amtolle

Sore, Tired, Feel Good

Yesterday the weather forecast said there would be rain. Towards the end of doing my morning feeding and turning the sheep out to pasture, there was some tiny raindrops. I changed my plan of oiling thing wooden steps for the back door. I decided to deworm and trim feet on the last group of ewes. The working chutes are under a roof, so I would stay dry while working.

Since I was deworming, I needed to weigh the sheep first to determine how much dewormer to give that sheep. The floor for the sheep scale was worn out with places the sheep’s feet could get through. It was not raining very much yet, I will replace the board. I had to cut a the board to fit on the table saw. When done cutting, put the board in place. Perfect fit. I really love it when I use the table saw to cut a board and it fits perfect. I am not fond of the table saw, the saw blade is exposed making me nervous. Plus, the board was bigger than what I usually cut alone. Today, I cut the board, perfect fit, feel good about a job well done.

When I deworm and trim the feet of the sheep, I first put them in a small pen that has an opening for the sheep scale. The sheep scale has two gates, one for the sheep to get on the scale and one for the sheep to leave the scale. When the sheep leave the scale they are in a narrow alley, single file, that goes to the working chute. I can get four adult sheep in the alley at one time. The working chute, like the scale has a gate to enter and a gate to exit.

**A sheep in the working chute getting feet trimmed.**

I get a sheep in the scale and weigh it, writing the sheep’s ID number and weight down on paper. Open the exit gate for sheep to stand in the alley. I do this until the alley is full. Then I deworm each sheep using a liquid dewormer and drench ( a large syringe type instrument with an end that goes in the sheep’s mouth ). After those four are dewormed, I let one sheep in the working chute, and tip the sheep on its side. The working chute I have as a drop down floor, allowing me to have full access to the feet of the sheep. Trim the hoof walls of the sheep, replace the floor, tip back upright, open the exit gate. The sheep is done be dewormed and pedicure.

Doing one or two sheep is not so hard. Doing twenty takes longer. My hands get tired and sore from trimming the sheep’s feet since I have hand held hoof trims. Tipping the working chute up with a 150 pound sheep takes a little muscle. Then tipping the chute back down after I am done. Definitely a workout for the day.

At the end of the day, my hands are sore, my shoulders and legs are sore from working the chute. I am pleased, relieved and happy that the last group of sheep are done for several months.

I feel good when I finish a task, regardless of how sore and stiff I may be from using muscles I do not use on a daily basis.

amtolle

The Clutter Queen

There are areas I am very organized, with a place for each item. My tack shed is one such place. I have a place for each saddle, bridle, halter and lead rope. Yet, there are some areas I am the “Clutter Queen”.

I enjoy seeing a home with everything in a place, easy to find and retrieve when needed. Six years ago, I started on a journey to have a home neat and organized. I started in my bedroom, with the clothes closet, then dresser. Next on the list was the kitchen, followed by the other rooms in the home. Now I am to the most cluttered room in the house, my craft room.

My craft room is more than just crafts supplies, it also contains the totes of memories in the form of the things my children created in school, pictures taken before cell phones were invented and before cell phones had cameras. The rewards and ribbons my children won. Of all the rooms, this is the room hardest to declutter.

One step to decluttering a home is to get rid of things you no longer use or brings you joy. The totes and boxes of memories of my children’s childhood brings me joy, although I do not have them hanging to where I can see them daily. I do go through the boxes and recall the memories. I have asked my children if they want these items, they have taken one or two items from the boxes I have, the rest they do not want at that time.

One of my daughters made some pottery in her senior year of high school. When she finally moved all her belongings out of the house, she did not want the pottery any longer, told me to get rid of it. I held on the creations. A couple of years ago she spied the pottery pieces on a shelf. “I thought you got rid of those.” No, I had not, she asked if she could take them to her home. I said sure, they are yours. It is these types of events that make the decision to throw something away or to keep it.

I have decided to keep the items created by my children from their childhood years. Each child has their own box or boxes. It would not be so difficult if their creations were just drawings or their first “A” paper. There is pottery, sand art, leather projects that won Grand Champion at the fair, or medals and ribbons on victories won. Now to come up with a plan to organize these items.

When I was young, there was no problem with having an uncluttered house or room. That was before children, and life events. These momentos of the past have accumulated over time, each marking an accomplishment. Perhaps that is why old people have so much stuff, they have memories they are hanging onto.

The photos are an easy organizing subject as I can scan and put on a digital disk saving the all the memories for each child in digital form that takes up little physical space. The other items, I can only place in boxes or totes.

A plan to organize memories I can not seem to let go of at this time. When I am gone, my children will probably through most of the items in the trash. But for now, my craft room will remain a little cluttered, as I am not ready to let go of the lifetime of memories I have with my children.

amtolle

Thankful for Sunshine

The past two weeks have been cloudy and overcast with the hope of rain. I love rain falling. In my area we need rain. But the dreary grey blue days of cloudy overcast causes my spirit to drop. The cloudy overcast days of filtered sunshine does not help the daily depression I battle. Sunshine brings hope, warmth and light. Like the plants, I need sunshine to be energized.

Today I have sunshine.

How long the sunshine will last, only a day or two then it is back to overcast skies with the hope of rain.

But today, I will soak up and enjoy the sunshine.

amtolle

Voting – Right or Duty

Yesterday was Election Day in the United States, the last day to cast your vote for people wanting to represent their community, state or country in a governing position. The United States is a Democratic Republic, in short the people are represented in government by those the majority vote to hold that position.

It has always been a common phrase of mine, “If you do not vote, you do not have the right to complain.” I really dislike hearing people complain about a person who was voted into the office, yet they did not cast their vote for who they wanted in office.

Yesterday while I was waiting to cast my vote, a younger person was in line ahead of me. When the person went to get their ballot number, it was announced they were a “First time voter!” and every cheered and clapped. I joined in congratulating the person for taking the time and effort to do a very important part in maintaining a democratic government – voting.

I feel that a citizen living in any democratic country, should vote in that country’s elections. If a democratic government which is designed to govern my the majority is to be kept, voting is a necessary part of the governing process. How are the people of the country going to be represented if they do not vote.

In the United States, I have the right to own a gun, yet I do not own a gun. I do not exercise this right of owning a gun. I have the right to vote, a right I exercise at every election.

Yet, if I want to keep my country democratic – as a citizen, it is my duty to vote so the whole of the population is represented in government not just those who choose to vote. Voting is something that I must do in order to maintain the democratic government of the country I was born in and choose to live in.

The founding fathers of the United States wanted representation for all the citizens through the process of democrating voting to elect representatives for the area they live in. Democracy in short definition is government by the majority not the few. If the whole population of the citizens does not vote, how can the citizens of the country be represented in the government?

Voting is the voice of the citizen in a democratic government.

It is not my concern of who you vote for as long as who you vote for is your choice, your voice. I feel every citizen should vote, exercise the right as it is your duty.

amtolle

Thankful for My Garden Spot

This year for the month of November, I am selecting one thing to be thankful for each day. Today, I am thankful for my small garden spot, my happy spot. This year there were some surprises.

One surprise was the “red cabbage” that was actually red brussel sprouts. The few tiny brussel sprouts I did harvest were put into a stew for us to enjoy. Although I did not get much of a harvest from the red brussel sprout plants, I did enjoy their beautiful grey green foliage with purple veins, and tall upright growth. I received joy from the beauty of the plant itself.

There was an abundance of sweet basil, planted from seeds produced from last year’s plant. The seeds, unknown to me they were there, sprouted and grew throughout my garden area, adding a sweet aroma when I worked in my garden.

For the first time I planted butternut squash. I only planted one hill of three seeds, of which one plant emerged from the soil. This wandering plant produced over two dozen squash. I explored various recipes for preparing and cooking butternut squash. My husband and I have enjoyed this new addition to our menu plans. I have plenty preserved in the freezer to last until next year.

This year I experimented with a different style of planting corn. The corn grew well, adding height to my garden vegetation. There were multiple cobs on the stalks during the time of pollination. Unfortunately a gate was left open allowing a horse to enter my yard and garden spot. The horse enjoyed the tops of the corn stalks, eating the sweet source of pollination. I harvested several corn cobs, without any corn kernels. Overall this experimental planting style would work in my garden spot, just have to keep the horse out during pollination time. I did cut the stalks to give my sheep a sweet treat.

The summer squash and yellow squash I plant every year did well. I received plenty of squash for our summer meals and to preserve for winter meals. Like the butternut squash, I only planted one hill of each type of squash due to not have more room for planting.

The radishes and bell pepper continued to produce all summer adding bits of flavor to the dishes I prepared. The tomatoes did not do very well. Since I raised the tomatoes in containers, I think the soil was tired. I will be emptying all my containers this winter, and refilling them with new soil next year.

This fall I have planted onions in the small garden and will be experimenting with my first planting of sweet potatoes. This will be my first year having a fall garden, not just a plant or two.

Overall, my small garden provided well for us. I enjoy the birds and butterflies I who come to visit. The multiple colors of blooms and foliage that pleases my eyes. I am thankful for my small happy spot of a garden.

amtolle

Libraries and Internet

When I was in elementary school I was introduced to the school library. The school library had shelves and shelves of books, telling different stories in far away lands that helped me to escape my daily life. I developed a love for books, stories and the library. Soon the library became my favorite place to go in school. I enjoyed the quiet solitude of sitting in a corner enveloped in book telling me of adventures or mysteries in another world.

When I was in high school I was required to write reports on different subjects, depending on the class subject. In order to obtain the information for the reports I would visit the school and local library. Searching through the library card catalogue of thousands of card files to find books relating to the subject I was writing about, writing down the dewey decimal number indicating the location, then searching the many shelves to find the book and checking the book out for a week in order to read and learn about the subject.

I spent hours in a library enjoying the quietness, the smell of books and seeing all the different subjects a person can learn about. I would browse through the library card catalogue, exploring the various subjects I had not thought about learning. Libraries were an adventure of exploration and knowledge.

When I started raising and training horses I would buy books and purchase magazine subscriptions to gain knowledge on horses. I built my own library containing the information on the business of horses. When I would advertise horses for sale or availability of training, the ads were in local newspapers. Magazines would keep me abreast of shows and horse events in my area.

Then I purchased my first computer, a large bulking tool, to keep track of the financials and write contracts and agreements. The computer was a place to put in information related to the business of raising, training and selling horses. When needed I could easily retrieve the information I put into the computer, relieving my office of paper clutter.

Then came the internet. When I first experienced the internet, I used it mainly for advertising horses for sale and keeping abreast of shows and horse events. Advertising on the internet opened a larger audience, people from other states, areas and countries.

I learned the internet could provide me with information to answer specific questions instead of reading a whole book to find the answer. I could get up to date information on care and treatments for my horses from universities and colleges.

Eventually I had a website for the horses, listing pedigree information, pictures and accomplishments of the horses I owned, raised and those for sale. The internet allowed me to download show entry forms and registration applications. Soon, I was able to register horses without using the postal service and postage stamps.

Then life changes happened, I stopped raising horses and started raising sheep. A totally new animal to learn about. Once again the internet was there to help learn how to care and raise my sheep. You tube offered first hand knowledge by watching how others raise and care for their sheep.

Today, I use the internet to learn new skills in gardening, organization, sewing and recipes among other things that might catch my eye. Knowledge is everywhere on any subject for any country with the tool of the internet. But I have not left my first love behind, I still enjoy and love visiting the local libraries. Although my old friend the library card catalogue is no longer in use as it has been moved to a computer, the smell of books, the quietness and becoming enveloped in a book on an adventure far away are still there.

amtolle

Modern Technology

November is here and this year I am concentrating on what I am thankful for. Today I am thankful for modern technology. One piece of modern technology is the cell phone.

I am older than some and I grew up with a telephone connected to the wall and on a party line of four people. A party line is when people share one line for a telephone. Each person is given a specific ring to know if the call is for their number. I could not just pick up the phone and call a friend, I had to listen first to see if the line was clear or available for me to make the phone call. The other restriction was where I was calling. If the phone call was to someone on a different phone company, I was required to pay additional money for “long distance”.

Today, three of my children live in different states and one lives over a hundred miles away. If I were to make a phone call to them using the phone system I grew up with and had the majority of my life – ALL calls would be long distance and cost money. With today’s cell phones I can call, talk to all the grandchildren, and talk as long as I want without any extra expense.

I remember the first photos of my siblings and I when we were kids. The photos were from a Polaroid camera. My mom would take snap a picture, the picture would shoot out the front and we would watch as the image magically appeared. The film was expensive, so photos from this camera were few. Later, for Christmas I received my first camera. It was a 120 camera requiring flash cubes for inside photos. I had to take a certain number of pictures before I could take the film cartridge into the local drug store to have it developed. Each flash cube was only good for four photos. It took two weeks to get the film developed.

Later as an adult I purchased a 35 mm camera with a battery operated flash. Although the film was not as expensive and I did not have to purchase flash cubes for inside photo shots, there was still the wait for having the film developed into negatives and photos. I was so thankful when the local grocery store opened a 1 hour photo development department. Now with a little extra expense I could see my photos in one hour instead of two weeks. In order to share the events of my children with their grandparents and relatives, I would have to select a photo, find the negative number and get copies made. Wait and pay for the copies, then put them in an envelope with a postage stamp and mail them to relatives.

My first few cell phones had no photo capability. Today, my children can take instant photos or videos with their cell phones, and text the moment to me almost as it is happening. There is no extra expense or long wait to see what my grandchildren are doing at their events and important moments of their lives. We are able to capture any moment at any time to save and share. I am thankful that my children can share their lives with me at the time it is happening without the financial burden of their parents faced.

With today’s cell phones it is cheaper and more spontaneous to keep in touch with family and friends and share moments. I am thankful as I can see my grandchildren and share their experiences although we live hundreds and in some cases thousands of miles apart.

amtolle

Thankful for Family

November is the month we celebrate Thanksgiving Day. A day of celebrating with a feast, family and friends the events and things we are thankful for having in our lives.

I am thankful for family. This year I had a granddaughter born as well as three grandsons, a set of triplets. My children are finished increasing the size of their families. I am blessed and thankful for fifteen living grandchildren.

I am thankful for my spouse, my husband of thirteen years. I am so thankful he was not bothered when I was gone for two months helping my daughter and her family before and after the triplets were born. He took care of the farm and worked his job while I was away. He is always there to talk to and share my thoughts and feelings during the year. He handles my anxiety and quirky was like a pro.

This year my oldest daughter and her children visited us for the first time at the farm. Her children were able to learn some about riding horses from their granny. We made birdhouse and windchimes. The most important thing is we made memories.

Once again I was able to have my grandson, Mr. J, for a few weeks this summer. Mr. J came to live with me for several months when he was two years old. And he has visited me every summer for three to four weeks, except the first year of Covid. Needless to say we have a special relationship. We fish and ride the horses, garden, paint something and do a lot of talking. This year he is thirteen years old. We both realized that the summer visits will eventually come to an end. This year we truly cherished the weeks we had together.

There was sadness this year as well. My husband sister passed away due to cancer. My uncle passed away due to medical issues. Both of them are missed.

I am thankful for family.

amtolle

Resolutions Progress

November 1 – the arrival of November and the realization that the year of 2022 is almost in the history of my life story. At the end of each year I look at my life, I make New Year Resolutions for somethings I want to change in my life. Looking back this year has been very busy, extremely exciting, and not many of my resolutions were completed.

In years past I would be a little down on myself for not having accomplished ALL of my resolutions by November. Yet, I still have two months left to get things changed.

One of my resolutions for 2022 was to keep the records and bookkeeping for the sheep farm and our personal life up to date, not get behind a couple of months or half the year then have to catch up in time to file taxes. This year, I have not kept them up every month the whole year, but I have improved. I had two months I was not even home. I did not do the records for each month the whole year, there has been improvement compared to past performance.

Another resolution was to raise more of our food. Yet again I did not reach my expectations, but there was a big improvement from past years. For the first time, my husband has agreed this is something we both need to work at doing. When I was gone for two months, he had to water the garden area. He is enjoying the fruits of his labor, as he eats his evening meal.

I have one resolution I made, that I have almost completed to expectations. This builds my self-esteem and I feel good about the accomplishment of this resolution.

We all want to make changes in our lives. Sometimes changes are forced upon us, such as inflation. I am always striving to lower our expenses and increase our savings. Some years I feel like I have not accomplished this goal. Yet, looking through past years, I have greatly improved over the years.

Making changes is hard. Keeping those changes sometimes is even harder. When we decide to change something, we have already done the hardest part – decided to change. We work towards our goals in steps, be grateful and celebrate the steps you have accomplished, and do not be too hard on yourself for the steps yet to be reached. Keep going, do not give up, that is the only way to reach the goal, accomplish the change in your life you have wanted.

I feel good about the accomplishments and improvements I have made this year.

Do not give up. Keep going. The goal is in sight.

amtolle

Holidays are approaching

For me, the beginning of October is the beginning of the holidays seasons. A fun exciting time to celebrate the memory of those gone, the blessing of the year and celebration of life and the future. A wonderful and exciting time of the year.

First holiday is the Halloween. The oldest origins was a celebration of the harvest brought in, the end of summer and Celtic New Year in what was known as Samhain pronounced “sah-win”. Although Halloween has changed through the centuries, shaped by different beliefs and customs, the part of warding off evil spirits and dressing up are traced to these original beginnings. The Roman Catholic church celebrate All Hallows Eve on October 31, All Saints’ Day on November 1 and All Souls’ Day on November 2. The remembrance of those who have died before us.

I celebrate the harvest and remembering. I carve a few pumpkins, but the majority are left whole, so they will continue to be used through Thanksgiving. It is time to clean up the spring and summer plants, getting ready for the fall garden and winter months. Letting some of the ground rest in preparations of spring planting next year. Halloween, my husband and I celebrate alone with binge watching of Harry Potter movies. Popcorn, cheese and crackers to keep us going, with the occasional glass of wine. Since we live in a rural area, we do not get trick-o-treaters, but I always have some candy just in case. Maybe year 13 will be the year we have visitors for candy.

Then we have Thanksgiving in November. A celebration with family and friends for the many blessings we have received during the year. While most of the family has summer vacations and each seems to go their separate ways. Thanksgiving is where we come together, catch up on the year’s activities and enjoy each others company. This year, my husband’s daughter and her children will be celebrating with us. Supposedly her boyfriend will join them and we will have the opportunity to get to know him as well. I hope he likes lamb and goat for Thanksgiving, and is not upset I did not fix the traditional turkey.

After Thanksgiving, I start removing the fall decorations and replacing them with Christmas decorations. I am not a big fan of “Black Friday” shopping, as I try to have my Christmas done before Thanksgiving. I will have every room decorated with the joys of Christmas and celebration of the birth of Jesus. This year, we will be celebrating Christmas alone. There will be a visit to deliver gifts and share a meal with my daughter, her family and the triplets. But the triplets will be babies, and a lot of work for a two hour trip to Granny’s house.

After these holidays, we face a new year and our anniversary. New Year for new hope and beginnings.

amtolle