Mondays Can Happen Every Day

With our lives changing a bit in 2013 between work, family and priorities, I've come to realize every day can be a Monday. I say this meaning that Mondays are not always bad. In some lines of business Monday can be busier than the rest of the week. In families Monday may mean getting back on schedule with a few hiccups. So as we are near the end of this Monday, look forward to tomorrow, but don't be disappointed if tomorrow isn't an easy day!

Find a quick, easy, family favorite recipe on the food page!

Barn Attire

This post is not about what is appropriate to wear to the barn - long pants, long sleeve shirt, boots, coat, gloves, etc. Although when other people are at our place or we're working a large load of calves, I'm dressed accordingly.

Tana can often be found in dress up shoes, a princess dress, cowboy boots, coat, hat, gloves, flip flops, whatever, except when it's something series. Besides, most of the time she plays in the shade or with the cats while we work.

There is absolutely no telling what I might wear to the barn, but let's take last night for instance. After a day at work, and knowing Ryan wouldn't be home till late, it was up to Tana and I to get all the chores done in a short amount of daylight. She was already in jeans, shoes and a heavy coat. I was in a dress, leggings, tall heeled boots and a jacket. The cotton dress I was in washes well so I wasn't scared, plus the leggings were warm. I switched to handmade boots, a heavier coat and a scarf. Out the door we went.

I'm sure each pen of calves, cows and horses we fed and broke ice in were thrilled to see me dressed up. The one thing I love more than any about raising livestock is they do not care what you look like, smell like or what you say as long as you feed them. We ended the evening checking a hot fence, looking for a low wire, and Tana enjoyed helping me drive!

Tonight will be round two of getting everything done in a short amount of time, and if that means I feed in heels, so be it!

What do Friday's Mean?

Fridays are the beginning to our only extended time on the place. Usually we're putting out hay, feeding, working with show heifers, counting cats to make sure the dogs have left them alone, catching up on laundry, doing dishes, preparing meals for the next week, making beds, stringing beads, playing with barbies, watching the kids play tackle football, and cooking out to name a few! With the hustle and bustle of the work week our real work begins on Friday evenings. Projects that can't be done in a few hours are saved and there is usually a list of things to get accomplished. Especially this weekend with a little cooler weather rolling in, we'll make sure everything is hayed and fed accordingly.

Fridays also mean we get to stay up late and not have to put makeup on the next day. Instead of being lazy I think it gives my skin a break! Or that's my excuse! This Friday will include holiday preparations as well, sorting stocking stuffers, presents to be wrapped and making sure Tana has redecorated the Christmas trees again by switching ornaments between the big tree and the kids tree! I've recently figured out why I'm so excited for Fridays, is because all of the above are right around the corner. We've been feeding by headlights lately and that wears on a person and the family when chores can't be accomplished in the daylight. Last night dinner was in the over and Tana and I were filling water, Ryan fed the cows, we fed the barn, Tate finished a story for school. Next we ate, showered and only have a few minutes of family time.

Fridays are so important because they mean family time for the weekend! Here's to an early New Year's Resolution of having more family time! Check out my post on the family page about being frugal!

The Future

Stop acting as if life is a rehearsal. Live this day as if it were your last. The past is over and gone. The future is not guaranteed. - Wayne Dyer

Not only have we been discussing our own future a lot, many of those who surround us have as well. Nothing is a guarantee and you never know what the next day may hold. You may know that an event will happen to change your future and you must prepare for that day and not let it take you by surprise. On the same note, I need to learn to be more flexible with each coming day that changes will happen, decisions will be made and your future can always change.

This is one of my favorite quotes:



You never know where life may take you and while we all try to prepare as best we can for our future, sometimes things happen and you must make a different path. This applies to all aspects of our own personal lives, work, children, projects, livestock, depending on the rain, etc. The future is never certain.

Always keep your eyes open and heads up, then you'll be prepared and open to whatever may come, and it might be better than the original dream you had!

Christmas Story, Thanksgiving Celebrations & More!

Every family has their own Christmas story. It could be some sort of tradition or something memorable that happened one year. Take for instance the year my mom and dad carted in the Christmas tree. That year we had a puppy, Patty, a fluffy Australian Shepherd in the house. After putting the tree up and decorating, Patty was curled up under it, and we spotted a mouse. It must have come in with the box of decorations. This must have been when I learned how to catch live mice from my dad! He caught it, took it outside and them carted all the boxes back to storage.

Then one year the worst possible thing happened. The Christmas ornaments mysteriously disappeared. Only to realize that when stacking boxes of decorations next to empty boxes from presents, they had all be carted to the dumpster. My dad still hasn’t lived down throwing out the ornaments. There were lots of other memories of putting up the tree, my parents having to wake me up on Christmas and all of the wonderful food my mom made during the holidays.

Now as an adult we have been making our own Christmas stories. One year I drug my feet on putting up a tree for fear Tana would destroy it. It’s always fun to add presents under the tree when no one is around and the kids search for whose it must be. But this year has already started with a new story. Yesterday I decided we’d put up the tree and decorate after dinner last night. I even dressed up a little thinking we’d take a few pictures while decorating! While Tate did homework, Tana began unpacking boxes of decorations. One more trip upstairs only to realize we didn’t have a Christmas tree. Last year the pre-lit tree only worked on one section.

Never say never, but owning a pre-lit tree has some downfalls. I complained during the entire holidays about the tree, and evidentially Ryan gave in too, because we must have gotten rid of the tree. I told the kids that I had good news and bad news. Good news was we were going to get a brand new tree; bad news was it wasn’t going up last night. So instead we assembled the small tree in their room and added lights. The ornaments are packed with the ones for the big tree, so we’ll decorate it later. I will never forget the feeling of realizing we didn’t have a tree to put up! So here’s to finding a plain old tree and we’ll decorate it with lights and ornaments!

Check out the family page for the guide to entertaining 50 people in a small space, plus the critters page on updated heifer photos, and more on the blog today!