Cute Babies 12 January 2015

Posted on January 12, 2015 by Sally Gerard

IMG_2477The day began with a most incredible sunrise, shepherding in the new mercies of the day. I’d been looking forward to this Saturday for many weeks as my good friend, Elaine, had phoned to see if I wanted to go to the National Western Stock Show rodeo in Denver with her.

We’d been to this stock show many times before, but I hadn’t gone in years. I couldn’t  wait to catch up with my friend and wander the barns, breathing in the sights and smells that are so familiar to us both.

Boyd Polhamus

Boyd Polhamus

In the end, both our partners decided to come along. We had a very enjoyable day and the rodeo was all that I remembered it to be.My favorite rodeo announcer, Boyd, is still announcing and they still have cotton candy!

Cheering cowboys and booing some of the scores, laughing at the antics of the clowns and sitting in awe of the clowns who take on the bulls to protect the cowboys kept us busy!

Alpaca baby

Alpaca baby

There is never enough time to see everything there. We did our best: found all the cute animal babies, gawked at beautiful horses, studied bulls, cows and heifers, found our dream horse trailer with built-in living quarters, and ate well. I love the free samples. Can you even imagine taking a trip with your horses to ride new trails and trails you know well, and then, after a long day’s ride, settling in for the evening and being able to enjoy your supper with your horse’s head coming through the door between the camper part and the horse stall part? Heaven!

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Returning 8 January 2015

Posted on January 8, 2015 by Sally Gerard
Corn stalks in late November

Corn stalks in late November

It is always difficult to come back from the winter break when you are in education: student or teacher. Returning to routine, though, brings a sense of belonging, of familiar, in a way that can bring you back into your own body and remind you about what is real. Sometimes, that break feels like some other season, even just one day back into life.

I can remember lying in a hospital bed and feeling like I had no control over my body, like I was tethered to the mattress. It terrified me-a hollow, shaky, cold kind of fear.

Cold, snowy mornings

Cold, snowy mornings

I wanted nothing more than to sit up, to see the world upright again, to have rule over my coming and going. That is when routine can be so important and such a comfort.

The cold has been non-stop lately; the horses have spent several nights in the barn and the cattle bedded down in the corral. I love to feed in winter because it means starting my trusty MMZA tractor in the early morning and hooking up to the sled in order to get the hay to the pasture, with nothing much for company except the dawn and the setting moon. It’s such a lovely time of day.

IMG_0214I almost got stuck this morning as I had to take the hay wagon out instead of the sled. I spun the right tire on my tractor until we finally hit dirt and surged forward. The cattle were slow to come to me-it was a bit earlier then the winter break routine. The horses, however, were lined up at the feed bunk and seemed impatient for their oat hay. I love this morning routine in winter. My fingers are not as fond. By the time I’d finished, I’d had to ball my digits up in the center of my gloves and grit my teeth through the pain. If only they made gloves that would both keep your fingers warm and allow you the dexterity needed to do chores. Maybe next season…after all, we did put a man on the moon!

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Owls and Barns 6 January 2015

Posted on January 6, 2015 by Sally Gerard

IMG_2382I can’t give up the Christmas lights. My tree is still up inside and my lights are still up outside. It’s such a balm to my spirit to look out in the dark and see the glow of those colored lights, or to wake up in the night and open my eyes and there is that beautiful tree standing testament to the birth of Christ, or heading out in the dark to run and returning to see the glow of color along our roof line. I know I need to begin to put them away, especially the tree as it begins to shed its needles.

Reluctant, IMG_2470God said to me in the sunset last night and in the rise of it this morning, “See, I surround you with peace and beauty each and every day. So, while I love that you celebrate the birth of My Son with light and beauty, you need not rely on that to bring you what nurtures your soul.” IMG_2468Well, that was my interpretation of what I saw.
Last night was made extra special. We were both struck by the setting sun, and then wandered into our evening. I sat working on the computer and a hunting show was on the TV. IMG_2455Both of us heard the sound, but I thought it was on the TV in the background. I got up and it came again, so we muted the sound and still heard it- an owl outside the north window. We used to hear them fairly often as they had a nest under the bridge a mile to the west, but had moved on some time ago.

Squinting into the dark, I saw the huge shape up on the old windmill tower just outside on the north of our house. Great horned owls are tremendous to see and this one was no exception. Hooting away at something we couldn’t fathom, he stayed there singing us to sleep and then flew off just after we’d gone to bed. IMG_2463Owls are considered signs of wisdom and good luck, and I felt that as I looked through the binoculars into its round yellow eyes. I think, perhaps, there was at least one less jack rabbit this morning, for due to the way their feathers are constructed, they are virtually silent as they glide over their intended meal, having first perched and silently spotted what might look good for supper.  They are the only animal that eat skunks, so, I’m a fan! They nest and mate in January and raise their young in winter. Amazing. I hope he, or she, returns tonight.

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A New Year 2 January 2015

Posted on January 2, 2015 by Sally Gerard

IMG_2460Since Christmas, we’ve had snow and our share of cold here. The other morning, at about 4:30, it was minus 22 degrees. The horses have been enjoying the warmth and protection of the barn, and the cattle seem to appreciate the straw bedding in the corral next to the barn. Venturing out requires coveralls, balaclava and glove liners in my work gloves- even so, my fingers suffer. Vigorous living! IMG_2410

The goodies are gone now and the New Year is upon us. Normally, I’ve already compiled a list of resolutions, but not this year. I watched the ball drop in Colorado time, arose early on New Year’s Day for no apparent reason other than habit, and after chores were done, we settled in to watch the IMG_2461_2Rose Bowl Parade, which I love. When you watch it on RFD, you get to hear what natural materials the floats are made from and it is incredible. The horses in this parade are beautiful and plentiful. It was relaxing, especially combined with good company and plenty of hot coffee. Later we enjoyed pheasant and stuffing, Grandma’s noodles and spinach followed by some cherry pie and homemade ice-cream. A good way to bring in the New Year.
While the photos included for this day’s blog are not necessarily related, they are full of beauty and of wonderful memories of family. As I sit here, thinking, I realize that my resolutions need to include some of the following: staying in closer contact with friends and family and that includes putting myself out more to drive in order to spend time with those I love and cherish, do something healthy for my well-being every day (I’ll have to flesh this one out or it won’t happen),

The best little outhouse ever!

The best little outhouse ever!

less worrying and more celebrating the tiny little things that bring joy each and every day, realize a dream by working on a path to it, play more poker and maybe even catch one of those professional poker shows on TV so I can figure out how to get a “poker cool” on, and each day love to the best of my ability. If I could just keep this mantra in front of all those things that get in my way, I’ll be ahead of the game in 2015- God is good all the time and all the time, God is good.

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Goodies 30 December 2014

Posted on December 30, 2014 by Sally Gerard

IMG_2423I love this time of year when neighbors share plates of homemade goodies with each other. It’s fun to see the traditional cookies and fudges and well, yummies from other families. Some are the same traditions with slightly different recipes, like fudge and some are completely different but every bit as delicious! On my list of what I look forward to: dark chocolate covered peanut butter balls with log cabin, arthur NEtiny red and green balls on top, peanut brittle, almond brittle, Mexican skillet fudge, chocolate covered pretzels, caramel corn and chocolate caramel corn, Julie’s monster cookies, Mike’s gluten-free chocolate truffle cookies, snowballs (sorry Susan), thumbprints, Sibyl’s sweet stolen bread,   homemade salsa, cherry jelly, dark chocolate salted caramel, chocolate dipped anything, and all of the countless other goodies!

It’s the happy good cheer that abounds in this kind of neighboring/sharing. It’s the Christmas card greetings from near and far. Barn @ arthur, NEIt’s all manner of every kind of family getting together. It’s learning to play poker Texas style (I won all the blue chips!). It’s watching old slides and arguing over which house all those people are in and which people they are! It’s high emotion overwhelming and small quiet moments of awe. It’s spontaneous singalongs and trips down the road to find treasures from magazines in old churches and barns and log cabins where others celebrated the birth of Christ in another time. It’s non-stop coffee all day IMG_2441long and into the night. It’s watching movies or going for a walk in the cold snow and coming together for a deep-fried turkey or rosemary brined turkey breast with glazed carrots and white bean sausage gratin.

It’s coming together, then feeling crowded and then not wanting to part. It’s laughing at ourselves and our opposing politics and knowing that in the end, it doesn’t matter because we call this wild untamed thing, family.

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She 22 December 2014

Posted on December 22, 2014 by Sally Gerard

IMG_2406I found myself lost in old photos and memories, wishing my little sister back.

She protected me when she helped us find food. She sat close to keep me warm. She kept me company in a cold, dark basement. She distracted me from my growling stomach. She came home from California that first time. She moved to Colorado for summer camp with me in the mountains. I, pregnant, went to her in California to care for her after her surgery.

She came to Colorado to meet her nephew, Jared. She drove to Allenspark and Yuma, time-after-time to care for Jared, and Alex, and me. IMG_2408
She stood up to him. She kept care of little Alex in that park in Wray. She bought groceries or pizza or ice-cream. She came over just to spend time.

She came with oils, crystals, chi machines and the knowledge of what they could do. She played video games, watched movies and ate supper at the table. She took care of Chini and Racer, Aggie and Mordecai.

She fumed at wrongs. She searched with me for jobs. She backed me up when I was scared. She loved with fury. She remained my sister, always.

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Fog Blog 17 December 2014

Posted on December 17, 2014 by Sally Gerard

Temperatures plummeted over night. I’ve always wanted to use that word! The combination of humidity and cold left the sun to find its way through the fog. Visibility on my run eIMG_2356xtended only to the sides of the road, like running on path with no possibility of wavering unless you were willing to head into the unknown chaos of the fog. I sometimes wish that God would lay out my life path so clearly!

Listening to an audio presentation of The Snow Queen, I felt as if I’d been transported into her world. Everything was covered IMG_2374with that thick hoar-frost, muting what little light the Christmas bulbs were valiantly trying to put out. The horses and cattle were frosty and beautiful and all seemed magical.

Fog swirled around like the ghosts in A Christmas Carol. Going out to feed the cattle, I switched my tractor lights on, and I love it when I need to shine those big flat IMG_2377lights. I felt like I was flying through space and time. Christmas lights shone on our home and the lights on the tree inside could be seen through the windows, guiding back into warmth and comfort. Incredible morning.

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Caring 15 December 2014

Posted on December 15, 2014 by Sally Gerard

IMG_2341I am saddened by so much apathy in the world. What happened to caring about:

doing a job well, being responsible for your actions and words, doing the best you can in school, making sure your children are fed, clothed, housed and taught respect and responsibility and further, to hope, dream and work hard to reach their goals,

a neighbor in need or that ragamuffin kid wandering on your street, feeling good and tired at the end of the day because you worked hard, integrity and honesty, and writing thank-you notes.IMG_2348

How do you go through life with no sense of joy or adventure, like lumps on a log? How do you get up and get going? How can you not be inspired by beauty in a sunset or stars or a blooming fruit tree, or even just the old stones in a cemetery marking lives lived. When you come to the end of your days here, will anyone miss you or remark on your life and how well-lived it was?

And who doesn’t love the whoop of joy heard round the world when the morning news says school is cancelled due to snow?

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Tradition 11 December 2014

Posted on December 11, 2014 by Sally Gerard

IMG_2323I love traditions, new and old. Christmas lights on the house and real Christmas trees with lights, tinsel and ornaments are a must. I don’t mind cleaning up pine needles-it’s a minuscule price to pay for the smell and feel of real. Christmas cookies that for some reason we don’t make any other time of year, and Mexican skillet fudge-yum. Christmas carols and music fill my pick-up and sing out of my guitar. They can’t help it during the Christmas season. Gathering with family and friends to celebrate the birth of Christ in love and community, and with much good-natured ribbing.

Another tradition is a long horse ride somewhere with my wrangler horse friends, a sack lunch and plenty of warm clothes:

Not early morning, but beautiful IMG_1161blue skies, jackets tied over saddle bags in case the wind blows cold. Two paints and a Palomino walk down the dirt road carrying three kindred spirits, all happy to be mounted on this fine winter day. We ride, clip-clopping across the highway, past the old farmstead where TJ reminds us that it holds a frozen water-bed and the roof of the barn has collapsed so that only rabbits and ground squirrels can shelter in it.

Talking quietly about our lives, patting the warm necks of ourIMG_0385 favorite horses, we follow the road until it feels like lunch time. When an open gate presents itself, we dismount, tie the horses, admonishing them not to undo the ropes, and settle close by on the pasture grasses, blown and dry from winter and too little moisture. We break bread together, laughing, chatting and occasionally blurting something to our ponies.

A simple day really, but like any day with a horse, one to be remembered for joy, friendship, and the small but incredible gift in good living, shared.

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Eye of Round 9 December 2014

Posted on December 9, 2014 by Sally Gerard

IMG_2276Sometimes feeding the work crew can be a challenge, especially when I’m tired of thing I make that are delicious, but I’ve made them a million times. Days here are so beautiful and can be very busy trying to fit in writing with teaching and chores and, well, life.

The special eye of round roast was to cook in an oven that had been preheated to 500 degrees for thirty  minutes. Put the roast in, prepared with browning sauce, salt, pepper and garlic, for twenty-four minutes (according to the weight) IMG_2280and then turn the oven off and leave the roast in another sixty-five minutes without opening the door. Take it out and let it rest for thirty minutes and Voila! It was still raw. No Voila. No meat for lunch. The work crew was hungry after having worked all morning fixing fence. So, plan B. Microwave some leftover meat loaf and hack off some of the roast and fry them to make do. At least the fresh sliced tomatoes and the potatoes from the crock pot were good.

The roast went back into the oven at three hundred degrees for four and a half more hours and we ate it after the work crew went home. I’ve never tried that recipe again.

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