Christmas has Come!

What a time of celebration with family and friends!  Early Christmas morning (about 3:30), the dogs and I snuck off to the barn while Farmer Rick and family slept soundly.  While sweeping the mangers and prepping the cows for milking, the new farm dog - Sandy - chased barn kitties around and under the still half-asleep cows.  They were dozing in and out as the light bulbs gradually brightened as they warmed and the radio cranked out joyous Christmas tunes.

There is no quiet way to turn on the milker pump, but I was hoping that no one would wake in the house.  We managed to keep our secret quiet for about 3/4 of the milking, but soon thereafter, Farmer Rick came down to the barn, rubbing his still sleepy eyes and patting one of the dogs on the head as he entered the barn.  We hurried through the rest of chores and quickly headed back to the house before daylight.  We warmed up the griddle and had pancakes, OJ and cinnamon rolls ready to go as the kids both young and old were crawling out of bed.

The only thing wrong was that once the day started to get in full swing, Farmer Rick and I couldn't keep out eyes open as we settled in the couch to watch all of the festivities!

Getting the Tree

What a super cold day!  We finished up with a blizzard-like snowstorm late last night, but now that the snow has ended, we are left with a bitter cold wind.  Still, we all bundled up in our snowmobile suits and heavy gloves to head to the woods to find a tree.  One of our boys took a snowmobile ahead of us to break a path through the snow because it was so deep, then followed by Farmer Rick with a plow on the four wheeler.  Behind them followed mom with the horse harnessed up and ready to drag the tree back.  Even with the path broke by the snowmobile and four wheeler, both horse and driver were huffing and puffing, dragging ourselves through the very deep snow!  Farmer Rick ended up picking up stragglers along the way, piling them on the back of the four wheeler, as they were getting quite tired from trugging through the snow!  Luckily, I had been in the woods before the snowstorm hit to pick out a tree.  Two days prior, I took one of the geldings to the woods to scout one out so that we could save time and energy since I knew the storm was coming. 

We quickly spotted our "Charlie Brown" tree and one of my boys cut it down.  I attached it to the logging chain and away we went, dragging the tree behind us, right up to the back door of the house!  Boy, am I ever glad we had that tree picked out ahead of time!  ALL were cold and wiped out from trudging through the snow.  Even though the tree is rather thin, these have been pretty much the norm throughout the years and our family is used to them.  A very "spacious" tree harvested from our swamp, but loved by all!

Filling the woodpile

As I look out the window at the sliver of moon in the easter sky, my eye shifts to the thermometer reading minus 1.  While contemplating the cold,my mind wanders to the woodpile that is quickly diminishing in the woodshed.  With all of the fall work and activities, this project just kept being put aside.  But now, it's payback time!  Farmer Rick spent a good deal of time after milking last night sharpening saws, mixing gas, and checking oil levels.  Today we will be spending almost the entire day in the woods trying to catch up on the wood supply.  When walking the woods during deer season, we take a mental note of fallen trees and blow-down branches.  There's a huge oak that is blown over from the roots on the backside of our heifer pasture that will be about a 3 day project to cut up.  But, it's nice to know that the wood won't go to waste.  Farmer Rick will take the John Deere 3020 with the wood-hauler (retired) manure spreader, and I'll take the four wheeler and cart for hauling saws, chain oil (and tired dog) to the woods.  As long as one can stay dry with a thermos full of hot chocolate of coffee, you can last a long time in the woods, even if the temp doesn't meander much above zero for the day.  We are supposed to get a few inches of snow starting this afternoon, so it'll be nice to have the bulk of the wood loaded in the old spreader before it hits.  But, it will be so much easier to relax and watch the falling snow this evening after chores, knowing that we've made a substantial gain in the supply of wood.  It will take a full week of days like this to get the woodshed full, but it'll be worth it.  Having wood heat compares to none other when it comes to constant warmth that fills every room.  After spending many a cold winter in drafty old farmhouses, it's a welcome caress of warmth that greets you when you come in the door after a long day in the woods and chores in the barn.

Putting the Orange away

The countertop is filled with used hand-warmers, bullets and compasses.  Farmer Rick has been emptying the pockets of blaze orange bibs, jackets and coats, getting ready to pack them away for another year.  This is one job that I don't look forward to doing, but if the gear is going to be ready to go for next year, it all needs to be washed and packed away in our "hunting" barrels kept in the loft of the garage.

All-in-all, we had a wonderful season.  Everybody got atleast one of their tags filled.  We had a great time in the woods, tromping up and down the hills and getting great workouts that would rival any that they throw at contestants in those weight-loss programs on TV.  The scenery in the woods can't be beat either.  Once in awhile, we come across bitter-sweet vines that grow amongst the bushes in the woods.  They stand out from quite a distance when there's snow on the ground.  Beautiful.  Just looking at the tree branches and how each and every one lifts toward the sky.  It's as if they're praising their Creator night and day, lifting up their joy.

The only thing I don't like about the end of the season is seeing everybody pack up and go home.  I still choke up when the last one pulls out of the driveway as they begin their journey home.  Some travel back into a busy life that is so different from our own.  But, for ten days each fall, we enjoy one another's company, and have a wealth of memories and stories to repeat over the years.  I think that these good times together just adds to the "pull" that brings them back, year after year, to a long-standing family tradition that is being passed on to future generations.

Just a few more tags to fill

Deer season is about half done and the deer take is going well.  Most all have atleast filled one of their tags and have meat already in the freezer.  Farmer Rick shot two bucks yesterday, having four come right out to him from behind a big round bale.  It's such a blessing to have meat in the freezer for the winter.  When you work long hard hours outside, it's nice to come in to a full pot of chili, simmering in the crock pot with a little bit of cheese and sour cream.  Mmmm, I'm getting hungry! 
The time spent with the guys on the deer hunting crew is always a blast.  The stories of past hunts, practical jokes and just plain old fun is such a welcome break for everyone.  Whether your drive a tractor or a desk, being in the woods, enjoying God's creation and harvesting meat for your family is a long standing tradition on Farmer Rick's side of the family.  Being a family tradition that I married into, I've adapted, and have come to look forward to this time of year just as much as Farmer Rick and the rest of our family.  These times together just can't be compared to.  When everybody pitches in to help get chores done, the work seems so much lighter and it's so much easier to spend a whole day in the woods, knowing that you'll have someone to push that wheelbarrel around the barn, or slop some hungry hogs, just to help you get in the house a little sooner.
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving! We'll hunt in the morning, then enjoy a relaxing day, filling up on turkey with all of the fixings, sweet potato pie, buttery mashed potatoes and gravy and an assortment of desserts.  Cards and games await us after chores, along with several re-visitings of  past hunts, passing on stories that grandpa shared of his time raising a family in the northwoods.  Traditions. Family. Being Together.  Again, we truly are blessed.

Tomorrow is deer season

Family and friends will be spilling in the doorway soon.  The house will turn blaze orange and wet muddy boots and gloves will be scattered about.  But, for one week, to spend time, eat, share stories (some embellished?) and hunt with family is worth it.  We look forward to this time of year just to hault the farm work, shift gears and spend time in the woods that we love.  There's just something about being out on your stand, listening for that "big one" to come trotting into your range.  Most often, all I hear is a tiny red squirrel who chatters at me every year for disturbing his food gathering route.  When scurrying about his business, he'll come right up to me on my bucket, stand up on his hind legs and let out a "chirrrrrr" and quickly scramble back to his hole in the log behind my stand.  As the season goes on, his courage builds and he comes out sooner each day, chattering and complaining about my presence.  But by the last day, he comes to accept having me around.  I think we both know that it's time to pack up, haul the bucket home and settle in for a long, snowy winter.

Isn't she Lovely?!



Sandy!

We have been looking for another Border Collie puppy for quite some time.  There have been many in the paper, but most were out of our price range.  We have had several over the years here in the farm and have enjoyed them so much as reliable cattle dogs and friends.  When riding in the woods, I always take the dogs with me since we have so many bear and now we hear of big cats around too.  These dogs are very smart and active.  Sandy already has lots of energy and is practicing her herding instincts on the barn cats.  She comes down to the barn morning and night, then comes back up to the house when we're done.  She's too small to leave in the barn with the other two dogs for now, but when she's older, she'll fit right in.