Merry Christmas!

My last post was November 15... does that tell you what the last six weeks have been like? 

Oh, for the days when I was REALLY busy and yet, posted every night! 

I hope everyone has had a good December, and is having a peaceful Christmas. 

This is my sixth Christmas without Keith, I just can hardly believe it.  He was Mr. Christmas, he loved it... he loved giving gifts and he loved seeing everyone happy. 

We had our family gathering last Sunday.  Here's my little great granddaughter, Maci, 

opening her gifts.  That is her Aunt Paiton behind her. 

On Tuesday, I went down to Garnett to see my two 

big grandsons, Chris and Nathan.  Here is Nathan with his 

daughter, my second little great-grand... Aurora, who is six months old. 

We have had stunning weather for NE Kansas, it was 73 degrees yesterday on Christmas Eve.  I know I should be concerned about climate change... I am, actually, but if I never saw snow again in person I would be happy.  How on earth did our parents cope with the horrible heavy snowfalls of our youth?  

I know most of the moms stayed home then, but even walking to school was hard... ask me, I will tell you. 

Even though I have cut way back on feeding... I make sure I still have enough 

out for the squirrels daily.  I have so much fun watching them chase each other around the maple tree. 

I have to bring Bullseye in every afternoon for a while, so he doesn't intimidate them. 

Zoey, out in the yard she loves. 

All of my dogs in the past have sat in this same spot and 

looked out over "their" yard.  I looked out the door one morning in 

late November, and saw Zoey doing it. 

I knew she was staying right then. 

So, I went to Petsmart, because Snowy's groomer is 

on maternity leave.  I interviewed the groomer! 

(I know, I'm nuts). 

I took her the next week... and she came home to me all trimmed up. 

She is mine. 

She fits in perfectly at ten, we are all old except the cats. 

She gets along okay with the cats, very well with Jes. 

She can be Miss Growly Lip sometimes, and guard 

things.... but that does not last long and I always have a talk with her. 

She barks if she hears something outside, which I love... I have not had a barker since I 

lost Fritzi.  

She is a good little doll. 

I tried to get a Christmas picture of Jester, me and Zoey.  It did not happen. 

However, she WILL wear a little sweater outside. 

We have had some very cold mornings, and Jester will not move one step if you 

put any kind of clothes on him. 

Santa pointed at the setting moon one morning this week. 

I will miss Big Santa on my deck, but he will be deflated tomorrow morning and put away for another year. 

It was a beautiful day for a trip to see Keith.  It looked like 

Wreaths Across American made it to his section with just a few wreaths left, so put them partially on the front row, you can barely see them. 

These are marshmallows that have chocolate inside... dipped in caramel, and then 

rolled in Rice Krispies.  They are so good. 

I made so much stuff, that when it got down to the nitty gritty, I could not go on. 

I went to a local grocery and bought two trays of cookies, which I gifted.  I literally could not bake another thing.   I am rethinking everything for next year... 

Christmas crack (Chex Mix) 

A lot of this went out, too... but I saved a bit for me and my son to snack on. 

We had biscuits and gravy for breakfast, which is a rare treat for us. 

My brother Pete used to make it for Christmas morning, 

we would go to mass early and then go to his house 

and have a big breakfast.  Those were wonderful days. 

Keith and his little grandson Carson, many Christmases ago.  

I don't want you guys to think I am desperately lonely... Christmas is a time to look back.  I had wonderful friends visit me yesterday, and then went to see more wonderful friends and enjoyed a good visit.  

My family is close and I can see everyone regularly. 

The pandemic is still scaring me... and I am still wearing a mask everywhere, and as of tomorrow, I will be switching from cloth to "professional" masks... I have had two shots and a booster but I still do not want it. 

I have had two close friends with it recently (also had had two shots) and I just do not want it. 

I am still active at the National Agricultural Center and 

have so much fun there. 

The Smith House on December 10, we had a lovely bus tour that day of folks from Illinois and Indiana. 

If you want a laugh, you can google "Camel Loose in Bonner Springs" and see the story of Lucy, who broke away from her trainer on Saturday night of the first weekend and was finally caught 

twelve miles away, having made it down a very busy highway without being hurt or hurting anyone. 

Lucy's replacement. 

Merry Christmas, everyone.  

Thanks for reading Calamity Acres. 

 

Looking Back

I know you all remember that I lost Keith two years ago last month. 

I am still unpacking boxes from my move back to Calamity Acres 

a year ago.  

So, this morning, I am still going through things since we had 

our first snow last night. 

I found some lovely old pictures, and I am so glad that I took them. 

When we first got our llamas, one was a young cria, 

and you notice he has a halter on.  We should have worked with him daily, because trust me, 

he was not halter-broken. 

Please note that Keith had already made our new barn pad (the barn 

never built) because our little pond is already in the pasture. 

You also see that the east fence line was still pretty much clear, you 

can see the Spehar's two deep ponds to the east clearly. 

Their view is almost obscured now. 

Our dear old Beau and his favorite goose, Samantha, were still alive. 

Samantha and Beau were very bonded, she spent all her time with him, 

instead of the other geese. 

Big Mama Llama and Beau had a bit of a contentious relationship, note her face. 

And she and her cria, Tony, pretty much took over Beau's barn. 

On Llama Roundup Day (shearing day) we had friends stop by 

with some of their animals to help us shear. 

And here comes Beau at the trot to see what the heck is going on!

And here I am, 125 pounds heavier, giving a baby bison a bottle. 

My face was permanently red from exertion back then, I am MUCH 

better off physically, now. 

Beau really liked the little lambs. 

Friend Joni showed us how the little ones liked to play. 

We eventually did get to the shearing. 

Here is where I'll stop for a moment.  We bought our llamas 

from these folks... and another from another lady in 

Douglas county. 

Llamas, to be healthy, need to have their heavy coats taken off once a year... and shots. 

If Joni and Michael had not come down every year and helped us, we would not have 

been able to do it.  It was too much for Keith and me.  Because none of ours 

was halter broken except for Big Mama (who was actually on loan from Joni and Michael)... 

it was a wild roundup.  

So... looking back... it was an ill-considered venture, despite the pleasure we 

got from watching them. 

Tony is frothing, he was scared to death. 

There was something else on this disc, that I was very happy to see. 

Handsome stepson Brandon, on his way to a winter dance at the high school. 

I had forgotten I had taken these pictures. 

Brandon graduated in 2010. 

We lost him five years ago. 

Happy times!

At The Fair

Part One. 

I hope to take the big camera over early tomorrow morning and take a series of pictures. 

There's lots to see if you go early. 

I went to feed the poultry again this morning, 

and volunteered to do the next two mornings, as well. 

I enjoy it.  

Poultry and rabbits share the same barn.  I found out last night that 

they were moved to a smaller barn this year, based on last year's entries. 

Instead of the expected 200 poultry entries, there were 305!  They are petitioning for changes in the poultry show next year.  I hope the board of governors listens. 

Believe me, there was a cacaphony when I started feeding and watering. 

Many of them were HANGRY!!! 

Keith had surgery yesterday, and I dropped him at dialysis this morning, so I took time 

to wander a little after I fed and watered. 

You know I lingered at the goats. 

But, I enjoyed looking at the hogs, too.... and I spoke with a nice young man (second grade) this morning who followed me around as I watered... he was showing Durocs and Hamps.... and... AMERICAN HEREFORDS.  He emphasized it like that! 

This was not the young man, but I thought this was a poignant picture. 

I heard the judge say that even though it was a small class in market steers... they were great representatives.  (there were four). 

There was a storm bearing down on us at this point... and when it hit with a vengeance, 

the other classes this morning were cancelled, so... they are making up time today and tomorrow. 

This will all be lit up tonight. 

Don't look now, but Hedrick's Petting Zoo had a camel... and... 

in the tent next to the outside pen, was a baby camel.  

I picked Keith up at Davita after the power went out there in the storm... and we stopped at Walgreen's for some things.  He is getting around slowly, but surely. 

I'm starting to pick the pickling cukes! 

I'm going to go get some Mrs. Wages Sweet Pickles mix, 

they make such GOOD pickles... and next Wednesday, 

we're going to do some canning.  (Wednesday morning, 

I'll run to the Farmer's Market and get a big sack of cukes).  

We had two bouts of hard rain today, but for a short time, and only 

got 1/2 inch... but I think that means it will be too wet to cut tomorrow. 

Looking forward to Saturday on the mower! 

And Baby Reindeer Makes Four

A Visit from a Ship of the Desert

Thursday your blogger had a half day at work, and was visited by the erstwhile owners of the borrowed Llamas, Big Mama and Tony. Our friends had come to shear the llama wool for the summer's coming heat, give shots, and trim toes. Along with their shears and selves, they brought some more of their pets to visit. Clarabelle and Charlie the camels, Ali Baa Baa and Jasmine the baby sheep, Buddy the baby reindeer, and Frisbee the zebu calf all hopped out of the trailer when it pulled up. Didn't we have some fun!

Mama and Tony were shorn of their hot wool, and just in time for warmer temps. We expect Mama to be dropping her new calf (cria) anytime now, and are eagerly searching for them each morning in the pasture to see if there are twelve legs instead of eight.

I had fun bottle-feeding the baby reindeer ("buk buk buk") is the noise he makes, and the calf. Both had fun head-butting me, but all four babies believe Michael is their Maa Maa.

Here we are at the end of another week, and I have to admit we are worn out and tired. The events of last weekend (family wedding) and just keeping up daily chores is taxing, and throw in some viral complaints and it was good to see the work week over.

I'll post some pictures of the little critters.