so dry. Now fast forward to this fall and Winter with a year of exceptional rain fall behind us and the changes are amazing.

We always saw a few Blue Jays but just a few. This Winter we're seeing untold numbers of them around the house. I have never seen a Pilated Woodpecker here, now after so much rain we see them all of the time. The one thing that is not new is the big doe that every year raises her fawn in our lower field. We even saw her nursing the baby several times this Summer. Yes, life has returned to the country again. All it took was enough rain to bring the life back.

But it isn't all good. The economy is having a very negative impact on this area. Foreclosures are way up, I rarely saw any listed in the news paper before this Fall. Now if there isn't at least five then it must be a holiday. These are farms that are being foreclosed on. Most that did not go out and buy more house than they could afford. Its what the economy has done to break their backs. Its sad.

The other thing is crime. For the first time everything is locked down, keys are removed from everything that can be started and driven away. Today a wildlife management officer was shot gunned three times in the back attempting to apprehend three men that broke in to an Amish family's home while they were attending the funeral of a six year old. These three men shot the officer just as a county Sheriff arrived. Both the wild life officer and the Sheriff went after the three.

Even though the one was shot they managed to apprehend the three. The injured officer was flown to a major medical center and released that same evening. I find that amazing and such wonderful news.

Everyone that reads this blog needs to be careful. I hate locking everything up, I always forget to take the keys out with me. Or I try to go in the door that I don't carry the key for and have to walk around the house to get in. But for now, its what we'll do. 

One day we will be able to living our lives without worrying about what next. I just hope that day arrives sooner rather than later. 

The sun is peaking out again this morning. A little while ago we actually had some snow flurries, that's very rare in my neck of the woods.

Even though its Christmas I will have to brave the cold and wind here in a bit to go feed and water the birds. Thank goodness most of that occurs in the Silkie coop out of the wind. 

The little lavenders are growing like weeds. Two of them are boys, they are crowing at a very young age. All I can do now is hope that the third one is a female. Its a hoot to watch them when I open their pen door, they come bounding out, hop around, do circles, zoom back & forth celebrating their freedom. 

Prissy and Shoester, the d'Uccles, are now restricted to a pen they can not fly out of. Shoester just thought it was the most fun to go rile up the Silkie roosters then fly back out again. They are not happy about it but for now that's just how it has to be.

OK, its time to go bundle up and take care of the feathered ones. Hope everyone is healthy this holiday season and taking care when out on the roads.