Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Ranch Life Around Christmas



If you are looking at the pictures and wondering what in the world that is; it's Peanut Brittle.  The first I have ever made.  It turned out really tasty, just not pretty. 

Over the past few days I have been busy with the family.  We have been moving our cattle, which means we have been outside riding the horses in warm or cold weather, wind or still.  It's been good family time, good for the horses, especially our younger ones still in training.  Plus, it's good for the cattle, just to get them used to horses and people. 

We have been trying to buy something while Christmas shopping, but it hasn't worked out as planned.  It's hard to buy a gift for someone who says, "I don't care what you get me." and you can't find anything that would fit them.  So, our Christmas shopping hasn't been much fun.  Thankfully, I am about through.

We have had a little Christmas tree up since August, but recently we got to put up the big one. The inside of the house is all lit up in Christmas lights with Christmas music playing.  We got to put Christmas lights on our balcony for the first time.  It's pretty.  I would show you pictures, but they aren't good enough.  Sorry.  

Monday, we gathered up our cows and sorted 19 off to take to my uncle's wheat.  Paradise got a nice ride in.  I got to slide off of her left side, plus I got on her from the right side.  She is doing good for a young horse, though we still have a lot to learn.  Dad and Mom treated us to pizza that night.  And we did our cookie run.  (Every year at Christmastime, we as a family take home-made cookies to our neighbors. It's always fun.)  We got to see some good friends and talk for a while.  

Yes, we have been some what busy with school.  But that's nothing real exciting...

Yesterday, I was the first one down stairs, and as I looked out the window to the east, I saw a movement.  As I watched, Tonzo, my dog, come into sight with his tail tucked between his legs.  As I looked, a coyote came into view.  Then two others.  I thought of our chickens, who run freely about the ranch.  So, I ran up stairs and got Dad.  After getting a gun and shells, we walked outside.  We looked and to the north, and just across the road, a coyote stood over a deer rib cage.  After a second, he turned and ran off.  Dad and I trooped after him.  But when we reached the top of the hill he had gone over, the coyotes were nowhere to be seen.  It was disappointing, and odd.  They vanished!  Thankfully, they didn't get any chickens or Mom's whole deer that was hanging behind our pickup.  It was a fun way to start our day, though. 

On the odder side - I got to enjoy one of my pigeon's eggs today.  Pigeon egg?!  Yes, I have a female pigeon who has laid 41 eggs this year and we do eat them.  I got to hard boiled one and peel it.  After showing everyone in the family what a hard boiled pigeon looked and felt like, I ate it.  It was different... but good after getting under the rubber feeling part.  It felt like a bouncy ball.  It was a fun thing to try, though.  

Today, we did school and I finished for this week except for math.  I played with Big J. and Little J. quite a bit.  Also, we did get a skift of snow!  I am so glad.  Not near enough to sled, but still, it's a start.  It is still really windy now, but not snowing.  I wonder what it will look like tomorrow.

If I do not get back here and write a post before Christmas, may you all have a great Christmas day.  Merry Christmas!  : )    

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