January - Brrrrrrr

We have had a colder than average January this year. There is no doubt about the fact that it is winter. It has made me appreciate the people who pioneered and settled this country. Going out to milk the cow in the way below freezing temperatures brings a picture to mind of a settler going out with his lantern in the wee hours of the morning and again in the early evening - with his breath fogging the air - icicles forming on his beard. As we fill up the water tank from the hose and make sure the submersible heater is plugged in, I think of families going out to chop ice off of the creek, possibly warming enough snow on their wood burning stove or going to the well to carry water in wooden buckets to their thirsty livestock (and cows drink a lot of water!). Life is so much more convenient now. We walk back into our warm, bright house and think of those people chopping enough firewood with an ax to carry them through a cold, dark winter. We owe a lot to those brave, hearty people who left what was familiar and comfortable to them and traveled across mile after difficult mile to a life of hardship and a terrific amount of work. Somehow, though, I think they must have had a pretty good life in spite of or perhaps because of it.

We are waiting on Rosey to calve. Every day we think that it surely must be the day... But, she keeps holding out on us. :) She is a gentle, old cow - this will be her last calf. She is very lame and at times can hardly walk across the pasture without her back legs giving out on her. We closed her up in the grain bin last night and today since it is so cold and windy out - we'd rather the calf was born in out of the wind, at least.

Buttercup is growing really well. She still isn't completely tame. We tie her up every time we milk her mama so she will get used to us. When we hold her lead rope, she stands still by us and even nuzzles us a bit, but as soon as we let her free, she scoots away as quickly as she can :)

So... Life keeps us busy. School is back underway after a winter break - now we are all looking forward to the middle of May when we are out for the summer. We're planting our garden in our heads already (don't know if we will actually get one in the ground, though :) ) and the kids are looking forward to getting to spend more time outside and - with the animals.

An update on our current critters

Cattle:

Peyton - Female Miniature Jersey

Heather - Female Miniature Jersey - Not Polled

Lilac - Female Jersey -

Buttercup - Female Jersey - Born December 15, 2009 to Lilac

Rosie - Female Hereford -

Blossom - Female Hereford - Born to Rosie in July or August of 2007

Stormy - Female Hereford/Black Angus Cross - Born to Blossom on May 13, 2009

Independence - Female Hereford - Born to Rosie in July or August of 2008

Rodeo - Female Dexter/Red Polled Cross - Born April 2008

Jenny (Do not have anymore) - Female Miniature Hereford - About 2 Years Old (Died August 2009 - during delivery of a breech calf)

Strut - Male Miniature Belted Galloway - Not Polled but dehorned - About 4 Years Old

Oreo - Female Miniature Belted Galloway - Polled -About 2 Years Old

Spikey - Male Dexter - With Horns - Born about July 2008

Horned Mama- Female Dexter - Not Polled - About 14 Years Old

Cocoa - Female (we think) - born to Horned Mama Early December 2009

Jemimah - Female Dexter/Miniature Belted Cross - Polled - About 3 Years Old

Ribeye - Male Dexter/Miniature Belted/? Cross - Born to Jemimah about May 13, 2009

Fred (don't have anymore) - Dexter Red Polled Cross - Not Polled, but dehorned - About 1 Year Old (butchered)

April - Female Miniature Belted Galloway -

Shetland Sheep

Ruby - Female - Born 4/24/2005

Jasper (don't have anymore) - Male - Born 4/23/2009 to Ruby (sold)

Saphire - Female - Born 4/23/2009 to Ruby

Harriett - Female

- Male - Born 4/25/2009 to Harriett- died 6/7/2009 after getting stuck in some netting

Cheerio -Female - Born 4/25/2009 to Harriett

Cupcake - Female - Born 3/27/2007

Sprinkles - (don't have anymore) Male - Born 4/26/2009 to Cupcake (sold)

Frosting - Female - Born 4/26/2009 to Cupcake

Abigail - Female - Born 4/5/08 to Ruby

Gabby - Female - Born 4/25/29 to Abigail

Fern - Female - Born 8/1/08 to Cupcake

Daphne - Female born 4/9/08

Sweet William (don't have anymore)- Male - Born 4/25/09 to Daphne (sold)

Donkey - Female - Blueberry Gray (Named by Lincoln and Heidi) - Craig brought her over January 16, 2010 - Born 1999

Finally Pictures from the August and September 2009 post!

I am finally putting pictures on here from August 2009 when my nephew and niece were visiting us.

"Critter Pictures"

Abigail went out today and took some pictures of Buttercup and Lilac - the heifer Jersey calf that was born a couple of weeks ago and her mom. Buttercup is really growing. We have been milking Lilac about once a day and enjoying her milk, but we are leaving most of it for Buttercup since it has been so cold out. She needs all the energy she can get right now.

More Birthday!

Yesterday was Todd's real birthday. Laura made him his traditional cheesecake birthday cake for supper. We had bbq little hot dogs and leftovers from Sunday's potluck last night. Because it has been so cold out that the water out in the pasture for the cattle was frozen solid, Todd spent most of yesterday evening trying to get it thawed out. We ended up having his "birthday meal" tonight - crock pot beef cubes with mushrooms, mashed potatoes, corn and salad. So he was able to stretch his birthday out for a few days.

Tired little boy!

For some reason, this picture is turned sideways, but anyway you can get the idea. This is how Lincoln fell asleep at quiet time today - after declaring that he wasn't tired.

Surprise!!!

We had union meeting at our house today and a potluck afterwards. I had arranged for a surprise 40th birthday party for Todd in the afternoon. The kids did a great job not spilling the beans. Don and Talisha helped organize things and picked up a cake for us, and then we worked on things for it while Todd was at work and with Don in the semi. We had a lot of fun getting ready for it, and couldn't believe that he never caught on. We started off singing hymns for a while, and then sat around and visited while we ate cake and snacks. Thanks everyone who came and helped celebrate with us :)

December 2009

It is hard to believe it is the end of 2009 - or maybe I should say the beginning of 2010. They say time flies when you are having fun - I guess we must be having fun then!! :) We enjoyed having some company this month. A few of the workers were here for a few days working on a project. It was special to have them and we really enjoyed our mealtime conversations.

Gregg and Sarah M and their boys were here for a few days later in the month. They were on their way home from her sister's house in Arizona. It was great to have them here. The kids spent a lot of time building with Legos and Tinkertoys and getting to know their "3rd cousins". The adults spent a lot of time around the fireplace visiting.

Don and Talisha and their boys along with Ryan and Autumn W. joined us for New Years Eve. We had a small surprise birthday party for Todd to try to throw him off so he wouldn't suspect the big one that was planned for Sunday afternoon.

The kids got to celebrate midnight at about 9:00 with some horns, whistles and little pop fireworks - a little banging on pots and pans and general bedlam and noise! We sent them to bed and then sat around to play games - we ended up talking and laughing and laughing some more instead of the games. Don and Talisha's family spent the night. The kids made Dutch Babies for breakfast - then Don and Todd went for a truck drive while Talisha and the kids and I enjoyed the day here.