First Big Snow of 2011

Last night, we had our first big snow

at Howard Lodge. You can see more photos here.

Ghosts in the Kitchen!

As readers of this blog know, our house is said to be haunted. So, imagine our surprise when Nicoletta noticed this in the peaches in the backsplash pattern in the kitchen...

This is the backsplash

And here is the thing that got our attention!

Needless to say, it is in all the peaches.

A more serious snow fall

Last night we got more snow, about 4 inches.  The horses really enjoyed it and they were playing in it this morning.  We woke up to this

The gingerbread house completed

Nicoletta was finally able to finish her gingerbread house, with the help of my mom.  The final product looks like this

... and here it comes the Epiphany (Befana)

On Thursday we celebrated the Epiphany, also known to us as 'La Befana'.  This is how a Befana looks like:

La Befana

As kids, Nicoletta and I did not get our Christmas gifts on Christmas day, but rather on the 6th of January.  We still have very fond memories of that day.  We have continued the tradition here and converted Bernie too.  We had quite a few gifts to open to Nicoletta's amazement. 

Nicoletta looking at all the gifts!

She also got a special one, to put outside.... She had been asking for it since we moved to Howard Lodge, so it was about time that she got it....

Mamma meets Luna and Messy

Today Mom met the two bigger horses - Luna and Messy.

Messy, Nicoletta, Mamma, Luna

Messy looking for Treats, Nick Mamma, Luna

Luna starts to look good and put quite a bit of weight on her:

Luna before riding