Letters from Ascension Hermitage and Sanctuary

 Here is the tree that has to go - it's a way-too-close to the house maple tree whose roots are growing into the door to our crawl space under the house. The tree towers over our house and is still growing. I have a lot of respect for tree climbers! This is not only a job I could never do, it's even hard to watch! The dogs do not like having men in the backyard, much less in the backyard and  climbing trees; and of course, most of the cats decided to hide. One by one the branches are coming down . . .  I'll had another photo at the end of the day or tomorrow.

This little squirrel has spent hours gathering leaves to line his winter nest - the nest location, which has been used before, is in a hollow in a huge black walnut tree. Last Summer there were many squirrel babies in the tree, so perhaps there will be a repeat next Spring. Or maybe the squirrels are just getting ready for a cold Winter!  

Today, December 15th, is the absolute last day to participate in our holiday fundraiser. If you are thinking of beautiful amaryllis to decorate your home for Christmas, New Year's Day, or Epiphany, please consider helping Sanctuary House at the same time:   http://SanctuaryHouse.fpfundraising.com We all thank you very much!

 Our beagles are not always enthusiastic about wearing bandanas or any other clothes, but Chewy donated a cute Frisco bandana is exchange for our honest review, so Janie and Thea agreed to try it on. The bandana is reversible and is navy blue and white. Janie squinted into the morning sun, and Thea just squinted at the camera because that's part of her shy demeanor. They agreed that the bandana is comfortable because it has a Velcro closure instead of being tied, but neither was unhappy when the photo taking and bandana wearing came to an end! 

 Thanks to the Eanet family's gift on Giving Tuesday, our Little Free Library has a new flag - a definite bright spot on an otherwise cloudy day! Our Little Free Library is in memory of my father, Harvey Mellor Shepherd - he loved reading, and I think would be glad to know people on our rural road can easily find a good book or two!

 "Do you hear what I hear?" the cats looked around and asked each other. "It can't be Santa Claus on the roof because it's not Christmas Eve," they said, "but we do hear footsteps! And it's probably not Angels, because it sounds like boots, not wings! And all of the dogs are barking, so they must have heard something too." Some cats hid - Sava in a Chewy box, Owen under a chair. Little Boy jumped up to look out of the window, Momma Emma yowled in her loudest voice, Dolly and Sally pretended they were invisible and turned away from their breakfast. "Don't worry," I assured them, "it's our friend Antonio from Arocon Roofing Company, cleaning the gutters!" "Oh, okay," the cats said, "then we wish him to be safe and nimble and agile and as well-balanced in high places as we are!" Yep, that's our prayer!