If you could see a picture of me right now you would see a very sad face and this is why......

I tried to take a picture of my cows too but the camera would get full of snow. This picture was taken from my kitchen window. ITS A BLIZZARD! The only thing that keeps me going is that it will be spring in 8 months. I sure hope my little mare doesn't decide to have her baby tonight.

child labor?

ya gotta ask yourself is it really child labor if the kids ask for it. Trevor, Hanna, Terina and Olivia came out today, so we put them to work. They said they wanted to. We put linseed oil and the trim on the barn, of course that was made way more fun cuz grampa carried them around and lifted them up to do their job in the bucket of the tractor, then we pulled down the electric fence and chased the cows, and led the horses into the new pasture. We had to chase the calves out of the neighbors field, then to end the day we went into Boston Pizza for supper.

Four kids to get one calf through the gate. Of course when the calf is Chubbs, pushing cattle takes on a very literal meaning. Someones gotta show me how to put all the pictures into an album and then put the album on here cuz there are more cute photos just takes too long to get them on here and its bedtime

New Additions

yes, we're growing again. This time it wasn't our fault. Rod decided that we needed a pony for the kids to ride, we saw this ad that said he had 5 ponies, so we figured we could find one that we liked. The guy sucker punched us. He told us that anyone we didn't take he was taking to Ft MacLeod. We didn't take the 8 year old stud. He was just too......studdy if ya know what I mean, but, the rest now abide with us. There is the momma, she's pregnant, then there are her kids, a 4year old gelding(the gelding is as of yesterday, we had the Vet come visit), a two year old filly and a one year old gelding(same fate as his brother). The one year old is pretty beat up cuz the guy was stupid and didn't separate the studs and he got the worst of it. None of the ponies are halter broke so we will have a fun summer training and playing with ponies.

Once again we have to have names, Dawn came up with a good one for the mamma, she has a scar that looks like angel wings so she's Angel, but we need names for everyone else. So, if ya have any good ideas let me know.

First, I have to thanks to Dawn again for the new blog look I love it.

I have the most beautiful horse, Annie, I rode her tonight and practiced what little I learned from the one lesson I've had. She responds so easily, just a little touch and she knows what you want. I just have to learn to give her the right cues and let her have her head. She is so smart. After I brushed her out and she is so shiny now. She has got alot healthier now that shes on grass. I just want to ride her all the time and get really good and really comfortable on her, so that the rides are enjoyable for her to.

I also think that I've decided to check into going back to school for something. I'm gonna go see a councillor and find out what my options are . It's such a scary thing, but I'm not happy where I'm at but it's not scary, I know I can do what has to be done. No challenge, I'm not sure I want a challenge, well maybe I do just not one that I will fail at. But I'm sure my brain will work if I really try hard.

I'm so torn tonight. It looks like the sale of the Double Anchor is going to go through. I was over there tonight for dads 81st birthday. I love the feel of the place. Before the big house was built, the little trailor attached to a little house, swimming in the river, plowing through snow up past the car doors, the brandings, the trampoline, the balcony when it was a balcony, all the meals, the laughs, the tears, sitting with mom in her bedroom, all the Rook games. I know we'll still have lots of good times, but tonight I'm just sad that come September it will be the end of a very special place where family and friends always knew they were welcome and safe.

I also found out tonight that the Family Reunion has been cancelled this year because of the two weddings and moving mom and dad. Craig has to have his heart surgery sometime this summer and Brian also has to have surgery on his foot. So there's just too much going on, so that makes me sad too. I was really looking forward to the Reunion.

Just a matter of time

they all told me if you ride long enough its bound to happen and last night it did. We went Cattle sorting at Ft Mcleod. I hadn't gone for almost 2 months cuz Annie wasn't feeling well. When we went into the arena I knew something wasn't right. Annie was shying at everything and just being generally jumpy and not happy. So I just warmed her up really slow, no trotting or cantering just walking around the arena to see if I could settle her down. Well, we were first up and I guess I didn't settle her down enough. We had just crossed the line to start our run and she went to bucking. I stayed with her for the first couple of bucks, then decided it would be better to bale. So I managed to get off on my feet. And she continued for a few more bucked just to show her displeasure. Well, I calmed her down, got back on and the rest of the night went better, not alot better but at least she didn't buck again. Didn't behave very well either but at least we stayed together. The one thing this little display taught me is that I have to ride her a whole lot more. Maggie, she isn't. she has to be ridden. I also have to take riding lessons. So I'm gonna phone Corolla Friesen tomorrow and book some lessons.

On the home front. We did some yard work on Saturday and it felt really good. Rod worked up around the yard and the arena and worked up a place for my garden. I got the front of the yard ready to plant grass. I actually even got the grass down. Unfortunately the wind decided to come up then, so I think I'll have to put more grass seed down. Maybe tomorrow cuz its supposed to snow on thursday so it will provide some nice moisture for the seed. Hey, ya gotta look at the good side of everything.

Rod went over to Cardston to casturate some "late" calves for dad today. By late I mean late last year. So these "calves" are almost a year old. They put them in a squeeze, so ya know how much fun Rod had today. I had to work so I missed the fun time.

spring time babies

I think Rod wanted to help improve my state of mind in spite of this ugly weather, so, he brought me home a baby calf. she's all black and so so cute. Then yesterday he came home with two more. We'd like to get one more, then two cows to feed them. They are so fun to watch and feed. They love the dogs and Jake likes to help them eat. All the babies are black and all so far are heifers. So, if ya got any names I could use some suggestions, but no color reference names! A friend of ours has cows and four babies, but he had all bulls and wants to try to increase his herd so I'm gonna try to work a deal with him. In the fall I will take his steers and he can have my heifers and breed my cows. It's a win win. My babies live and he increases his herd and we make some money off cows.

no spring this year

Ok, I've resigned myself the the fact that we will have NO SPRING this year and probably NO SUMMER. So, I've decided to make a cozy little guest room for a friend who visits us regularly. He's very cute and really likes to spend time here. But, since he's always slept outside he's rather shy about coming in, so, he sits by the window and looks cold and forlorn when we're inside. I have this large carrier, so, I'm gonna line it and put cozy blankets in it so that Tonka, thats his name will have a cozy place to spend the night, cuz he's here almost all the time. I was hoping that the weather would turn nice so it would be okay just to have a pad and blanket out there for him, but, NOOOO!!!!!!! it's supposed to snow again today and it is FFFRRREEZZZING out this morning, I know I just fed and doctored the horses and my fingers were numb before I got half way through, I'm putting up a valiant fight against these winter blues, but I'm afraid I'm fighting a loosing battle.

Well We're back from Saskatchewan. The trip was a success Rod has a job where he really likes. But oh there was alot of driving this past two days. Now I want all the snow gone NOW!!!! I'm tired of winter and want to get out in my yard and play with my horses.

My eye is healing nicely just looks like a bad makeup job now. We went to the PBR Bull Riding on Saturday night. It was a good time nice to get out of the house even if we had to go out in the FREEZING cold. Have I told you how much I HATE getting into a COLD car. It is one of my biggest Pet Peeves. We're still in a deep freeze, it was -30 something this morning with the wind chill. I don't think I can survive very much longer in this cold. I might just curl up inot a ball aand stay there till,,,, well forever.
I know I don't write very often that's cuz all I've been doing is working and trying to stay warm. I'm sure if it ever gets spring I'll have more to write about. I really want to have a garden this year and flowers too. I talked to this guy at work and he's given me some ideas for flowers. So I'm gonna be a green thumb person this year, I hope.

I thought it was ugly enough yesterday, but, its like it just keep growing. I think I need to wear a patch till the color goes away. Rod says its like a trophy ya just gotta make up a good story for it. Anyone got any ideas?

HOW CUTE IS SHE

Lily is trying the shush Baxter cuz her kitties are sleeping. It's the stuffed cat and kittens, we didn't tell her that.

New dog

Did I tell ya that we have a new dog, not that we got rid of the other one, no, we just added another. But we did get rid of the new kitten. Tyler was down and took a liking to him, so now he lives in Red Deer. Our new dog is a Red Heeler. Rod went to the Humane Society, 'just to look',. He just looked every day for a week, then caved in. He reaaly is a very cute dog and very smart. I only had to chuck the bucket at him once when he tried to bite Gypsy, now he gets along with the horses really well. His name is Jake. He's a great friend for Baxter, they play by the hour.

ICE....

is to blame for the condition of my poor eye. I'm going to try to put the picture on here. The other morning as I was getting into the car I slipped on the ICE and smacked my eye bone on the car frame. I saw stars and thought I'd split my head open, but, no just got a huge gooseegg and now comes the bruising. Bruising is such an ugly color. The picute with the turban is the night of, then the other one is today. So now I just have to wait for it to turn the ugly green. I tried to hide it with make up, only made it worse.

Just when you thought....

everything was gonna be okay, WHAM, I'm smacked down again. The lake in front of our house went down by itself, saving us $500.00 on a pump to get rid of the water. YAY!! Today when I was out with the horses I noticed this bubbling out of the ground, no not bubbling crude(that was for any of you who remember the Beverly Hillbillies, oh never mind) anyway I went and got Rod who confirmed my worst fears. We have a broken water line. We only have ONE water line FOR everything. So we went across the road(thats where the shut off is, down a 12 foot hole into 6 inches of water) Rod got it shut mostly off. I filled up the wateres for the horses and we have bottled water to drink, good thing I showered this morning, cuz tomorrow I'm gonna have to go dirty. We think we have a backhoe lined up for the morning but the guy won't know for sure till the morning. I just wanted to live a quiet country life, but I really don't think thats in the cards for me, I think maybe my cards are like 52 pick.

I know I'm rushing things a bit, but it really felt like spring today. We have our lake and its getting quite deep and I could walk around with no mitts. We're going to buy a pump tomorrow so we can have a lawn instead of the lake. I know it will probably get cold again, in fact its supposed to next week, I'm hoping the weather man is wrong, but to have a little reprieve is so nice.

This our newest addition. Someone dropped her off at the Feedlot and she couldn't compete or survive with the barn cats. She was in great danger from the dog out there cuz she likes dogs, so, Rod brought her home and said I could take her to the SPCA if I wanted to, which, I fully intended to do until she spent a few days with us. She is just so much fun, the older cats aren't really fond of her, she just has too much energy for them, but Baxter thinks she's fun. So, she has a new home with us. I just hope Rod doesn't find anything else out there that needs a home.

When it looks like THIS outside its SO nice to see beautiful flowers inside, thanks to Norma I have a little bit of summer color on my counter for awhile, it definitely brightens your day to see them and they're real!!

there are some good things about new snow over the old stuff. It is pristine white and quite beautiful and you can see the little bunny tracks all over the yard. But only if you're up early because before long the WIND is back with a vengance, then, you can't see anything!! On the bright side its not -30. the water was actually dripping of the roof while I was out there today.

On a brighter note Gypsy got her first pedicure today and she was a perfect little lady. Very interested in what was going on, but she stood very well and let Roger file away. I was quite proud of her. Now I'm gonna try to back this claim up with a picture, so, if ya see a picture with this post I was successful. If I fail I'll try again on Facebook, it can't be THAT difficult, right?? Thanks for your help Krista, love you

WINTER

I'm not sure how many of you have been taught that when you travel in the winter you always take snow pants, gloves touque and boots. I have always done that. I've NEVER needed it, but have always taken it just cuz thats what you're supposed to do. Well, tonight it paid off. We were coming home from TEXAS, it was 87 degrees there yesterday. We got a quarter of a mile away from home and got soldily STUCK up to our doors, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD!!! The snow had just drifted over SOLIDLY. So we walked. If I hadn't been prepared I would have have to walk that very long 1/4 of a mile in little shoes and a light jacket, oh ya and its still blowing and drifting and miserable. I was coming home from TEXAS. So here I sit very depressed and wondering how long it will take for AMA, thats another smart thing we did AMA membership, to get us unstuck tomorrow and how long it will take for the county to plow our road. Oh the joys of southern Alberta winter. Did I mention that it was 87 degrees in Texas yesterday?