Winter Prep

With this latest cold snap, and more on the way, Rob and I feel the pressure to get winterized on the farm. We've got to make sure we have enough water and that it doesn't freeze. So not just faucet protectors, but heated hoses and heat sources for the tanks for the livestock. Let's hope we're not too late in finding those items. 

All the animals and most of the farm survived the heavy winds yesterday. We'll be doing trash pickup for awhile. Not just our trash, I think we got some from Colorado in there. 

I talked with my mom today and she wanted to make sure I didn't get those cats from yesterday. I didn't. We're good on animals right now until our sheep come in! 😊

Spice Girl showing her balancing skills

Cyclone Saga

We're currently having tornado/hurricane type winds and it's insane! Stuff we thought was solid enough to sit in the carport is now flying hither and yon through our acreage. Hopefully just our land, but I'm sure our neighbors will let us know if they find something. 

Speaking of hither and yon, that's everywhere we went today. To Austin for a doctor's appointment (we're all good, no worries) and then off to Goldthwaite to drop off cupcakes. The Mistress is fun to drive, but even she was getting tired today. 

But good news! We're back on for spent grain pickup this week. Didn't take y'all long to drink that beer after I asked, so thank you. Brogan will be happy after he gets done with his Mother Nature blowout hair session!

Stopped at a pet store and both kitties there were happy to see me!

Rogueish Brogan

The last two weeks, we haven't been able to pick up spent grain as the brewery wasn't making more batches. You can't really save spent grain unless you turn it into silage or dehydrate it. Because of this, they finished it off a week ago and have been rather vocal about wanting more. The loudest complainer, Brogan. 

You'd think we were starving this boy if you were to hear him. He doesn't moo like the girls, but rather grunts. I decided to be nice and bring them treats today, but Brogan was not too be swayed. He did finally become a little happy when he got brushed, but immediately started complaining again once I stopped. I told him I'll take it up with management. 

Have a great start to the weekend everyone! If y'all are near Flix Brewhouse in Round Rock, have a pint or two. Brogan will be glad you did!

First Week Done

The first week of January is ending and it's been half successful. Considering I've been dealing with cedar fever, I'll take the fifty percent as a win. 

But there's always room for improvement. I've got to learn to bake through the allergies, love the livestock even in inclimate weather, and spend a little more time on work over leisure. It's a work in progress though. 

For now, I'm happy to relax into the weekend and maybe finally get to that laundry I've been putting off this year. 

Cedar Pollen

Superman has Kryptonite. I have cedar pollen. It came in like a wrecking ball last Saturday, and I truly felt like it was going to end me. I felt like I had the worst flu ever to have plagued mankind. The next day, I felt better. It was just warming up in me. 

Each new day is bringing ever so much more joy into my life. Itchy, watery eyes I want to claw out. A nose that runs while simultaneously being stopped up. Sneezing, coughing, headache. But wait, there's more! My sinus cavities are so inflamed right now, you can actually see them raised. It's not just affecting me, all of the Hill Country are playing extras in the Walking Dead right now. 

But I'll outlast this round of cedar pollen. The superhero always wins!

Dry January

One of the "things" going on with social media, is having a dry January. What they mean is not to drink alcohol, but my body has other ideas. 

After forgoing champagne on new year's eve, and any other alcohol as well plus drinking ample water yesterday and this morning, I was all set to give my blood test at the doctor's today. Well, I thought I was. Three sticks and no luck. We would have kept trying, but I almost passed out. Absolutely not joking there. First time that's ever happened to me, but yeah we had to call it quits. We'll try again another day. 

Luckily, the weather isn't being dry either. We've had a deliciously nice steady rain today. The goats, while having access to the dry barn, decided to scream for most of the day about the tormenting rain. The donkeys weren't thrilled either, but they didn't make a fuss. Those goats are so dramatic!

Back off to baking I go. Thor is keeping me nice and toasty this chilly evening. My oven guys. Honestly!

Good Start

Ok, somewhere in October, Rob and I had decided to start off this new year with health. I say that because we scheduled wellness visits with our doctor for tomorrow morning. She's going to tell me cedar pollen is killing me, but I'm not the doctor. 

On top of that we're back into the full swing of things. Doctor visits tomorrow, Friends of the night sky Wednesday, theatre Thursday, you get the gist. We're as ready as we're going to be I guess. 

Since we have to fast for the visit (blood work), I baked us up a treat of apple cinnamon chips in my new food dehydrator to eat after our appointments. If there's time, I'm going to make cantaloupe and watermelon concoctions in it tomorrow!