Cattle Stuff

The weather wasn't too bad and we had E home, so J decided it was a good day to work the cattle. 

First, it was getting them into the lot.  No problems there. 

E was ready with the record keeping. 

Brother was interested in the proceedings and seemed disappointed to not be involved. 

Emma, as usual, interjected herself into the middle of everything.  She's always trying to make friends. 

J sorted out the ones he wanted to cull, and ones to move to a different farm, then used a pour on dewormer to treat for lice. 

Then out the gate to get counted, 

and rotated to a new field.  

Then it was up the road to the other farm to repeat the process.   He sorted out the first calf heifers to bring back to the house to have a closer eye kept on them.

Then I had to pregnancy check a couple of the culls. 

More pour on and we're done with that chore.

Frosty Morning

View from my kitchen this morning, beautiful with the sun hitting the top of the mountain.  That's actually Horse Heaven, where we do most of our trail riding.

Auction

The weather was a little disagreeable today and I had nothing else pressing to do so I went to an auction. 

Kit seems to like what I came home with.  And $40 was a steal for a 8 1/2 x 10 1/2 foot Karastan rug.

Two Happy Girls and Kit

I think V and E had a happy Christmas. 

Amongst other things, V got a telephoto lens for her camera.  I'm looking forward to some great pictures from her.  (That's my new Toklat Coolback saddle pad for Otoelene in the background.)

E got a KitchenAid stand mixer.  I'm really excited about all of the cooking she'll be doing. 

And here's your token Kit picture of the day.
Hope you got everything you wanted.

Christmas Present

V has taken some great shots of Kit.  I have been trying to appease my audience with Kit pictures but I have been extremely unsuccessful in getting him to pose for me.  So here is V's present to our blogger friends. 

Merry Christmas.  

Basketball and Elf

E is playing in a basketball tournament Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday then a regular game Friday.  They are really slamming us right before Christmas.  

I was able to attend the Tuesday game and it was very exciting.  E played more aggressive than usual and even took a few shots.  On one break away she was running down the court and the girl guarding her stopped in front of her right as E was jumping to shoot.  It looked like the scene in Elf where Elf was trying to put the star on the tree.  E was up around the other girl's head and they both crashed to the floor.  E got called for charging.  

She did go to the foul line twice and made 2/4 shots there.  She also scored another basket for a total of 4 points.  

The game was tied with 10 seconds left and we scored at the buzzer to win 21-19.
They lost today in overtime.  No points for E.

Christmas Craft

I wanted to make E something special for her Christmas Ornament last year so I came up with this. 

I made a tassel from her horse's (Pep's) tail, made a small wreath from old barb wire and added a Christmas bell.  I think it was a hit because it stayed in her room after Christmas and didn't get packed away with the rest of the ornaments.

On a different subject I don't think I will be getting any Christmas cards sent out this year.  Too much of my time and energy has been spent dealing with a church issue.  If anyone every asks for you to be on the Pastor/Parrish Relations committee (or particularly the chair of that committee)  run away.  Run far, far away.      You might even try screaming and waving your arms in the air as you run.

Another Chinese Christmas

This time it was with the local Saddle Club.  J had the last number so he got pick of the lot.  

He asked if this hole punch would be better than the one we have.  I said a nail is better that what we have.

There was also a knife in the bag.  I think there were a total of 5 knives or knife sets in the exchange.  

I was midway down in the numbers an chose to steal this metal star ornament

with this very nice pot which is filled with a most unfortunate smelling candle.
The bottle of rum eggnog I took didn't even last until the end.  It got traded several times then opened and emptied before it was all over.
Off to another party today, but no Chinese Christmas at this one.

Friday's Barn Lot

I went down to the barn with J this morning to help shuffle some bulls around.

I always love the lighting at the barn lot in the mornings. I guess this could go on Friday's Fences.  Maybe I'll go ahead and add it now.   Chick HERE for more Friday's Fences #62.  

J was trading out bulls for the fall calving cows.  This Hereford was on his was to the fall farm.  

We have an open Hereford heifer J is feeding for a beef.  Sissy always gets her share too.  I'm not sure what we are feeding her for.  Barn mascot I guess.  

This is the bull that came home from the fall farm.  His job is over for a little while.

Busy, Busy, Busy

Like everyone else this time of year I've been busy.  Busy looking with a little shopping, busy with parties, busy decorating, busy with regular stuff, cattle, horses. work, basketball.   Not complaining, just saying. 

Here's a small preview of the decorating.  

And here was an important party.  Happy 16th birthday E!

Basketball

E is playing JV basketball again this year.  

I didn't really have any pictures of her last year because she would only get to play 20-30 seconds a game if that.  

There was a lot of frustration on our part going to all of the games to see her on the bench.  

This year she has been starting all of the games and playing most of them for the entire time.  

It makes going to watch much more enjoyable for me and J.  

Being just 5 feet tall, she doesn't get to shoot that often, but she is good at the other parts and makes over half of her foul shots.  I'm sure this season will fly by compared to last year.

Kit and Christmas

Multiple requests have been made to see more of Kit on the blog.  The only problem as anyone who has tried to photograph a cat is, it's hard to photograph a cat.   

So I got him while he was sleeping.  

Emma is so kind to share her bed with Kit. 

Now, for Christmas.  Our office Christmas dinner has included a Chinese Gift exchange for the past few years.  It has been getting more competitive over the last couple of years.  I have learned to buy what I like and try to get it back.  The M&M party bag was a big hit and changed hands numerous times until it ended up with E.  

V was interested in the blender for her dorm room.  J ended up with it and traded her for it later. 

I ended up with a cute cookie stand but traded after for this horse place mat napkin/pot holder set.  (This may go back to the Saddle Club Chinese Christmas party next week.)

J had the candy for awhile then lost it then V got it and gave it to J for the blender.

Beautiful Weather

The first 3 days of December have been absolutely beautiful.  Little to no wind and temperatures in the 60's. I rode Otolene around the farm Saturday.  Then Sunday invited a friend from church to go riding.  She rode Hank, I was on Otolene and J decided to go with us on Jessica.  We rode around the farm again and had a wonderful ride.  So good in fact, that J kept thinking that evening about how well Jessica had done.  So, we rode again today.  

This time we hauled Jessica and Otolene up the rode to some near by trails.  J has to lunge Jessica first or sometimes she will take a stubborn  bucking fit if he doesn't.  Otolene took this opportunity to fuel up.    

We didn't realize it was the first day of bear season until we saw some hunters with their bear dogs.  

Luckily, J's vest is reversible with blaze orange that shows up well.  You can also see that Otolene didn't seem to mind falling behind.  We would have to trot though if they got out of sight. 

A hunting dog with a radio collar even took up with us for about a mile.  Then he found the scent of something and took off through the woods. 

Most of the trail was covered with leaves except for two parts that looked like someone had swept it.  Most unusual.  

Eight and a half miles and three hours later, Jessica got to do her usual post ride roll, 

and shake.   What a beautiful day for December.