My husband the hero and my friend, Jen

Due to the freakish two-week snowstorm that northwestern Oregon recently experienced (you know...the one I keep going on and on about), FedEx, DHL and UPS delivery services all but ceased to function here between the dates of December 14th and January 1st. This created the ultimate nightmare for people (me, my friends, my entire family) who happen to do much (ok, almost ALL) of their Christmas shopping by mail and, well, yes, wait until mid December to do that shopping.

Anyway...by December 31st, we were more than itching to get our holiday packages.

Interestingly, one new fact we've learned about living out in the country where we do is that when things start to melt "in town", they aren't necessarily melting out here. Kudos to the FedEx delivery driver who came down our road at noon on December 31st. I felt really bad when he couldn't get back up the hill.

Here is my sweet husband trying to assist the delivery driver in getting some traction to get back out. FedEx man tried chains, but the road was too steep to even put them on:

Unfortunately, all our packages were coming via UPS.

Later, I was out with the chickens when I heard the UPS truck at the top of the hill, clearly heading right back out and not about to come down our way. Heavy sigh. Then, miraculously, I heard the sound of my Jim's voice..."Well, hello there!"

It dawned on me that my husband must have heard that truck a few minutes earlier, hiked up our road and -literally- positioned himself in the road so the UPS truck would have to stop and talk to him.

Roxy couldn't figure out why her master was yelling from the top of the hill:

About 10 minutes later, this was the sight at the front door:

Jim's PDS (personal delivery service), yay!

This one was addressed to me:

Awwww, this is fun:

Months and months ago, I complimented Farmer Jen at Mountain Harvest Basket on the beautiful chickens sculptures in her yard...and I am now the proud owner of my own metal chicken family:

Now, Jen has clearly instructed me that these beauties are supposed to go outside in my yard with my holiday light-covered rooster (Rusty), but (shhhh!) don't you think they look really nice here on my dining table?:

Why, they're beautiful enough to be a table centerpiece (thank you SO much, Jen):

In fact...this was New Year's Eve and we were having a party. Look at this beautiful table. Between Jen's beautiful hen and chick family and Sugar Creek Stuff's delightful place mats from my pal, Marcee, it was an incredibly festive and happy table, indeed:

Cheers!:

Beyond having a hero farm husband, I have very wonderful, thoughtful, and fun friends. I am a lucky girl.