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!!

THOUGHTS TO PONDER

This is a very timely reminder.  

"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome."
by Annie Bradstreet

I'm reminded daily and moment by moment that God is in control and loves us with love we don't really comprehend.

SNOW FINALLY COMES TO SOUTHWEST COLORADO!

While much of the country has been pounded, hammered and inundated with mountains of snow, frigid temperatures and folks are getting tired of it, we, in Southwest Colorado have been basking in our beautiful Colorado sunshine with barely a flake since early December.

We did have lots of rain in the fall, then just a bit of snow in early December . . . and then it got REALLY, REALLY cold.  It was a challenge to keep warm and our pellet stove was very busy gobbling up pellets to try to keep up.  By Christmas it had warmed up some but we still had no further snow.  January was dry, sunny and a bit warmer then usual and then we just watched our ground turn brown, bare and dry with DUSTY roads!

February comes and with it brings the blessing of snow.  Not tons and tons of it, but we now have hope and we're just praying that it makes major snow deposits in our mountains.   Last summer was a hot, dry, drought summer and we struggled to keep things irrigated.  We've all be praying this summer could be different.  Our major lakes and reservoirs are frighteningly low!

Today, we woke up to another fresh snowfall of about 4 inches with promise of more today.  For the third day in a row I've managed a "snow trudge" walk of three miles to enjoy the sweet, white stuff and give my legs a good workout.  You know that trudging through 5 or more inches of snow can be really good for your legs!  

Thank you, Lord, for the snow!!!

GRACE . . . UNDER FIRE

2 Corinthians 12:9 says "My Grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.  Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me".
It is through this time of unexpected learning and growing that I am realizing, on a more daily, even moment by moment basis, how true this is.

It is certainly a different place for me to be and I'm just thankful for my loving, supportive, encouraging husband and for my daughter, who is also my best friend, and her patience, love, friendship and stick-to-it hanging in there with me true farmgirl grit !

I truly want to be more gracious, compassionate, caring and sweet smelling than ever!  I also want to be walking closer to Him, so close that, when I can't see His Hand I can "feel" His Heart!  His Grace IS sufficient!  THANK YOU LORD!!!

BLINDSIDED . . . and SIDELINED

2013 was a year of lots of change, but by the end of the year I learned the facts about how I had been blindsided by progressive, gradual health changes.  I didn't realize what was happening along the way, I just knew I didn't understand anything about it.
In many ways, it has also sidelined me and my usual lifestyle and so I find myself learning to make some changes and trying to understand what I need to do to get through this in the best way possible and come out victorious and back to where I'd like to be. 
There is beauty, light and hope all around but it is sometimes hindered by the rocky path and stumbles and sometimes obscured by the shadows, clouds and cold. But I know it is and will be only by the grace of God!  His Grace is sufficient!

IN THE SPIRIT OF LOVE

African violet that was given to me in memory of my mother-in-law

Sharing a quote by Henry Drummond:

 "You will find as you look back upon your life, that the moments when you have really lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love".

I want to be remembered as a person who loved the Lord Jesus Christ, her family, her friends and who lived as an example of doing things in the spirit of love!

2013 is about finished and we can look forward to 2014 . . . with hope in our Lord and His plan   for us!

ANGELS ALL AROUND US

I collect angels, all kinds, shapes, sizes, styles . . . they remind me of the promises of God to protect us, to guard us, to love us and hold us close to His heart!

I also believe in the presence of angels in our lives . . . sent by God to watch over us!  I've seen real live evidence of the presence of angels in my life and I'm grateful to my God for sending them!

This folksy angel was given to me by my farmgirl friend, Debbie, who is also an angel in human form!

THANK YOU GOD . . . for ANGELS and the expression of  WHO YOU ARE  in their presence!!!

Our GOD OF CHRISTMAS . . .

. . . is a GOD OF MIRACLES!!!

This big, beautiful Colorado Blue spruce tree is planted at the end of our driveway and is about 20 years old.  We planted it as a tiny little thing about 18 inches tall in the spring of 1994.  It was badly burned in an arson fire that burned down our house in July 1994.  My hubby trimmed off the burned branches/needles and we waited until the next year to see if was still living.  It was so sadly misshapen and we just didn't know if it would make it.

Our God of Miracles gave this tree the gift of renewed life!  It grew into the most stunningly beautiful, perfectly shaped evergreen tree!   It is so tall that it's had to have the very tippy top pruned off away from the power line.

It is a constant reminder that MY GOD is GOD!  He IS the God of MIRACLES!  He cares about us and loves us to more than we can understand here on earth!

THANKS BE TO GOD!!!

I NEED A "Middle C" . . .

 . . . but more than that, I need my YAHWEH!!

As a musician I know that the "middle C" pitch/key is basically the note on which others are built.  When determining proper pitch, you start with "middle C", and typically that is the first note that is taught/learned.  No matter what is "off key", out of sync, out nof rhythm, or just unwritten or unsung, "middle C" is the same, never changing.  I can count on it as a musician.

My "YAHWEH" is the GOD who is the "I AM" . . . unchanging, never moving, never wavering. Always loving, comforting, encouraging, healing, and is the total truth!  When my life seems off key, out of sync, out of rhythm or there are no words to describe it, I'm struggling with finding the "note" to sing and can't seem to get the "pitch" for the music of my life and my heart . . . I can go to and count on the "middle C" . . . MY YAHWEH!!!

PRAISE GOD for MY YAHWEH!

What a Year, this year of 2013

My last posting here was many months ago and it's startling to see how long it has been.  It has been a year of struggle with life, with issues and with understanding God's will and way.  But it has been a year of learning more and more about God's grace and love, His provision, mercies and unending patience!

My prayer is that I will be more trusting and faithful to Him, that I can let Him lead and not be concerned about the future, but be diligent to His call, to dig into His Word more deeply and to walk with Him more intimately.  And, to be ever and always in prayer!!

WINTER WANDERINGS

How can it be that March is already just about here?  How can it be that the first two months of 2013 are already history?  It seems like, in the quiet of the post-holiday weeks, I have been busy with all of my usual projects such as sewing, papercrafting, power walking, some photography, writing, trying to keep up with housecleaning and a myriad of other things that come with daily living.

I was in no hurry to take down all of my Christmas decorations and put them away.  I spent a lot of time putting them all up and just enjoyed them, so, what was the hurry?  None whatsoever!  So I took my time and was able to let the red of Christmas flow into some Valentine themed decorations.  I decorate my bathroom for Christmas but when it gets un-decorated I let it evolve into the colors I associate with winter, which are burgundy and deep hunter green.  I love those colors and I love to use them in my house!  

I believe in the presence of angels and I could relate some real-life stories to substantiate that but I won't do that here and now.  But I collect angels and have a wonderful variety of different ones.  Some of them "hang out" in my bathroom, pretty much year round.  They are in colors and themes that they can just blend in with the current color and theme.

My angels remind of the presence of God in my life and everything that He is to me . . . provision, grace, mercy, comfort, healer, defender, stronghold, shepherd, strengthener, encourager and LOVER OF MY SOUL!!  I'm thankful for my God and my Savior and look forward to seeing what blessings He has in store for me in 2013!

The roses are wooden ones my hubby carved from pricot wood, as are the leaves.  He attached to apple twigs and placed them in this vase he turned on his lathe.  They have been in my bathroom for several years and I think they are just beautiful!

MERRY CHRISTMAS from the CELTIC FARMGIRL

Please accept my invitation to stop in and have a cup of mulled wine or hot coffee on this Christmas Day in southwest Colorado.  We are enjoying a relaxing, refreshing day with family and praising our God for the significance of this Blessed Celebration . . . the gift of His son, the Lord Jesus Christ!

I've just posted photos of the different things I've used to decorate my house for the holiday, some new, some family heirlooms, some antique/vintage, some fun and funky . . . just because I enjoy Christmas so much and enjoy decorating! 

Thank you all for visiting, for your encouragements, prayers and friendship through the year.  Trusting God to bring us through 2013 in His Grace and Love!