Winter Greetings from the Hollow

We send out our warmest  and most fuzzy hugs to all our friends out there in the wide, wild world, and bid you the best of winter.

"Hopalong Hollow Productions"

presents our very amateurish but heartfelt greetings from all who dwell in the Hollow.

(Be sure your volume is turned up loud.)

From

The Donkeys: Ursula, Jemima, 
The Peabody Boys: Hans and Moses, 
The goats: Opal, Rosebud, Cecily , Naomi
The Sheep: Sophia, Beatrix, Margaret, 
The Geese: Hamish, Ivan, Attila, Fiona,
The Ducks: Jangles, Mia, Jeremiah Fisher, Trudy, Pittypat,Winston, Popeye,
The Chickens: Mavis Mudd, Jimmy, Demelza, Rusty, Euel, Esmeralda, Monet, Prudi, Conan... and a few miscellaneous chicksters
The Cats: Peepers, Aretha, Sasha, Moby and Claudette
 The DOG: EZRA
The People: Jeri and the Lord of the Manor, James

  Filmed in the Hollow (by amateur Movie makin- mogul  Jeri )
All movie making tips will be most appreciated!

Wishing you tidings of great joy, from all that dwell in Hopalong Hollow!

We wish to thank all of those who visit us here in the Hollow.

Thank you for your kind comments and  for taking the time to peek in on us when ever you are able. We hope you will continue!

You can view in the larger window, but the photos seem to blur a bit when viewed large. I am still trying to figure this thing out!

 The Beautiful music is called: Dues Meus Adiuva and played by Wendy Barlow on harp and Bill Bellamy on hammered dulcimer.

All photos were taken here in the Hollow and Manor, by Amateur Photographers, James (Lord of the Manor), and Mistress of the Manor, me.

"The Christmas day is dawning;

Our carols now we sing;

And pray the coming season

 May peace and gladness bring.

To every one, and all of yours,

 We wish a merry day,

And hope some of its pleasures

Through all the year may stay."

L.A. France

  Now, I must dash! I have to go and watch my FAVORITE rendition of "A Christmas Carol" with Albert Finny as  Scrooge.

 "God Bless us, every one!"

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.....

" So... what the heck is this stuff? "

  

    Yes, tis snowing all around our fair land!  We are not being bombarded here in East Tennessee  but rather are enjoying a soft and gentle, steady outpouring of fat, fluffy flakes. I feel more than fortunate to be safe and comfy in the confines of home and hearth. But every few hours, I have bundled up, camera in hand, to capture the comings and goings of our little friends here in the Hollow.

Ducks love water, no matter what form it takes! I just want to gather up this little gaggle and pop them in the potting shed where it is warmer,( being the foolish human that I am)). But they would be quite upset with me and quack up a storm! (Another storm.)

Every once in a while they go inside for a bit of corn and  grain,

 but within minutes they are back out again, splashing about in the icy creek.

Ursula is kicking up her hooves and delighting in this dusting of white.

  And sheep have little to worry about wrapped up  in their woolies

I check to see that my chicken folk are cozily perched in the rafters of the barn

.

and enjoying some good barn cookin...

 It makes me happy,

 to see that the Peabody Boys are feeling content and dry.

 While back outside,

Concrete sentinels care not  a whit for the weather...

.

Let it snow,

let it snow,

 

let it snow!

  For those who are really getting pummeled, I feel for you. I grew up in Colorado, I honestly remember walking to school in snow that was up to my chin. Of course, I was only in 2nd grade, and it was more like swimming than walking. But kids these days would never do such a thing!

'

Snow on the rooftops is just so... so.... Christmas-like!

  Makes me want to Ho, HO, HO!

Our snow won't be around for long, so we enjoy it while we can.

I hope you can enjoy yours too.
Be Careful on the roads!

( The day after)

the kissing bandit

      It's hard to believe that our little girl is nearly a year old.

Especially since she was so unexpected.

Imagine our surprise when we came home after a weekend away to find this wee babe, newly born,standing next to her mama...especially since all our  goats are girls....

 

and we had no idea her mama was in the "family way".Ahem!

The aunties took to her right away, doting on her, letting her stand on their backside and never mentioning who was the "thief in the night", who was papa? They never spoke of it....All was very hush-hush in the barnyard.

But I know who the culprit was!

Papa..... was a rollin stone..Actually he was a dashing, amorous buck up on the hill, otherwise known as... "The Kissing Bandit". I don't know exactly how many innocent young doe's he led astray, but I know there are a lot of little kids around the "neighborhood" here, who have "Kissing Bandit" written all over them! He was a devious master at opening up his pen and flying over the fences. He had broken through my goat fence a few months before and I thought we caught him before he "violated" my girls, but alas, it seems we did not. Our innocent young Rosebud must have fallen pray to his charms! I would like to show you his photograph so  you can see for yourself what a handsome young rake he was, but it seems  his owner was tired of all the frantic phone calls from neighbors.... ("Come get your "blankety,!@#!@^*$#(*@#)#!.blank! goat outta my blankety,blank, blank yard !") and having to chase him down all over tarnation,, and, finally gave him away to someone with more patience and a taller fence. By the way, that wasn't me making the phone calls, I swear!  Actually, we are quite greatful to the kissing bandit, because we dearly love our little Cecily Rose.

 

Thank you kissing bandit, wherever you are !

Yipeeeeee! Were getting a new barn!

I know, it doesn't look like much now...

But just you wait till the barn builders get here!

The girls check it out ,

and discuss amongst themselves,

" Well it smells nice, but can we EAT it?"

Maybe they'll be more appreciative later on, when they get to move out of here....

This old shack has gone  way past charming and quaint and has descended into downright shabby.( Although  I do have visions of potting shed/grape arbor/cobblestone courtyard in my head)

But first things first....let's build that new barn!

RIGHT HERE

Wow, nice view!

Just think, a harvest moon above, some hanging paper lanterns, and a really good band and the gals could have a right nice hoedown!

But for now, we're

just waitin on those barn builders....

Monday, rain , no barn building today.

Tuesday, rain, no barn builders.

Wednesday, rain, geeeez......

Thursday, 6:00 in the morning,Glory Halleleuah!

They're here!

 

My heroes!

I wanna smell that sawdust!

"Hummph...Who knows better than a goat gal WHAT a goat gal needs in her living quarters! I shall design my own boudoir, thank you very much."Firstly, I'll mark my walls. I'll need extra space for my 4 poster bed with the lovely lace dust ruffle and rose patterned bedrug."

   "Moving heavy lumber can wreak havoc on a manicure..

so I hired some extra muscle power ....

"C'mon toadie! Tote that barge, lift that bale! Slacker. It's so difficult to get good help these days.

 

   "When it comes to swingin a hammer, we goat gals really know our stuff, so, where's that nail again?"

 

"So, I've been working for at least 5 minutes, is it time for a smoke yet? Now, where was I, oh yes, I was thinking how lovely a little breakfast nook with a bay window would.. whaaaa? What are you girls eating up there? Hey, save some for me!"

"This heavy labor makes a goat gal work up quite an appetite.

I'll be back later, after breakfast, lunch and dinner!"

 

Yes, it's so difficult to get good help these days.

Thanks Pearl, but methinks the barn builders can handle things from here on out.

 

Here, will you just look at this! After only 6 days, my heroes have accomplished this much! Mind you, these are just two guys, using hammer, nails, and one saw,THE VERY BEST BARN BUILDERS in the county!

Day 12!

'"Can we move in now? I want the upstairs room!"
Not yet goat gals, there's still a ways to go.
to be continued...

 Look here, almost finished....

 

Nice digs. Just wait till we clean it up and decorate!

And to top it off, our pond finally filled up. Sweet bliss!

Finished  in time for Christmas, the gals like their new home. There is enough space in here for the gals, a workshop for James and a new studio for me! YOu see, this isn't just a barn! When the rough cut siding is completely dry, in a few months, we are staining this barn a lovely old mossy antique green.... yes, I said green......my favorite color.