Christmas Eve

The last two days has been all about family. 

Well... chores, cold and family. 

If you want to know what it feels like to do 

chores in subzero weather with the wind blowing, 

please read Michaele's blog at 

Sprout N Wings yesterday, and you will understand. 

She said it more eloquently than I ever could.  (And that link will 

take you directly to the story). 

Here's the Garnett Gang, blocking the Christmas tree so you can't see it... 

friend Jay, Nathan, Hayleigh, and Chris, (Hayleigh is his girlfriend). 

Mom Sherie did not get in the picture, and I didn't realize it. 

We had a good time, only staying an hour or so because it snowed all the way down.  

It turned out we were worried for nothing, it didn't accumulate. 

We had ham and cheese sliders, chips and dip, and I took lots of cookies for them to snack on. 

Jay celebrated Christmas with us, and we were so glad to have him! 

Here's something I read about last year and did this year. 

I saved all my change... just the change I got when I was out, and it took me a 

full year to fill three jars.  I gave one to Hayleigh, Chris and Nathan... we didn't forget Jay, either, don't worry. 

It did not "cost" me anything, except to remember to put the money in the jar every so often, so I am 

going to do it again next year.  I know one jar had over forty dollars in it. 

The Intrepid Lil does not let a little snow stop her from anything. 

I go out to dump the outside water about 6:15 every evening.  I also dump the water inside the old henhouse. 

Last night, this is how I found the goats... I had my little flashlight with me. 

What I am trying to say is that it was so dark, I had to turn the flashlight on to FIND them... and then I saw where they all sleep... the two little girls curl up in the corner. 

We do have a warming light in this barn, it has hung there since Kody and Kaycee came to us in May... but we have not utilized it with these... though it got down to zero last night. 

We are thinking of using it... but we are also afraid of the little three chewing on the cord outside. 

The barn is very tight in the back, and you see they are all hunkered down back there in the back. 

It's going to be cold out tonight again, and windy, but they are in the best place. 

Then today, I ran into Jim's house, and we exchanged our gifts. Tonight they go to a big party with Amy's family... so we did ours early. 

That's Jim, little Jax, Jacob, Amy, beautiful Madison, and little sister Paiton. 

One of Paiton's gifts was a farm set, not that I'm trying to subvert her or anything. 

Lilly Ann has the right idea. 

A year ago today, we lost little Gertie Lou very suddenly, our smallest pug, and 

only three years old.  I can't believe a year has flown by. 

I hope Santa is good to all the little girls and boys tonight. 

(from Hazel the White Pug) 

Monday Morning

First off, Keith was released from the ER on Saturday night, and sent home with a shoulder strain and various bumps and bruises, so we were very, very lucky and his guardian angel was really looking out for him.  I shudder to think what would have happened if his head had connected with the building on the way down. 

We're off to the Eisenhower Vets Hospital this morning to get the shoulder checked again, as he says he can feel and hear something clicking in there.  We'll have some idea today what's going on, and when his limited use will return to normal.

I tried to post last night over the course of about 3 hours, but Google would not open... was it just us or did everyone experience that?  I have NEVER had Google not open before.

The kids went home yesterday, and Hayleigh (yes, I've been spelling her name wrong!) and Chris are moving into a tiny apartment that a friend had been renting.  Chris's mom and I carried some household things for them in our cars, so we met at the apartment when we got to Garnett. 

They found that their friend had not cleaned before moving, so they pitched in to get it ready.

Yes, they have their work cut out for them. 

And yes, Chris's mom and I worry. Probably too much.  

This was taken in the doghouse pasture pen yesterday afternoon.  This little silky cross has bad feet, and I notice she is walking less and less.  She can kind of hobble along, but spends most of her days laying down.  I put her near the food and water so she could eat and drink, but I think, unfortunately, that she will have to be put down.  I have had more trouble with the silky crosses than any other chickens here, or that I have raised.  Their nails tend to grow long and curved, they stop walking so much, and it leads to more foot trouble.  Though I clipped her a week ago, I think she still cannot get along very well.  I absolutely hate having to loose a sweet little hen for this reason. I re-bedded this doghouse last night, but got 11 eggs out of there before I did, and the dogs got those for breakfast this morning, cooked up in the skillet. 

Once we get finished with our doctor dealings today, I'm going to plant some cutting flower seeds in the new flower bed.  We want to get some things growing in there before any weed seeds try to get started... and I have some nice seeds to plant...zinnia, love-lies-bleeding, marigolds, and about four different kinds of sunflower.  It will eventually be another perennial bed, but for now, I'll be glad to have some annual flowers to cut this summer.

This is a view of the bed we started last year.  I need to clean some more weeds out of it, and pour a couple of bags of mulch in it.  As you see, the perennials that did get put in it did well over the mild winter we had.  Soon it will grow up to look like bed one. 

More later today, after we have been to the VA to find out what's going on inside Keith's shoulder.