Yucky January!

We've had a cold January. Many days in the single numbers, with below zero nights. That means we've had some frozen water bowls and animals that stay in all day. When it's this cold they eat more hay just to keep their body warm. Not to mention we've been going through a lot of wood. After being in the cold I am so happy to have a nice warm & toasty house. Not so happy when I had to split more wood today, because we don't have enough to finish the winter.

January means the dreaded T word.....TAXES! I gather all my info so that I can file at the end of the month. This year I was a little behind,so that meant days of sorting & filing. My main reason for starting this right after the Christmas stuff is put away, is because I need it done before sugaring. Once that season starts  my life goes into high gear- sugaring, babies, than gardening & open petting barn, then it's haying..... busy, busy!

Next on my list is to work on some new ideas:

• More CSA options.
• A Spring Fling & Fall Festival.
• Weekly playgroup
• Season passes

I'll keep you updated  :)

Here's a few pics from my Crazy Life!

Another calf....I think Mark has an obsession!

JD got into the trash & was so happy with his find, he didn't even notice the lid around his neck!

Brat Boys are growing.....

JD makes a good pillow for K1!

One of the few days it got warm & Miley dug around in the dirt.

Manwear

I came to the realization that I don't have my own barn clothes. I was suiting up for chores the other day when CQL looked at me and made the comment "You go to the barn every day, I think you can have your own clothes." Hummmm, that's a good point.

 Here's what I wear: A big sweatshirt (I have several that "shrunk" and no longer fit Mark). If it's really cold I wear his old flannel lined Carhartt pants, the ones that are ripped in the knee. He wears newer, hole free ones to his job. I wear yoga pants under these. These are my own :)  I have his old, before we were married (we've been married 21 years!), jacket. Then to top it off, I carry his old knife. The one that he got from my brother at the first family Christmas he went to. It barley cuts baler twine! I asked for a pink jackknife for Christmas, but sadly I didn't get one. K2 jokingly tells me I look like a man, when I walked in the other morning she said "good morning, sir!"  I think that's why I wanted a pink knife, something feminine...you know to make me feel like a lady.  The good part of my barn  manwear  is that I stay warm.

I did just get a haircut & color  from my most favorite cosmetologist (K2)...not that you can tell because most days my hair is tucked inside my hood. Here's where I should insert a selfie, but it's late, I'm tired, and I'd have to actually "do" my hair. 

We have a baby Alligator!

Well, at least that's what I have nicknamed JD. He is constantly biting. You walk by him & he grabs onto your pants. We tell him "no bite" pull him off & he snaps at you, like an alligator. He also snaps at you when he wants to get your attention or play.  He has torn socks (that were on the feet of my niece), boxers (he grabbed from the laundry room floor & when K1 tried to take them from him they ripped), and K3's sheets!

He is also becoming adventurous when we go outside. He does NOT come when called. Miley only comes occasionally, so the two of them take off with me running (or skating in this weather) behind them. So frustrating! Carter rocks he ALWAYS comes when called. Even if he is running full speed after something, he will turn around & come back to me every time.

JD's biggest vice is mice/moles. The big dogs love to catch moles that live under the snow. They have great fun catching them, and then playing with them until they die. After they've had their fun they leave them on the lawn. This is where JD comes in...he finds the discarded moles & EATS THEM, in like, two bites. It's crazy,he grabs them and I start yelling at him. Than he gobbles them up whole, and eats them in two bites. I don't know how he doesn't choke or get sick.The first time he did this I looked away and started gagging. It is so gross.

On the plus side, he is doing really well with house training. He has started to whine at the door, which is great! Not all the time, sometimes I see him sniffing / circling and get him outside, other times I do find puddles. Several days can go by with no puddles or piles in my house. He is totally crate trained. He goes right in his crate and settles down. He never has any potty accidents in there.

JD also knows how to sit and we are working on stay. He loves his toys! He loves to play with Miley. He also  loves to snuggle. He is outgrowing my lap, much to his dismay. He's also getting too big for the shoe box, which is his favorite spot in the kitchen. It's tough to grow up.

All in all he's a lot of fun and a happy go lucky pup! But, he is definitely lots of work & time. It's a good thing he is so cute :)

He's discovered the chickens.

It's a hard life, being a dog!

Goodbye 2013

When I look back at the year, I definitely feel like it was a busy one. Here's few things that stick out in my mind.

January- was get ready for sugaring. We bought a bigger arch. Mark spent a lot of time installing that, which meant that I did a lot of  the wood splitting !

February- was lambing & sugaring. Which is always CRAZY! We had a set of quads born, and I spent several weeks bottle feeding two of them. I was so happy they all made it!

March & April- we started working on the petting barn. We spent many hours demoing, remodeling, and I think we went all over VT and even to NH buying various animals- alpacas,calves, mini ponies, and goats!

May- was junior prom for K2 & senior ball for K1. We also got our first two foster pups!

June- K1 graduated from high school, which was a little emotional for me.  We had the grand opening of our petting barn - we had about 100 people, which was our goal. We begin selling our meat & poultry CSA shares.

July- was many days at the petting barn, managing all the animals, and haying!

August- Back to school for the girls. I don't know where time has gone but I have a freshman in college, a senior in high school, and a freshman in high school. My babies are all grown up!

September-  K3's field hockey games, birthday parties & field trips @ the petting barn.

October- Petting barn closes for the season. We had a very successful Fall Fun Day!

November- We got a new puppy (he found us) named JD.

December- we've had harsh weather. A foot of snow one day, -15 another, and than a inch of ice. Doing anything outside has been miserable.

2013 was all about Livin' The Dream! As always I am so thankful for Mark, my girls,and our good health!
Looking forward to another great year!