Ice

Saturday we had a big Ice Storm! It looks so beautiful on the trees but a nightmare to drive or walk in. Of course the older K's had to work. Mark & K2's boyfriend drove them around. My biggest challenge was the chicken coop. It's on a slight hill downhill from the house. The first night I was walking very slowly & carefully when I slipped right over backward. It didn't hurt, because I caught myself with my hands, but the egg basket went flying. I was really glad it happened on the way to the coop, not on the way back or I would have had scrambled eggs! Then I had to step over the 4 ft  fence- that was a challenge! It is wire netting so it does give a little. Envision standing on glare ice & trying to swing your leg over the fence, get your footing with that leg than swing the other leg. After I made it in and gathered the eggs, than I had to repeat that process with a basket of eggs. No idea how I succeeded . It's still really icy and even the dogs have a hard time & slip and fall. I think I have fellen every day, taking out JD. I was so happy this morning- JD slept ALL night, for the first time. I usually have to take him out once around 4 am.

Monday & Tuesday were very busy getting ready for Christmas. Monday I went to town for groceries, like everyone else in the county I swear. I have never seen it so busy, I think because everyone was iced in all weekend. Then I did my wrapping & lots of cooking. Christmas Eve we had a nice family dinner & decorated cookies.

Christmas was fabulous! I LOVE CHRISTMAS! Mark & I got right up at 6 and skipped our coffee to go right to the barn. He wanted to get chores done early. When we got home we had coffee, my homemade cinnamon rolls, and opened our tree. Then my family arrives throughout the day. We had brunch with mimosas, eggs, sausage, pancakes, and fruit. Dinner was lasagna, salad bar, rolls, and sugar cookies. I make the same thing every year. My niece & nephews look forward to my lasagna & cookies. My nephew that was home from SC, and hasn't been here for Christmas in a while. Told me it was as good as he remembered!

I'll leave you with a few winter pictures:

So helpful, he chases the broom, while I sweep!

Miley jumps up on the 5 foot round bales.

Winter Wonderland.....NOT!

The last week has been a dose of hardcore winter. One day we got a foot of snow and another day it was 16 below zero . I don't enjoy cold or snow, and neither does my puppy JD. Who still goes outside every few hours & once during the night. He couldn't go through all the snow so he followed paths we made for him & when it was so cold he wore his coat, froze his a** off, and did his business quickly! Here's my week:

Friday: I hosted dinner for Triple K Construction employees. I did morning chores than cleaned the house. I made chicken dip, salad, stuffed shells, and apple crisp. Mark worked late so I did night chores. Then we went to do horse chores. K3's horse is boarded at a stable in Salisbury. She  was working & it was her night to do chores, so we went for her. As we were driving down the road I noticed that there were no horses standing by the gate. Strange, it was cold so I thought  maybe someone had brought them in. Then we got out of the car & I noticed hoof prints in the snow...never a good sign. We opened the door & five horses were standing in the indoor. They broke the fence, but at least they didn't go far.

Saturday: We did chores. Mark went to spread manure and was gone 1 1/2 hours! Problems with the tractor! I cleaned all the pens,and swept the aisle. We went home at noon had breakfast lunch than back to the barn to sell hay. We were home at 1:40- morning chores finally done! Mark went to feed a round bale to the heifers her at home, more tractor problems. I did night chores by myself, while Mark worked on unfreezing his tractor. Our friend Paul (who Mark always calls with tractor problems) came to help & Mark ended up going to get Paul's tractor to feed the cows.

Sunday: We got snow!! We did chores, than Mark struggled with his tractor. Paul came & plowed us out  than towed our tractor to his garage. K 3 & I went to help at the horse barn. We cleaned all the stalls, due to the fact Ellie is 8 1/2 months pregnant! By Sunday night I was whipped!

Monday:  We did chores than Mark trucked a steer to the slaughter house. Finally, his tractor was unthawed & he brought it home.

Tuesday: WAS COLD! We did chores, helped with horse chores, came home & cleaned the basement, and than did night chores & horse chores.The cold was brutal & I was outside more than I wanted to be, that's for sure!

Wednesday: K1 was home, it was exam week at college for her and she had the day off. She helped me with morning chores. Thanks, K1! Then we went to Rutland to finish Christmas shopping & get some groceries.

Thursday: was a typical day of morning chores, dishes, laundry, taking out the puppy, night chores, making dinner...ect.

Friday: K1 helped with chores again. Then we went to the horse barn so she could ride her horse & I cleaned stalls.

Let's see what the weekend brings.... weather wise they are saying an ice storm. I hate that my girls have jobs & have to drive in all this crappy weather. I worry until they all come home safely.

Here's a few pics:

December update

Where have the last few weeks gone? Seems like it never slows down. So what have I been up to?

 Let's see, we've split sugar wood 3 times (I think the syrup maker aka Mark is almost satisfied!)

 We delivered the goats to be bred & went back to pick them up 1 1/2 weeks later. Kids should be arriving end of April.YEAH! My 7 year old niece asked me where the goats had been. I told her a date. All the adults got a chuckle out of that!

 My pork was finally ready at the smokehouse, so I had to make a special trip to pick that up. We have a beef going Monday. It feels like we are constantly moving animals or picking up meat. On the plus side that means were selling a lot!

K2 turned 17 (where does the time go?)

Like everyone else I am getting ready for Christmas. We had our tree up for a week before we were all home at the same time to decorate it. Crazy!

Here's lots of pics, so many of JD because he is just so stinkin' cute!

We sheared the sheep when they came in the barn for the winter. 

I call these guys the brat brothers, because they try to escape or jump in the wheelbarrow.

It bloomed!

Looks a little lost in the big dog bed.

Burr...it's cold! He already outgrew this one.

He doesn't like the snow on his feet.

Playing with the big dogs!

My day away...xmas shopping with my family  

Happy chickens- since it snowed they haven't ventured out- they are afraid!

My beautiful tree after it FINALLY got decorated. 

Friends

Not a fan of the leash

How Mark brought the new calf home..in a bag!

So helpful at homework time, a few minutes after he slipped off on the floor with all the homework!

Pretty Daisy

Helping me with paperwork

Thirty things I am Thankful for.

I copied this idea from my niece's blog, because I loved it!

I am Thankful for ......

1. Mark- my sweet, hardworking man, that always makes me laugh. My husband of 21 years. He's part of everything I do & love.
   
2. K1- my sensitive, persistent and happy girl. She is a freshman at Castleton State College and I know she will be a great teacher!
   
3. K2- my fiercely loyal, dedicated, and wonderful girl.  She is a senior in high school and I know she will make a fabulous Cosmetologist!
   
4. K3- my funny, caring, and animal loving girl. She is always trying new things and puts 100% into whatever she is doing.
   
    
   
    I love and adore our beautiful girls! Nothing makes me happier or more proud than the K's!
5. My family that is large, fun to be with, and always here for me if I need them.
6. My friends- we've shared a lot of fun times through the years. They are the best!
7. My dogs.

   

   Miley & Carter

   
   

   

   Our newest addition J.D.

8. Leo & Arlene for providing us with the opportunity to fulfill our dream of farming.  Leo is always helping Mark fix things, or offering advice. Arlene does all the flowers & helped me decorate this fall. Both will come out and help anytime they see us struggling or trying to get in loose animals. They are simply awesome & we are thankful for their support.
9. That we are healthy!
10. To be able to raise all our own meat. I know exactly what goes into my meat & that my animals lived a great life. There is nothing better than a Triple K burger, our bacon smoked at VT Smoke & Cure, or a pasture raised roasted chicken. Yummy!
11. That I live in Whiting VT and always have!
12. For sunshine- when the sun is shining, everything is better!
13. For coffee with Simonds Sugar Shack maple syrup each morning & a well deserved drink at the end of a long day, with the one I love the most!
14. Sugaring season- always a fun time of year with family & friend. Nothing beats warm maple syrup fresh from the arch.
    
15. My pool - I love summer.
16.  To be a Farmer and to do chores every day. I love my animals and they bring me joy.
17. Scented candles.
18. Country music.
19. Wood heat that keeps my house cozy & warm.
20. Fresh vegetables from my garden & raspberries in the fall.
21. That my girls never went to daycare. I cherish every minute that I spend with them. I loved being home for their childhood. 
22. Pictures & scrapbooks to capture memories
23. Danskos & flip flops.
24. Cell phones, so I can always get a hold of my girls & Mark. I love my iPhone.
25. Internet - provides so many options, opportunities, and blogging of course!
26. Watching my girls play field hockey, race around on four- wheelers, ride horses, and play with little kids. Basically, watching them do anything that makes them happy.
27. Christmas lights & Christmas trees, symbols of my favorite holiday.
28. Desserts- apple crisp, sugar pie, and homemade cookies come to mind.
29. Everyone that supports our farming business - members of our CSA, visitors that come to the petting barn, and anyone that buys any of our product. Allowing us to do what we love.
30.  That in a lot of ways we all make our own luck and happiness. And I am pretty lucky & very happy!

Meet JD

Life has been interesting around here! Last Wednesday, my niece called me about an abandon 5 week old puppy. Of course if you know me, than you know I said I would take it! I picked him up and he was 3 1/2 lbs. He couldn't hold his body temperature, so we held him & he even slept with us. Thursday, I brought him to the vet. They said he was healthy, but too little to be away from his mom. I needed to feed him special food & keep him warm. We named him JD (Jack Daniels), for Mark.

Those first few days were rough, like having a newborn. I would feed him, wash his face, clean up his poop & pee  (it was too cold to take him outside), hold him till he fell asleep. Then put him in his crate with a hot water bottle,  he would sleep for a few hours. Repeat the whole process. It was exhausting! Not to mention I did a load of dirty peed on blankets everyday.

It's been a week and he is doing great! JD weighs 5 lbs. We've started taking him outside. He sleeps 6 hours at night. Hasn't had an accident in his crate in two days. When he wakes up he wines & I take him out. He is becoming playful. He has this super funny growl that makes us all laugh. He only plays for an hour or less, than he's worn out.  He is so smart, sweet, and absolutely adorable!

First Day!

JD loves to eat!

This is how he likes to sleep & I am tired by day 3!

His favorite toy - sometime he attacks & growls at it!

Miley can't wait till he plays with her!

Checking out his toys!

After toy bin is empty, he was to tired to play!

If I'm in the kitchen, he will find me & fall asleep at my feet.