Christmas Blitz and Visitors

We've played in the snow,

decorated the tree,

modeled Christmas gifts,

baked and eaten Christmas delights.

For the recipe, click this link.

And then, after the glitz and blitz had settled, it was time to get to work. 
David Tometich made a trip to shear our sheep. 

Shearing the last of the sheep.

No one but a shepherd understands why we shear them in winter, but its for a number of reasons (not all of them are privy to me, either).  Our ewes are bred to have lambs when it's still cold and no matter who you are or how cold it is, a dingle-berry-infested environment does not make for happy, healthy babies.  Also, a cold sheep will seek shelter from harsh weather.  They're not the brightest animals in the world, so if they register the actual temperature, there's a chance we'll find new lambs in a protected place during a classic mid-west ice storm.

David Tometich and the Big Guy weighing the wool.

Do we keep the wool? No.  We don't have a market or the ability to process it correctly.  David Tometich pays us for the wool.  We pay him to shear.  It's a win-win proposition, but we end up with healthy, clean sheep as our compensation.

That same day we were thrilled to have Zoe Martin, a field representative from Iowa Farmer Today,  interview Grace for a feature article this next month.

We'll let you know when and where it comes out--and we haven't forgotten to let you in on the secret in the hay bale, we just haven't gotten to it yet (Believe it!  Or not!).

After the interview, the Big Guy came to the house to sample goodies and get a report.  If the experience can be measured by Grace's after-interview demeanor, it was a huge success.  Thank you, Zoe!

Today, with family visiting from Colorado and a hopeful expectation of the Boyfriend, we are planning to break open the bale--and resume work on the new office (pictures coming soon to a blog near you).

Snow Day in Iowa

It's a snowy day in Iowa.  School was cancelled.  Traffic is slow to zero.  Slow is flying, ice is clinging, trees are dancing.

Grace was frosting sugar cookies and making cinnamon-swirl pancakes when Laura rushed in from the barn, a surprise in hand.  Who knew Babbit the Rabbit had babies?

The kitchen is empty as children have run outside to look for treasure--and to make a cozy home for a new little bunny, "The Cuteness." 

The joy of snow!  It's already a good day at Pine Ridge Farm!

Coming Up on Christmas!

Yesterday Matthew came home from college for Christmas break.  The Big Guy's been working on an addition to the shop and they were both very tired:

The Big Guy contracted 28 loads of grain for the month of December. He has already spent quite a bit of time driving and sitting in line, but left a great deal for Matthew to finish off the next couple weeks (Matthew's been looking for a few extra dollars to line his pocket).

The weather has been unseasonably warm.  Last weekend Grace and The Boyfriend spent the afternoon making a fort out of hay bales in the haymow.  You can see TB peering down at me from the top of the pile:

And in their adventuring, they found something quite curious:

The Big Guy says it's a raccoon--a SLOW raccoon.  The kids are hoping to dissect the bale of hay over the holidays and see what's really inside.  Until we find out, it's rather creepy.  Okay, so it's creepy whether we find out or not.

In other farm news, the chicks are growing--but they move fast enough to elude the camera most of the time.  Can you see them following the two black mama chickens?  The mild weather has given them a jump start on a harsh winter.

Christmas is closing in upon us.  From our house to yours, blessings as you anticipate the Savior's birth!