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!