The fog was back this week, almost every morning started like this ... you got to admit, it's rather beautiful!
This gnarly old oak tree next to the pond in front us is especially photogenic and spooky looking: 

                      

The last few days the temperatures came down at night to almost freezing which in combination with the fog made for a pretty layer of frost on the grasses and reeds around the pond ..                                             

  

It usually takes until midday for the fog to lift but than often the rest of the day will be crisp and clear albeit rather cold!

On such days we're able to see Mt Hood!

And a little to the right of that Mt Jefferson as well! How cool is that?

I do have to use my zoom on my camera to get these pictures but they are clearly visible with the naked eye, especially on a clear and sunny day like this.

And this is us on a sunny day, for a change .. I have not been able to make many pictures where this is the case lately ...

Since it's officially winter right now, I started to look at how and where to hang my bird feeders. This new site doesn't have trees right next to the RV to attach the wire I hang the feeders onto so I had to come up with another plan.

After some research I decided to buy a so-called 'bird-feeder station'.
I was a little concerned the pole and metal might be on the flimsy side (since of course I bought the cheapest, but largest, one I could get) but when it arrived I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and sturdiness of all the different parts!

 

It came complete with feeders and trays which I don't really need since I have many (larger ones) as it is, but they were included so hey, you can never have to many (or spares).
So far, no takers, but I know from experience that it can take a while before any birds will discover them and feel save enough to start eating.

Let's see, what else .. I baked more cookies! No Christmas without gingerbread-men:

They're so easy to make and I always get a kick out of giving them that smile ..  and cuffs and buttons.

This year I also made some Biscotti again. I love biscotti but James is not too fond of them. It's mostly because the store-bought ones are usually very hard but the one's I make are much softer.
Biscotti dough is twice-baked, which gives them their extra crunch, but you can just bake them a little shorter if you want to.

       

I also added dried fruit, which gives them a festive Christmas look, but it's another thing James doesn't like very much. It reminds him too much of fruitcake which is a very traditional staple around the Holidays in America, but weirdly enough not too many people like it!
I actually do like them, but I'm not a born-and-bred American, am I?

      

And there we are .. almost Christmas .. where does the time go?
I made a little Midsummer Solstice wreath to celebrate the return of the light at the 21st:

                   

Winter is only just beginning and these are the dark days before Christmas but from now on the days are getting longer!
Here's a little blessing: