WINTER CHORES

Made by a farmgirl friend from felted wool sweater, the green is lining and the thumbs are worn out!

Obviously been overworked!

Have had these for many years, used to be waterproof, warm and good for snow and slush.  They now leak,, if you look close you can see the seam coming undone on the left side of the toe of the left boot.  The inside of the heels are worn badly too

Keen leather hikers . . . have had them a long time and they used to be waterproof . . not any more.  They are cracked around the toes and look at the inside of the heels.  Tried to reinforce with moleskin patches

 

 

Winter is hard on a lot of things and chores are hard on outwear and shoes/boots.  I prefer mittens to gloves as they keep my hands warmer.  I did buy a nice new pair of waterproof, snowmobiler mittens but used these knit ones mostly for feeding cows.  However, I decided to hold out for a new pair of winter boots, trying to make it through this season with what I have.  What I have are old, worn out, leaky boots . . all the way around.  I'm managing to make it but now I'm on the hunt for new ones.  Since it's the end of the season I thought, perhaps, I'd find some on sale . . . still looking.

We have a hobby herd of seven Longhorn cows, two of which are steers who will be butchered.  They probably won't be ready until 2018 however, so that means another winter of feeding them.  We have one heifer that we gave to our neighbor and she just hangs out with the crowd.  The other four are two "mommas" with their last offspring, one of which was two years old in December and the other will be two in May.  

We NEED to get out of the cow business!!!   It's getting to be too much and costing too much to buy winter feed and they take ALL of your time! We also have to irrigate their summer pasture and that gets really old! My hubby and I haven't been camping together in years!  It's time to be done with this! 

We have butchered four animals over the last three years, giving one to another neighbor in exchange for the pasture we use.  The meat is VERY TASTY!!  We have also been able to sell some which helps.  We have been grateful for the opportunity to raise them and are grateful for the yummy beef.  However, it's time to move on . . . we're bonafide Medicare card carrying senior citizens!

GRIT and GRACE

The Colorado Columbine is our state flower and my very favorite flower.  It just speaks to me of "grit" and "grace" as it grows in our Colorado Rocky mountains.  Its beauty is delicate and intricate and it can grow in very adverse circumstances.  I've seen them in the shadows under the spruce or aspen trees and I've seen them growing up through cracks in rocks above timberline where it could be cold and windblown.

One definition of "grit" means strength of character, courage and resolve, especially in the face of difficult or painful situations.  A definition of "grace" would be elegance, poise, dignity, refinement, and finesse.

Our character is molded by the way we respond to situations, particularly those that are difficult, such as health challenges, financial struggles, family difficulties, etc.  I believe the Lord has purpose for everything we are faced with.  I believe that, even though it's painful, unwanted and a difficult journey, my health challenges of the past few years have the Lord's purpose.  I don't know what that is and I may never know but I want to face it with "GRIT" and "GRACE as only the Lord Jesus Christ can give me.  I KNOW HE IS FAITHFUL and HE LOVES ME!!!

SNOW, SNOW and MORE SNOW

Winter of 2015-2016 brought us major snow but it was about a month earlier than this January 2017.  For most of January we had warmer temperatures, snow every now and then of 3-4 inches and the rain in between.  This repeated itself over and over and it was WET, SOGGY, MUCKY and MUDDY!  

Then Friday night, January 20th it snowed about  four inches and then on Saturday the 21st proceeded to cover that up with another eight inches!  Things didn't change much for a couple of days except for a flurry or two and then on Tuesday the 24th it just kept snowing and snowing and laid down another approximate 12 inches.  Sooooooo, then the plows, brooms, shovels and tall boots had to come out.  I shoveled hundreds of pound of snow last week!  And with that insulating cover of snow, the ground hasn't frozen, so it's still soggy under there.  But we need the water for summer irrigation!!  I think I heard that our mountain snowpack is 135% of normal!!

". . . WINGS LIKE AN EAGLE"

"Yet those who wait for the Lord, will gain new strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired.  They will walk and not become weary." Isaiah 40:21

This is my favorite Bible verse and I try to "wait" on the Lord, trusting Him to give me all I need.  He truly knows me best and He knows what I need and He knows my heart.  Sometimes the waiting gets so difficult and the longer one is in His "waiting room" the more difficult it becomes.  I do KNOW, without a doubt that He is there and He is in control.  Thank you God!

This photograph is of a bald eagle that I took on 12/06/16.  It was perched at the very top of a very tall cottonwood tree on our property.  Bill and I noticed it when we went to feed cows and it stayed there all morning, flying away as we were eating lunch.  It was there again this morning, 12/07/16, however it flew away earlier this morning.  A very majestic bird!  

We'll see if it returns tomorrow . . . or any subsequent day.  It certainly is enjoying our Colorado sunshine!

AS AUTUMN FADES . . .

 It's nearly Thanksgiving and autumn is gradually fading away into winter with bare trees, less green and growing things, colder temps and, around here, we've had some snow and quite wintry days.  I post here some photos of my autumn decorations in my house this fall.  We'll enjoy them a couple weeks longer and when Thanksgiving is behind us I will put it all away and pull out my Christmas goodies.

It's been another year of ups and downs but I'm thankful for the ups and thankful that the Lord just showers us abundantly with his continued grace, mercy, provision, strength, encouragement and unconditional love!  I am also thankful for the downs because that has caused me to exercise a greater faith in my Lord, become a more committed and diligent prayer warrior, be more sensitive to others who are struggling and appreciate my family more and more!

I'm looking forward to another year of a closer walk with my Lord, to the hope of feeling better from the health challenges I've been experiencing and spending more time with family!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL! 
GOD BLESS YOU ALL AS WELL!!

SILKY the "SUN-BUM"

 I have an electronic keyboard under a south facing window and Silky has this little spot of her own to nap in or watch creatures from the window on it.
Caught her napping here yesterday, getting more comfortable by the minute.  In the afternoon I saw her  on the bed in the sun coming in the west facing window.
Yes, a "sun-bum" . . . but such a sweet and entertaining one!

CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS for 2014

Time really flies and it's been many months since I've been here on the blogspot.  This farmgirl has been working on keeping the faith, keeping her eyes on the Lord, keeping her thoughts focused on things of the Lord and keeping on keeping on.  2014 has been a year of learning a LOT about WHO God is and how wonderful He is.  A year to learn more about the importance of family, friends, taking care of yourself and trusting.   December 2013 was a hard month to navigate through.  December 2014 is a month that is brighter, and one in which I'm able to look ahead and see that God is good and will bring us through ALL of our struggles.  This December I turned 66 and am a "bonafide Medicare card carrying senior citizen".  On the 28th my hubby and I will celebrate our 46th wedding anniversary and what a ride that has been.  On the 31st our daughter, Robin and her hubby, Jim will celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary and we are praising God for their relationship.

I'm constantly reminded of how the attitude of gratitude will make or break my day, my week and my life.  I'm truly grateful for what the Lord has brought me through this year.  I'm looking forward to 2015 being better, healthier and more focused on the things of the Lord, and my family relationships to be closer than ever!

I share with you some photos of the Christmas "cheer" I have around my house this year.  However, make no mistake, with all the fun and cute festive stuff, this farmgirl and her family are celebrating:

 JESUS, WHO IS THE ONE AND ONLY REASON FOR THE SEASON! 
WHAT LOVE! WHAT PEACE!
THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT OF OUR SAVIOUR!!