Planting

I am planting  seeds today. The grow lights are up in the basement and Bob fixed up the grow light in the kitchen. Now, I can get serious about planting more seeds. It is a good thing, especially in winter, to have something to do that you really love.

February 3, 2014 · Sarah · One Comment
Posted in: Garden

MEXICAN HOT CHOCOLATE

MEXICAN HOT CHOCOLATE IS NECESSARY FOR SURVIVING WINTER IN MINNESOTA.  I MAKE IT WITH REGULAR HOT CHOCOLATE AND ADD CINNAMON AND VANILLA.  SOMETIMES, I FLOAT WHIPPING CREAM ON TOP. HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY.

January 31, 2014 · Sarah · No Comments
Posted in: Kitchen

Winter Wait

Winter is a waiting time. Today, I am waiting for the Great Pyrenees puppies to be born.  I am waiting for the plants  to germinate under the grow lights. I am waiting for my neighbor to plow snow that blocks the drive way. I am waiting for my Prayers to be answered on issues close to my heart. Puppies, Plants, Plowing, and Prayers are waiting with me today.  The pups will be born soon. The seeds will sprout into beautiful herbs and vegetables. My good neighbor will come with his tractor and plow the driveway. The Lord will answer my prayers. Waiting is okay when you know the outcome. Hope in the future is a beautiful thing.

January 30, 2014 · Sarah · One Comment
Posted in: Contemplations, Garden, Great Pyrs

Mocca

Mocca is back outside today. She enjoyed being in the house yesterday, but she is not close enough to puppy delivery to stay inside all the time. Tesse is close to her birthing time, so she will remain inside.  Walking around two huge female Great Pyrenees, and one poodle, in a small farm house, is not exactly my favorite thing. They do not understand the word “MOVE”!

January 29, 2014 · Sarah · One Comment
Posted in: Great Pyrs

Great Pyrenees Puppies

Tesse is happily shredding  the newspapers I put in her whelping box.  This is a good sign. Her “spouts” are filling up and I am officially on “puppy watch”.  What make this truly fascinating is that I moved Mocca inside this morning.  Mocca was bred to Boaz about the same time as Tesse.  There is only one whelping box in the basement. This could present a problem since Tesse has already claimed it. I am thinking seriously about fixing up Bob’s office as a secondary puppy nursery.  With a bed of cardboard, blankets, and old towels, covered with newspapers, she would do just fine. I am not exactly sure how Bob would feel about this. But a woman’s got to do what a woman’s got to do! This is especially true with two Great Pyrenees Moms having pups in the house at the same time. Since he is teaching today and not here to advise, I shall proceed. Mocca’s photos are  on the web site on the Adult Dog page. www.milkandhoneyfarm.com She has badger marking and is “smiling”.

January 28, 2014 · Sarah · One Comment
Posted in: Great Pyrs

Tesse

It looks like Tesse will be the first of my Great Pyrenees to have her puppies. We moved her  inside today. She will love the whelping box, enjoy all the extra petting, and devourer mega amounts of dog food. (plus her vitamins, raw eggs, and lamb patties)  Considering the wind chill is minus 50 degrees, it seemed the right thing to do. The cold weather does not bother my Pyrs. They bunk in the old red barn. However, we always arrange the basement as a puppy nursery and that works out well for all of us.  The Mama dogs, the pups, and me. I would not last long in the barn on a pile of straw! Tess is good company for me in the house. Her photo is on the web site Pyr page. She is all white and was bred to Boaz.  www.milkandhoneyfarm.com

January 27, 2014 · Sarah · 2 Comments
Posted in: Great Pyrs

Bright Spots in Winter

In spite of  unreasonable cold,  slippery ice, and blowing snow, there are a few bright spots to this beast of a Minnesota winter. They are called Blue Jays. I have three males who politely take turns at my bird feeder. They are amazingly nice to each other. I think it helps them survive by getting along. People could learn a  lot from my Blue Jays!

January 25, 2014 · Sarah · No Comments
Posted in: Contemplations

Flaking Skin

My skin had never dried out and flaked off until we moved to Minnesota. That just did not happened in Texas. It is the winters curse in the North land.  The commercial products talk big, but so do not work for me.

My solution is an easy one.  I tried olive oil. Olive oil destroys the attack of the flakes, takes off make up, and keeps my skin soft. The only problem  was that I smelled like a salad. Being creative, I decided  to try coconut oil. It works even better and the salad smell is history. One of the most important things I have learned in Minnesota is to IMPROVISE. Survival depends on adaptability and creativity. My war against winter is not over, but I am winning!

 

January 25, 2014 · Sarah · No Comments
Posted in: Save Money

Looking Up

My first winter in Minnesota, I spent a lot of time looking up. I wasn’t being spiritual. It was because I had not developed my ice walking skills.   When snow falls on top of ice, it is the worse kind of trap for the inexperienced  Texan.  You are having a good day and suddenly winter springs its diabolic trap and you are down. Snow is not soft and fluffy to fall on. That is a deceptive lie from the pit of hell. The ice is dangerous and it hurts. I know.

The issue was solved with ski poles. When I need to go out to the barn, I use a ski pole on each side for balance and traction. The poles keep me steady and confident that the ice isn’t going to kill me. This is a great survival tip if you are foolish enough to consider visiting Minnesota in winter.

Winter, I win again. Ha!

 

 

January 24, 2014 · Sarah · No Comments
Posted in: News

Song from a transplanted Texan

“Oh what a beautiful morning, Oh what a beautiful day. It’s 30 degrees below zero and all my sheep want hay.”

I can sing or I can cry. Today, I will sing.

January 23, 2014 · Sarah · No Comments
Posted in: Contemplations