Well, the turkey bones are in the soup pot, and there is a slow cooker brewing up a stroganoff for supper to give us all a break from all the traditional fare we've been consuming for the past three days. We are also down to only three people in the house this afternoon, which is very restful after twenty-two people for supper on Christmas Eve, and six plus a two year old for the rest of the time. Our nephew, Cole, kept everyone on their toes but he and his mommy left early this morning. They had a long drive ahead of them and Cole had decided that sitting in a car seat for that long on the way down was way too long for his liking.
I took Christmas Eve day off as I was holding the family feast here so I've had almost a whole week away from work. I seem to be a loose ends this afternoon - does that mean I'm ready to go back now? Or is it a case of just wanting things to get back to normal? I should probably go out for a very long walk to shed some of the calories I've taken in over the past week.
I'm going to figure out how to post a photo on this blog today. The kids and I gave Glen a yard sign for Christmas this year. Quite some time ago he and Jesse decided that the farm should be called "Skull Ranch". I don't know how serious they were at the time, but because I didn't care for it at all, they made a big fuss about how much they just loved it. It became a standing joke and over time they have worn me down. A couple years ago Glen even had T-shirts made up with his personal logo (really personal, it's his tattoo) so I decided that the time had come to put it on the yard sign too. We installed it over another sign that Jesse painted years ago to welcome our Australian in-laws to Canada. I think all the neighbours had finally all figured that one out (it was painted up-side-down because they were from the "land down under"). They "got it" right away, but I think it took the local Canadians much longer. I wonder what they'll think of this new sign? I think it's our job to keep everyone entertained.
We still haven't got our calves weaned. I was feeling like we were really falling behind this year, but brother-in-law Maurice told us the other night that he had just managed to get his done the week before. Glen says that we're doing it this week for sure. I think he has that job scheduled for tomorrow with both Sandy and Jesse here to help, and maybe Mitchell if he doesn't have to work. That means we'd better enjoy our night's sleep tonight because it sure can get noisy for a couple of days - and nights - until they are all used to the idea that the mamas and calves can still see each other, but there is no more milk. As the cows are well along into their next pregnancy, it's time that last year's calves were on their own.
This time last year, we were getting ready for our trip to sunny Mexico but this year it's just a case of back to the grindstone. 2008 will shape up as a bit of a different year as we plan for Jesse and Andrew's wedding this fall.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Sunday, December 09, 2007
CHRISTMAS IS A COMIN'
It's not quite as cold out there as it has been this past week or so. Man- has it been miserable! Funny how Environment Canada didn't have anything to say about the coming winter until the North Pole blew south - then, all of a sudden it was "we told you so." and "get ready for more of this." It's pretty hard to believe in this thing called Global Warming when you freeze solid if you stand still for two minutes.
We now have over two hundred animals out in the pasture behind the house. This is where Glen planted his corn this year and he's just let them into their first parcel of it. It is really neat to watch them eat it - first they break off the corn cobs, drop them to the ground and break off a chunk at a time (usually three pieces per cob) until they are all gone. Then they turn their attention to the leaves, and then the stocks. By the time they are finished, the field is neatly cleaned off, and they are gazing longingly across the electric wire at the next batch.
Glen is feeding them bales of hay as well, and every morning he goes out and chops a hole in the dugout ice for them to drink. We are hoping that in the next week (or so - there just aren't enough hours in the days to get everything done) we will be getting the cows and calves separated and the calves weaned. Then it will be easier to arrange a watering bowl for each half of the herd. Chopping the dugout is hard work, and not necessarily the safest - for man or beast.
My life has picked up speed lately - I am a postal worker, after all. This is the busiest (and happiest) time of the year, and even though I come home pretty darned tired, it's a happy kind of tired. We get to deliver the things that people are waiting for, and help them with their surprises for their families. It's all good.
Of course, when I get home from that job, I have to start on trying to get everything ready and under control in this house! I have spent the day doing my cards and letters, doing some baking, and wrapping some gifts. I can't see the tree going up until next weekend and there is a carpenter coming to replace the counter top in my kitchen at mid week. I guess that means we'll be camping out of the bathroom sink for dishes for a few days. Why didn't I think of this before it was going to affect Christmas? Who knows? But it will all come together. It had better - Glen and I are holding the big meal for my side of the family.
We now have over two hundred animals out in the pasture behind the house. This is where Glen planted his corn this year and he's just let them into their first parcel of it. It is really neat to watch them eat it - first they break off the corn cobs, drop them to the ground and break off a chunk at a time (usually three pieces per cob) until they are all gone. Then they turn their attention to the leaves, and then the stocks. By the time they are finished, the field is neatly cleaned off, and they are gazing longingly across the electric wire at the next batch.
Glen is feeding them bales of hay as well, and every morning he goes out and chops a hole in the dugout ice for them to drink. We are hoping that in the next week (or so - there just aren't enough hours in the days to get everything done) we will be getting the cows and calves separated and the calves weaned. Then it will be easier to arrange a watering bowl for each half of the herd. Chopping the dugout is hard work, and not necessarily the safest - for man or beast.
My life has picked up speed lately - I am a postal worker, after all. This is the busiest (and happiest) time of the year, and even though I come home pretty darned tired, it's a happy kind of tired. We get to deliver the things that people are waiting for, and help them with their surprises for their families. It's all good.
Of course, when I get home from that job, I have to start on trying to get everything ready and under control in this house! I have spent the day doing my cards and letters, doing some baking, and wrapping some gifts. I can't see the tree going up until next weekend and there is a carpenter coming to replace the counter top in my kitchen at mid week. I guess that means we'll be camping out of the bathroom sink for dishes for a few days. Why didn't I think of this before it was going to affect Christmas? Who knows? But it will all come together. It had better - Glen and I are holding the big meal for my side of the family.
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