How I Spent My Birthday

Yesterday I said I would tell you more

about how I spent my day yesterday.

First we got to sleep in!

What a TREAT!

(I took the day off work and

Monday is Rod's regular day...)

After a yummy breakfast of a

"Mint Chocolate Chip" smoothie

and a breakfast burrito with eggs,

light swiss cheese, turkey bacon

on a tortilla crisped in butter...

we headed out to the barn.

Kyle joined us with his rifle.

I processed 4 rabbits on Saturday,

but then (1st world problem) I snapped

my finger nail trying to pull the skin

off the carcass - and it really HURT!

So instead of doing any more, I headed

to the nail salon and got them done.

Now they are beautiful.

And short.

And not painful.

Monday morning we had 7 more

rabbits that needed to be processed.

You might be a redneck if...

(Super flattering!  But who puts on makeup

or a nice shirt to butcher rabbits???)

It is so much nicer working with a partner!

We did 2 at a time

and it went so nice and smooth!

(Helps that it was overcast! It was

in the high 70's but without the sun

beating down on you, that's GLORIOUS!)

ALERT!

DEAD RABBIT PICTURE...

We have the perfect tree.

Unfortunately, it also died.

We will need to cut it down soon

before it falls and lands on the shed.

Darn it!

We wanted to "do" some roosters too,

but Sunday night we forgot to close the coops,

so when we got up, all the chickens

were running loose in their yard.

There's no way I can catch those boys.

They are small and FAST!

(And loud and obnoxious which explains

why they need to head to the freezer...)

(Unfortunately, they are also CUTE!)

(cute chicken picture to atone for the rabbit one...)

If you look carefully you can see her

blue "earring" right behind her beak.

This is a stock photo,

but gives you a good idea what they look like.

They have feathers that look and feel like fur!

SUPER soft.

A bit bigger than half the size of my other chickens.

With feathers on their feet.

Looks like they are wearing bedroom slippers!

Adorable.

But still loud and obnoxious.

They also have BLACK skin, bones, and MEAT!

So this should be an adventure.

Anyhow.

They escaped once again.

But this weekend - time's up!

(We counted over the weekend and we have

208 chickens!  Including the new babies...)

Aren't they darling???

They will be 2 weeks old tomorrow.

So...

after we "did the deed" and got them in

every single crockpot and stockpot we own...

we got cleaned up and headed out to run errands.

Drove around the corner to the front gate and...

SO AWESOME!

We have a GATE ORNAMENT!

I TOTALLY love it!

The T-Shirt is a gift as well.

Here's a hilarious note...

It says

"Farm girls aren't afraid to get dirty".

Rod waited until after we were done

to give it to me.

He didn't want me to get it dirty.

LOL!!!

Finished up the evening with a fabulous dinner

of ribeye and veggies at Texas Roadhouse

and then curled up on the couch to watch

cheesy Hallmark Christmas movies.

A PERFECT birthday!

Happy Birthday - to ME!

If you read my blog

(well duh, obviously you do)

then you know that I try to do

a tribute post for each of my

loved ones on their birthdays.

This year my dearest loved one,

my darling Rod

organized a tribute from those I love.

They posted it on Facebook.

Is it tacky that I'm posting it here?

Who cares.

It's my blog, and my informal journal.

So I think its appropriate...

Anyhow,

here it is, so I'll always be able

to find these wonderful words

and look back on them

when I need a boost,

encouragement,

a hug.

Happy Birthday Collette

Collette
My Darling Sister


I remember as an older sister, (A big 4 years older), I loved to gaze at her. She was such a beautiful child. She had dark hair that belied a label. It was black, but it was more than that, it was rich in color, the perfect marriage of Moms rich red and Dads strong black. And the texture! Fine as spun angora. And just as soft. Mom kept it in a bob, just chin length. One day I watched her from my bedroom window as she came home from school, riding her imaginary pony, with her hair moving to the rhythm of her prancing body. So pretty!


She had beautiful dewy skin, white as white with cheery pink cheeks and full rosy lips. And those dancing eyes! There was always a story going on behind those eyes, full of color and imagination, and generally only known by her. But we were privy to the energy and joy that created those private worlds.


Perhaps as a result of my perspective more than a reflection of reality, I felt that she was a delicate thing, more suited to a gentler world than this one we live in now. So it has been with delight and surprise as through the years I have come to know the adult Collette. The one that maintains the characteristics of gentle wonder, but also manifests a streak of grit and courage.


The same woman who delights in a crateful of fuzzy chicks, in 6 months can, with a few skillful strokes, harvest them for their next contribution to her families wellbeing. She delights in the re-reading of stories she has known for decades, and those same hands that cradles her books, creates knitted blankets and nutritious meals for those she loves. Dad says she reminds him of Aunt Maxine, someone, he feels can do anything she puts her mind too, and do it well.


I agree with Dad.


Happy Birthday my Darling
Love, Son

************************************

My Dear Collette,
Happy Birthday!
I hope today will be one that you will never forget.
I want you to know what a great example you have been to
me. I've seen you face up to what seemed to be
insurmountable, meeting it head long. Your powerful prayers and humble
faith have given you peace that comes from leaving your burdens at Gods
feet and choosing to follow Him. You and Rod have shown me how two people
can work together and play together , laugh and cry together, serve and worship
together. I love how honest you are and how you stay true to who you are and what
you believe.
I love you!

Nancy

**********************************

So I have 3 sisters. All older! All wonderful! But today is Collette's birthday - she is the sister I shared a room with, who read to me when I was little, who told me stories of her own making, who taught me about Santa, who played "pillow sandwich" at night with me when we were supposed to be sleeping (so she also taught me about 'quiet giggling'). She is also the sister who lives farthest away from me, so I get to see her less than the others - but I love her just as much! She is a great example - she is a hard worker, a great mother, a wonderful wife, a farmer, an equestrian, a teacher, a photographer, a blogger and SO MUCH MORE. When I was a young mother, we chatted online for hours and hours, then when I was a working woman, we emailed daily - now that we are both older and busier - we get to chat less, but I think of her often and whenever I do, I can always get a glimpse of her life by checking out her blog where she documents small moments of her life, and things of 'interest' and important in her life.
I am so lucky to have her in my life - and to call her my sister!

Love you Collette!
Rozann

**********************************

You have no idea how thankful that I am that you agreed to go out with me when we worked at Rocky Mountain Helicopters in Provo, Utah. I love you more each and everyday. You are my best friend, my soul mate, you put up with all of my short comings. You stick by me through good times and bad. You are the best thing that has happened to me. I want to wish you a Happy Birthday and to tell you how much I love you.
Love you the most...
Rod Buffaloe

BABY Collette

Birthday rides - my favorite thing!

Christmas 2013

"racing" at Disney World circa 1980's

My amazing family
Utah 2013

Temple Marriage is so important!  I LOVE YOU Rod!

Our little wedding chapel in Las Vegas.
Yup, THAT  Las Vegas.
NOT by Elvis.

Our wedding party
Rod's brother Scott and my sister Son (Sondra)

Thank you to my wonderful family.

We had a great day today.

Didn't manage to fit in a ride*,

but did lots of other great stuff.

I'll add some more photos and tell you

all the particulars tomorrow.

Gotta save SOMETHING for "blog fodder".

*we have a date for a ride Thursday morning.

And maybe another one on Saturday!

Practical Practice

Kyle has been doing lots of practice welding lately.

He was working on his welds to join 

two square pipes together.

But then his boss gave him a task.

His boss bought a "new" dump truck.

But the bed is too tall.

His tractor can't lift a bucket of dirt

over the sides.

So they decided to shorten the sides.

Kyle drove the truck to our house

and spent several days removing the

wood sides and then cutting down all the

steel supports.

Then he had to cut the rear doors in half.

Cut off the giant bumper thing on the back.

And weld a bunch of stuff back together.

He has been working hard.

He still needs to cut back the roller

thingie at the front.

It hangs right in the way

and they are afraid when people climb

in and out they will knock their heads.

But it's getting there.

His welds look really good!

Good to get some practical practice.

The Chickens Have Landed

Look what we got this morning...

I forgot to take a picture

This was my last bunch.

But it's exactly what they looked like today.

Same breed.

Same box.

Red (Buff) Stars.

These are my 63 little girls this morning.

Hatched on 11/12/14.

Arrived 11/14/14.

Should start laying 03/15.

Not that I'm counting or anything.

There's just nothing cuter than baby chicks.

SO CUTE!

(And noisy)

However, when asked, I did the math and realized

we are now up to 200 chickens.

Good thing the freezer is nearly empty.

And next weekend is a long weekend.

I have work to do!

Eeeeuuuuwwww

I was checking out Pioneer Woman's

Tasty Kitchen blog this morning

when something caught my eye.

Little orangish squares.

The recipe title was

Butterfinger Fudge.

Interesting.

Absolutely NOT on my "way of eating"

but maybe something I could

tweak and make anyway.

First ingredient:

3 Cups Candy Corn

I gag!

I shudder!

I pinch up my mouth!

I will NOT be attempting

Butterfinger Fudge.

GROSS!!!!!

New Favorite

Today is Remembrance Day in Canada

and Veteran's Day in the US.

Either way,

it's a bank / school / post office holiday.

Not a doctor's office holiday.

Since Rod works for the school,

he had the day off.

But since I had to work,

he volunteered to work.

(and get PAID)

(grin)

I should have taken the day off.

I worked like a crazy woman yesterday

and got everything all caught up.

Forgetting today there was no mail delivery.

So I'm sitting here perusing some blogs I used

to follow with regularity.

I stumbled on an LDS woman's blog several

years ago after their home was destroyed in a tornado.

In the meantime they have had 2 more children.

I like to peek into her life now and again.

(voyeur!)

I haven't been there in awhile, so was going

back through her history and found THIS!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Kms9jlHgUso

Oh my goodness!

(I'm typically "out of the loop" so you may already

know about these two - I was last to The Piano Guys

party, so I might be slow on this one too...)

I'll be adding this to my iPod (thanks Mom and Dad,

BEST Christmas present EVER!)

and listening to it over and over and over and over.

Hope you enjoy it too.

Is it GONE yet?????

My goodness this was a crazy weekend!

I was VERY proud of myself.

I remembered to put out the

"Scouting for Food"

bag on our gate Saturday morning.

I was teaching 30 miles north.

So I got to stay home for the weekend.

I was all kinds of organized.

Rod helped me move my books

from the truck to his trunk.

(My truck sprung a leak in the water pump)

I got my class candy and roster,

gathered up my laptop and put it by the door.
Made chocolate/banana smoothies for Rod and I,
and a yummy tub of "waldorf" salad for my snack.

Hung a bag of food on the gate

for the Boy Scouts.

And even left on time to get to school EARLY!

Which is good.

Because about half way there,

I remembered that the laptop was still

in it's case next to the door.

Sigh.

I can not conduct my class without my laptop.

(Well, technically, I CAN... if absolutely necessary,

but if I had an auditor in the class, it would be a MAJOR

ding...  I forgot my chord a couple of weeks ago and
once the battery died... that was all she wrote.)
(Thankfully we eventually found a chord that works
in one of the student's cases!)

So...

Turn around at the next highway exit

and head home again.

I made it to school with 5 minutes to spare.

Sheesh.

I HATE starting out looking and feeling disorganized.

The day went ok from that point.

But there were little things.

Questions I'd never been asked before.

Issues I'd never encountered before.

Which put me behind all day!

(which also drives me NUTS)



full moon above the barn

 OH!

Well, that explains a lot.

Is it gone yet????? 

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow...

Seems like with the changing of the clocks

we've also had changing of the seasons.

Watching the news/weather in my hotel room

this weekend there sure was a lot of snow

across the nation!

So I thought I'd remind you all

what it looks like here in

GREEN Florida...

Ok, not a great picture.

The farmer had just turned that field.

So it's kinda brown.

Let's try again...

That's better.

Our trees have LEAVES!

And they are green!

I love this drive.

This is Monday morning around 9:00.

And there is NOBODY on the road.

It's 3.5 hours of lovely, empty, straight,

scenic rural highways through farm country

with lots and lots of cows.

Unfortunately,

it was also my last time I get to do this drive.

My new instructor is all trained and ready to

take over the site in Ft Myers.

And out of the 5 people she passed in the class

3 of them are already licensed with the state!

Way to go Judy!

Ok.

Back to your regularly scheduled white stuff.

(grin)