Rose Parade

V, E and I are off the the Rose Parade for a week.  J will be holding down the farm but I'm sure not posting anything.  Hope to have some good pictures when we get back.

Merry Christmas

Have a Very Bunny Christmas

Hope you are on the nice list.  Santa's on his way.

C just gave Bunny a new suit for Christmas.

Decorations

A few more Christmas decorations that I have been enjoying this season. 

 The egg tree.  All the eggs are creations of sister C.

 E's second tier Barbie collection.

 These are the first tier.

I like to have ornaments other places than just the tree.

More Trees

A few more of my Christmas trees. 

 The pink tree,

 the blue tree,

 the angel tree,

and the fish tree.

Second Round of Weaning

Last month we weaned just the heavier end of the steers.  We were able to send those with some we bought to the feedlot in Nebraska on Saturday. 

 Yesterday, we got the cattle up again to wean the rest of the calves.  The theory was that the cows would follow the tractor with the hay.

 But there are always the stragglers and the one that just stands on top of the hill to watch.

 Then  there are the ones that missed the gate hole and have to be driven back to it.

We finally got everyone headed in the right direction.

 J had to check his list to make sure he had cut out all of the cows he was planning to cull.  The Herefords he had such high hopes of the girls showing never panned out all that well.  A couple of them never raised very good calves.  He is still keeping a few.

 E came out to help some.  She was suppose to be counting but was easily distracted.

 J dewormed the cows we are keeping along with the calves we weaned.

Then back out to the field to get the promised hay.

Mistletoe

We have this cool tree along our driveway. 

 I'm not sure what kind of tree it is.

 But since we have owned this farm it has always had mistletoe in it.

 J shot some down for me one year to use in my Christmas decorating.

Now I just leave in in the tree and enjoy seeing it there.

Goat Treat

I thew the last of the fall decorations over the fence today. 

 A couple of pumpkins can really excite a goat.

 Once it breaks open then they can get at the good part.

 Big bites now.

 Uh oh, must protect the treat.

"Back I say, stay back."

Decorating

Decorations have been done for the last week.  Cards are being worked on as we speak.  Still more shopping.  I don't think I'm ever done with that.

 I thought this was an elegant way to display the yarn and glitter craft I did.

 The wooded tree is from my brother's trip to Nepal when he hiked to the base camp at Mt. Everest.

 I know my sister A will be a little jealous of this Santa collection.

 It's not Christmas without a Santa's Mail on the door.  I copied him from one my mother made years ago and has hung on her door every Christmas.  It was always a big occasion to write the letter to Santa then put it in Santa's Mail.  It would then magically disappear by the next day.

A sneak preview of the tree.

New Fence

Since building the barn this summer we have been making due with a temporary electric fence.

 The fence builders finally came and have been busy little beavers.  We now have a permanent fence around the barn,  (electric high tensile so you can't really see it well in the picture)

 and a large horse lot on the lower side.  Just waiting on some green gates now.

While they were here, J had them finish the last side of the barn lot at the old barn.  Now maybe we won't have to worry about that one for another 20 years.

Kit Kat Khristmas

My family celebrated E's 15th birthday today by taking her to lunch after church then coming to the house for ice cream cake.  Sister L said "Oh, let Kit Kat (previously banished to the garage for the duration of the Christmas decorations) in.  I'll watch him and make sure he doesn't get into any trouble."

 Kit Kat said, "Oh what a beautiful sparkly tree with such shiny cat toys dangling from it!"

J said, "Back to the garage for you Kit Kat."

Gathering Wood

J has been busing cutting wood this fall.  We about need a pickup load a week to heat the house.  He usually does this by himself.  But since E and I were home today we went to help. 

It's hard to believe that when we bought this farm you couldn't walk through this section due to the briers, bushes and multiflora rose.  Goats are amazing.   It was too muddy to drive up on the other side of the fence so J threw the wood over,

and E and I loaded it in the truck.  Ready for another week.  E however, is walking around the house in shorts and a tee shirt complaining about how cold it is.  She says she is tired of dressing in layers.  I guess her definition of layers is anything layered over her skin.

Christmas Parade

I finally got to ride in the Christmas Parade.  I was going to  last year until it snowed and turned bitter cold. 

 The weather was perfect this year.

 Hank the Wonder Horse tolerated all of the decorations.  I didn't degrade him by putting on antlers.

 Just some bows a rump rug and jingle bells for his front legs.  V and J were good enough to ride with me.

 V was back on her old mount Jessica.  Her mane braided up nicely with the ribbons.

 I was told that 27 horses turned out for the parade.

 Jessica did great although I think she would have preferred going a lot further and faster.

 J rode his dad's horse Lady.  She hadn't been ridden in 6 months but did fine.  It took me 20 minutes to get that tail combed out.  Looks like J could use a new saddle pad.

After a lot of hurry up and wait we finished the route in Christmas spirit.  Hank now has Christmas Parade to add to his resume (and Jessica and Lady).   Thank you E for taking the pictures.