Happy Holidays

Joel's mom and I built this snowman and we thought he should have an orange cap so he was safe, since he blends in so well with his surroundings. We made his eyes and nose and buttons from mud (but it may have been dog poop, around here it is hard to say) Whatever it was it was hard and frozen so no worries :)

Snow storm

We got about 7 inches of snow. We have a few good snow drifts around the property but our driveway is clear (thanks to our snow fence). The dogs love it! We wish Max would wear his jacket but he refuses so we just towel off all the snowballs that form on him. Then he thaws out in front of the wood stove.

Ice storm

We finally got power back this morning! A snow storm is due in tonight but hopefully it won't be too bad. The ice was quite beautiful once you got past the inconvenience it caused. Everything had a coating of ice around it and it looked like everything had been put in a glass bubble. It was quite mesmerizing walking around looking at all the trees and listening to them crack under the weight of the ice. We will wait and see what the snow storm brings.

Too late to hibernate?

Life is different out of the rewood forest. I traded 50 degrees and foggy for 10 degrees and icy and got a new shiny icy coat.

Kayaking anyone?

An ice storm came in last night and knocked out our power. We ran over to my mother-in-laws house for some computer time. She lives only a couple minutes away in town and they have power. Our wood stove is keeping our house relatively warm and we put most of our perishable food in a cooler outside so that should keep for a while. All the animals seem just fine. They still get out on their walks and seem not the least bit affected by the ice.

Quirky song

For those of you interested, there is a song that pertains to my #7 odd thing about me. The song title is Lotion and the group that sings it is Greenskeepers. (Warning it is not appropriate for children). You may have to watch Silence of the Lambs to get the song. Enjoy!

7 odd things about me

1. I can't handle when a broom sweeps across carpet. All our remodeling that we have done made me aware of this quirk. It makes me cringe.
2. Like my sister it also makes my teeth itch when I lick popsicle sticks or see someone doing it.
3. I love the sound of high heels on pavement. I remember as a child following behind women and being mesmerized by that sound. It is very soothing to me. Maybe it is similar to the clicking of horses hooves.
4. I have recently acquired a dislike for chewing gum. I am suddenly grossed out by the texture and the thought of chewing something over and over again for that long.
5. I get nervous with people in costume in public places. I remember Universal Studios being quite traumatic as a child. Frankestein walked by me in the ice cream line and I freaked out and don't think I ever got my ice cream. Disneyland is even a little scary where all the characters congregate for photos. Rhea and I took our photo with Goofy only a few years ago and that was a big step. I remember clearly being quite nervous.
6. During my work as a wildlife rehabilitator I developed a liking for that faint skunk smell we all notice when a skunk is near. When most people say yuck they smell a skunk, I think oh yes I smell a skunk and I enjoy the smell. Don't get me wrong when it sprays right in front of me it isn't quite as enjoyable.
7. Whenever I go into the Bath and Body store I think of the scene in Silence of the Lambs where the guy is asking the girl (in the pit) to put the lotion in the basket. I always feel like I am being "attacked" in that store with the employees wanting you to smell, sample, and put things in a basket... Now everytime I go into one of the stores I hear the guys creepy voice telling me to put the lotion in the basket.

The chocolate gang

Our chocolate part of the pack. Cash is growing fast! They all love the farm life. Multiple walks a day exploring acres and acres of land!

First morning snow

On my morning walk we pass this tree which is along the only path I have been "allowed" to walk until hunting season is over. Joel said me and the pack have spooked the deer away so now we stick to our regular route. We see a lot more deer now, but our freezer still doesn't have deer meat in it. The great hunter is still on the prowl.

First snow

We received the first snow of the season. I had to take this photo which I found interesting. Two kayaks parked next to our tractor in the snow. Are we trying to hold on to our California roots??

Wood stove

Wood stove delivery the farming way. It is quite convenient!

Dixie

If any of you ever have a chance to own a goat, I highly recommend it!! The entertainment never stops.

Head to head battle

Dixie doesn't like to share her platform. I'll let you guess who won that battle.

We welcome Cash to our pack!

I explained to Joel that we needed some cash (this is the Cash we got) :) Joel will be a hunting guide for a local ranch and he needed a partner.

Nice view

The beginning of the end. Half-way through the last cutting of the year.

Good sport!

Joel taking his turn adding twine to the ball of twine.

Ball of Twine event!

Every year they add more twine to the largest ball of twine in Cawker City. Our friends Chuelo and Corrie came over from Missouri to take part in the exciting event. We were all very excited about it. The guy on the right followed you around as you added twine to make sure it was properly tight (very official).

Afternoon siesta

Hope is having no problem settling in to her new home. 300 acres of land and her favorite spot is in the kitchen on the cool tile. We are all trying to adjust to the heat. Where is the coastal breeze??

What a find!

I found this old wood cook stove at one of the first auctions I attended in Kansas! I was so excited when I bid on it and got it for a great deal. My mother and father were out this last weekend and worked very hard helping us clean it up. It now sits in our kitchen as a great decorative piece. I also store things inside the stove, but we did not set it up to be functional as a working cook stove. Joel and I would starve if I had to heat the stove with wood every time we wanted a warm meal.

Moving bales

We have our first crop baled, now we are in the process of moving all the bales off the field. The next step is to sell the bales!!

What comes natural

Max doing what he loves. A small rabbit hid from him in this log. The rabbit got away, luckily Max was just a little too big for that log.

First cutting

Our first cutting is under way! Joel is cutting it himself and he is very excited to be officially farming. We hope to be in the house soon (it has been slightly delayed due to the need to cut our crop).

Growing up!

Tommy is growing everyday! I have definitely become his surrogate mother. He loves any attention he can get. Dixie has a more independent streak in her but she is a sweatheart. Tommy is still bottle feeding. He is about a week shy of two months old. Hopefully in about a month he will be eating on his own! Dixie would just like to move in to the house with us. She hasn't fully embraced her duty as Tommy's "buddy" but she is trying her best.

Stormy sky!

A storm hit just north of us that evening. We barely even got rain but a few towns got some tornados. That is our place in the background (in case anyone wondered) The sky was beautiful that evening! I am still not comfortable with the thought of tornados being so close. I told Joel a concrete house sure sounds nice around here.

Relax? Who has time?

One of these days we will be able to actually relax in the hammock, but doesn't it look inviting?

Pelicans in Kansas?

The pelicans looked at us as if they had seen us before...maybe on the Pacific Coast?? Who knew we would meet again in Kansas.

Kayaking in Kansas?

Our first kayak in Kansas, only 5 minutes down the road!

Taking cover

Max heard on the TV that you are supposed to go to the interior room of your house in the event of a tornado. Here he is in his favorite spot lately next to the toilet. We are waiting for him to take a pillow in with him and cover his head. Poor guy these last few days have been rough on him.

Wild Weather

Well I am going into my second night of no sleep. The tornado warnings are keeping me up being a California girl. We are very lucky that we have not yet been hit like other towns have. Everything seems to be going around us, lets just hope it stays that way. I hope one day I will be able to take all this weather as well as all the locals do. These last few days have made me miss the foggy cool days of California.

Quite a duo!

Who knew that Max looked so much like a goat.

First planting

Our first crop has been planted! We are very excited for the first cutting in June. No that is not our equipment...one day.

siesta time

An unusual quiet moment on the farm!

best friends

Tommy and Hope have become good friends. Hope loves that he lets her lick him. Wait until he gets big!