New Life Old Farmers

Looking out the upstairs window this morning. A bit of snow has accumulated on the roof.

Bird bath anyone?

Where did our fence go?

Agnes wanted to know where did her hay go?

We wanted to know where did Whoa Nelly go?

What My Loving Spouse did…

What he wanted to be doing…

The dog’s yard and ‘house’.

The dog.

It is amazing the difference a day can make.

We’ve got plenty of room….stop on by…

How’s your year so far?

We’re not really ‘New Year’s Eve’ kind of people. For me New Year’s eve parties are a tiny bit over rated. I usually want to go home by 9:30 or 10:00 and have to try and figure out how to keep acting ‘pleasant’ for 2-3 more hours.

On Dec. 28th we headed off to Salt Lake City bright and early, as it was an 11-12 hour drive. It was snowing as we left, so we’d carefully packed winter gear (sleeping bags, woolly hats and gloves, boots and snacks, well, I should say ‘extra’ snacks) just in case.

The plan was to stay for two days.

Our hotel was right near all kinds of stores.

Oh, my gosh….Barnes & Noble….

Sportsman’s Warehouse….

Best Buy…

Lowes, what do we need? Grout, stop there for sure.

We didn’t go for the stores we went to see My Other Girl and Number 5 Son and our Little Miss. My Loving Spouse needed to bring her a little Teddy Bear for Christmas, just like the one he was given many years ago. There were tears in his eyes, when she got it.

We headed home on New Year’s eve at 6:30 am with lite snow and lite traffic. We planned to be home by 6:00 pm, it was a mere 700 miles and then at 2:30 with only 218 miles left to go, we got invited to a ‘Grand’ New Year’s Eve Party.

“Hwy closed at Le Grande”.

Stuck in Le Grande, Oregon. Check the map, there are no other routes nearby. We filled up the car and secured our spot in the parking lot at the Flying J truck stop, and watched the other invitees roll in. We listened to our book (The Woman in Cabin 10) and mentally recalculated what time we were going to get home. The party had drinks courtesy of the party supply store (Flying J).

The party had a dance floor and everyone did ‘the’ dance. Showcasing their moves as they made their way across the ice and snow when crossing the parking lot attempting to stay upright.

The weather was…cold and got colder. Instead of tracking the minutes dropping until the New Year, My Loving Spouse was tracking the temperature dropping to -17 at the lowest point. I’d unrolled my sleeping bag, but we were fine in our Hybrid car, which ran all night keeping us warm.

We had our own New Year’s Eve ‘ball’ high in the sky…

Which fortunately for us did not fall down.

On one of my trips to the bathroom and the ‘party store’, I bought our traditional New Year’s breakfast item. (32 years now, this has been the staple. Don’t ask me why, because they really aren’t good, but it is a tradition).

We did see the new year in. All night we were wondering, when we could leave and/or when should we leave. At 5:30 am the biggest party goers started up their Semi-trucks and began to pull out. At 6:30 am we said goodbye to our ‘Host’ and crept back onto the hwy. The sun was coming out and as we drove up the mountain we were grateful for a clear road we had all to ourselves.

We arrived home after 28 hours since we started our journey, tired and happy to be home.

Most people wouldn’t plan this kind of trip, but as you know by now, we might not be ‘most people’. Was it worth it?

Absolutely.

The kids were grateful we’d made the journey and happy to see us.

The best part was being able to be a help to them. Sharing the knowledge and experience of our years in the Real Estate business. Assisting them in making a plan, and helping them get ready for their next step in buying their first house.

And then again there was this…

…and we are blessed.

So, how was your New Year’s?

I had a goal this year to read 50 books. I don’t finish books I don’t like, they’re a waste of time. I should say I had a goal to finish 50 books this year.

Here are a few of my favorites…

Ghosted My favorite book of this year. Well written, the characters are believable and likable. I recommend it to all my reading friends and buy it as gifts. I don’t want to say more….just trust me.

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill In a word, ‘delightful’. You don’t have to work at a book store or library to enjoy this book, but if you do, well, it’s just even better. Another gift giving delight!

The Perfect Girl my first time reading Gilly MacMillan and not my last. Thoroughly enjoyed this page turner.

The Quiet Girl The author’s first book, which is a problem as I want to read more of their work….now.

A Prisoner of Birth A return to a classic, My Loving Spouse and I actually ‘listened’ to this book on tape during our adventures on Tally Ho this summer. One of my Jeffery Archer favorites.

A Piece of Cake is a tad long, but the memoir of Cupcake’s life is something most of us middle class folks could not believe. I felt I owed it to her to complete the book.

Becoming Duchess Goldblatt I did not realize at first that this was a non-fiction book. It reads like a novel. The book is a mix of humor and sorrow.

Good Dog, McTavish a quick read aloud for you to share with your favorite 8-11 year old.

Chickens to the Rescue grab a couple of little kids, read them Chickens to the Rescue and just enjoy all the giggles.

51 of the books I read came from either the library, a friend or was bought at our local book store. 3 ebooks were purchased on Amazon. I can’t think of anything worse than not having a book store or a library around, so this is my shameless plug for you to use them.

Being laid up, after breaking my back, certainly helped me surpass my reading goal.

I’ve another week off of work and Number Two Son just gave me a great new book for Christmas, so who knows….55?

What were your favorite books this year?

Most importantly thank you for coming along beside me and may you all have a

happy new year with many blessings,

It was slated as the ‘Ladies Christmas Tea’ at our ‘new’ (as of a year) church. They needed volunteers to help decorate a table. Throw a few decorations on it and bring in a few good dishes, is what I assumed.

I was wrong, and yet I did it anyway.

The list of instructions was a page long. As I read the list, I went into tea table decorating anxiety mode. However, two things happened, as I reviewed the instructions. Betty (my mom) had given me almost everything I needed and she’d be delighted to know that the stuff was getting used. I also now had the opportunity to be creative. Not only be creative, but be creative for others.

I ordered a three tier stand and made a new Christmas runner.

I wanted to make an ornament as a ‘take away’. I’d already had the words that spoke to me, especially this year. I’d been saving wooden spools, because I knew I’d need them ‘someday’. Then I turned to My Librarian for a second opinion and help finding just the right font, because the right font always matters. (If you don’t understand that, I can’t explain it to you).

As I gather everything on the list, I know Betty is beaming.

• Water glasses – ‘Betty & Joe’s’ old gin & tonic glasses
• White luncheon china – from the family (Jensen) ranch, which makes it very old
• red napkins – graced many a Christmas table set by Betty
• Sterling silver – Betty’s Rosepoint
• teapot – The one My Loving Spouse’s mother bought him, as she couldn’t believe he didn’t have a ‘proper’ teapot in America

• The greens cut from the fir outside
• The angel garland purchased at the Ely Cathedral in England on our first trip together.

The wine glasses…purchased quickly that morning by My Loving Spouse as we have a habit of breaking them. What can I say, when you use something they don’t always last.

My table was actually one of the simplest, but I didn’t mind. I enjoyed how much my Mom would have loved it and how it was a reflection of me. The treats were delicious, but luckily someone else signed up for that job.

The time with the ladies was worth it all. The tea gave me a chance to do something for others, be creative and helped me find my Christmas spirit…

and I am blessed.

Agnes was due to calve in 4 days. She was showing no signs of imminent calving Wednesday evening. Imagine our surprise to see a newly born calf as the sun was coming up Thanksgiving morning.

My Loving Spouse and I got dressed and went for a closer look at our herd. We were hoping for a heifer calve, but when I reached under the little one for a manual inspection, I could definitely feel a few little balls. (A move you can only get away with when they are still very little and stunned by the birthing process).

K21 will definitely not be named Kaden, Kayden or Kaiden. In our school there seems to be at least 2 of these in every classroom along with all the Aiden, Brayden, Caiden, Drayden, Hayden, Jaden, Layden, Wayden and Zaydens.

K21 will be Kirk.

Thanksgiving day was exactly 3 months since the day I broke my back. My regular ‘life’ is returning to me slowly. As I was able to carry small armloads of wood into the house, I was thinking how very much I have to be Thankful for.

Friday’s to do list:

Tag Kirk’s ear, give him his shot and band his balls. I can do the first two by myself, but the last one takes a few more willing participants.

Meet my BFF in town for shopping local dressed in plaid, because in Ellensburg it is Plaid Friday. Wear plaid and get a discount.

…and we are blessed.

My main contribution to life on the farm theses days is practicing patience. I’d say I’m getting better at it, but it could be all in my head.

Regardless of my ‘reality’, there has been small steps forward on finishing the Master Bath make over.

The wall paper was going to be a piece of cake. Actually, it was incredibly annoying and there was much muttering of the Bad British word.

Tiling the shower floor took 2 days. Actually, it took 2 different weekend days for an hour or so, because My Loving Spouse cannot kneel. Check out this photo.

Yep, that’s me kneeling. I was fairly impressed with myself. I can kneel, but I can’t stretch, so I could only tile for a short while. I do this while waiting for My Loving Spouse to cut the next pieces of tile.

We are a great team, even though most of our body “parts” are either broken or replaced. (Insert eye roll)

Just a random picture of a Pork Wellington My Loving Spouse made. Yes, it was delicious and no, Gunner did not get any of it.

The shower floor is done. Step one, not grouted but down.

The view of the bathroom from our bedroom is improving in small steps.

I think the paint can is a nice touch.

We love how it is all coming out, as we practice more patience.

Blessings this fall to you all.

I’ve enjoyed the fall colors more than ever this year.

Home from work I collapse into a chair and enjoy the view out the window. Cranking up the heating pad I got My Loving Spouse for Christmas last year. Congratulating myself on what an excellent purchase it has turned out to be, insert eye roll.

I fell in love with these burning bushes the first Fall we lived here. I’ve planted a few and love seeing them in all their glory.

We have a new (second hand) rooster. We’ve renamed him “Lucky”, as he had two options either Cluckingham Palace or the pot.

Lucky is meant to keep the hens in line. As he is hanging out with poor old Stuart (the most picked on hen in the house), it would seem he’ll be up to the job.

We’ve had more little visitors to the farm this fall, much to our delight. They’ve left us imprinted with joy. Which kids want to throw the ball for Gunner and which kids want to do so, but without getting their hands dirty. Each as been such fun and all are invited back for sledding into the pond when the snow comes.

The sun comes up as I leave for work, (it’s a PNW thing.)

Back to school/work full time for quite awhile now since the accident. I’ll be honest, I come home pooped and sore.

With a new library to settle into and books that need to be moved to ‘just the right spot’, it is easy to over do it. Today, I did my best to sit more and move less. Mostly because I was hurting and partially because I’d managed to wear 2 different shoes to work. (Seriously) I noticed when I walked in because I had a bit of a limp.

I love Fall, My Loving Spouse and those who make this time in my life better…

and I am blessed.

The light changes in fall and the skies are beautiful. There are no pictures of the glorious sunrises, as I enjoy them from the upstairs shower window as I get ready for the day.

Farm fresh eggs from our hens who look exactly the same. The eggs are rarely this oddly different, but don’t you wish you were a fly on the wall in the hen house when the discussion turns to how hard it is to lay an egg? (Although most flies in the hen house end up caught in a spider web, so I don’t advise it.)

My brother and his wife sent us a carton of deluxe nuts, (always nice to be thought of). I’m just wondering if they were thinking, “Well, you are what you eat.”

My summer ‘job’ is splitting wood. This pile measures about 3 cords. I’d left it out for the wind to blow through it and help it dry out. Moving the wood after I got hurt was a worry. Number Four Son has been asking, “Do you need help?” and I finally said, ‘Yes”.

Number Four with some help from his sweet wife had the 3 cords, (which by the way is hundreds of pieces of wood) stored in the woodshed within the week. I am so grateful for their willing help.

A few little friends came by the farm.

They came for the pumpkins, but they were much more interested in the poop. Yes, I said poop.

The little ones watched my buddy Beau poop in the field, much to their delight. Especially interested was the youngest who is learning what to do with his poop. I then pointed out the cow poop to the kids who thought it was the funniest thing they’d ever seen. This encouragement was all I needed. We quickly went on a farm poop hunt. I pointed out all the different poop we found.

Chicken poop, duck poop and all of the rest. The 3 & 4 year old were delighted and honestly so was I. I don’t last long on my feet right now and I can’t tell you how much fun I had.

My largest and my weirdest pumpkins are set for THE Grands in Spokane.

Life in this healing phase, emotionally takes a toll, but clearly I am blessed.

Since the accident, progress in all things comes. It just comes ever so slowly.

My Loving Spouse hired a teen to help him install the heavy cement board in the new shower.

How to build the shower wall without piercing the redi-tile in any way was his challenge.

My part becomes finalizing design and ordering/obtaining hard to get pieces via my perch.

Emotionally our reserves are low. His by how much (everything) there is to do at home. Me by how much I can not do (everything). The joy I find in the work here on hold. I’ve been told that there are stress relieving chemicals in tears, so I should be stress-free? I can still go out and count my pumpkins, which I do daily. Current count 54…

…and then John Boy got out.

My Loving Spouse was at work and no one else was around. Broken back or not when the cows get out, you have to get up. My cow wrangling skills were decidedly challenged. Making the situation for me and for him not worse was my main objective. The only place I could get him corralled was the dog yard.

I had to trick him in, but it worked. I may not be bigger, stronger or faster than a steer, but at least I am still smarter.

I am ‘getting’ to ‘practice‘ patience. I don’t really like it.

In between my ‘practicing’ I’ll keep counting the pumpkins and the blessings. Those ‘blessings’ from my ‘family’ who remind me, that I matter and that am not alone.