Johnston Family Christmas Decorations 2015

I have always had visions of a beautiful, coordinated, white-and-silver-and-all-live-greenery Christmas house, with no visible wires and outlets handily located out of sight. Not too much, not too little, just the right about of over-the-top to say "I'M OBSESSED" without being completely tacky.

That being said, I also have visions of a Viking range in my kitchen and a mudroom that is a little more room, a little less mud.

In reality, I have an oven that works perfectly, a mudroom that works, and a house full of warmth and decorations that don't match. No Pinterest house over here, folks! Sorry I'm not sorry :)

My house is a mishmash of decorations that I love, and a tree with both colored and white lights because Bert and I are both twelve and agree it looks better that way. It's not exactly coordinated, but neither am I, and I love it. Here's a peek at what we have going in the Christmas decor department chez Johnston this year.

The nativity was a gift from my grandmother last year, and I love it. It's the first thing to go up and the last thing to go down, and it's a reminder that Christmas is not about the gifts, even if they're fun. I think this needs a little something extra, though, so I'm planning on a lit archway over top of everything next year! I found some coppery battery-powered lights on the good ole Amazon that I think would be perfect.

It's right in the middle of our living room upstairs, so walking past it a thousand times a day is a constant reminder to be grateful and treat others kindly all year round, but particularly during this season.

Across from the Nativity is the tree. Of course, the tree! The best seat in the house is right smack between the two of them. Doesn't get more magical than that!

We go artificial because I put my tree up early, and also because my parent gave us their old one and you can't beat free.

I went all out with putting some presents under the tree this year although they have to fit more or less under the tree or Wacey mangles them by running into them with his walker. Funny, yet destructive. Next year we'll have to play Santa, so this is the last year for any gifts from us to be under the tree pre-Christmas. When I was growing up, my parents would put the "family presents" from aunts and uncles and grandparents under the tree before Christmas, and we'd open them Christmas Eve. Then, on Christmas morning, the gifts from Santa and momma and daddy would magically appear. I plan on doing the same. We like to lay the anticipation on pretty thick round these here parts!

I love ornaments. I collect them, I cherish them, and one of the most special things that has ever happened to me was the year I had Christmas in my own house, post-college, my mom gave me a box filled with all the Christmas ornaments she had kept for me, labeled with the year I got them. I'm excited to start Wacey's collection! Thanks to my mom and aunt, we already have two for him!

I did notice, however, that she put quite a few of the ones I made. Don't get me wrong, I made some pretty cool ornaments! I also made some pretty awful ornaments, and only a mother's love could keep them on our Christmas tree for 20+ years, just waiting for the day when she can foist them off on me.

It's okay, though. They go on the back ;)

It's also worth noting that she kept the pretty cool ones.

That canvas! It arrived last week and I'm in love with it. I got it with some birthday money from my grandmother on huge Black Friday Sale (I'm talking less than $60, folks), and it's lovely. I have dreamed of good family pictures that aren't our wedding pictures for years, and I'm so happy with how our pictures turned out this year!

I know you're jealous of my horse-wrapping job.

I bought three stockings last year--I remember being pregnant in the store and scooping them up gleefully and getting all excited about three and a lady threw me some serious side-eye and I walked off humming "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch." Okay, not the last part, but I should have. Because come on, it's CHRISTMAS! Who gives the side-eye at Christmas about stockings?!? I mean, geez, Ebeneezer.

This year, Bert's great-aunt sent us this beautiful one she made for Wacey! My plan for the handmade ones are that they'll go in the kids' rooms or on their doors--growing up, I had a mini tree and stocking in my room and I loved it. I don't recall if we ever got presents in them, but I'm planning St. Lucia's day/elf on the shelf usage for those :)

I put garlands and lights over all the windows because I like them. So does Wacey. It creates a conflict. You see, I like how they look, and how festive they make me feel. Plotzing and shushing and all that (name the movie!). Wacey, however, likes the way they taste, and the sensation of them gripped in his little paw as he zooms away on his walker.

Like I said, conflict.

Do you see what I see?

These white lights in the antlers above the kitchen cabinets are a year-round fixture that Bert says look like we're in college. I say they look magical and a little tacky, but white lights are one of my love languages so oh well ;)

I also swap out pillow covers and hand- and dish-towels. Mom made these covers for me last year and I get a kick out of making Wacey look like a reindeer :) He really likes it. PS--check out how dirty his pants are from crawl-scooting around! That boy.

Wreaths on the doors and in the bedroom windows (plus the occasional nutcracker or strategically-placed snowman, and lots of Christmas jammies) complete the ensemble.

Usually we have outside lights and a garland, but this year we have a puppy who chews EVERYTHING and can jump unimaginable heights and chew on high-up things, and has already shown an affinity to evergreen branches. I am hopeful for next year, because we have those big old-fashioned colored lights and I know Wacey will find them even more magical than I do.

Probably because he won't actually have to deal with those suckers and test all the bulbs. But that's the best part about kids at Christmas, right? They get the magic and the wonder, not the set-up!

Someday, we might have more coordinated, Pinterest-friendly Christmas decor. But for now, we're sticking with multi-colored and slightly tacky because Merry Christmas, y'all!

Sunday Night Highlights 12.20.15

Weekend Adventures:

• Bert had to go to town yesterday, and he took Wacey with him. They stayed overnight at his parents' so he could work on a pair of chaps with his dad, so I had a whole 24 hours to myself! What did I do? Went to the store for the ranch sans bebe, and spent most of the afternoon cleaning out the downstairs--a project that's been on my to-do list forever! It feels so great to have it cleaned out (as in an entire dumpster load of trash and four trips of stuff down to the root cellar) and ready to decorate. It's also Wacey-proofed, so he has a great area to play with all those toys Santa is going to bring him! 
• Last night I watched Christmas movies, wrapped presents, and cleaned the house a little and it was perfect. If you're a mom you know how novel it feels to be able to focus your whole attention on one thing, not five hundred, even if that one thing is sweeping the floor or unloading the dishwasher. The simple things. 

• I missed my boys, though, so I was glad when they came home this afternoon. Bert's watching the football game, and Wacey and I are downstairs playing in the newly cleaned out play area! This space has always been treated like a storage unit, so the fact that it's cleaned up, baby-proofed, and entirely usable makes me feel like we just doubled the size of our house. 
• The best effect of having all this time to check huge, looming items off of my to-do list? I feel like my mom batteries have been completely, 100% recharged. BRING ON CHRISTMAS. Maybe this can be an annual tradition? 

Agriculture: 

• Cattle can see almost 360 degrees and have thus very good peripheral vision.
• Cows can't see the color red. It's the motion of the flag that a matador waves that catches the animal's attention, not the color. 

On the Ranch:

• Cows are sorted! Yay! I'm excited because our inventory and counts came out almost perfect, which means I'm doing my job. 
• Most of the crew is gone for Christmas, so we're running on a skeleton crew until after the holidays, when everyone will come back and it's full swing into getting ready for calving. We'll also get extra help in for calving, so it's going to be downright populated over here!
• Last year, our first calf was born on December 27th, so Bert will sort the cows and bring in the girls who are due first. That way, they're at the barn in case they have any trouble. 

On the Home Front:

• CHRISTMAS. Can't wait can't wait can't wait. All the presents are wrapped or on their way, I mailed out Christmas cookies, and I am so so so so excited. Can you tell?? Christmas with kids (even if they have no idea what's going on) is SO GREAT.   
• We'll do Christmas Eve with my parents, and Christmas Day with Bert's family. It's Wacey's and his cousin Evelyn's first Christmas!
• I killed a black widow spider in the downstairs bathtub last week. So there's that.
• Snow snow snow. I think this is the first Christmas that I haven't been wishing for more snow, because we have PLENTY. It's always nice to start calving with dry pens, but I'm not sure that's going to happen this year. It does make for a very Christmas-y landscape though, so I can't complain too much. 

Friday Favorites 12.18.15

Happy last Friday before Christmas! We are in full-swing holiday mode around here and I LOVE it. I'm not sure whether it's because Wacey is here this year (or because I'm not pregnant), or because I'm better prepared or what, but this year has been much less stressful than years past, and it's great. I'm only waiting on a couple more gifts to arrive in the mail, but I secretly like stretching it out because isn't getting packages in the mail the best?!

Here are my Friday Favorites this week, I hope you're having a great pre-Christmas week!!

Favorite DIY Project: Wooden Baby Gate. Wacey is officially pulling himself up anywhere that he can, so it won't be long before he's attempting the stairs. We only have a small flight of stairs (like six steps) down to the garden level, but Wacey moves so darn fast that I'd like a baby gate there. I love how these ones look!

Favorite Fierceness: Boss Quote. Even though this isn't in the correct order (money doesn't come first), it's the right idea. I find myself thinking something along these lines pretty often as of late. Because really, if it isn't making you happy, making you better, or making you money, why make time for it?! Priorities.

 Favorite Holiday: Cutest Car Ever. I'm a sucker for anything with vintage charm, and this picture is no exception. It looks so optimistic, you know? Like you know whoever is driving it has SO MUCH holiday cheer!

Favorite Kid Thing: Playon Crayons. Wacey isn't quite ready for coloring, but when he is, I think I'm going to scoop him up some of these crayons. They fit little hands (and fingers!) are a fun shape, won't break and become a choking hazard, and are neat colors!

Favorite Face Thing: Laura Lacquer's Dark Spot Skincare Regimen. Ten months post-baby, my skin is almost clear and recovered thanks to my favorite Lancome products. But, I still have a lot of dark spots from healed acne, and they're driving me crazy! I hate hate hate wearing concealer and won't wear foundation, so I'm excited to try this much more reasonably-priced dark spot regimen from a soon-to-be dermatologist and mother who has struggled with similar skincare concerns. 

Favorite Treat: DoubleTree Hotel Cookies. When I worked in town, the guy from the DoubleTree hotel down the street would drop off cookies at the office all the time, and so I would bring them home to Bert. Since I no longer work in town, there's a shortage of DoubleTree cookies in the house, so I tried this copycat recipe...and I've already made it twice! Bert LOVES them. Highly recommend!

Favorite House Inspire: Fixer Upper. 2016 is The Year of several things, one of them being The Year of The House. I love this style, and it fits in well with what we already have, so I am going to use these ideas as a guide for some projects I would like to complete this year! I don't watch the show, but I read the blog, and it gives me house envy every time! 

Favorite To-Try: Gnocchi with spinach, mushrooms, and crispy proscuitto. This just looks tasty!! And mmmmm proscuitto. 

Favorite Gifts List: A Good Gifts List. I LOVE this blog, and I love her list of gift ideas for children and adults. I am done shopping for my people this year, but I already know I'll be referring to this list next year. She has great ideas for toys that will last through multiple children and encourage imaginations.

Favorite Funny: Stay-at-home Mom Life As Told By Kevin McCallister. This is true. All so true. Bonus points for one of the best holiday movies of all time.  

Favorite Reality Check: A Day In the Life of Laura Lacquer. This is the same soon-to-be-dermatologist I mentioned above. Did I mention she graduated from Harvard, or that she's a mom of two little girls, one of whom is a newborn, or that SHE'S THE SAME AGE AS ME? When I'm like "OMG I can't even today." I think of this post about how she is a mom and also, like, saves lives. GET IT TOGETHER JOHNSTON. 

Favorite Fit: Withings Fit Watch. I LOVE my Fitbit. LOVE. But sometimes I wish it looked a little sleeker. Like this watch! And they're comparatively priced. I won't be unloading my Fitbit anytime soon, but if you're on the hunt for an exercise watch that isn't obviously an exercise watch, this looks like a great option! I can't wait to see if they expand the features it offers to include an active minutes function like fitbit has.

Punchy

Since losing our first dog, Jay, this past September to a freak kidney infection of some kind, our two-dog pack was minus their leader and pretty sad. But, Bert got puppy that he's going to train up as his new work buddy, and while Punch doesn't take Jay's place--no dog ever could--it's nice to be back to our crowd (that's a group of three dogs, you know; herd of cows, flock of geese, crowd of dogs).

Duckie isn't at all sure she likes Punch, but that's okay. He's pretty wild, so I don't blame her. She'll come around. Gaucho isn't a play-with-the-puppy type either, but sometimes he indulges him and it's adorable. Punch is half Border Collie, half Kelpie, so he even looks like a combination of Gaucho and Duckie. They're the three best friends that anyone could have!

Even though they're not best friends with each other. We're working on it. Baby steps. Er--puppy steps?

 

While Bert won't start Punch until next summer at the earliest, I'm excited for him to have a dog to take along to help him move cows. Jay was retired, and Gaucho is a great working dog, but he doesn't have as much finesse as Bert sometimes needs, so we're hoping Punch will be able to help out. He's out of two very good working parents, so we have high hopes for him.

Plus, technically, Gaucho is my dog. We're soul mates. It's necessary that we spend as much time together as possible.

If nothing else, Punch is super cute, right?

In other news, Wacey sits a highchair just like one would sit a horse. I don't know if I'm proud or amused. Well, actually, I know I'm both. This kid. Incidentally, in this picture, he's smiling at the entire restaurant. He's a flirt and a ham and my whole heart.

PAP Testing

Last week, my favorite vet in the world came out to PAP test some of our cattle. I took these pictures last year, because the manual chute makes Wacey cry, so if you've already seen these, I do apologize.

PAP testing is to determine an idea of survivability at higher altitudes, because not all cattle are well-adapted to the rigors of lower oxygen availability and will die if left too high. This gives us an idea of cattle who are predisposed to become ill, so we can sell them. Sometimes we take them to the sale barn, and sometimes we sell them to ranches at lower altitudes where the animals should do just fine.

The vet who does our PAP testing (and who also did the PAP testing for the ranch we worked for in Montana, which is where I first met him) is Dr. Holt. He's a pioneer in his field, so we're very lucky that he is able to come out the the ranch. I can't say enough good things about him! He's so smart it boggles your mind, and is also the coolest vet I've ever met. Dr. Holt is an excellent teacher, and always loves to tell you and show you what he's doing so you can learn. He's full of tips and facts about every animal species ever, and is so enthusiastic it's contagious. He's a professor at CSU (where Bert met him) and he makes me want to go back to college--I would just follow him around all the time with a notepad if I could.

Maybe I should ask.

Anyways. PAP testing. The way the test is conducted is by inserting a catheter into the right ventricle of the animal's heart via the jugular vein. We always put a halter on the animal, because they need to stay still and the vet needs good access to their vein. Whoever gets the job of haltering needs to be pretty strong, and they usually wear lots of plastic because of all the slobber and blood.

The vet sticks a large-gauge needle into the jugular vein--you can tell because blood will spurt out. Sort of gross, but true. Then, the vet will insert a plastic tube through the needle all the way to the right ventricle of the heart, and connect it to a special machine that is hooked up to a computer thing that tells him the numbers he needs to know. That's what he's looking at in those pictures. Then, he pulls the tube out, throws it in sterile solution and does it all again on the next animal! Someone is always assigned to write down each animal's numbers, which all have a significance, but the PAP score is the one we're most concerned about--the lower the better. Our cutoff is pretty standard, about a 40, 45 at the highest.

Sometimes high-PAP animals will simply die of a heart attack, or sometimes they will die slowly, usually of brisket disease, also called pulmonary hypertension, high-altitude disease, or dropsy. We call it brisket because when they have a high PAP, the right ventricle pumps blood too slowly, and basically slows down the entire body's blood flow. Because everything isn't working efficiently, the liver and the kidneys are not able to process fluids as quickly, and so fluid (plasma) accumulates outside the organs. Because the brisket of a cow (the dangly part between their front legs) is the lowest fleshy part, sometimes the fluid will accumulate there. So, a cow with brisket will look pretty poor, and may have a big ole swollen brisket. Sometimes you can save them by taking them down to a lower elevation, but not always, which is why we do our best to relocate them before they become ill.

Obviously, we would rather not have animals dying of brisket. It's awful for them, and hurts the ranch's bottom line. So, we try to eliminate dams and sires with known PAP issues, or matings that seem to result in high-PAP calves, as well as relocate high-PAP animals before they become sick.

Now, just because an animal is high-PAP doesn't mean they'll get sick or die prematurely, but high-PAP animals are considered high-risk for developing brisket disease, so we usually do not keep animals with PAP issues on our ranch. The reverse is also true, but in those cases we just try to minimize suffering. In the spring, we will PAP test all of the replacement heifers for that exact reason, and all of the bulls we keep will be tested, too.

We test every year, because every animal is different, but also because the genetics involved with high-altitude sicknesses aren't understood very well yet. It seems that these issues can skip generations, so we try to stay on top of it.

For further reading, try this article!

Long story short, I love PAP testing--it's so interesting!--and I have grown to really appreciate good vets. They're very hard to find, and so if you have a good big-animal vet (or a small-animal vet that doesn't rob you blind and is good at their job), give them a Christmas card and some cookies, because they're so, so rare, and kind of a dying breed. We appreciate them so much!

Sunday Night Highlights 12.13.15

Weekend Adventures:

• It was a snowy sort of weekend, which the Christmas enthusiast in me loves. Wace and I went on a snowy, bundled up walk yesterday, blasting Christmas songs on my phone, and it was ahhh-mazing. 
• Yesterday night was our annual company Christmas party. It was great! We had delicious food and got to visit all the horses at the fancy horse barn. 
• Sunday was a lazy day. Went out to breakfast, which is a major treat for us, and just hung around the house. I tied up some loose Christmas ends, did some chores, made my Christmas baking to-do list, that sort of thing. 

Agriculture: 

• Cows can walk up stairs, but not down. The oldest building at my alma mater (CU Boulder) is called Old Main, and has spiral staircases in the back because it used to be in the middle of a pasture and they didn't want the cows to be able to walk up the stairs and get stuck. 

 

• Cows have one stomach with four chambers, which is how they are able to digest tough plant matter.
• Cows' gestation is nine months, just like humans. Having now been pregnant myself, I feel like my relationship with the girls has moved to the next level. And pulling calves makes me cringe a little bit now!

On the Ranch:

• The cows are almost all sorted up. I'm working on getting the calving books ready for the guys. More on that soon!
• In the show barn, they're getting the show cattle ready for the National Western Stock Show in January. There are several heifers and two pens of bulls going, and the show crew is logging long hours in the barn. 
• We're all starting to get ourselves ready for calving--getting barns and vet rooms cleaned, stocked, and ready to go; making sure feeders and tractors are in working order; working on pens and gates if need be; and girding our loins in general. The heifers are due to calve the 15th of January, just like last year, but last year our first calf was born on December 27th, so we are going to be ready! 

On the Home Front:

• Getting pretttty excited for Christmas! Gifts are wrapped, cookies and goodies are being made, and stockings are hung.    
• I'm looking forward to an easy couple of weeks before Christmas. Wacey's regular nap schedule is really an amazing, wonderful thing and it's allowing me to get so much done!
• We went to Zoolights at the Denver zoo this week and it was so fun! Wacey's eyes as big as saucers the whole time looking at all the lights.
•  Have you heard of the Do It (Tomorrow) App? I learned about it through another blog I read--this gal is a young medical resident (and a Harvard grad!) with a toddler and a newborn, so you know anything she recommends in terms of organization has got to be good--and I love it. I like a paper planner for scheduling, but I love having a to-do list that doesn't add to my paper pile I seem to take everywhere. I make my list right before I go to sleep at night, and having the ability to check off a task and watch it disappear (or move it to tomorrow!) is a great motivator for me to get things done. Since having Wacey, I need to keep a running to-do list or else I forget things. 
• I'm starting to think about what I want 2016 to look like. 2015 was an unusual year (not just because of, you know, having a baby!) and I want to make some really intentional, manageable goals and stick to them. Meaning that I'm currently watching Toy Story and putting off adulting until later. 

Gift Ideas for the Gals

Here's the cowgirl follow-up to last week's Cowboy Gift Guide--we can't leave out the girls! This list is a combo of things I love for working outside, things I love for keeping track, and things I love because they're beautiful and functional.

One: Carhartt Vest. I have this vest in two colors and I love it. I love having pockets in which to put things, and a tough vest to save my shirts some wear and tear. These also provide some warmth either on their own or under a jacket. Mine are both the worse for wear, and Carhartt has come out with so many new colors lately that I just might have to invest in a new one sometime soon.

Two: American West Weekender. This is a great idea for the cowgirl-on-the-go. Leather is gorgeous and durable, and the tooling provides a little western flair.

Three: Floral Travel Cup. When looking for things for myself, I generally try to find something that's just as functional as the "boy" version, but prettier. Sometimes that's a hard thing to find, but these gorgeous Starbucks cups fit the bill perfectly. I have a stainless floral version of this that I received as a gift last year, and I love it. Something pretty to take along in the pickup that your cowboy won't steal and then lose or get grease or poop on. Win-win!

Four: Eddie Bauer Field Vest. Again, just as functional as the mens' version, but prettier! This baby is on my wishlist this Christmas. It's tailored, not too puffy, and comes in several gorgeous colors. I have two other Eddie Bauer vests and they wear well, wash great, and are very warm, so I know the quality is going to be good. Bonus, this also comes in two jacket versions, which would be prefect for running to town if your cowgirl lives in a cold climate. Double bonus, Eddier Bauer frequently runs sales and right now, this vest is 40% off.

Five: Minnetonka Moccasins. The same as the boys, but in red. I've had a pair of these, and it took me years to wear them out. When it's time for a new pair of mocs, I think this will be the pair I invest in.

Six: Flair Pens. If your cowgirl has to keep records and enjoys color-coding, buy her a pack of these. My girl boss and I use these exclusively for our record books. They don't fade or quit working when it's cold, and they come in 20+ colors to keep all of your cows and events straight.

Seven: Custom Headstall. If your cowgirl is into horses, this is a wonderful gift idea. This picture is of a custom headstall that my father-in-law made me. You can have them tooled any way you like--a little floral tool with some pretty conchos would make for a gorgeous, feminine headstall. Bonus if you buy her a new bit to go with it! Custom spur straps are also a great option. These are also great options if you need another idea for your cowboy.

Eight: Boots. Every cowgirl, whether she works with you or in a office, loves new boots. This pair is definitely a town pair, but you can never have too many, right??

Nine: Leather Tote. I received this bag for my birthday two years ago, and it's one of my favorite things I own. When Bert asked me what I want for Christmas, he said "You like purses, do you want a new purse?" and I had to inform him that I already own the perfect purse and will likely never buy another tote. Don't worry, though, I gave him some other ideas :) This purse is simple, the leather is gorgeous (and indestructible), and I've gotten so many compliments on it. I know it'll be a hit!

Ten: 2016 Planner. I require a planner, and in the past I've always bought really pretty ones from Vera Bradley or Lilly Pullitzer, but those have gotten too bulky since Wacey's baby bag is the bag I use the most now. I found this very pretty streamlined version from Anthropologie, and bonus, it also comes in floral. Guess which one I put on my wish list this year? Another option is to get your gal a tooled leather cover!

Edited to add: After I wrote this post, my friend Anne turned me on to this planner which has so many great options, too!

Eleven: Wool Socks. Nothing says "Merry Christmas!" like a pair of pretty, warm, knee-high wool socks. They're the gift that keeps on giving!

Twelve: Stormy Kromer.Stormy Kromer makes an adorable version of the men's hat that I put on my cowboy gift guide. They come in several colors, or if you're not into flowers (I obviously have a problem), they have some really cool plaid ones sans floral addition. Something cute and fun that's also functional! And again, will guarantee that your fella will never borrow it and muck it up or lose it.

Thirteen: Wild Rags. One of my friends mentioned that I didn't put rags on my cowboy gift guide, and she's so right and I definitely should have. These are the answer to all of your I-don't-know-what-to-get-my-cowperson questions, and they're an absolute staple during the winter months. You can never have too many! I have both solids and patterns--paisley and (you guessed it) floral are my favorites, but I like having lots of options because it's as close as a gal can get to accessorizing when she's got on layers of coats and coveralls. If you're handy or have a Serger, you can make these yourself! Silk of any kind (as long as it isn't too thick) will work. My sainted mother makes ours for us and it's wonderful.

Fourteen: Antler Necklace. A little rustic, a little dainty, and a little more unique than your standard horseshoe. This is another item on my personal wishlist, even.

Fifteen: Flannel, of course. Pretty, warm, functional--doesn't get much better!

Sunday Night Highlights 12.6.15

Weekend Adventures:

• I made these cookies, and they were a major hit. I chopped up big milk chocolate bars instead of using the mini chips because the real DoubleTree cookies have chocolate chunks, and if it ain't broke (and giant Hershey bars are on major sale at the grocery store), right? 
• Wacey and I also did a little Christmas shopping yesterday. My boys have been done for weeks, and I finished gathering up surprises for almost everyone else yesterdy. Schwing!
• This afternoon, Wacey and I went on an adventure and it was great fun--I am a occasional checker of our county's swap shop Facebook page, and we found a set of wooden twin beds that can be bunked, complete with mattresses, for a steal, and bonus! one of my best friends from highschool's mom was selling them! She lives on a gorgeous farm with the coolest house (hellloooo wide-plank wood floors) and it was so fun to visit. And now, when Wace and future kids are ready for big kid beds, we're all ready to go. I sense an Annie Sloan project coming on. 

Agriculture: 

•  Most Christmas trees are grown on tree farms, and there's a tree farm in every state! For every one tree that's chopped down, three more are planted.
• Winter wheat isn't harvested during the winter, it's harvested during the early summer--it is planted in the fall, sprouts, and then lies dormant all winter and starts growing again in spring.
• Cows eat between 22-28 pounds of hay a day, depending on how big they are, and we tend to feed them a little more when it's very cold. 

On the Ranch:

• The guys are sorting cows into calving groups this week. We sort them based upon due date so not everyone is calving at once, or for months. Since we AI, we can stagger our cows pretty well so it's not too much of a drag for anyone. Bert will calve the heifers (first-time mothers), who are due first, around the 15th of January. 
• We're also PAP-testing some calves this week, and having our annual pre-calving meeting with the vet. I'll write a post about it this week, it's pretty cool stuff.
• We have our annual ranch Christmas party next weekend. It's a chance for us all to get gussied up, eat prime rib, shake hands with the ranch owner, and have a good time in general. Pictures and a review next week!

On the Home Front:

• Christmas is in full swing down here! The tree is up, the lights are lit...and the greenery for the fresh garland is in a pile on the front porch. I have plans for it to become a brightly-lit Griswold-worthy masterpiece in the next two to four days. Ha.   
• Since Bert and I finished Star Wars, we're continuing our sci-fi education with the Matrix trilogy. It's pretty weird. But good! 
• I sent out Christmas cards this week! Christmas cards are one of my favorite parts about the holiday season, partially because addressing envelopes and snail mail are two of my favorite things. And the stamps! Peanuts! Good job, USPS.
• I love finding good deals, who doesn't?  

Gift Ideas for the Cowboy in Your Life

I know, I know. Gift guides. Ugh. 

Or maybe not ugh, because if you're like me, you enjoy seeing ideas for gifts because you're fresh out and your people are hard to shop for! I've seen a lot of gift guides for men, but I thought I would make my own because none of the ones I've found have fit my husband or any of the cowboys I know at all. So, if you have a cowboy to buy gifts for, or a guy that is a western type or just likes this kind of stuff, here's what I've had success with!

One: Ropes. Not exactly a "fun" gift, but I know my husband always appreciates new ropes since a rope can get ruined pretty fast if things decide to get wild. Make sure that you know what kind and lay (softness) he likes! 

Two: Moccasins. Bert has these exact ones. Minnetonkas hold up great, and are the perfect incentive for your guy to strip his [muddy] boots off at the door! They're also cozy.

Three: The Best Travel Mug. You guys. Contigo mugs are the BEST. They don't spill even when turned upside down or have been rolling around the floorboards all morning, keep stuff really hot, are dishwasher safe and pretty tough! They're pricey, though--I recommend getting them at Costco, especially when they're on sale.

Four: Stormy Kromer Scotch Cap. A wintertime cowboy headwear staple. Plus, you can get them embroidered with their brand or initials, too.

Five: Leatherman. Leathermans are a great gift for any man in your life. They come in a variety of types, and they're handy to have around. Bert has the one pictured here, and always has it with him. Another thing that can be engraved so that when they leave it in the barn, it has a better chance of finding its way home.

Six: Moscow Mule Mugs. These are neat, and Moscow Mules are delicious. I don't actually know many cowboys who know what a Moscow Mule is, but they'll drink out of these mugs no matter what's in 'em!

Seven: Mittens. I couldn't find the exact pair I was looking for, but lots of saddle shops carry them or know where you can find them. The best ones are lined with sheepskin, and are a sight warmer than gloves. These babies will help your fella keep his hands warm when he's horseback moving cattle in the winter (or riding his snowmobile or pursuing other winter...pursuits? Yes.)

Eight: Flannel Shirts. You can NEVER go wrong with flannel shirts, right? The ones I have here are Wrangler, since they have snaps, and Bert owns several. I borrow them sometimes (shhhh!), so I can attest that they're comfortable, wash well and fit true to size.

Nine: Rope Gum Sole Mocs. If a cowboy isn't wearing his boots or Minnetonkas (see what I did there), this is what's on his feet. I'm thinking about getting a pair myself--they also come in dark brown, and a fun red.

Ten: Carhartt Puffer Vest. Bert has one of these, and he loves it. The material is thicker than your average pv, so they're more likely to withstand barbed wire, getting stuffed under a tractor seat, trampled in the mud by a four-legged critter, or just left in the back of the pickup covered in something stinky until May when you finally get tired of the stench and give it to your wife to wash and air out in the sun for like, ever.

Eleven: Boots. Of course, where's a cowboy without his boots? Now, unless I had very specific instructions, I would never order riding boots for Bert since many cowboys get their riding boots custom-made. But a nice pair of boots for town are never a bad idea--Bert wore a pair very like these to our wedding! It's actually better if you get them a pair that they don't want to ride in or wear to work, because that will guarantee they stay clean :)

Twelve: Spurs. If you want to go really fancy, you can order a pair of spurs. There are many makers, and chances are that you know what sort your husband likes, or he's told you (or visited the same website every day for three months). Or he collects fancy bits and spurs, in which case you can't go wrong. I got these exact spurs for Bert a few years ago, customized with his initials. He has several other pairs, but still wears these often and they've held up really well.  Be careful, though--spurs are like women's jewelry. Some--like these--are affordable. Some--like these--are not.

I hope this helped you with some ideas for those hard-to-shop-for men in your life! You can also do what I do and be creepy all year round in an effort to glean details about wish list items for the guys who swear they don't know what they want for Christmas (unless it's a new horse/trailer/pickup/insert other very expensive item that you can't actually afford as a Christmas gift).

Elk on the PiVOT

I hope someone gets the Friends reference in the title. It's one of my favorites, as anyone who has moved her fair share of sofas can relate.

In the winter, we have a herd of elk that comes down to the pivot behind our house almost every day. I never get tired of seeing them, or taking pictures of them!

Next year, though, I think I'll try to get the pivot stopped on the other side. It detracts from the picturesque quality of the scene. Also, it's broken. To be fair, I don't think it was meant to stop there. It just fell over.

Aren't elk the best? They're enormous, truly. Not as big as moose, of course, but since moosen are scarce in these parts, they're the biggest. I'm sure we have some very fat cows that outweigh them, but we don't talk about them. It makes them self-conscious. They don't like being compared to elk.

Merry third day of December! 

Feeding the Girls

Since it's been so cold and snowy, Bert's been feeding the girls every other day or so. Eating more helps the animals keep themselves warm, and so even if the ground isn't completely covered in snow, we feed them if it's really cold.

I love feeding cows, but until they make a car seat adapter for a tractor buddy seat and put on a cab the size of a combine to fit all of our stuff, we're stuck taking pictures of the action.

There are tons and tons of different ways to feed cows. Round bales, square bales, using a bale processor (a machine that unbales the hay and lays it out in a line), flaking it off the back of a wagon or pickup--the options are endless. All of it is great if it gets the hay on the ground! The hay on the ranch here is mostly alfalfa/grass mix, although we do have some straight up grass hay. It doesn't matter what you feed them, so long as it has adequate nutrients and protein to keep a cow healthy.

First, Bert drives out in the tractor and the cows freak out because FOOD!

He lays out the hay in a long line and the girls go to town. I love seeing bright green hay when it's snowy and cold.

Sometimes the girls get really excited and get their food all over themselves. I don't blame them though, it looks delicious!

"Don't bother me, I'm eating."

"Really, though. Go away."

"Feed the girls!" "Sha la la la la la don't be shy, you're a real nice guy because you feed the girls." To the tune of "Kiss the Girl" from the Little Mermaid, of course.