A Few Winter Days!

It is winter time here on the ranch. That means new calves, wet weather, cold weather, cold dry days, windy days, and SNOWY days and very busy days!

Here are some pictures of what is happening! Even if you don't hear from me you are on my mind...each of you!

Winter morning sunrise over the pond here...Jamey's Pond!


Every morning we go up on the hill where the cows are wintered and check the Moms and their babies! This was a beautiful day...sun and crisply cold!

Alien cow here! Red eye is no problem to fix...but white eye....BIG problem!

The cows and calves love to be in the trees..

...I think they know they are safe from our calf catcher contraption! We just can't get to them here!

After checking the hill we go through the gate and into the first calf heifers! We check them out morning and night too! I am all bundling up...I can hardly move with about 4 layers on!

First calf heifer calves safe in their Canadian made shelter. Warm and comfy!

So on Thursday was our first snowfall...

and we thought it would be a very smart thing to take advantage of...even thought there wasn't much....so....

...there is a family with 3 little girls that live nearby in a rental house of Ron and Pam's. Pam thought it would be fun to phone Jessica, Katlynn and Callie up and take them for some sleighriding behind the Honda. We packed up the dogs, ourselves, and our equipment and headed over there. When we got there the snow was starting to melt. The girls wanted to go, so we headed into the pasture with them. They had a blast! Then Pam and I took two very short turns! We were not tough enough. The snow was not deep and every cowpie we hit was frozen hard as a rock and when you hit it...well...it just plain hurt. Pam is now hobbling around with a bruised tailbone! OUCH!!! The girls were much tougher then us!

Now, today is a different story. Lots and lots of snow...perfect for snowmen! After waffles and hot chocolate, I got busy and designed this fine fellow for Aidan, Michael, Keira, Kate and Quinn and Munch to enjoy! You can name him if you like and send me a picture of your snowman! From my weather station it looks like there is snow in Langley and Calgary!

Sam and Ty were scared of the snowman at first! But now they are running circles around him!

This is the winter view down the driveway this morning.

We were going to go to church this morning, but after being on Ferguson Road with a big tractor (Aidan, you drove this tractor) in 4 wheel drive and driving very slow, and still just about sliding off the road, we thought it a better idea to just stay put. Ron says he can't remember the last time it snowed like this! It is beautiful to look at and great for fun, but it is hard on the cows, and especially on the newborn calves. We will be going out to check on them all again this afternoon.

MMMmmmm! It is a good time for another hot chocolate I think. Won't you all join me!

Christmas in Canada

I am home once again and hard at work. But I have not forgotten the wonderful six weeks that I spent in Canada. Time goes by quickly, and I sure enjoyed the time I spent with each of you. Here are some pics for all to enjoy.

Mom's beautiful Christmas tree!
Christmas morning was great as it always is...so much fun to open stockings, or rather, paper bags, stuffed with treasures suited to YOU! Thanks Kristin for all the gifts packed into mine!

In order for me to get this on the blog I will just show pics with no comments, except to say that Mom looks fabulous, don't you think?? And so does everyone else!!

I had time to share some food and coffee, tea and time with Patrick and Jamie...this was sweet at THE BUZZ!!

Spending time with the Faulkners is always good too. They had some bad colds over Christmas and Elizabeth was the last to have it and it lingered on! But, we still had time for a walk and just spending some time together.

The next three pictures are of Jamey's new hound dog...he got him for his birthday and will teach "Job" to track and hunt. He is 3 months old and cute as can be. His ears are like velvet! Pretty sweet little pup with big big feet. Jamey was at church the day before he picked him up and Pastor Ted spoke on "New Beginnings" and talked about Job... ...thus the name!