De Decorating

Taking down the Christmas decorations is always a mix of emotions.  Sad that it all has to come down and the celebration is over.  Overwhelmed that I have to fit it all back in the closet.  And maybe looking forward to a little calm, with clean surfaces and no clutter before anything else is put out. 

 I very much enjoyed my tree this year.

 I did have to tie up a few branched with fishing line.  No wonder with all this that it had to hold.  (several boxes had already been put away)

E left her ornaments for last.  Maybe she will have enough for her own tree in a few more years.   Happy New Year.

Lifting, Stretching, Running and Climbing

J continues to workout with his Farmercising. 

 In order to put diesel fuel in the tractor, he has to heft a 40 pound 5 gallon container, climb up on the wheel, brace himself on the frame and pour it in the top of the tractor.  The mud adds a nice element to test his balance. 

 We moved the cows off the rented farm today.  E wasn't available to help block the road.  So, after we got them out of the field onto the road, J jumped over the fence, ran ahead, climbed another fence and got in position to turn them into the gate on our farm. 

 I took a leisurely stroll behind the cattle.

Tomorrow we will get them up and sort off the calves to start the weaning process.  Who needs a gym membership with all this.

Merry Christmas 2018

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

 Luke 2:8-14 (KJV)

Merry Christmas

Just Kit Sunday #142 (day late)

E brought Kit Kat in to see the tree. 

 I'm not too sure he was very comfortable with the situation.

 But he was a good sport.

 I think he was looking for a pathway to escape.

E said he was picking out his favorite ornament. 

Winter Break Visitors

E is on break from college until January 22.  She is headed to the Everglades for a vacation on Jan. 3 until the 17th. That meant that she had to bring her fish tank home so I could babysit it. 

Do you see her two platies hiding?  That's Frozen from The Incredibles over on the right.

There's Bert.

And this one is Pete.

They pretty much stayed behind the plants for the first two days.  Now they are starting to swim around some more.  They are very fun to watch.  I am tempted to get my own tank when E takes these back to her apartment.

Christmas Decorating

I have been decorating since Thanksgiving.  I think I am almost done.  So, I thought I might share some with everyone.

The trees I made a couple of years ago are some of my favorite.

I

 But I really love the reindeer and sleigh from my Aunts house, and the trees are a great way to display my vintage ornaments from Grandma.

It seam like they move around to a different spot every year.  But this may end upbeening their more permanent home at Christmas.  I love seeing them every time I go into the tv room.

Beautiful Sunrise

Thankfully, our snow is almost gone.  But the problem is now it has turned to mud.  I did however, get  some pictures of the sunrise a couple of days ago before the snow all melted. 

 

Calf's First Snow

We have a 2 month old twin that has been hanging out at the barn since his mother rejected him after he was born.  He is now weaned and eating grain and hay.

 Today, J let him out of the barn to play in the snow. 

 There was a lot of prancing,

 bucking,

 and running.  Shear joy. 

He looks like he was even trying to catch a snowflake.

Cute Santas

I've been on Pinterest again.  I thought I could wait to post these pictures but they were just too darn cute. 

 I try to make a new ornament every year.  Let me tell you, it's getting tough to come up with new ideas that I am capable of pulling off.

Pinterest version

But when I saw this on Pinterest, I thought I would give it a try.

 I'm going with "Nailed It"

 Maybe the people that are getting them won't be checking out the blog any time soon. 

And maybe no one will notice the similarity to last year's ornament. 

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

The snow started last night and continued all day today. 

 It is very pretty,

 sticking to everything.

 J needed me to help get through some gates with the hay.  The horses were being their usual pesty selves.

 I distracted them with 1/2 a square bale. 

 This is an open heifer we are feeding for a beef.  When I said the snow was sticking to everything, I meant it. 

 I thought Hank looked like a Christmas card.

 The dogs are sure loving the snow.

 The goats, not so much.

 We ended up with 15 inches by dark. 

 15 inches of snow makes it a little difficult to open gates that already drag the ground.  There was a lot of pushing and shoveling to get through them all. 

J got everything fed.  Now just have to start over again tomorrow.  And walking up and down hills in snow up to your knees definitely counts as Farmercising.