CHRISTmas

I began thinking (not that I don't do that anyway) and realized it seemed backwards for me to post "The Night Before Christmas" and not the story of Christmas.  So, after going back and forth because of time, I decided The Christmas Story should be shared on my blog.  It would be wrong to leave out the reason for the season. 

Luke chapter 2 verses 1-20:

"And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

(And this taxing was first made when Cy-re-ni-us was governor of Syria.)

And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.   

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

And when they had seen it, they made know abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them."

 

There's more to the story and if you wish to read it I hope you open your Bible and do just that.  Thank you for reading.  May you be blessed by God this holiday season.  From the ranch, to your home.  : )  

Merry Christmas

Hello on this Monday before Christmas!  Wow.  Just three days until Christmas...it's hard to believe.  I think we've finished most of our shopping, have finally figured out where and who's going where for family time, and the house is ready.

 

It's easy to get caught up in the shopping and busyness of Christmas, but I hope we all remember the real reason for the season.  And that is Jesus.
So, in this short post, I want to wish you the best of Christmases and God bless. 

 

Merry Christmas! : )

 

 

The Night Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; the stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.  The children were nestled all snug in the beds, while visions of sugarplums danced in their heads; and mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, had just settled our brains for a long winter nap; when out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.  Away to the window I flew like a flash, tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.  The moon, on the breast of the newfallen snow, gave a luster of midday to objects below, when, what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer, with a little old driver so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.  More rapid  than eagles his coursers they came, and he whistled and shouted and called them by name: "Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donner and Blitzen!  To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall, now, dash away! dash away all!"  As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky, so up to the housetop the coursers they flew, with the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nickolas, too.  And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof the prancing and pawing of each little hoof.  As I drew in my head, and was turning around, down the chimney St. Nickolas came with a bound.  He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot, and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; a bundle of toys he had flung on his back, and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.  His eyes--how they twinkled! his dimples--how merry!  His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry.  His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, and the beard on his chin was as white as the snow.  The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, and the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.  He had a broad face and a little round belly that shook when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.  He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, and I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.  A wink of his eye and a twist of his head soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.  He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, and filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, and laying his finger aside of his nose, and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.  He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, and away they all flew like the down of a thistle.  But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, 

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

 

~Clement Clarke Moore

Ornaments

Hello again from the ranch!  Last night Dad and I began working on making ornaments and I guess it was just too fun, for by the time we were finished, the whole family had gathered around. 
 
(I have no idea if I was the first to think this up, but I'd like to think I was.)

With these few supplies you can make really cute, really fun ornaments that look a bit like "Mr. Potato Head."

Here's what you need:
Clear, plastic ornaments  (I got mine from Walmart for .96 cents.)
Craft body accessories  (Walmart, again.)
Drill and drill bit
Optional - hot glue for the shoes.    We have not attached them yet, but think glue would work.
Optional - pipe cleaners for deer antlers

Okay, you start with this plain ball.  Get the drill and bit and drill holes.  It varies where to place the holes because different ornaments can have different accessories.  So, just choose the face you want first, then make the holes. 
 

 
Be careful to not make the holes too large...the sticks attached to the eyes, mouths, etc. will not stay in if so.
 

Lady

 Then the fun part--simply stick the accessories into the holes and you're done! 
 

Mustache Man 

 Everyone had a little help in picking out the faces and also putting them on.
 

Monster

 

Cool Rudolph

I really enjoyed making these with the family.  I think anybody would like these--they're not messy, not hard, and kids of all ages can have fun changing out the faces.  I'll hopefully be making more of these before long. 

Question:  Which is your favorite?  I always enjoy comments!

Enjoy.  : )

Saturday Post

Thanksgiving is over now, but it was very fun.

This year our whole family on Dad's side were able to be together and we got our very first picture of all of us.  Yesterday Mom's family came to our house and since it was a beautiful day, some of us cousins got our horses up and rode out in the pastures.  Along with outside activities like looking at the animals and playing football, we played "5 Second Rule" and "Uno."  Like any year, we had plenty to eat at both places.

It's 70 degrees outside now and we're in the house processing deer meat and listening to Christmas music.  It's such a neat/different-than-normal combination to say the least. 

Thanks for reading.   : )   

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

This year Dad's family is having Thanksgiving away from our ranch (it feels a little odd) but I'm so glad we're still getting together.  And Mom's side of the family, at least part of them, will gather here--the first time--and what fun that should be.  It's going to be good to see everyone. 

Here are a few things that come to mind that I'm thankful for...

1- Family, of course, but also that they remembered and made my birthday (today) special.

2- Oddly enough, I was thankful to see even Google had remembered my birthday and said "Happy Birthday Savannah" when I pulled up their website.  So cool!  (I'm guessing because I have a Google account, that's how they got my birthday.)

3- For all the people God has put and is putting in my life.  From friends I see weekly, to ones I see once a year...maybe, to pen pals I've never even met in person.  All of them are dear to me and are my friends for a reason, even if we don't know the reason yet.  

4- Also, that you are reading my blog.  It pleases me to know people from all over are reading my posts.

If you're driving, staying home, or whatever for Thanksgiving this year, I hope you do so safely.  God Bless!  : )

Chore Time

Howdy...
Today you--the reader--are going to join me in doing some of the chores!  How fun, right? 

Yes.  At least the chores you'll help me with are fun.

Chores have their pros and cons for sure, but I like to think of them being a good thing.  You could look at chores as a bad thing because you are stuck at home doing...what else but chores.  You can't leave for a vacation in a snap of a finger because your cat or dog or both can't live that long without new food and water. 
But chores teach real responsibility.  It's simple: don't feed and water the dog, it'll die.  In that case, chores can teach people to not be lazy.

No chores and a house will get dirty, cluttered, and anything but homey.  But I also agree, they aren't the most exciting and fun things in life.

I've always had animals and for years, Mom has made us kids do house chores so I do them...like it or not.

And now let's begin.

These three containers of food--apples, cake not literally human cake, and grain--go to the hungry girls, Minnie and Pearl.

Great.  Now the pigs have been fed and you can see them eating in the picture below.

Next, I get a coffee can of milo and scatter it out for the chickens.
The pictures here are after I fed them.

This feeder is for the twelve pigeons we have.  It's a mixture of milo and scratching grain.

Now the pigeons are fed.  There are twelve in this picture.  Can you find them all?

It's Big J.'s job to water everything outside and Little J. feeds the cats and dogs.  That about sums up our outside-animal chores.

Inside, I have four doves I have to feed and water, a parakeet, and fish which we feed at night.  Plus the house cats and spiders.  (Yes, I really do have pet spiders.)  Thanks for peeking in!  : ) 

Second Snow

We got another snow on the 16th which really made up for the first we got this fall.  Because the cold hit so fast, the trees' leaves are still attached in spots so it made taking picture fun for me.

 

 

 

 

Here, I risked my camera and took pictures while it snowed.

 On the 17th, I needed to get out of the house because I wasn't happy...so Dad took me to move some heifers and cattle on foot.

The sun was shining and the air was still, making it a beautiful day for walking. 

 

 
When Dad and I reached the cows, the tame ones who eat out of our hands, came up begging for a snack.  I only let them lick me, but had nothing to feed them.  But since they were close, I got some pictures.

 

 

 
The walk was short, but refreshing and needed.  The cattle we have are very gentle, thus moved without trouble.

 
When the cattle had all gone into the pasture, I took time to build a snowman.  Isn't it cute?  Yeah, well, it was only 7 inches tall...

 
Dad broke ice in the tanks and then we headed in for dinner. 

You know, sometimes when you're feeling down (or plain upset) the best thing, for me anyway, is to go outside and do something.  Sometimes I just walk around thinking, or hold a cat while sitting in the sun, and other times Dad takes me out to check cattle, like in this case.  I'm glad he makes me go, because a few times it isn't what I want to do, but I always come back happy and smiling and have stories to share.  : )

First Snow

What's this you see in the picture?  Snow? 
Yes!  Not much but a good start.

The temperature dropped tremendously on Mon. and hasn't warmed up since.  We were enjoying 80 degrees and sunny skies when in the afternoon it all changed.  We dropped to under freezing by the time it was all done and the wind had scattered dirt everywhere.

We haven't thawed, so Big J. gets to break ice and change out water (ice) every morning.  Hello, Winter!  

Last weekend, Dad and I went on a hunt in Fort Reno, Oklahoma.  I got to shoot two does and spend two days with Daddy.  It was a very enjoyable hunt and I'd do it again...I can't though, because of my age.

On the 1st, my grandpa had his 99th birthday party.  We had a nice party here at our house and got to spend it with our grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, etc.  We're very blessed, for Poppy (my grandpa) was the one with health issues last Nov.  The good news it that he's back to good health now.  And I, personally, have gotten to know him better through that season. 
 

Christmas is in the air at the Elliott Ranch

 
Hope all you readers are staying warm!  : )

Nov. 5th

After so many chilly days it was nice to get outside today.  I typed on my laptop some in the fall air and later Dad had us go move cattle.

When we had penned the cattle, Dad stood at two gates and Big J. and I pushed presorted cattle to him.  All the cows, calves, and older heifers went in one gate which lead to the pasture.  The yearling heifers and a bull or two went in the other pasture.  The sorting went super well! 

We 3 had finished in just a few minutes and then we walked the heifers down the fence, through a gate, and into another pasture. 

It's been a lovely evening and now I believe stew is going to be on tonight's menu.  Looking forward to a warm bowl of that stuff.   : )

I'm on a Roll

Wow, 3rd post in one day... 
Here's a post focused on what we do after purchasing new cattle.  We have to brand them.
First the cattle (in this case, heifers) are pushed into the alley running to the chute.  In the picture below two heifers are walking through the alley.

 
See the blue metal thing?  That's the chute and its job is to catch the heifers when they walk into it.

  
The first heifer to walk into the chute gets closed in when the back gate shuts.  She will have to walk forward to the front gate, and then the chute operator closes the gate right as she sticks her head out.  In this picture the heifer is caught by the neck, the proper way.  She does not choke, though, so no worries.
 

 
Then Dad--or whoever's job it is-- gets the ear notcher and puts the ear tag in the heifer's ear.
  

 
She's then branded with the very hot branding iron.

 
And turned out through the front gate.  She'll now continue her life as though nothing happened and if she happens to escape, other people will know who to contact. 

 
We only had four heifers to do this time, so it went really quick.

Big J. is preparing the ear notcher for Dad, Little J. in the back pushing up another heifer

 

This is after Dad gave the heifer her ear tag

 

And if you were a heifer, this would be your view.  Lovely, isn't it?

 When we had finished, the sun was just about to set and I got a few pictures of how lovely the evening was.

 

Stacy, the goat

So now you learned a little more about what my family does.  : )

Evening Fun

This morning's sunrise

Last evening was gorgeous!  I spent some bit of the afternoon/evening painting this cow skull and listening to music from my laptop.  Outside is the best office, you know.  

 

Little J.'s cat, Stanly

A little later, the rest of the family came out and played football or watered trees.  I let Minnie and Pearl out again and took pictures this time, while both the animals and ourselves were content enjoying the stillness of fall.  : )

Paprika and her chicks 



Minnie and Rooster Doodle