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.   : )