Looking South-South East across the lake. Just a winter scene.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Morning Glisten
It was such a pretty day today. For the first time in months I took a few outdoor photos. The sun was shining off of this tall birch by the lake. It's twigs were sparkling with ice. So gorgeous. Of course, the photography doesn't catch it. But it was one of those views that makes a Minnesota winter worth it.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Chores
Lyneth was greatly upset the day her dam left to visit the ram pen. Anna Belle and the others should return tomorrow. If all goes well, the breeding ewes will follow me and my pan of corn down one of the narrow little lanes cut through our enormous drifts. I doubt anyone will try to bounce their way through the knee-high snow.
As I hoped, this isolation from their protective mothers has helped the four ewe lambs bond. Bitty Silvy is one of the flock now. She will still be on the bottom rung, but the other ewe lambs like her now without their prejudiced dams whispering in their ears. The ewe lambs also got prime space at the feeder for a month and a half. I think it is good for un-bred ewe lambs to go into winter a little fat. I am eager to have all the girls back in a single pen. It makes feeding so much easier. I also think they enjoy the larger social picture.
Unicorn and Bombarde need to get back together in the big pen. I'm not sure that will happen tomorrow. It will happen in a day or two, when Clancy has time to help me move the cattle panel enclosure. I want to pick a warm day to squeeze them together. I think it would be hard for them to stand in a tiny pen when it is really cold and they would rather cuddle into some bedding. As soon as those two beasts are reunited, I can put the ramlings in the more spacious pen Bombarde will abandon. Those two goof balls act exactly like teenage boys. And they beg like puppies. I think Parker considers himself a pet and doesn't understand why he can't live in the house. He's the funniest ram I've ever seen. Even though I don't pet my spring ram lambs, I hope Parker passes on his sweet temperament next year when it's his turn to meet some ewes.
Merry Christmas!
As I hoped, this isolation from their protective mothers has helped the four ewe lambs bond. Bitty Silvy is one of the flock now. She will still be on the bottom rung, but the other ewe lambs like her now without their prejudiced dams whispering in their ears. The ewe lambs also got prime space at the feeder for a month and a half. I think it is good for un-bred ewe lambs to go into winter a little fat. I am eager to have all the girls back in a single pen. It makes feeding so much easier. I also think they enjoy the larger social picture.Unicorn and Bombarde need to get back together in the big pen. I'm not sure that will happen tomorrow. It will happen in a day or two, when Clancy has time to help me move the cattle panel enclosure. I want to pick a warm day to squeeze them together. I think it would be hard for them to stand in a tiny pen when it is really cold and they would rather cuddle into some bedding. As soon as those two beasts are reunited, I can put the ramlings in the more spacious pen Bombarde will abandon. Those two goof balls act exactly like teenage boys. And they beg like puppies. I think Parker considers himself a pet and doesn't understand why he can't live in the house. He's the funniest ram I've ever seen. Even though I don't pet my spring ram lambs, I hope Parker passes on his sweet temperament next year when it's his turn to meet some ewes.
Merry Christmas!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Faith
Psalm 139 has been a comfort...verses 17 and 18 especially... How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God? how great is the sum of them?
If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee. Earlier this month, my sister's husband was unexpectedly ordered to return to his country of birth, El Salvador. Today we received news that the U.S. Embassy will not allow him to return to his wife and child in America for at least 8 months, perhaps a year or more. My sister has to prove that she needs her husband here with her. She has to prove that their eight year old son actually needs his father to live with him in the same country. This will affect all of our lives. Everything will change. It is impossible to understand why this is happening. May we remember that God is always guiding our lives. We have to strive and be patient, and struggle and suffer sometimes. But "all things work for good for them that love the Lord." This will all work out over time. We will grow, and change, and hopefully develop more fully into the people God wants us to be during this hardship. I have faith that God can heal all of this. He can bring something extraordinarily beautiful out of grief, pain, and loss. As a family, we are so very grateful for all the prayers of our friends. But if He leads you to, please continue to pray for my sister and her son. Their hearts were broken today.
If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee. Earlier this month, my sister's husband was unexpectedly ordered to return to his country of birth, El Salvador. Today we received news that the U.S. Embassy will not allow him to return to his wife and child in America for at least 8 months, perhaps a year or more. My sister has to prove that she needs her husband here with her. She has to prove that their eight year old son actually needs his father to live with him in the same country. This will affect all of our lives. Everything will change. It is impossible to understand why this is happening. May we remember that God is always guiding our lives. We have to strive and be patient, and struggle and suffer sometimes. But "all things work for good for them that love the Lord." This will all work out over time. We will grow, and change, and hopefully develop more fully into the people God wants us to be during this hardship. I have faith that God can heal all of this. He can bring something extraordinarily beautiful out of grief, pain, and loss. As a family, we are so very grateful for all the prayers of our friends. But if He leads you to, please continue to pray for my sister and her son. Their hearts were broken today.
If you believe...
If you believe in prayer...I ask you this day to pray for my family. A matter is at stake that profoundly affects each and every one of my immediate family. We are facing a situation that seems devastating if it does not turn out "right." But all I ask is that you pray for God's will to be done. May God's will be done. May we not waiver in our faith that he is in control of all things. May he grant us the strength and patience to travel through this situation. May he grant us a deeper appreciation of his provision for us. May he grant us mercy and peace. Thank you, Friends.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Christmas Preparations
...one of MANY attempts at a snapshot for the Christmas card my sister and I tried to put together. That project is currently stalled. I have the postage stamps, though!
Thanks to my mother's heroic sense of cleanliness, my counter tops are clean again and the back entry is passable.
Clancy, recovering from Friday's hand surgery, has been rearranging furniture like mad...especially in the living room.
An inconvenient spruce near the park way has been sacrificed to holiday zeal and awaits it's fate in a snowbank.
The road has been plowed out after the mean blizzard.
A wreath has been hung on the "pretty" door.
Exactly three gifts have been purchased; technically stocking stuffers.
I work every single day between now and Christmas.
help!
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