Wintry picnic

We're back home after a great Christmas at the beach and now trying to find our winter groove.
We took a survey of the homestead on Tuesday, taking notice of winter's little details.

Hydrangeas are beautiful in every season.

Congratulations, Shorty! You've been promoted to head rooster.

Pepper peeks around the mossy tree at the chickens.

Love the red bark on this shrub (maybe a dogwood? I can't remember). Looks like someone has been munching on it, though.

Mischievous, isn't he?

After an hour or so of playing outside, I told little guy it was time to head inside for lunch.  "Mom," he said very calmly, "I don't want to go inside. I just want to stay outside all the time." We hammered out a compromise: If he came inside long enough for me to make lunch, we could have a wintry picnic outside. That's just what we did. Here we are dining al fresco in the neighboring cemetery.

Alphabets just taste better outside.

And for dessert, one of Grandma's gingerbread men. Nom nom nom.

Then it was time to run around and play!

Happy Winter!