Spring Projects

Spring this year started off with very warm temperatures-almost 80 a few times.  After winter, these temps are quite welcomed but had all of us wondering if this summer was going to be an extremely hot and long one and even though we have gotten 2wks of moisture now, a long hot summer is always a possibility.

With the warm temps though, I got 'spring fever' pretty bad-this is nothing new, so I of course wanted to get going on projects!!  

  We got chicks this year......

 lots of chicks!!  Time for a fresh flock as our other ones are getting old and none of them are good sitters to hatch their own chicks.  We have Light Brahma's and Silver Laced Wynadottes but the free exotic-a Buttercup.

   I was debating on doing a garden this year because we have plans to do some major re-modeling on the front of the house-pouring concrete and extending a covered porch all the way down and I was thinking about doing the garden different.  After lots of thought and calculating the cost we decided that would be a project for next year.

  So, in order to have the garden this year we needed to get a water spigot put back in.  We found out it wasn't draining back this winter when it froze....ugh!

   Bryan just 'loves' these projects   ;)  

  The garden boxes were going to need some more 'dirt' and we decided that it would be better to water the trees out back by drip line instead of flooding a ditch-saves on water too.

 Just a few of the trees out back.

  Spring projects always involve flowers.

   Fast forward a couple weeks and the garden boxes are planted!!!

 We also decided to try a couple fruit trees this year-apricot and plumb!!

Answered Prayer

The last few year of drought have been really taking a toll on life in the west.  It is effecting everything from available water for personal use to everything in nature that God has created.  To see nothing turn green in the spring, springs drying up that have never been known to be dry to the Humbolt River being bone dry in June, and many wild animals that are in less then ideal condition for winter and then of course the very lively hoods of farming and ranching that feeds us being threatened is all very humbling.  It really makes me wonder if the lack of moisture over the past few years hasn't been a judgement from God; a call for repentance, an acknowledgement to the very One who is Sovereign in all situations good or bad.

This has caused me to do some serious thinking and reflecting even more on God and who He is and who we are before Him.  We are at His mercy but for those that know Him as Lord know the greatness of His mercy and love in the work of Christ and therefore can give thanks to Him in all things.  In giving thanks to Him though, we can also bring our petitions to Him knowing that He hears our prayers and we have been praying for rain, much needed rain.

   We have been receiving rain everyday for almost 2 weeks now; I believe without a doubt this is by the Lord's hand.  "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avail much" James 5:16

   Watching these storms roll in day after day is simply amazing!  They are powerful yet are at the will of God; the same God that has calmed storms in the past or has used them to bring judgement-they strengthen my faith and keep me humble.

   Watching new life bud forth, flowers bloom and dust being settled has been refreshing in so many ways; makes ya really want to get outside and literally breath it all in.

   The variety of wild flowers are starting to show their colors.......

and the hidden oasis's seem to be not holding back on taking in all this moisture!

    "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork"  Psalm 19:1

A Common Theme

Outside looking in!

This is a common 'look' at our house and I would imagine also at a lot of houses where their dogs are allowed to come in to the house or get let out of the yard or kennel.  Personally, I guess I can't blame them; I love getting outside after being in the house all day, but these are dogs and I think that their reason for wanting to basically be on the other side of the door or gate is because that is where the people are-at least with the dogs that we currently have. I have had dogs that didn't care where you were.  Their only goal when they were not 'contained' was to get as far away from you as fast as they could and then come back later when they were done touring the country side-talk about some serious frustration!!!  

   Abe, who used to be a service dog, really likes to be with people-(kind of a prerequisite for service dogs).  Anyhow, he really doesn't like to be one of the 'dogs' and hang out outside on the porch but he is doing much better with it as long as he gets his 'people' time-as I think all dogs should get; makes them better dogs!  

   Chip is Jessie's puppy.  He's about 7-8mo old now.  We've recently started putting him out into the 'big yard' area(he's growing up/graduating to the big yard) as he has shown that he isn't a wanderer and behaves well with the chickens, horses and goats.  Its kind of funny to see the change in expressions when they realize that now they are being kept on the other side of the gate, the very same gate that they so desperately wanted on the other side of to begin with.  Some of our dogs will never have this privilege unsupervised-a couple acres just isn't enough for them.

  The most desired place to be though is through this door or the front door.  This leads to the area that has the tasty foods, wood stove or swamp cooler-depending on the season and their comfy pillows(yes, they are spoiled!!)

  So, as I come to the end of this post, I wonder if there is something we can learn from this-I often think this way but don't want to over think these things either.  A couple things come to mind for me anyways; contentment is one.  We so often are not content with things in our life. Now, some of this may be do to our own lack of effort but sometimes we need to realize that we are right were God wants us to be and that He has given us already so many blessings in the possessions that we have-give thanks!!!
   The second thing that comes to mind is friendship/companionship.  We are not meant to be alone. We long for company, someone close to be able to talk to, laugh with, cry with, etc..... Ultimately, this 'void' in our lives along with the contentment issue can only be filled with God in our hearts but God did make Eve for Adam and sometimes our critters can be helpful when we need a little 'pick me up'.
  The last thing that comes to mind is............they are dogs doing what dogs will do if allowed-be part of the family as much as a dog can.

Smile

 Well, here it is, February second-Groundhog Day - and supposedly we're going to have 6 more weeks of winter.  Depending on what part of the country you live in this may be really good news for those of us that haven't really had a winter so far but for others, this is not what you want to hear.  I am one that is torn on this 'prediction'.  While we really need some winter, mainly the moisture that we usually expect, I always look forward to the warmer days; with that being said, I'm not complaining about the 50 degree weather we've been having and currently its raining-all good things!

Today is also my niece's birthday. Melody is 4 now and she called me this morning and wanted to go ride a horse, so before the rain came in, we saddled up and rode for about an hour; its always nice to be riding!  While riding, and actually while I've been out and about for the past week or so, I've noticed that there are many signs that spring is getting ready to make its 'appearance'. There are weeds starting to sprout-oh yippee!!!- but new grass is starting to pop up and the horses and dogs are starting to shed. 

Thinking on these things makes me really thankful that the seasons are not decided upon by a 'groundhog' but they are something that God started from the very beginning and will continue to come and go. His faithfulness in 'nature' is something that I think we often take for granted-He alone sustains all living things.  So, if your feeling gloomy about the '6 wks of winter' just remember that its all in God's hands, and if we look around, we will see that there are signs that the seasons are going to change even if its just longer daylight right now-give thanks and smile!

He sends the springs into the valleys; they flow among the hills......Psalm 104:10

 "Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now is God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  Therefore, do not worry, saying 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble"   Matt. 6:27-34

Mild Weather Riding

This month is turning out to be very mild as far as the weather goes. We've had a little rain here and there but the temps are in the 40's and 50's.  Personally, I'm loving the temperatures but we could really use some moisture.  The mountains have a little snow on them and while every bit that we get is greatly appreciated, it is no where near enough to bring the water levels of many reservoirs, lakes and rivers back to where they need to be.  I've been told that it will take a couple years of good moisture to bring relief from the drought. So in the mean time, I will continue to pray for rain, give thanks for any we get and trust in God for its all in His hands.  Droughts are nothing new to this world.

  

   This mild weather has made getting out to ride really nice-don't have to bundle up to much. My arena shows just how much salt is in this soil around here-it looks like its been dusted with snow.

  Riata and I

 Jessie making some circles with Nina-kind of fun to make 'patterns' when the ground is all white and your tracks are brown.

  I'm not convinced that its been 't-shirt' weather but then again, I'm not 15 anymore so what do i know?

  Lena's turn!  She was so thrilled-not!  This means that her winter 'flub' is in danger of disappearing.

 Checking her feet-a good habit to have.

 Cooling down together

 So my pics are not in order but here I'm checking Riata up before I hop on; always a good idea even on a broke horse.

  The best part after a ride and a good brushing-gotta roll and make sure that the dirt is really rubbed in.

 Getting up......and then a good shake......

 ta-da!......nice a dirty again....just the way they like it!

 Riata's turn!  They do take turns too; they think they all have to roll in the same spot so they go one at a time.

'White' horses are never really all white; nothing like a good dirt bath!!

Taking Time

Sometimes, we all need a reminder to slow down from all of the daily to-do's and take some time to enjoy things, sit and ponder things and make sure our loved ones get some quality time.

  Marisa to this day still loves to snuggle and sometimes we just need to sit down and do just that.....Angel thinks she 'needs' to snuggle too.   For Marisa and myself, this is a great on an emotional level and also a personal level-she loves to tell me whats on her mind!!  I love it!

  Hank think he needs more time too; that is, time spent chasing the 'flashy' thing on the camera.

  Squirrel and Badger love the cuddle time that they get with Jessie and she loves giving it to them; it means that she gets to bring the 'outdoor' kitties inside.

   The dogs love chore time!!  Its time to go run around, bark at each other, growl at each other of 'green' piles of nasty(yes, they have fought over poo) and tease a few cats plus, when all of the other critters are fed its then time for them to get their food. I'm trying to help them with taking time to enjoy their food while they eat, to savor each bite but I think I am wasting my time with that one.

 As far as the horses go, its always a good time to eat!  Once they've all settled into their 'spots' they do actually seem to take the time to enjoy whats been put out.

 This is one of my most favorite times of the day and I really do get bummed when I miss it-the sunset!  The beauty that is displayed day after day never gets boring-its always amazing!  Its a good reminder for me to take the time to give thanks to the Lord for getting me through another day.