Getting into the Christmas groove!

I've actually purchased a few gifts!!  I can't believe I'm that far into it already.  Typically, I put it off until that last week.  I always manage to get everyone thought of and find something they might enjoy.  Mostly, I start thinking about the fun of getting all the family together.  That seems the most rewarding to me, the get together.  Hopefully, we get all the group to be there.  This might be the first time in a long while that I didn't have the meal at my house!  I think I might enjoy the change this year.  I did my last day of radiation yesterday, Monday and I got my graduation papers.  I look forward to being home!

I think my co-workers might be relieved to see me back in commission.  I know my customers that I deal with will be.  I've had some of my clients for years and speak with most on a daily, and weekly basis.  Lots of them are dear friends and being from a small area sure lets you know how people attach to each other.

Now to decide what to start making for treaters, and side dishes to take to Christmas! I turn to "for the love of cooking" blog.  Does she ever have the recipes I like!

We got a little Christmas snow this last week and it looks to be staying!  A good heavy dusting of 3-4 inches and just enough cold to finally call it December.  I'm not sure if this Winter will be anything like last year with calm and warm weather.  We hadn't had rain or moisture of more that 10 to 20 hundreds of an inch since July.  Its incredibly dry and moisture from any source right now is welcomed. 

I purchased a good quantity of hay for cattle, horses and goats this Summer, but wonder how long that might have to stretch.
I look forward to May and Junes Thunderstorms already.  I had to look back at an old video I took a couple Summers ago of an intense storm that moved through.  I miss a good Thunderstorm and enjoy the energy you get from the sky roaring through.
Well, I better get off that subject.  Seems May will not be here for awhile and I might be getting ahead of myself .  January gets pretty long when chores and weather are not the funnest and its too cold outside. 

On a somber note, I send all all my sympathy and comfort to the families in Conneticut and think of them daily.  I read posts from all over that are thinking of them and trying to understand.  Sometimes bad things happen and this definitely is the toughest one to deal with.  I hope for healing and courage.

 

its all looking good!

No Jinx...No Jinx...
I'm excited for Thanksgiving and I have some energy back I think has been missing for awhile.
Family and Friends and good food, warm house and 4 days home from treatments with wonderful weather forecasted.  All the animals are safe and my kids are covering me well on the homefront.  I have good friends who call, send prayers, encouragement and lots of hugs.  How can it be any better!?

Now, so I don't do the jinx.  This stage of treatment is going very well and I will stay a little warmer and put aside all those need to do chores and save them for another day.  I will try my best to stay the most positive and when I'm feeling sorry for myself, I always think of the young children I see going through treatment and realize, I'm not the only one experiencing this. The thing that breaks my heart are those young faces who are going through treatments.  If I had the money and time, I'ld be helping those litttle faces that should have the best treatment and care offered.  Of course everyone who faces a disease is needing help, but I have an image of a small child that I saw while I was entering a CAT scan years ago.  She was scared and holding her blanket, she was brave but pretty worried and she definitely needed my hug.   I will never forget that little look!  Why would I ever feel sorry for myself again I told myself.

Again, how Nurses, Doctors and all medical field people can handle this daily amazes me.
I am a huge sap and would be a wreck.

Now for a positive note...one of my sons drives me the 2 1/2hrs every Monday to treatments and I stay in a Motel until Thursday night, heading home on Fridays.  My son fortunately lives where I do, but he has driven to his job typically Tues through Fridays.  He just needs to leave a day earlier now.
It works well, but we are eating out nightly and enjoy a few activities that fill in the evenings.  I think we've eaten at couple dozen different restaurants and enjoyed some really nice meals.  We could be food critics pretty soon. I've gotten to spend a little more time with one of my kids, who's been pretty busy in his own life with family, home moves, kids, events and life in the busy world of changes.  Its been nice and gives me lots to remind me about.
My family is fantastic and everyone of them are there for me at any turn.  My Grandkids give me wonderful smiles and enjoyment and always entertain me. 
I have lots to be Thankful! 
I extend my best wishes to all for a Wonderful Thanksgiving. Enjoy it with family, friends or even complete strangers. 
Just be positive and look forward to another day!  Its what its all about!





 

I Got this!

Heck, a little cancer the size of a golf ball?  PHEWT!  I go tomorrow to find out the final results the next steps and (positively) the fact that my child woke up at 3:30 AM to hear me snorting so loud it woke the dead.   I am a lucky one, yes indeed.  Neurosurgeons are amazing Drs. and do we Thank the day they were born?  Not near enough, not near enough indeed.  
Today is the start of a new day, year, life and purpose.  Pure Life!
Whatever the day brings tomorrow...so be it!   I've had a brilliant, crazy and whirlwind of an adventure and wouldn't trade a day for my children, my family, my BFF and my life.   I got it good...very good indeed!
Here's to my incredible children and my best friends and I gotta say to all those who have taken the time to meditate, pray, worry and travel.   Life is Good people!

Now, what to buy for the next adventure?  I'm wondering now what did those Dr.s do while they were doing the 8hr "AWAKE" brain surgery.  I think they planted some seeds of wisdom, cuzz I feel a whole lot smarter!

 

You know what surprises me most about this photo?

the green ditch in the foreground! (this picture taken more than a month ago).  I tell ya...if it gets any drier in this part of the country..everyone is going to be carrying a fire extinguisher and shovels.  Its cracklin dry and nothing in the forecast to relieve this drought.  Nothing!  I told myself not to complain about the lack of moisture on the blog..but this is getting ridiculous!  We had serious flooding last summer, something that hadn't happened in 100 yrs.  Then in late July, 2011, the sky dried up.  All those prayers were answered.  We should of been careful though and added the duration of time for "no more moisture please" to the prayer.  We sure do need it now.

I was lucky, fortunate, desperate and scrambling this last month to get an adequate amount of hay brought in for winter feed.  I've been counting the bales I've used already...and Yes, I'm using it already.  This is looking to be a very long Winter.  I won't mind if we get snow.  There, I said it, I don't mind snow at all. I will not complain about snow again.  No sir, but I will complain about cold., so there. I've left something to complain about.
Weatherman said this morning that its been over 54 days since any rain or any sort...including sprinkles.  I know thats a true statement.  When you can pull a metal fence post out of the ground and all you get is dust coming up with it, you know its more than dry.  It seriously dry.

My Dad mentioned that maybe I should insure my loads of hay I brought in.  I'm thinking thats not such a bad idea.  Not a bad idea at all.

Cultural Heritage Center

We had an afternoon recently that I needed to entertain the children.  The Cultural Heritage Center in town is full of interesting displays, artifacts and history.  I like it. 

Not sure if the kids do, but what better to do if your not lounging by the beach on a 109degree day, but to be inside a cool 70'ish building built into the side of a hill.  I always see something new every time I go.  Lots of exhibits and we make a memory or two by going every now and then.  This time the grandkids were with me.

Here they are riding the combine.  These two girls are just neat!  I tell that from a Grandmas point of view, but actually they really are!  Little Emma came into this family after my Granddaughter Joah has had the limelight for 10yrs.  We thought it might be hard but Joah loves her alot...seriously alot.  Even though once in a while she'll whisper to me to "remember who's your favorite though?!"  I always tell her, Absolutely!
She smiles at that.

                                     notice that little photo bomber in the background.

                         I even got my daughter to pose for a shot.  Course I snuck up on that one.

Then Erin was given the honor of holding baby Emma.   She held her tight and wasn't about to let her fall.

                   Can you hear her "Guffaw"  Trust me...she is an expert at the "Guffaw"!!

                                          I think baby Emma has it made actually..

                                                        Now photos of the barn construction

                So its been a pace everyone is accustomed to this time of year...just plain busy.
                                                Where has the Summer gone??

thinking this is a good sign...

click on all photos to enlarge!

this little rainbow encompassed my entire house and barn..course I was standing JUST right!
It's gotta be a good sign.

And on the new barn progress!
By this morning on my way to work, they had cut the windows and as I was heading down the road I snapped the shot of the windows and doors just being delivered.  By tonight they'll have installed windows and wrapped the entire barn for the siding to be started on tomorrow.  Its looking more and more like a barn!

Progress..

I did a little road trip and picked up a little something for me.  To be exact though...its for Sharon and me, as that sporty ranger is going to be traveling the Badlands area in search of a few Fairburn Agates that are calling my name!  I need to be planning that trip and soon...

While picking up that Ranger, we took a roundabout way to the gent who sold me that cupola.   We, I was a little hesitant about it all fitting onto the trailer.  But my copilot was all go in making it fit! Backing it onto the trailer was genius.  It allowed that extra 6 inches we needed. 

Now for the progress report on the new barn!!  Pretty darn excited I am.
The fellas putting it together are careful, thorough and hard working.  They even worked on the 4th of July!
Course, it was the only day this last week that the temperature dropped into the lower 90's instead of 100, so it was refreshing to work without that stifling heat wave.

On Tuesday next week the steel siding goes up.   While I was taking photos, the fella on the roof hollered and asked me where I wanted that cupola...in the middle? the end?  He was real nice about it too, so I think I'll have to be baking some caramel rolls next.  Yup, no whining, no complaining, no growling about a cupola.  They definitely deserve caramel rolls and maybe I'll have to do a lunch up for them next too!  I'll just wait to start spoiling them toward the final stages...don't want them getting to comfortable just yet. 

Now for that bright red and white tin to attached.  I'll be the talk of the neighborhood for sometime.  Especially with that grand ole cupola dead center.  This weekend I've got to paint it up..but haven't decided what color it should be.  Anyone have an idea on how it'll match out with a white roof?  I've seen them painted white and also a silver.  Silver seems sensible and it'ld still feel like the original look.  Bright white would take away from the age and art of the cupola...but it'ld look matching though.  Any ideas are welcome!

because I need this written down somewhere-F150 PU

So yesterday, I took my pickup in to have oil change and see why it shimmys/shakes and vibrates so hard when I drive 70mph.  Usually its mud in the wheels.  Seems it throws it out of whack on occassion.
So the fella calls and says, "Deb, your leaving for a road trip you say tomorrow?"  me: Yup  him: Bad news, you HAVE to have new tires!  me: whaaaa...whaaa...whaaa.. him: well, if you want to make it there in one piece and I want you to make it there in one piece, your NEEDING new tires!! me:  But, I just bought tires for this thing!!  him: ahhh...that was 3 yrs ago.   me: seriously?  seems like only yesterday?!

So, new tires it is and I am still traveling far and wide for a cupola tomorrow.  I just told the fella doing the barn that I am adding that cupola too.  He looks at feet and shuffles a bit, then asks how heavy is that thing.  I tell him I'm thinkin its only about a 100lbs.  (My son thinks its around 1000lbs. and I didn't tell that to my barn guy though)  Don't want to scare him.  I will just tell him I know he can attach it and I know he will do such a nice job that it will sustain hurricane winds, tornado funnels and our typical breezy SD wind on any given day! And folks I did do my homework and called the contracter I am purchasing the material through about structure support on the roof for this thing.  I wanted to make sure rafters will hold several hundred lbs of weight proper and withstand the load, and also, save me the hassle/holdup if an additional rafter needed to be added.
I know my builder will do it and I'm going to start having sweet rolls and coffee ready for him these next few days.  I think that should soften him just fine!

Today now they pour the concrete in the holes for anchor supports.  This thing is coming along nice and when I approached my house last night after work and saw the barn from miles away...I was thinking..Holy crap that thing looks huge!  It'll be a fine barn, yes a fine barn indeed!
Now a quick look at what historically has been known to happen at my house.  Even though this photo is in a balmy southern state or island somewhere..let it be known...I have a fully intact trampoline that resides in the bottom of a river these days.  I know this, because on low tide day..the legs would stick out of the water showing a complete circle of the trampoline.  Wish'd I'ld taken a photo back then.   Funny the images that do burn in memory though.  Hopefully the Cupula stays put!

It has begun!

I did the building pad with my own two little hands...oh yea...and that trusty little skidsteer sitting over yonder.

that would be D.J. rolling out there in the middle.  Seems all the dogs like that comfy feel of cool gravel.

So there lays Atticus stretched out over in the other corner.

And just arriving yesterday lays the beginnings of the new barn.

Now here's my morning view out the side entrance of the building.  I'm thinking I'll have to have a window over this side.  I just might like a picture window at that!  It would be a shame not to see the sunrise every morning. Yup...and I know right where I'm having my morning coffee.  Hope the goats like the smell of fresh ground coffee in the morning.  Something tells me they'll be hollering for their own mug before long.

Mom and Dad

They are aging pretty quickly these last couple of years.  Its been hard to watch, but yet we have lots to be thankful for.  They're still here...They're in relatively good health...They still remember our names...pretty much anyway.  Mom has been showing signs of major short term memory loss, and sometimes her stories are looped many many many times in a few minutes.  Amazing some of the things she will remember from 70 yrs ago and lots of things that are the immediate that she can forget! Well today Mom wanted an eye exam.  Dad drove her to town, (some 55 miles one way) and I met them for lunch.  We talked about an old neighbor and how he was a dominant type with women.  Mom all of a sudden remembered going after parts for the Dad when we lived at the farm and that day while in town, she picked up groceries. Now note that this story came out of the blue.  She said the neighbor was telling Dad how to save money while Mom was bringing in groceries from the car.  (The men folk were around the kitchen table discussing money woes.)  Mom said after she had brought in the last bag, the neighbor said "See there, right there you could save some money!"  " You could take away her keys!"  Well, Mom had to repeat that story several times before I could distract her long enough to move onto another topic.  While Dad sat there in amazement that she could remember a point in time some almost 60 yrs ago like it was yesterday.  He said, "Wow, and this is the first time I've heard that story?".  Mom on the other hand was getting more riled up just talking about that old neighbor.   I thought about reminding her that he(neighbor) passed away some 20 yrs ago, but she was so worked up over it...I just changed the subject.  It looped around again and I had to get creative and really switch topics.  I just keep telling myself that the reason I was challenged with my daughter Erin was to help me handle, deal and understand my parents now.  Trust me on my daughter Erin, she can throw a curve ball at me on any given day! 
So as my parentsdrove away from the restaurant...I was suddenly struck with how fragile they are.

so I followed them downtown to where Dad was heading to get his hair cut....

They didn't know I was tailing them and I just hung back and watched them...

Mom just hanging out waiting in the car....

thats when I hollered in and scared the bejeebas out of her.....

She cussed me like the dickens.  I do those sorts of things just to keep her on her toes.  She did wave me off though and if my sister is reading this...she did wave with just one finger.   MOM!!  She was chuckling like she had gotten away with something though. 
I think the devil in us came from my Moms side.  Sure she acts the innocent but truly she's the one who gets everyone in trouble and still she looks the angel.  She's always pretending to polish her halo. 
I've also decided today that while my parents are aging too quickly for me, its all Ok and I will just keep treating them like they still have it.    You just never know, but like I tell my own children "Your day will come and you'll be treating me extra special too."    Well you see, thats my Mom coming out in me there...kinda setting the stage for this ole girl to be looked after in her golden years.  Yup, I get that part from my Mom...sneaky that way she is!

While this isn't my barn...

I'm making ready for one!  I just ordered the bulk of the material yesterday and the building process will officially start this next week!

but I want a cupola...so craigslist came in real handy.  I was surprised at how many cupolas there are in Minnesota.  You'ld think it was the freeby that came with every barn package back in the day. I love them!!  Now to tell the crew who are building the barn that I want that cupola mounted like no other.  Its gotta stand up to a good breezy day in South Dakota, or that possible wind shear that most probably is a tornado...but the weather man can't really say it! 

I have been adding to this barn from day one...oh about 3yrs ago.  At this point I think adding a little cupola can't possibly tip the scale.  But it might just tip the crew that this woman they're building for is going to be a handful!  Good thing they gave me that bid up front!

First official dip in the pond..

Weather was warmest on Saturday.  Toward evening it was hitting 98 degrees.  The Missouri River is only a few minutes down a dirt path from my house.  It was inviting the kids all afternoon.
So, we loaded kids and dogs and headed for the River.
First in was Chance, young son, who donned his trusty wetsuit.  He noted his feet and hands did go numb within a few minutes. 
Next up Granddaughter and her Uncle.

     and while they screeched around and tried to adjust, it didn't take long to exit the lake.

                                              I think the water was in the low 60's.  Tad cold! 
  Now granddaughter is a real farm girl when she comes visit.  She can get dirty like the best of them, even though she's a little princess.  While she LOVES to dress and fancy herself to the hilt...she can get absolutely filthy and have the best time!  So when someone suggested covering themselves in mud to warm their bodies the survivor way...she hopped right to it.

Didn't help alot as she had to take another dip just to rinse off for the ride home!

Even though it was pretty frosty..I'ld just bet they'ld do it again...and again....and again..

Today

                                                              had a beautiful start!

                                          little showers were all around us on the horizon...

                            and I always wonder how many beautiful sights the cattle see in a day...

              They rarely look up much though, and grass is growing and they seem to chase it all day...

                      course the babies are always lounging around and just waiting for a little excitement...

                                                 and  Mommas are busy just chasing grass ....

                                 I wonder if they notice how beautiful it is on days like this....

and while I head to work, I envy the life of my cattle today...lounging, snacking and watching a few storms skirt across the sky.  I love thunderstorms on the horizon, and don't mind one bit when they arrive with all the noise and lightening they bring.  Can't say I like the nasty stuff, but the typical thunderstorm that rumbles and lights up the sky is one of my favorite things.  Weatherman is just gearing up in my neck of the woods and rain is forecast for almost every single day.  I'll have to be ready with the camera to capture a few good light shows.   Living on top a butte with a wide open view in all directions, lends me to lots of time to see approaching storms.  Thing is...I'll be outside taking pictures instead of holed up in the basement.   I'll play it smart and try not to stand outside too long though because even though it doesn't appear the cattle notice these gorgeous views...I think they'ld miss me...well at least thats what I think!

the incident....

after reading Sprout N Wings  post today...it made me remember a day not too long ago.
I had raised some meat birds with the intent to butcher them.  I have grown pretty soft about butchering and I always take my raised beef to a locker plant.  Its solely rests on me to decide how to and when to butcher my raised stock and while I wrestle with it for a bit, I always know its raised to feed the family and it has to be done.  Plus...if I hesitate too long...(with taking in a critter for processing)...it'll do something to teach me a lesson.   Much like the very first beef I raised that was large enough to process, but I just wasn't quite ready.  That first steer decided to fracture his hind leg and while he didn't die immediately, the only humane thing to do was to shoot him and try to salvage the meat.  It worked fine, and as I've actually helped skin quite a few beef, deer or even a buffalo or two...it was just mater of fact when I had to do it.

Which leads me to my chicken butchering story....
That first year I raised the Giant Cornish Cross.   Big birds and they ate continually.  I was warned about putting up the feed, as they eat themself to death.  I just didn't do it early enough.  I had lost a couple chickens as literally they would blow out their behinds.  Not pretty!!  I thought perhaps they were picking on each other and not getting enough to eat...wrong.   So, as I noticed one chicken who was looking pretty tough but still standing at the feed trough..I was determined not to waste another chicken that was going to feed me.   I went inside and started boiling a pot of water.   Then I got out the sharp knives.  I went back out the the pen and thought.."Come on Deb, you just wring that neck!"   Nope, that wasn't something I had in me.  So I go find the hatchet.   I grabbed a couple nails and a stump and hammered a holder for the head.  I still wasn't quite prepared.  So I go sharpen that hatchet, as - I - was - delaying the inevitable.  While I was walking away from the chicken coop.  I heard an awful racket and squawking.   I rushed in and found the chicken I had intended for the pot had tried to jump from the roost and hung himself between a crack in the roost and wall.  Weirdest thing and a freak accident!  It was dead as a doornail now and I quickly chopped off the head and dressed it outside by the garbage can.  Funniest part was the neighbor was just pulling into my yard to do some fencing for me.  He looked pretty bug eyed at me and said...."Ah, so your having chicken tonite?" 
"Yup, I said..just testing the size on the meat birds!"  He drove away with an entire new thought about me that day, but I never let him in on the real story.
 Sometimes things just have a way of working themselves out! 

Pre Mothers Day suprise..

And this was waiting for me after my lunch break...sitting neatly in the middle of my desk!
I'm saving that "chores promise".... as I've gotta hold him to it!