Out With The Old

I hope that my next statement is as true for you as it has been for our family: Blessings in 2011 far outnumbered the trials. We also have two new family members. In fact, when I was looking around at our growing clan while at my sister’s home on Christmas day, I marveled at that fact. We were all there, no one missing and with two new additions (and rumor has it, another on the horizon). My sister told me that Dad got a little misty over it; that and the fact that all of his loved ones are happy. Years in the past haven’t always read that way and I know the future won’t either … but … as for Christmas 2011, it was one of the very best. 2011 was indeed a good one in many ways. I can’t help but look back over my shoulder before moving on toward 2012. Care to join me for a farmgirl year in review? At the end, please offer up the highlights of your year in the comments section.

Winter, early 2011. The snowiest, ‘winteryest’ winters in recent memory! It – Was – Awful. 8 feet of snowfall which in our part of the world means monster drifts up to 15 feet and mountains of snow pushed up everywhere to make way for vehicles. My husband claimed in July that he still hadn’t warmed up.

Just as soon as potted flowers become available in florist shops, I snag a few for mental health reasons :o) There was no such thing as dirty snow last winter, we just kept getting new snow!

Spring finally arrived, albeit late. It took a long, long time for all that snow to melt and finally warm up. The wild sweet peas are brave little souls, but even they were a month late.

By April, it is safe to plan a road trip to go pick up chicks. I bought half a dozen Buckeye baby-girls. My favorite color of chicken is the deep mahogany red of this breed (and Rhode Island Reds). Buckeyes were developed in Ohio by a farmgirl.

Soon, other wildflowers follow suit. Below: Bitteroot – one photo was taken from my saddle (see boot & stirrup). The delicate blossoms absolutely do not look real. The prairie is just beginning to green up when they bloom and there are HOT pink flowers everywhere … as if someone had scattered faux silk flowers all over the plains. We were riding that day, beginning to move cow/calf pairs to an adjacent pasture.

In May, ‘life’ takes off again. By June, we’re reminded why we live here. There are babies everywhere and we get to see so many kinds … birds of the air, wild animals, domestic, insects … everyone is replenishing the supply! The below photo illustrates my #1 favorite ranchy job: moving pairs. It is a slow motion affair since toddling baby calves are just getting their ‘sea legs’ under them. The natural world is so beautiful at that time, it smells SO good outside … there just isn’t a better place in all the world to be … and this job lets me take it all in at a nice, slow pace. This might be how the cliche ‘mosey along’ came into being :o)

The plains aren’t so plain anymore …

I gasped with delight when I spied a few patches of of the giant blue Penstemmon. There was enough for me to snatch one for my flower bed at home. I hope it is happy there, I guess I’ll see later this spring.

The wildflowers go crazy! Not one color is missing on the praire palate. There is only one orange flower though, Mallow, and they like to grow right along the dirt road.

At home, I planted my garden later in May. Until things got going, the violas and pansies thrived and assured me their kin would surely show themselves soon.

They say you can hear the corn grow in Iowa. Well, our version of that is you almost see the grass grow in June here.

And, by the first part of July it is time for haying.

Summer is the season when a rancher’s day ends long before the work of the day is done. My husband is a verb in the summer. Below: the edge of the hayfield at dusk when Lynn finally called it quits for the day.

My beloved …

Mornings are my ‘go on walkabout’ time … just to see what might be new in the world. In the spring, there is always something new the next morning. The dogs & I (with coffee cup in hand) head out to the back pasture.

My garden got off to a slow start, but it was a great year for root crops … beets and carrots. My junky picket fence might get replaced this coming summer. What to do with all that chippy wood? I think birdhouses and I don’t know what else, but surely something fun.

A year prior, Anita and I had ordered custom saddles from Sean Cannady (Double H Ranch Saddlery, Longmont, CO). By this past summer, they were finished and ready to come home & go to work.

My friend, Connie, gifted me with a birdnest that she found in July – after the occupants had raised their family. {I collect nests} Now, that is a golden-hearted friend – one who goes to the trouble of packing something like that home for you :o) The eggs are wooden ones that I painted to look real.

Throughout the year, I also collect natural ‘stuff’ for my birch bark basket of potpourri. In August, teddybear sunflowers from the garden were added.

The perennials that I had planted did not disappoint me. I hope to have more Black-eyed Susans this year. Below is Gaillardia, or as my mother calls them: Indian Blankets.

The first weekend in September, our little town hosts a classic car show and an art fair in the city park. The weather was a perfect ‘Indian Summer’ day. My farmgirl friend, Judy, was selling some of her garden produce to help raise $$$ for the senior center.

In October, my farmgirl sisterhood chapter members had our autumn themed craft show. We sold all kinds of homemade and handmade things.

Then, the hard freeze finally came … after a nice, long, peaceful autumn. Very little wind, a little moisture, but the friendly sort. Fall arrives like a long awaited friend – my favorite season. The grass turns tan and makes a raspy sort of whisper in the breeze.

Fall colors on the high plains are plain, subtle and quiet.

Not so quiet are my antique kitchen furniture pieces. I acquired the pieces over the last year from the same antique dealer who refinished them. I made a ‘set’ out of a small drop-leaf table, mis-matched chairs, a cupboard, a shelf, and a small cupboard-island. My kitchen now looks like a stoplight ;o)

My farmgirl pal, Michele, and I venture over to Spearfish about once a month to go shopping. We both enjoy taking the scenic route through a canyon. It is beautiful in every season (below) and we usually stop to take a photo or two. The photos below were taken in early September. Further down this post are winter photos from the same place – different season.

Fall is also when we help neighbors and friends with ranch work. Below, we were helping friends move/load cattle.

October found me working on an article for MaryJanesFarm magazine. If you’re a subscriber, I bet you enjoyed seeing Michele’s beautiful home in the Christmas issue.

Shortly after Thanksgiving, preparations for Christmas began. Usually, I’m Johnny-Come-Lately on that front, but this year I actually managed to not overwhelm myself with a holiday case of anxiety gridlock. I was determined to take it easy, enjoy a leisurely and organized pace. Whatever! I was so good at it that I thought I could do more. That is where my anxiety-free holiday gameplan ran into the ditch. But, not to worry … It all came out good in the end. I have always made many/most of my decorations, but a ‘Bethany Lowe’ snowman would not let me go home without him. He made me chuckle and reminded me of a saying I read recently, “I’m in great shape. Round is a shape.” Not so funny really, my feet would like me a whole lot better if I lessened their load by 20 pounds. MAYbe 2012 will give me success.

Right before Christmas, I went back to Spearfish to do some last-minute shopping for grocieries. The drive through the canyon quieted me. As much as I was enjoying the holiday busyness, I was reminded of the need to slowwww down and let my soul catch up. Sitting on the side of the road and listening to the creek did that very thing. Counseling from Nature is the best.

Our family’s Christmas get-together took place at my sister’s home. She’s having a fan-tabu-lous year. Love found her. The real deal, the kind that other folks smile at when they see two people so deeply in like with each other. Yes, ‘in like’. True love HAS to have that as a main ingredient. I’m so happy for her. And, if that weren’t enough, she has another new man in her life, a first grand child. Here she is below – my sister, Beth.

Beth’s home sparkled with the holiday spirit. Love does amazing things to you. No corner of your being is left untouched. Beth cooked and baked like a mad-woman the week prior! I was delighted to hear that my favorite was on the list (almond roca). The food was great. Everyone brought food to share. Gifts were exchanged after we ate. Then we ate s’more! In addition to sweets and cheese dip, I took over a large pot of Gumbo.

My sister’s taste leans heavily toward ‘shabby chic’ decorating – very feminine and cottage-y charm. I found the prettiest antique celluloid box to put her gift in. I added an antique postcard, a velvet rose, pink ribbons and a couple of bells. She did so much to make our Christmas ‘merry & bright’. I wanted to make a package for her that was almost too pretty to open (like mom made for us before arthritis wouldn’t let her anymore).

I think I mentioned earlier that my father was happy to have us all together, healthy & happy this Christmas. I must add that I am so thankful that at age 55, I still have both my parents. Beth’s sweetheart lost his father two years ago. My folks worked hard to raise us right and they deserve to see their faithful parenting rewarded. My wonderful parents, Bonnie & Vern …

And, here I am now … having decided what to make for part of our New Years Day meal: Bogart’s Black Eyed Peas. Very easy. Combine three cans of black eyed peas (do not drain), 2 cans of marinated artichoke hearts (quartered), 1/2 package of bacon bits (cooked), 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp minced onion. Heat through, simmer until the liquid reduces. Serve on brown rice.

What fruit will 2012 produce? I know not, but I know He who holds my future and that is all I really need to be confident about. I’ve learned one thing by this time: Trust is needful and it is one of the best coping skills you can develop. I’ve yet to perfect it, but that is what the future is for … building a better me/you, year after year. If I live to be a hundred, dang, I’ll be awesome by then. Happy New Year to all of my farmgirl friends out there. I hope 2012 will be a good one for you, one & all.