Snow Day!

Well, after much debate and clucking of tongues, the snow finally arrived.  It was touch and go for awhile with forecasters predicting snow beginning at 9:00 AM, then at 12:00 PM, and then by 4:00 PM.  The poor school officials didn't know who to believe, so in the end they just closed school and declared a snow holiday!  I promise you, the ground actually shook from all the HOORAYs yelled across the town!  In actuality, the snow began about 3:30 PM Wednesday afternoon.  And it snowed, and it snowed, and it snowed, up until around midnight.  The next morning, the land looked like a quilt of white had been draped over the mountains, hills, and valleys.  I, for one, could not wait to measure how many inches we received - which, based on my scientific "accurate" boot measurement, was anywhere from 5 to 8 inches -  depending where I stood.  Here are some pictures from the last several days.  Break out the hot chocolate and enjoy!

JR and the "Little Caboose"  keeping warm while getting in a good read the afternoon before the big snow.

 Wednesday afternoon - the snow has started to fall!

 Within 15 minutes, the ground and hay hauling truck was covered with the white stuff.

 Within two hours the tree branches were bending low.

 Thursday morning, all was silent as our farm was cradled in pure white magic!

 Unbelievable whiteness!

 Pure, pure, snow!

 The new calves could not believe their eyes.  "Hey, what is this stuff?  It looks like milk but sure doesn't taste like it!"

 Rolls of hay waiting to be fed to hungry, hungry cows.

 As the day warmed up, the snow began to melt, the streams began to gurgle,  ......

 ....the cows began to roam.......

 .....and Big A was looking for a race!!!  1-2-3 and the race was on....

 Wheeee!  Nothing like racing across snow covered pastures with chunks of snow, mud, and cow poop flying all over the place!   (Big A thinks he won the race but the Little Caboose and I know the truth!!)

 Alas, the fun and games had to come to an end since cows needed feeding.  That's JR in the tractor cab carrying several rolls of hay to those hungry, hungry cows.

 Big A is following JR so he can help cut the strings on the rolls of hay before placing them in the hay rings.....

...... And the cows are following JR and Big A because they know who holds their meal ticket!  Cows are smart that way!

 Later that afternoon, after the Little Caboose and Big A went back home, Meme T, Papa G, Pooh, Big A and "Caboosy" made snow cream!  Yummy!!

That night, their sweet tooth on high alert, Pooh and "Caboosy" decide to make cookies!  Caboosy "reads" the recipe as Pooh mixes the ingredients. (Attention Papa G.  Have you misplaced your reading glasses?)

"Um...just for the record, these are MY special reading glasses....Papa G must have left his out at the shop!"

SNOW IS MAGICAL, BUT  ONLY FOR 24 HOURS.  AFTER THAT, MUCH LIKE CINDERELLA'S PUMPKIN, IT TURNS INTO MUSH!  

Love,

Dee Dee

Basketball and Beyond!

This past week has been filled with basketball and more basketball as Big A's team, the Vikings, battled for the area championship.  It's a good thing this only happens once a year because my heart, not to mention my ears, could not take much more!  What ever happened to turning down the volume because of possible hearing loss??  And how in the world does each team even hear what their coach has to say when music is blaring in their ears??  Seriously, music is okay but there is an extreme to everything!!  I mean, this was not a rock concert - or was it?   Having had my say, I will now focus on the game which was a heart stopper for sure! Cheers resonated from one end of the gym to the other as each team tried their "darnedest"  (I think that's a word) to pull ahead!!

The Vikings receiving last minute instructions.  Keep your eye on the player on the end with the bandaged elbow.  He's a heart stopper for sure! And watch #25 because this "center" player is a wiz at basketball. And he just so happens to be Big A!

Cheering each other on as the game commences.  

Coach making it clear what these guys are to do.....and NOT to do!  

Big A, #25, on alert!

Big A has the ball and its......GOOD!  TWO POINTS!

Guarding for the rebound shot......

#25 has the center position covered......

Now #25 is racing to the opposite side....(Whew, he is fast - really fast!)

Taking a breather....

Vikings pulled ahead and there are six minutes to go...hang in there guys!

One early heart-stopping moment in the game was when the ball was put up by the opposite team......Big A goes for the block......

The ball spins around and around....oh, the suspense - the hush that falls over the crowd........the players are frozen....

And then.....The ball loses its momentum and falls to the outside where a Viking player rebounds it.....Go Vikings!!

Big A receiving one last bit of advice as the game winds down....

The opposing team had a great cheering squad....

And now  - #34 is in the game!  

#34 was in a bad accident several years ago involving brain damage but he LOVES basketball and the team truly thinks of him as one of their own.  Winning or losing, #34 is sent to the floor during the 4th quarter.

Final score: 50 to 74.  Vikings are area champions!!  I love this part of the game where each team member acknowledges the opposing team for a game well played.  (Plus, it's at the end of the game and I can begin to recoup my lost hearing!)

This picture speaks for itself!

And so does this one!

Some happy ball players!

And now....the final moment....when the winning team cuts down the net from the hoop and each team member receives a piece.  Victory is SWEET!!

NEXT - ON TO THE SUB-DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP!

P.S.  The great Vikings went on to win the sub-district title.  Then they headed to the district championship game with banners flying and high hopes thumping!  Alas....they were defeated - but not before they gave it their all and racked up countless, priceless memories.  And hey...there is always next year!!  

Dee Dee

A FINE Morning Walk!

This morning, as I set out for my morning walk, I was contemplating remaining "grumpy" all day.  It was to cold to walk, there was laundry to be washed, floors to be swept, clothes to be ironed, and gray roots to be covered up!  Ugh!  But then.......without warning......I spied a sight that changed my whole outlook!   Are you ready?   Here it comes........

DAFFODIL'S!!

 These "purty" little things were just peeking up out of the ground - making me want to jump for joy!  Who cares what that old groundhog said a few days ago - these daffodils know spring is just around the corner.

OH HAPPY DAY!  

And just like that, my whole outlook changed.  I was energized!  Happy!  Light as a Feather!

I started snapping pictures of everything in sight and thinking......Spring is coming!  Spring is coming! Spring is coming!

 First picture - All lined up in a row......homemade salt feeders to keep the cows healthy and wise!

 JR's cattle hauler used to take the cattle to and from the sale barn.  

 Wire rolled up ready for spring fencing repairs.

 Watering troughs -  just in case the water in the ponds and creeks quit running during a dry season.

 An old firetruck hose because......well.... just because JR collects mounds of old stuff.... just in case he might need it - someday.  

 The old, faithful fertilizer truck.

 Another salt and molasses feeder - this one "store bought".  

 An old, rusty ax that was half buried in the mud when JR rescued it.  

 A Caribbean pond on our very own farm!  However, unlike the Caribbean, this water stays unbelievably cold all year long because it originates from an underground source near the cave on the far end. 

 Ice in a ditch that was beginning to melt as the sun rose over the mountain tops.  

 Piles of lumber left over from the "new barn" and waiting to be reinvented.  

 Stacks of lumber waiting for inspiration to strike!

 Cattle coming to wish us a "good morning" on the home pasture.

 A huge water igloo that sits patiently, waiting until the next severe drought.  I hope it sits there indefinitely.  Hauling water to thirsty cattle is not a fun job!

 The hay truck that has been busy the last several days doing what it does best.....hauling hay!

More of JR's "treasures".  Even this pile of junk - Oops - I mean treasure (translated meaning-miscellaneous items that a farmer/rancher cannot live without), could not dampen my spirit on this marvelous SPRING morning....

So, go back in the ground, Mr. Groundhog, and mull that one over for awhile. 

Bye, Bye, cold weather!

Dee Dee