January 13, 2003

Well, Happy New Year to all!  I can’t believe it’s already the thirteenth of January.  We had a nice quiet Christmas Morning, with two-week-old “Curly” the calf getting brave on her legs and charging up and down the pasture.  She really is a little pistol, always wandering off to explore by herself – even with her momma bellowing to her to stay close.  Mascot is enamored with her, and runs out to visit when we go out to the pasture.  Of course, Momma is not too happy about that and stands guard, shaking her head when Mascot gets too close.

Yesterday morning we had another new calf born.  When JW went out to feed Chief, he saw her huddled out in the rain.  She was too cold to get up and nurse or to wade through the mud to get inside the shed.  So, JW picked her up and brought her in with the cow to spend the day and last night inside the barn.  She is darling – but then, I think they all are!  It was a pretty cold morning, so we may call her Frosty.  I’m not sure what Milton would say if he knew I was busy naming all of his calves…

Chief has settled in to his stall, and knows exactly when it is time for breakfast and supper.  He sure is happy to see that bucket of grain and armload of hay!  And here I thought he was nickering with delight that I was coming to visit…  The dogs love to help feed, and use the opportunity to stretch out and run to their hearts’ content.  In the evening, I tend to linger in the barn (imagine!) and listen to the Great Horned Owl that lives in the Oak Tree Mott down the pasture.

The day after Christmas, my little brother, Scott, drove down from Steamboat to visit the farm.  We had a great time.  The second day he was here, JW took him hunting and Scott came home with a fresh wild pig.  We smoked the hams with oak, mesquite, and pecan.  Quite tasty, with a lot more flavor than what you’ll ever get from the store!  Scott also helped out with a couple of improvement projects.  We did some repairs to the barn where we keep our tack and hay, and I got a new kitchen counter and sink!  It’s fabulous, and 100 percent better than the rusty cast-iron antique we had.

Scott also went home with one of our girls.  He fell in love with Laddie when he stayed with us last summer – and she got to go back to Colorado to be his girl up in the mountains.  We will miss her down here, but know that she will have a blast up there – and will get a really good home!  We look forward to seeing her again on visits.

I hope everybody had a great holiday!