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. :)

Welcome, Baby!

 

Reata Sage Schrock

 

Born: October, 2012

Weight: 4 lbs, 10 oz

Length: 17 inches

 

Born 6 weeks early

 

 

 

 

Lucia LOVES and ADORES her baby sister! :) She is a great moniter - she keeps me updates minute by minute on whether Reata is awake or asleep, and whenever she squeaks. :)

The pregnancy and birth of this baby has been long and much too eventful. I will spare you the boring details, but here's a brief  summary:

 

After a month of strict bedrest here at home, I was able to be up and about for several weeks, when some more serious complications (PPROM) landed me in a hospital 2+ hours from home for 3 weeks, till the baby was born.

Then Reata was born 6 weeks early, so she stayed in the NICU for 4 weeks, growing and learning how to eat. So I stayed there at the Ronald McDonald house and helped care for her.

 Needless to say, my kids were getting pretty tired of being shuffled from babysitter to babysitter, My Cowboy was tired of living alone, and I was tired of living in the hospital!

A week ago Reata was released from the NICU, and we brought our precious treasure HOME! I love having my sweet baby at home!

 

She's 5 weeks old now, and weighs 6 lbs, 2 oz. She is 17.5 inches long. She is still on 1/16 litre of O2 for the time being, but will likely wean off of it soon.

Easiest-ever Donuts

 

 

 Take a can of cheap-o biscuits.

Heat 1/2 inch of oil in a pan over medium heat.

 Mix up a dish of cinnamon-sugar. Just dump, girl.

 Melt a 1/4 cup butter in a dish big enough to hold a donut.

 

 

Wash a prescription pill bottle, and use it to cut out the donut holes.

Just kidding! ...you can use whatever you have. :)

  Fry the donuts a few minutes on each side - till golden brown. Drain on paper towels a bit - then dip in butter. Now dip in cinn/sugar mix and stack on a plate. Done!

 And try to grab one or three before your family devours them all!!

 Seriously - I never expected them to be so  delicious.

 Finger-lickin' good.

And that's my delicious-not homemade-fattening-preservative-laden-DIY-delicious tip of the day.
And I am not apologizing. :)  I may or may not have another can of biscuits in the fridge, waiting to be made into donuts. Hot, yummy donuts in 15 minutes?? Oh yeah. I'm on board!