Uh Oh, I did it! The Christmas Tree Chair!

 Well, there it is this year. The Christmas Tree Chair. 

To be fair, it is a very ancient tree I purchased in 1996 for about $19. It comes all apart and has 'dead' needles and green needles. By itself it sort of looks okay, but one year I decided I wanted a platform mixed in with the tree to put things on. 

So the tree this year is stuck in a corner and only branched in front. When it gets to the chair level, the branches come through the chair along with some garlands that are wrapped around the chair.

I use the white lights because at night it lights up the whole cottage with warm light. That makes me happy on long winter nights. 

The Chair becomes the center of action for the month of December.

My old jointed Teddy Bear I made in the 1980's always makes an appearance. [He is corduroy and I can say that I will never attempt working with that material again!]

I'd planned on snowshoeing. That did not work out. We had three Eagles hanging out in the trees near the house. Charlie could hear their chirping when we went to get the mail. I spotted them too and scooped Charlie up and tucked him under my arm. I think he understands that he'd make a nice little meal for Eagles and Hawks. 

I spent the day indoors finishing up things I've left undone.

Yep, I have a thing for old chairs. I finally finished this Painted Lady. I only need to coat it with some Satin protective finish.

Since Charlie didn't want to be outside, I moved the Turtle Stool in front of the chair and tossed a green blanket on it. Charlie hopped right up on the chair and sat down. I decorated him while he gave me this look.

I didn't expect him to stay there, but I grabbed my camera and started to shoot in case he changed his mind.

He didn't.

I took the ribbons off from him and gave him his treat. 

He ate it and then jumped back on the stool and stared at me.

Smart dog. 

We have done this every December since he came to us.

This is his first 'Christmas' photo. He was still not quite a year old in this shot. For the first few years he did everything he could to avoid eye contact with the camera or me. I then discovered if I balanced a treat on the lens he'd stare at it.

I just want to squeeze him all of the time. So darned cute.

My first iteration of things happening on the Christmas Chair.  

The Tree Topper.
Yes, it is a mule. It came from one of the trophies Rich won with his mule Opal years ago for having the State Champion jumping mule.

My 'workshop' and table that needs clearing off so I can start with the Lego Christmas Village design. 

Watch out as I go crazy enjoying setting up the buildings and creating scenes and stories both on the table and any other flat surface I can find!

Play. 

The secret to happiness.

About this and that...

Fred gets a bath and immediately does what any self respecting mule will do.
Roll in the closest dirt pile to replenish the dirt.

Here are some of the projects I've been working on. I used an old milker to plant some petunias in.

This is part of the East Garden just before I put the milker in. I needed to make a straight edge to mow a bit easier. I used landscape fabric and planted some petunias and marigolds...then added the black mulch.
I need much much mulch!

View after the mulch job. Be warned, this garden goes through many phases of re-arranging as the summer goes on. The bricks are there in place until I get some nice rocks to replace them with...

Hubby brought loads of black dirt for around the house. The ground settled after the remodel.

So I used a rake and a shovel to move the dirt to where I wanted it.

It took another day or so to get some plants transplanted around in the dirt. I don't like landscape fabric as a rule. I just crowd out weeds if I can with plants.
We will see how that works! Not too sure!

Then I found another new project. Another old chair found in the red shed.
I started this weekend with painting it. I'm not exactly sure how it will turn out.
It will be a porch chair or a chair for inside when we have company.
Last year I made the Happy Chair.

Perhaps I can make another chair ... Naughty Chair?
Lazy Chair? Thoughtful Chair?

Photo of the Happy Chair I worked on from last summer....

Here is a sample of what I've been doing.
Before....

 After...
It need improvements all around, but I like perennials. These all have come from other areas of the yard where I 'stored' them while I was waiting for the remodel to be done and the ground to 'settle'.

And speaking of gardens.
I am just about ready to start the vegetable garden.

Last but not least!
Tadah! We had too many cattle for me to take care of and last year Rich decided we should sell 6 head and keep two for eating. Another few could stay as our forest gleaners.
Rich kept putting it off and off. Part of the stroke issues is an inability to get certain decisions made.
I hooked up with a farmer friend and he arranged it.
We moved the cattle Wednesday afternoon to a small fenced in paddock with metal 'catch pen' gates.

The farm friend showed up as well as the trucker and we loaded up the little Dexters and sent them on their way.

The others tiny group is busy working at mowing and keeping the weeds under control.

And now I think I've caught up on farm work for a bit.

Have a wonderful weekend. I have company arriving tonight to prep for.....