Cool, eh?
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Monday, December 18, 2006
Jumping to Contusions
Saturday night B and I went out to feed the animals. I had gone to a meeting, so when we went out it was later than usual. I fed as I always do, and stopped a minute to pet Major as he ate. I must have startled him or made him think that in some way I was going to take his food, but he instantly lunged at me and bit me in the upper arm. It was an extremely hard impact, it happened so fast and suddenly that I had no idea what happened until took a couple of seconds to replay it all in my head. He bit me straight through my coat, and while he did not break the skin, I can't imagine what he would have done had I not been wearing a coat. Or if he would have bitten my face. He did not mean to do it in that way, he has never been aggressive to me, other than nipping for attention or stamping out of anger. He has been relegated to low horse on the totem pole in the pasture, and I am sure he was instinctively potecting his food from a horse-- he just assumed that it was another horse coming up next to him.
Too bad.
it HURTS!
Too bad.
it HURTS!
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Just another day in paradise...
Last week when B was sick, we pretty much spent the day in bed, ala John and Yoko. B slept, and I kept vigil with the thermometer and extra quilts, but I had my laptop with me and got some mundane data entry done.
I also mentioned that the cats were there (most of the day), all three piled on the bed with their thermal support, and the dogs were sleeping on the floor, surely adding a degree or two to the ambient temperature.
The kids were downstairs watching a movie, I heard a frantic shriek, “Mom! Bub’s got a mouse!” She is the resident mouser, while the other two cats jump on chairs and quiver when they see one of the rodents. In a vain attempt to get the mouse away from her (we are happy to have her kill them, but prefer she doesn’t eat them), the kids chased her upstairs with her kill—that wasn’t completely killed. She ran into our bedroom and under the bed, and promptly let the catch go. She wanted to play with it some more!
I chastised her and told her I would really REALLY like her to find that mouse sometime before bedtime, as I would prefer not to wake up with Mickey on my pillow! She set to work trying to find it, and she did just that. However, when I tried to get it away from her, she jumped up on my bed and let it go in my bed!!
Yes, that was creepy.
At that point, I put all phobias aside and threw the covers back, grabbed the (still very much alive) mouse by the tail, and took it outside.
I’m trying very hard to shed my suburban image. Is it working?
I also mentioned that the cats were there (most of the day), all three piled on the bed with their thermal support, and the dogs were sleeping on the floor, surely adding a degree or two to the ambient temperature.
The kids were downstairs watching a movie, I heard a frantic shriek, “Mom! Bub’s got a mouse!” She is the resident mouser, while the other two cats jump on chairs and quiver when they see one of the rodents. In a vain attempt to get the mouse away from her (we are happy to have her kill them, but prefer she doesn’t eat them), the kids chased her upstairs with her kill—that wasn’t completely killed. She ran into our bedroom and under the bed, and promptly let the catch go. She wanted to play with it some more!
I chastised her and told her I would really REALLY like her to find that mouse sometime before bedtime, as I would prefer not to wake up with Mickey on my pillow! She set to work trying to find it, and she did just that. However, when I tried to get it away from her, she jumped up on my bed and let it go in my bed!!
Yes, that was creepy.
At that point, I put all phobias aside and threw the covers back, grabbed the (still very much alive) mouse by the tail, and took it outside.
I’m trying very hard to shed my suburban image. Is it working?
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Renegade!
About two weeks ago B had to work late. We chatted on the way home via cell phone, of course, and he was just about home when he exclaimed, “Holy shit, there is a cow in the road!” It was a black cow, and given that it was dark, although we live in the country, the animal suddenly appearing in front of his rapidly moving automobile was somewhat of a shock to him.
We had an idea who owned the cow, and that person does not actually live on the premesis. He does have tenants who live in the house on the land, and B knocked on the door and told the tenant. The tenant said that he did, in fact, know that the cow had escaped, as it was a “jumper.” I had seen the cow jump before, or at least one of the cattle, as I drove by and stopped to tell the tenant at the time (not the same tenant).
So, the next morning I was doing chores at 5:30 am, it was still pitch black outside, and I was checking the waterer to make sure it had not frozen over. All of the animals were still inside munching on breakfast, and I heard a noise on the east side of the barn, near the manure pile. It sounded larger than a cat, and it occurred to me that it could be a deer. I happened to have a flashlight in-hand, and shined it toward the noise. I saw two large, glowing eyes staring back at me, framed by two sets of eartags. It was the renegade cow! She had come quite a distance, maybe a mile. I went around the fence to where she was, shooing her toward home, when suddenly the flashlight’s battery died! There I was, dead flashlight in-hand, in the middle of my yard, so dark I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face. I could hear the cow, as she wandered off in the wrong direction—going deeper into our property. It was all I could do to stumble back in the general direction of the house and get ready for work.
A few days later M was home from school sick. I stayed with her, and decided to finish up some chores that afternoon. I was standing at the kitchen sink doing dishes (we don’t have a dishwasher) when I saw old Boss just wander up the driveway, like she was coming for her scheduled 4:00 pm visit! It was just one of those “this could only be happening to me” moments. Have you ever had a cow come visiting? Walk up your driveway when you were just doing the dishes? Strange, eh?
When the bus dropped L off a few minutes later, I said, “Hey, there is a cow in our yard, back in the back. Let’s go try and shoo her back home.” He went out with me, and she would not be deterred. She wanted nothing to do with us, but wouldn’t go in the direction we wanted her to go. When we cornered her, she ended up jumping a fence (should not have been a surprise to us) but toward the inside of the property, not toward her home. L intelligently pointed out that we should just leave her, as she would go where she wanted with her ability to jump.
The next morning she was still there. It was a Saturday, and I figured that I should get her home, lest the farmer think I was attempting to steal his cow. So I opened the gate, and chased her out. She was reluctant to leave once she was in the open yard, so I had to shoo her all the way down the driveway and out to the road, where she moseyed on home. I heard someone drive along and honk at her, too, so I know she was just carrying on back the way she came.
Fortunately, it was in the day, so she was not creating a traffic hazard as she was when Bill first saw her on the road.
The next night, the farmer gathered up all of his cows and took them away. He rotates his pastures over the winter, so it was not unexpected. But it was a good thing she got home in time.
We had an idea who owned the cow, and that person does not actually live on the premesis. He does have tenants who live in the house on the land, and B knocked on the door and told the tenant. The tenant said that he did, in fact, know that the cow had escaped, as it was a “jumper.” I had seen the cow jump before, or at least one of the cattle, as I drove by and stopped to tell the tenant at the time (not the same tenant).
So, the next morning I was doing chores at 5:30 am, it was still pitch black outside, and I was checking the waterer to make sure it had not frozen over. All of the animals were still inside munching on breakfast, and I heard a noise on the east side of the barn, near the manure pile. It sounded larger than a cat, and it occurred to me that it could be a deer. I happened to have a flashlight in-hand, and shined it toward the noise. I saw two large, glowing eyes staring back at me, framed by two sets of eartags. It was the renegade cow! She had come quite a distance, maybe a mile. I went around the fence to where she was, shooing her toward home, when suddenly the flashlight’s battery died! There I was, dead flashlight in-hand, in the middle of my yard, so dark I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face. I could hear the cow, as she wandered off in the wrong direction—going deeper into our property. It was all I could do to stumble back in the general direction of the house and get ready for work.
A few days later M was home from school sick. I stayed with her, and decided to finish up some chores that afternoon. I was standing at the kitchen sink doing dishes (we don’t have a dishwasher) when I saw old Boss just wander up the driveway, like she was coming for her scheduled 4:00 pm visit! It was just one of those “this could only be happening to me” moments. Have you ever had a cow come visiting? Walk up your driveway when you were just doing the dishes? Strange, eh?
When the bus dropped L off a few minutes later, I said, “Hey, there is a cow in our yard, back in the back. Let’s go try and shoo her back home.” He went out with me, and she would not be deterred. She wanted nothing to do with us, but wouldn’t go in the direction we wanted her to go. When we cornered her, she ended up jumping a fence (should not have been a surprise to us) but toward the inside of the property, not toward her home. L intelligently pointed out that we should just leave her, as she would go where she wanted with her ability to jump.
The next morning she was still there. It was a Saturday, and I figured that I should get her home, lest the farmer think I was attempting to steal his cow. So I opened the gate, and chased her out. She was reluctant to leave once she was in the open yard, so I had to shoo her all the way down the driveway and out to the road, where she moseyed on home. I heard someone drive along and honk at her, too, so I know she was just carrying on back the way she came.
Fortunately, it was in the day, so she was not creating a traffic hazard as she was when Bill first saw her on the road.
The next night, the farmer gathered up all of his cows and took them away. He rotates his pastures over the winter, so it was not unexpected. But it was a good thing she got home in time.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Gift Idea...
Give the gift of goats!
This is an amazing organization. At some point, when our farm is turning a profit, I would like to donate some of our profits to this organization. This year we can consider it from our family to other families.
Just think of the headlines, "Goats Bring World Peace and Prosperity!"
This is an amazing organization. At some point, when our farm is turning a profit, I would like to donate some of our profits to this organization. This year we can consider it from our family to other families.
Just think of the headlines, "Goats Bring World Peace and Prosperity!"
Monday, December 11, 2006
My most requested Christmastime recipe...
Even the folks at work are clamoring for it!
Oreo Cookie Truffles
1 (550g) bag Oreo cookies
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, at room temp
2 cups milk chocolate chips
Crush the oreo cookies in a food processor, half of the bag at a time, until fine crumbs. Mix the softened cream cheese with the crushed cookies until completely mixed together with no white streaks from the cream cheese. (If you have a stand mixer, this process is painless.) Roll into half inch balls and place on a foil lined cookie sheet. Freeze (or at least refrigerate) for 30 minutes. Dip in melted chocolate. Try not to eat them all before you finish the batch...
Sometimes I alternate with coating them with white chocolate and milk chocolate, for a variety. The chocolate center does show through the white chocolate, though, so make sure you're okay with that. You can also drizzle the milk chocolate onto the white chocolate cookies, and white chocolate onto the milk chocolate cookies. It looks cool and professional that way.
Almond bark is easy to work with, but I don't think it tastes as good as the real thing. It does provide a nice crunchy outer chocolate coating, though.
Okay, now I'm hungry.
Oreo Cookie Truffles
1 (550g) bag Oreo cookies
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, at room temp
2 cups milk chocolate chips
Crush the oreo cookies in a food processor, half of the bag at a time, until fine crumbs. Mix the softened cream cheese with the crushed cookies until completely mixed together with no white streaks from the cream cheese. (If you have a stand mixer, this process is painless.) Roll into half inch balls and place on a foil lined cookie sheet. Freeze (or at least refrigerate) for 30 minutes. Dip in melted chocolate. Try not to eat them all before you finish the batch...
Sometimes I alternate with coating them with white chocolate and milk chocolate, for a variety. The chocolate center does show through the white chocolate, though, so make sure you're okay with that. You can also drizzle the milk chocolate onto the white chocolate cookies, and white chocolate onto the milk chocolate cookies. It looks cool and professional that way.
Almond bark is easy to work with, but I don't think it tastes as good as the real thing. It does provide a nice crunchy outer chocolate coating, though.
Okay, now I'm hungry.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
What Movie is Your Christmas Most Like?
Your Christmas is Most Like: A Charlie Brown Christmas |
 Each year, you really get into the spirit of Christmas. Which is much more important to you than nifty presents. |
Saturday, December 09, 2006
News from the farm...
Check this out:
That means we'll have spring kids!! And it also means that Wolfgang can do his job. While it seems kind of silly, when your buck is not proven, it's a gamble to spend the money on him.
But all is well...
Celebrate! We are!
That means we'll have spring kids!! And it also means that Wolfgang can do his job. While it seems kind of silly, when your buck is not proven, it's a gamble to spend the money on him.
But all is well...
Celebrate! We are!
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Rut Defined
rut [ruht] noun, verb, rut·ted, rut·ting
is a general term that refers to the breeding period of mammals. During the rut, males exhibit specific behaviors to establish harems or to attract females to mate with.
Before Rut:
During Rut:
Notice the legs full of pee, the beard all matted and also full of his fresh scent. He really stinks as bad as he looks. But we love him. : )
Before Rut:
During Rut:
Notice the legs full of pee, the beard all matted and also full of his fresh scent. He really stinks as bad as he looks. But we love him. : )
Blogging from Bed
No, it's not a kinky sex thing, or a John and Yoko thing (though that might be kind of fun and stress-relieving)-- we are sick with some sort of stomach virus. Ugh.
It started early Friday morning, like about 2:45, when I heard M's voice say, "Mom, I got sick in my bed." I can't illustrate enough how I hate those words. First of all, I abhor being awakened in the night. I am just selfish, I guess, or maybe I feel like my years of having babies young enough to wake up multiple times in the night are over. I really don't know the reason, but I am cranky, sometimes downright mean. Especially when it's like 30 minutes before my alarm is supposed to go off... Secondly, when there is a mess involved-- like, "Okay, get up in the night now, and be at your best, and make snap decisions, and hop to it!" No.Thank.You. I will just go back to sleep and pretend your telling me that you projectile vomited all over numerous items in your room was just a nightmare. Sleep well, love.
Alas, it was not a dream, but yes, it was quite a nightmare. She is a horrible patient, she should have been born a man. (And for the record, the men in my house are great patients. : ))
All Friday I stayed home and listened to her moan about her aching body, prepared various food items in a vain attempt to see what she could keep down, shared the couch with her, even though she was hogging the entire space... It's a mom's job, right?
L came home that afternoon and told us that 50 kids on the 3rd floor of their school (I would estimate that that's approximately 150 kids) were out sick with this virus, as well as numerous teachers. So it's a community effort.
Saturday things were a little better, though she was cranky and certainly not completely well. B had a project at work to get done, and was not home until nearly 4:00. Shortly after arriving home, he felt sick. Yep, you guessed it, it was all downhill from there. We spent the vast majority of the night with the light on while he practiced his aim into the bowl.
And now, I am blogging from bed, as I do everything in my power not to get sick, and also to take care of B. He has a fever, and is very cold. It doesn't help that the current temperature in our room is 58! We have some great quilts, though, and the three cats and two dogs are crowded around to offer their heat as well.
L and I are just counting down the hours until the inevitable. We keep asking ourselves if we feel sick, and we always say, "A little." We're just waiting... Hopefully by that time, B and M will be well enough to take care of us.
It started early Friday morning, like about 2:45, when I heard M's voice say, "Mom, I got sick in my bed." I can't illustrate enough how I hate those words. First of all, I abhor being awakened in the night. I am just selfish, I guess, or maybe I feel like my years of having babies young enough to wake up multiple times in the night are over. I really don't know the reason, but I am cranky, sometimes downright mean. Especially when it's like 30 minutes before my alarm is supposed to go off... Secondly, when there is a mess involved-- like, "Okay, get up in the night now, and be at your best, and make snap decisions, and hop to it!" No.Thank.You. I will just go back to sleep and pretend your telling me that you projectile vomited all over numerous items in your room was just a nightmare. Sleep well, love.
Alas, it was not a dream, but yes, it was quite a nightmare. She is a horrible patient, she should have been born a man. (And for the record, the men in my house are great patients. : ))
All Friday I stayed home and listened to her moan about her aching body, prepared various food items in a vain attempt to see what she could keep down, shared the couch with her, even though she was hogging the entire space... It's a mom's job, right?
L came home that afternoon and told us that 50 kids on the 3rd floor of their school (I would estimate that that's approximately 150 kids) were out sick with this virus, as well as numerous teachers. So it's a community effort.
Saturday things were a little better, though she was cranky and certainly not completely well. B had a project at work to get done, and was not home until nearly 4:00. Shortly after arriving home, he felt sick. Yep, you guessed it, it was all downhill from there. We spent the vast majority of the night with the light on while he practiced his aim into the bowl.
And now, I am blogging from bed, as I do everything in my power not to get sick, and also to take care of B. He has a fever, and is very cold. It doesn't help that the current temperature in our room is 58! We have some great quilts, though, and the three cats and two dogs are crowded around to offer their heat as well.
L and I are just counting down the hours until the inevitable. We keep asking ourselves if we feel sick, and we always say, "A little." We're just waiting... Hopefully by that time, B and M will be well enough to take care of us.
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