Christmas Cattle time

First, of all, here is to wishing all of our friends and family a Merry Christmas.

We took our annual, once a year family photo for this event.

As Jess is all fired up to hit the cattle show circuit,

we decided to take some of our commercial Angus calves to a show in Dawson Creek this January.

So, that meant our Christmas break was spent halter breaking, practice showing, washing and clipping these animals.

It is always fun to work with the kids, and the cattle,

 and the best part of it all is, that the older the kids get, the more they can do without my help!

The black heifer of Jess.

My red heifer

and, the black 4-H steer from Roy.

So, keeping in the spirit of things, Jess was gifted a few signs;

All that is left to say is,

have a great day with your herd and flock!

Happy Birthday to me

Another year has gone by,
and, I hope I have become a little wiser.

This past year has definitely been a year to  reflect on so many things.
It was a year plagued by bad luck, stress, rebuilding and moving forward.

I have come to realize that there is a certain resilience within me,

a resilience to be happy, 

to experience joy and to appreciate all that is good.
I suppose, it is a stubbornness to simply be happy.
I truly believe that every day, is a good day.

This past year has taught me a little about humility.
After the fire, the outpouring of love, kindness, letters and donations was very touching.
I am not a very demonstrative person, I do not like to lean on others and feel that I need to be able to do things alone or within our  small family.
It made me feel awkward that so many people jumped into action to help us,
I was unsure how to deal with it.
I was overwhelmed with this show of kindness from  our local community,

 to complete strangers.
It was humbling to me.
It was a lesson in letting go and allowing others to show kindness, accepting help and to feel their sincere well wishes.

Thank you to everyone.

So often, we feel alone in our sadness.
I learnt that my grief, was not just my own.
My sadness about the pups that died, was not only mine;
 it was heartbreaking to see Roy looking for the pups on the morning of the fire,
 it was heartbreaking to inform the other puppy owners that their pup had died,
they too felt grief and sadness.
My grief, was their grief,
my sadness was their sadness.

 I am rather awkward when it comes to friendships.
This past year made me see that some of the people,
(even, if they are "only" Facebook friends),
have become part of my circle of people whom I regard as friends.
They are part of "my" community, they share in my joys, sadness, laugh at my lame jokes, share ideas, motivate me and inspire me,
and endlessly "like" all my dog photo's.
I have had the privilege this past year to meet some of my Facebook friends, face to face.
I hope that next year, that circle will expand and that I will be able to meet a few more.

So, a new year  has dawned for me,

a year filled with anticipation and always a little trepidation.

I like to dream big, 

make elaborate plans, 

but,  often doubt myself and my abilities.

Perhaps, this will be the year for new and great things,
and if not,
I am sure the planning and the journey in itself  will be as much fun!

"There was never a night or a problem that could defeat sunrise or hope."

~Bernard Williams

A weekend away

With the ranch and all the animals we have,
 it is really hard to actually go away.
It takes a lot of organization, timing and planning.

As we have not been away together as a family for a few years,
I decided to plan a "surprise" weekend away.
I knew Jess would be home for Thanksgiving and after organizing with the ladies at Eric's work, I booked a few days in a cabin in Jasper National Park.

It was rather amusing, as our family really does not know
"how to tourist".
We tried our best.
We did the traditional things like sticking our heads through painted figures,
we stopped by the road side to take photo's of all the tame elk, we sat in the giant "hot springs" tub,

we played pool in the cabin's game room and we went to some of the "sights" around Jasper.

The best thing of it all was just going for the walks together, and having the opportunity to take pictures of the kids and Eric.
Watching the kids bickering,
and eating giant brownie sundaes together is part and parcel of family holidays!

Looking for wildlife in Jasper is anti-climatic.
On an average fall day in High Prairie, I can normally see:
2-3 moose, white tails, mule deer, elk, coyotes, fox, eagles, sandhill cranes, geese, hawks, squirrels and now and again the odd bear, wolf and fisher.
In Jasper, we saw "tame" (totally habituated) elk, a mountain sheep ewe disappearing over a ridge, a few squirrels and an eagle.

I love the mountains and they make me feel in awe.
The canyons, the water falls, the views and the crisp mountain air is something I really can appreciate.
 However, I can see that Jasper in the tourist season would be like a nightmare to me.
I think, I can appreciate the "road less traveled"
a bit more.

It was fun, relaxing and a good way to spend Thanksgiving.

Birthdays and Milestones

So, the last week in May is always a celebratory week.
Both Jess and Eric have birthdays.
Eric just turned 52,
he seems younger today,
 than he did 15 years ago.
Jess turned 19, and she is spot on her age.
Age has nothing to do with the numbers,
it really is all about  how old you feel.



This week also marks another milestone,
one which we rarely celebrate.
Eric and I have now been living together/partners for 25 years.

I have lived longer with this man than I did with my parents,
and, of all the people in the world, 

only my sister has known me the longest.

25 years ago, we shacked up together,

neither ever feeling the need to get married, or commit to each other in any other way.
We have had and still have, our trials and tribulations,

there are moments when we both want to throw the proverbial "towel in the ring".

It has not been easy as we are so different in so many regards.
People talk about having their soul mate, or a kindred spirit,
but that is really not the case with us.
We have to work really hard to cross our cultural, emotional and the myriad of other differences.

Eric is not an easy man, he is tough on himself and tough on the people around him.

Here are some examples of our differences:

He is Dutch  and I am South African.
He celebrates Sinte Klaas,  and I like Santa.
He likes beer and I prefer milk.
He is good at math and I am good at not liking math.

He talks loudly and I am softer spoken.
He never swears and I can certainly use choice words.
I like to stop and smell the roses and he does not even see roses in a  rose garden.
He is direct and to the point whereas I will engage in pleasantries and ask about the weather.
On a road trip I will stop and pull over to take a photograph, he never stops.
He is easily irritated, I take a long time before I am mad.
He forgives quicker, I hold a grudge longer.
Eric is all serious, I like to smile and laugh at silly things.
He thinks he is always right, I know I am always right.
He is independent and I am strong willed.


So, despite all these and, many other differences,
I think  25 years together is certainly a milestone to celebrate.

As it is Thursday,
here are some  for Throwback Thursday