Happy National Ag Day!

Happy National Ag Day!

 

Did you thank a farmer or rancher for your food? You should. Every farmer/rancher feeds 150 people. Don't ask where I got that statistic...I forget. :)

 

Today was a rather normal Tuesday. Tuesdays around here are pretty predictable.

Mondays are also predictable.

So are Saturdays.

And Sundays.

The rest of the week is wild, let me tell you. Like, homemaking-homeschooling-and-diapering-the-baby-wild. (OK, so that's not really wild, is it?)

Anyways.

This morning I fried sausage and eggs (homegrown, brown, Omega-3-loaded, from-my-own-chickens-eggs, mind you) and toasted some bagels.

And made coffee.

Of course.

Then it was getting the kids started homeschooling, starting laundry, putting supper in the crockpot, And mixing up a batch of dinner rolls. In between, I fed the baby, diapered the baby, and laid her down for a nap.  



 

Sometimes I say: "I put her down", (for a nap) but My Cowboy says that sounds like I just killed a cow or something. (As in: "Honey, there was a sick cow - I had to put her down.") Yikes. I'm trying to specify that I laid her down for a nap.

 

 

The kids are trying to take photos of each other to send to Working Ranch Magazine. WRM has a kids issue coming up, and they have a contest for the cover photo...Of ranch kids, by ranch kids, doing ranch-y stuff. So I sent them out this morning with my big camera and lots of "be careful's", to snap some pics. They did a pretty good job, although I think they misunderstood when I told them to keep the sun behind them. Anyway, I love this picture, so who cares? 

 

 

 

 I had started a cinch on Monday, and there was about an hour's work left to do on it. So I finished that up before lunch.

 

My first all natural colored cinch. It's a special order for a customer in Texas.

 

After a quick lunch of stew and fresh dinner rolls, I packed up the kids and we headed to town. We had several errands...Wal*Mart, the bank, post office, library, Murdoch's, and then some half-price-Happy-Hour slushes from Sonic, before the kids' music lessons.

Whew!

After all that, I made it home about 6 pm. Just in time for supper.

I love my crockpot on days like today. Coming home to hot food is beyond wonderful.

And that, my friends, is how I spent National Ag Day.

:)

 

Faces Of Agriculture...check it out!

Happy Monday!

Don't you just love Mondays?! I love the feeling of a 'fresh start', the burst of energy and ensuing accomplishments that characterize most Mondays for me. (yes, I did say 'most'. Sometimes even Mondays don't go as planned!) I seem to accomplish more on Monday, than any other day all week.

Anyways.

 

Today I am being featured over at Faces of Agriculture. They are a neat blog featuring - you guessed it - Agriculture! Specifically, families in the agriculture business, whether it's farming, ranching, or some other facet of agriculture. You really need to check them out. Very cool stories!  You can find them at: www.facesofagriculture.blogspot.com. Go on, now.

 

I had a town run this morning, to stick some headstalls in the mail for some customers in Texas.

On the way, I saw the damages of the last big wind that blew through here. You'd think that when the overhead sign says: "No light trailers; wind gusts 65+ mph",  people would listen. But do they listen, I ask you? No. And then this happens.

 

 

Then there's the new baby calves that are filling up the fields around the ranch. Cutest lil' things you ever did see. But I'm warnin' ya - don't get too close to their mama! She'll run you over, man.  (I can't blame her - I kinda wanna run people over too, if they mess with MY babies!)

 

 

 

I'm off to do some more productive, fun Monday-stuff.

Today I am thankful for productive Mondays.

What are you thankful for today?

 

It's a cold, snowy day out there. The screamin' wind makes it quite miserable. I am glad I can stay indoors today. :) But we are ever so thankful for the moisture.

 

Photo taken during a previous storm in Feb. 2013 There's actually a lot more snow today.

 

Silly me, I thought I would  just drive the car out and get the mail...I forgot that wind = drifts. I made as far as around the house, when my car sank to the axle in snow. I gave up on the mail.
Now, as you can see in the photo, I DO have a 4x4. A nice, reliable Suburban. Which I love. But I am in such a habit of driving my gas-sipper of a car, that I totally never thought of taking the Suburban!  Oh well.  Maybe someday I will learn.

I have a request to make of you...

I entered a photo in the "Beef Farms in Focus" contest, and it made finalist. I would love to win the fun prizes, so I am asking you, (pretty please!) if you would go to: http://www.alltech.com/contest-photo/brandin-iron and click on the little yellow thumbs-up to cast your vote for my photo!

The photo was taken here at the ranch we work on, and the man in the middle (holding the calf's leg) is My Cowboy. :) 

Thanks a bunch!

EDIT:: I just wanted to let you all know that I won the contest! Thanks for your help. :)

How a baby wakes up...

"Hi, mom."

 

                                                           "Huh?!....say what?!?!"

                                            
                                        
        "I'M SO EXCITED TO SEE YOU!!! I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU FOR 1.5 HOURS!!!!!!

 

I love you, Mom.

 

Ok, I admit - I'm a bit baby-crazy right now. She is a doll, and we are all having the time of our lives with her. I do love her happy wake-up face. :)

This post is dedicated specifically to my sweet sis-in-law, Susan. Love you, Sus! :)

 

Pushing Cattle.

My Cowboy had to push some heifers a couple miles today, (known in some places as a cattle drive)  so one of our friends came up for the day to help. Of course, our kids helped, too. Here they come...Right-Left: Heidi, Frank, and Cliff.

 

 I had the little girls with me, and was in my car - parked up on the side of the road, well out of the way. But these heifers...as soon as they glimpsed me, they came straight for me. Cattle are so curious. Especially young stock.

 

Bug off!!

My boy. Ridin a fuzzy ole mustang.

Heidi keeping her side in line. It was one cold day to be riding.

They ended up being one kids-horse short. So Jenni traded places with Frank half-way thru the ride.
I love the pink. Let's hear it for cowgirls!

 

Calving Season.

 One day this week My Cowboy asked if I could help him get a heifer into the barn. These heifers are a bit feisty, so I was running the gate for him. Anyways, I took the chance to snap some photos of the cute lil calves.

 

 

 Awww. Melt my heart...

 This lil guy wandered away from where he was supposed to be, so My Cowboy just picked him up and tucked him under his arm and took him back to mama.

 

 

 

 

 

Baby Update

Our baby's story is very long... from home bed rest to hospital bedrest,

(try spending 18 days in this one room)

 To an emergency C-section....

 ...to 4 weeks (very long weeks, I might add) in the NICU,

Daddy's hands...

Note: My sis has no IDEA how very special it was to have her on hand for the birth. I will treasure the memories.

 

 

...to bring Reata home, finally! ...but still on oxygen and still struggling with her breathing/eating coordination,

 

 

...to now, where she is fat and healthy and breathing normally and oh, so much fun!

 Yes, I am blessed. We are blessed.  (just look at those rolls of chub. SHE is sure blessed. With baby fat. :)

(even if my cutie-patutie baby ^^ looks weird when I try to do a 'classy' photo shoot, haha!)

 

 

 

 

Just an update, folks. :)