Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Christmas

Under our Christmas Tree

We had such a wonderful, relaxed Christmas yesterday. Usually we open gifts at our house in the morning, then go to my mom's house for lunch, then go to Brian's mom's house for dinner. Before we know it, the day is gone. This year Brian had to work so it was just Justin and me at home.

The Thursday before Christmas Justin went to the doctor because he had been running fever for a while and just couldn't seem to get well. Turns out, he had the flu and a chest infection. Thankfully, he was well by Christmas. My mom had the flu at the same time so we're having to postpone Christmas with her until Friday.

Our tradition is to open one gift on Christmas Eve...the one I happened to open was a cappuccino maker so I started Christmas morning with a yummy homemade cappuccino.
Christmas morning cappuccino
At about 6:00 in the morning Justin and I went out to tend to animals. We fed the goats, filled their hay manger, let the chickens out, & prepped all the heat lamps because we were preparing for a 20 degree night. We spent the day watching Christmas movies and munching on cherry, pomegranate, habenero sauce over cream cheese with Ritz crackers. A sweet friend of ours gave this to us as a gift for Christmas this year. It is soooo yummy!!

Cherry Pomegranate Habenero Sauce over cream cheese
I got to make our first Christmas dinner at home this year. I was so excited about this! We started a new tradition for our Christmas dinner. Beef prime rib roast, loaded baked potato casserole, roasted asparagus, & pots de creme. It was DELICIOUS!! 


Beef Prime Rib Roast

Deliciousness!!

Baked Potato Casserole

Roasted Asparagus
 
 
 
On Christmas Eve, Brian's grandmother always made a pot of chili and we would all go to her house to have dinner and open gifts. When Brian's grandmother passed away, I started making the pot of chili on Christmas Eve. This year was no different.
Justin's favorite chili
Linds went to Corpus for Christmas this year. Both of her grandparents are in a nursing home so before she left we made goodies for her to take back to her grandparents and their nurses.

Keepin' it real folks
Lindsay's mom got me this personalized
 cutting board for Christmas. Love it!
Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chewy Pecan Cookies
Cookie tins with thumb print cookies,
butter finger cookies.
 











 

Homemade Toffee
On Wednesday, December 19th Annabelle had her babies...twin girls!! Their names are Noelle & Natalia. I don't have pictures yet but will try to soon.

The week before Christmas, Lindsay's mom came up to spend the weekend with us. While she was here we all went to see the largest Christmas light display in the state of texas, Santa's Wonderland.

Linds & Me


Linds & Me
Brian, Me, & Justin


Linds & Her Mom
Linds & Her Mom

Merry Christmas from Texas Y'all!

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Ch, Ch, Ch, Changes...



Helloooo....anybody still out there? It's been almost 4 months since we've been on here. Wow...how time flies!

Things are changing here as our warm season finally seams to have come to a close...at least I'm hoping it has come to a close. This is Texas and we could be in shorts Monday, bundled up in jackets and scarves Tuesday, then back in shorts by weeks end. This past Sunday we actually were in shorts and t-shirts and were bundled up Monday. I am LOVING it!! This morning it was 26 degrees when I got up. Bliss I tell 'ya. Pure bliss for me. Of course, we're not getting snow like my dad is further north :( He takes every opportunity he can to let me know when it's snowing in Kansas.

Here's an update of changes in pictures...
 
Fall Garden
 
 
This is the romaine lettuce Brian planted last week.
We also have collard greens (not pictured).
 

 
Heat lamp
 
 
We dusted off the heat lamp last night and hung it for the chickens & goats to warm their houses & lessen the chance of their water freezing. The chickens water didn't freeze and the goats water inside their pen didn't freeze. Only their water outside of their pen froze last night.  
 
 

 
 
 
 
 


 Animal beds have been hayed heavy for the long, cold, winter nights.
 
 
 
 
 
 


Hay is in the manger to keep the goats' bellies full and warm. Looks like we'll be refilling this one today.
 
 
 
 
  

Left: GG / Back Right: Annabelle / Front Right: Duke


The trio...always together. And guess what?!? Annabelle is pregnant again!! We really think there's triplets this time. We're not sure exactly when she took up the first time but the first time we saw it was in August. However, Duke joined the farm in mid July so it could have been any time since then. Not sure if we'll have Christmas babies but we'll definitely have babies in the cold. We're checking her pin bones daily and can already squeeze colostrum from her. Can't wait to have a fridge and freezer full of goats milk again. Unfortunately we're back on cow's milk for the time being. 




Hot shot!
Duke in action!




Yum...Treats!
Ms. Doubtfire
This is one of the baby ducks we bought over the summer. It was supposed to be a female but has turned out to be a male so we named him Ms. Doubtfire because,  "dude looked like a lady". If you're too young to get that, then google it.



Daisy Mae is a mama! She had 10 little ducklings on 10/28/12. However, 2 of them died soon after. She now proudly waddles around with her clutch of 8. We're not sure how many, if any, we're keeping just yet. 








Linds and Big Rooster still do not get along...that has not changed!

 
Mabel
This is Mabel & City the Kitty. We found their mama dead in our pasture next to our shed. Brian and Justin found her kittens 2 days later in the shed. They seemed to have just opened their eyes and were so hungry when we found them. We milked the goat and bottle fed them until they were old enough to eat dry food.
City the Kitty






Linds with Mabel & City

Sadie with her adopted babies. She's been a good mama!
 
Sadie adopted Mabel & City Kitty as soon as we found them. She would clean up after them, bathe them, sleep with them, & follow them wherever they went. They love their mama!


And yes, this is posted on our place. Don't say you haven't been warned!