I am sitting in my office looking at yet more snow coming down and decided to take the time to reflect what 2013 has meant in our lives and the lessons I have learned in those reflections. There are a few.

1. I will never buy and sell a house at the same time – and/or move again. Next stop – nursing home or pine box.

2. Stone houses are drafty, cold and incredibly expensive to heat. With our temps thus far I am praying to the Gods of natural gas that they soon make it to our area.

3. Farm life is hard. I knew it would be – but I don’t think we financially, emotionally or physically prepared for it. While we are not drowning financially in our quest – money has been tight and I can no longer to afford to buy that pair of shoes just because I want them. 2014 will bring the question always before the purchase – do I really need them? Emotionally it has been a bit of a stretch – early morning feedings and worry of horses well being. Physically – Lord – did not realise how out of shape I was!!! – everyday I get stronger.

4. Our quest has brought us closer as a family. My son loves to solitude – and hub and I spend much more time NOT watching TV but puttering around outside – rain or shine – cold or warm. Daughter has yet to “feel” the pull but it will come.

5. Commuting is a stone cold bitch!!! – while I put a positive spin on it – it gives me time to mentally prepare for the work day ahead and allows me to unwind before I get home.

6. KD is a food group, pasta is a life saver and I would die without my slow cooker. Ease of preparation has led me to more creative in our meals.

7. Wild turkeys POOP ALOT!!! as do horses. Coincidentally – horses are afraid of wild turkeys and wild turkeys are afraid of everything.

8. A group of Unicorns is called a blessing – useless trivia to see if you are paying attention.

9. Mindset – that is going to be a new one for me – changing my mindset. No negativity – positive mojo.

10. Plot Twist – when life takes a crap  – yell Plot Twist and move on. I have a feeling I’ll be saying that alot. (thank you George Takei)

11. I’d like to get a dog – a brown one.

12. I should have done more selfless acts this past year instead of thinking of myself all the time. I promise to work on that.

13. Come on Daylight Savings time!!! we have found it difficult these last couple of months with the darkness.

14. We have only lived here for just over three months – but we feel like we have been living here our whole lives!!! – I guess that is what happens when you achieve a life long dream.

15. I will ride more this coming year.

16. I will STOP looking at my work email on the weekends. If there is an issue – can’t fix it on the weekend now can I?

17. I will spend more time with my family. Brother and sisters when possible. Cousins, aunts, uncles – as I get older I realise how much I miss those days of the corn roast or the bonfire.

18. My furnace just came on again!!! – Heat sucking house!! love you.

19. I will and I said this last year – but I WILL TAKE UP YOGA THIS COMING YEAR!!!

20. We will unfortunately not be able to visit our beloved Cuba this coming year. Finances do not dictate that trip – instead we will save our pennies for perhaps a longer visit to our beloved Ocracoke.

21. Last but not least – I will stop worrying about everything. Worry leads to stress – stress leads to depression – depression leads to negativity and negativity is unacceptable.

I am sure there are millions of things I missed and they will come spiralling to me as soon as I hit post!!

I will continue on in the documentation of this craziness that is our life. As the seasons change – the discovery of farm life continues.

Much to do in the New Year and looking forward to the work ahead.

Slainte my friends – I wish you love, peace and good blessings for 2014!!

(PS. my spell check stopped working so sorry for any errors 🙂 UPDATE – I spelled checked it 🙂

Hmmm – I am feeling Christmassy!!

This year was the first year in 25 years that I woke up on Christmas Day with out my daughter.

My children are growing up and getting boyfriends/girlfriends/partners or plans of their own. My daughter opted this year to spend Christmas morning with her boyfriend in their home together. I was sad – but happy for her to start her traditions.

It was odd not having her here. She seems to be the most festive one however we got to welcome “le boyfriend” into the fold. A stellar young man – handsome – funny – well employed and she will kill me if she ever reads this – they will make beautiful babies. He is the life of the party – she is way too serious for her own good and needs to take it down a notch (sorry sweetie).

My son was here and so uncomplicated in his gift wishes.

We had a pact this year – make it – buy it cheap or just give a hug and it saved us alot of $$$ and it was fun shopping for those little treasures.

Hub’s gift went off with out a hitch – beautifully taken photographs by him – developed and framed and given as a gift from me to him for our art gallery to frame our bare upstairs walls. Can’t wait to hang them and get new lighting.

Not much humor today – a long day and I need a nap.

The kittens are snug – the horses got a little extra in their feed buckets and as my “chicks” take off to do their own festivities with in their other plans – it just Hub and I and my Mother in Law (now known as MIL) for dinner. We are going to do something very “sitcommish” and hit up a diner in the city.

Too me it is not the big dinner or the expensive gifts- it is the precious time with my children and family. Eating whatever with fine wine or cheap wine – I don’t care. The outlaws – the inlaws- kittens, horses, wild turkeys and serenity that this farm has brought to my life.

I look out my window and see a big fat blue jay, a black crow and a gaggle of wild turkeys eating the corn I put out. While they are the bird species – they are not related by blood and are enjoying a Christmas Feast in my yard.

I am content and happy and am looking forward to the New Year.

Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen – actually I don’t even know if there are any dudes who read this – so if there are – I will apologise in advance for the total and blatant man bashing sequence that is about to begin – I will also apologise to any of Hub’s friends or family should they ever read this but I feel it important to get this off my chest.

All bashing that is done will of course be retracted as everyone knows how much I love my Hub – he is an amazing person, a wonderful step father, warm and caring and funny as all hell – but tonight – he just aggravated the CRAP out of me.

I am cranky – I will admit it – my stomach is upset and I am incredibly stressed out at work right now. The holidays are looming and they are stressful as well. I’m tired – tired and cranky and well just….you know?

I have a question – why oh why are there so many men in power? – Ladies – please don’t get your panties in a bunch but it simply baffles me!!! – Men run countries (for the most part) and companies and banks and…and…and…yet they cannot remember to plug in the electric fence that also has the plug for the horses trough heater?? That means me uncoiling 40 feet of hose in sub zero temps. Kittens…not my responsibility – we agreed – he who gets home earlier picks up the slack and makes it a little easier for she.

Don’t get me wrong – I love the little fur balls BUT with two prancing ponies with hay, feed and cleaning the barn – in sub zero temps – now running to feed and water four crazy kittens whilst uncoiling 50 (ya its now 50) feet of frozen hose while snot runs freely from my nose, hands so cold I cannot feel my fingers and ice blocks for feet??? and then him asking me if I wanted help after I was done?? needless to say I was a little heated. The 60 feet of hose (say something I dare you) is now freezing to my hands – I have snotsicles – spraying water everywhere and then having to coil back up ever so neatly the 70 feet (??) eeerrrggghhhh!!!

I get it – he did just come off an 18 hour shift, he does not like winter, the short days really grind on him. He suffers from seasonal depression and it is painful to watch him be so restless all the time. He is smart and he is so funny and such a kind and giving person and I would be lost were he not in my life. I love him dearly – I really do – he just needs to learn to stop pissing me off.

Here’s to Hub – he must be a wonderful person because he puts up with me and I ain’t no picnic!!!

Thank you all for letting me air my bitches.

I officially retract the negativity and the man bashing.

Side note – as of this coming Saturday December 20th – the days start getting longer by two minutes per day!!!

Wow – what a weekend.

I knew that growing up in Eastern Canada that the weather is unpredictable and quite frankly we have already have at least one dump of snow this year so one would think that one would be prepped for it….yes?

Well….sort of.

Unfortunately this particular blast came with sub zero temperatures – gusting winds and just all around mayhem.

Looking back at my previous post with regard to the snow dump – I certainly was ready for it. My thighs are in great shape to trudge through the snow now and lifting bales of hay just gets easier and easier.

What I did not factor in was timing. Yes – good old timing.

Hubby is a heavy equipment mechanic for a snow removal company – how ironic that ours is the last to be cleared. I am used to him being called out in the wee hours -he is very thoughtful – he does not wake the bear when he has to go in which is incredibly nice of him. If I am sleeping when he leaves  that is ok – I do not know he has left as I am after all sleeping .

His shift this blast was an 0400 so that would mean that he would leave around 0300 or so. He got enough sleep and I did not think he would have to work much past noon which still gave us enough time to clean up our driveway.

Unfortunately – it was a longer shift than he thought and when I asked him if he would like me to plug in “Max” (our tractors name is Max – Maximus Prime actually – I am a bit of a geek that way and if you saw this beat up old tractor you would think it was one of the Original Prime Transformers – google it – wow that was totally off track) Anyway – I plugged in Max in the garage – excellent – he’ll be ready to go.

Hub gets home – “Did you plug in Max?” All proud of myself – I said “Yep – he should be ready to go” – Hub smiles – that cheeky little grin when I know I did something wrong – “Ah – where did you plug him in” he grins – “In the garage…why?” – “Sweetie – you needed to plug him at the tractor part too” CRAP!!! SON OF A….$(&(*&(#&($#(*&.

Of course, Max protested loudly about that with NOT starting. By this time Hub is exhausted – I can tell – he is getting punchy and cranky and I told him to just leave it- we can clear it tomorrow. By this time I have shovelled little paths all over the place so I can get to the kittens – get to the barn – get to my car. We both have 4 wheel drive – we won’t get stuck. No- Max has to get running.

As luck – BAD luck would have it – it did not matter that I did not plug him in properly – block heater cacked and Max ain’t starting no matter what.

What to do? what to do? – well – I run into our local farm supply store to pick up a new one while Hub starts taking out the old one.

Now – I am all for women doing a job – however – when an idiot likes me walks into a farm supply store looking for a whatcamahoozit with a 5/8 intake – I really need someone who knows what I am looking for. None of the ladies did and nary a farmer to be found. A sweet girl pointed me to farm gadget stuff aisle – yes she called it farm gadget stuff and I looked and I looked. Finally on the bottom shelf – where a man in big ol’ boots and coveralls ways standing looking right at the very part I needed – I spotted the last one.  I walk over – “Good afternoon sir – perhaps you can help me” (tilt of the head to the side with big doe eyes and stupid smile) can’t flash cleavage – I am wearing like 12 layers!!! – “Yep” he says “What can I do you for” (yes he actually said that) – “I am looking for a recirc heater – wattage does not matter with a 5/8 intake – can you show me what the heck that is” Grinning idiot. “Sure little lady (OK he did not say that I threw that in for entertainment value) – “This very part is what you are looking for” and of course it’s the one – the LAST ONE – he has in his hand. “Are you going to buy that sir? – my husband has been working all night and our tractor broke down and I have to get our driveway cleared and I have been shovelling all day and have barely made a dent and he is so tired” the sympathy music is swelling – the tears are starting to glisten in my eyes ( just in case I have to turn them on) and he smiles and says “Nope wrong intake size for me – here you go” SCORE!!!! I hear the theme from Rocky – Flying High Now. Man says “Do you know how to change it? is your husband home to take care of it for you?” – “I’m good – see – you take the old one off – take this piece and twist it here – shove this piece here – mount that bracket – attach, clip and make sure you don’t get soaked in anti freeze- I’m good sir have a great evening”

I actually skipped away!! Of course I did not know how to install it but I did look up installation instructions on line before I left just in case they did not come with the part.

In conclusion – Max started- driveway clear – hubby fed and sleeping for his late shift and I truly hope that Mother Nature cuts us some slack for a few days.

Well – it’s here  – winter has arrived with a vengeance as the thermometer dips to a “brisk” minus 25C for the first time this year.

As I was driving home I planned my evening – chores first as always and try to wrestle a heavy winter blanket onto a 1200ish pound twitchy horse whilst not getting stepped on- trampled on or kicked and I sighed. I will persevere.

To the barn I jubilantly shouted in my head and off I went with grain buckets in hand slipping and sliding with a full wheel barrow of hay. Grain fed – hay fed  – hay prepped for morning feed and stalls mucked/raked and cleaned. Time to wrestle the blanket on in the dark with numb fingers onto a horse who hates blankets. Born and raised in a posh gaming barn in Ohio – used to pampering and cushiness I worried how my ponies will survive this first deep freeze.

And then I saw my beloved Trigger – tip toeing along on the hard frozen ground with no cushion which smacked me in the face with the harsh reality – it could his last winter.

I am actually hoping for snow- it will cushion his feet and he will be happier and it will be easier to move around. He has a thick thick coat of beautiful golden hair. I have never seen a horse put on such a coat. Testimony of his life outdoors. Who am I kidding?? he will probably outlive me!!!

Trigger is 24ish we think… hard to confirm – many “experts” have tried to guess his age using the age old technique of looking at his teeth and he is either 10 or in his 20’s. My guess is in his 20’s. He is belligerent and cranky and typical old man prickish. God I love that horse.

As I have just come in after night check and a couple of flakes of hay ‘just in case’ – I sat with him while Rippy slept off his glut of hay in the barn – and relished the bond that we have. I sat on the edge of the feeder while he munched and I scratched him in those places he cannot reach under the stars – it is so crisp and clear out tonight and prayed that he will will make it through the winter -for purely selfish reasons of course – that I am simply not ready for him to leave me.

The horse people will understand that it is rare to form a forever bond with a horse.You can love every horse you own. Every one of them – but once in a lifetime – there is just that one who touches your heart. You know ever movement – every twitch of the tail – every nuance of the breathing. You trust that animal completely and fully – knowing that he or she will keep you safe. You would sell your soul to keep them happy – to keep them pain free and safe. You can climb on them – trust your families young children to yell and pull at him while he or she patiently stands there and know that it does not matter because they are safe.

I sat there for a bit – checked on Rippy and went back for another hug and breathed in his scent and warmed my hands under his blanket and he bopped me in the head with his nose telling to leave him alone – do you not know I am eating here!

We call them bomb proof, beginner friendly or husband horse.

I call him my best friend.

It is Saturday night – Christmas is creeping up very quickly and managing a farm is an expensive endeavour…more expensive than I had realised.

We have made a pact in our home – if you cannot make it – buy it at a thrift store/dollar store – then you cannot gift it – turning out to be more difficult than I thought.

Tomorrow – I shall hit my sleepy little town – well actually it is not so sleepy and I shall persevere in my quest.

Throwback Christmas – when I was a single mom – making ends meet and being creative in my gifting.

I tend to over do at Christmas – spend spend spend and then regret regret regret.

In keeping with the actual age of our house- 1830 – we shall gift like back in the day. We will make our gifts with love – frugal shop with joy and create our masterpieces with our creativity.

No IPADS- No game consoles – No unnecessary trinkets.

I am a creative lady – I can bargain shop with the best of them and it will be our most triumphant and loving and joyful Christmas.

A tree has not happened yet. I cannot bear to chop one down – and I donated our fake one. Instead I shall a Norfolk Island Pine that I can enjoy all year. I do not bake – but I may this year – we’ll see where the wind blows on that one.

My wish for Christmas is happiness with family including good food and drink – smiles and hugs around the wood stove and love.

That is all I ever want for Christmas…what about you?

I have a wicked case of the “Mondays” today. Don’t know why – I am feeling uninspired by everything.

I have prattled on and on about life on the farm – but some people (family excluded) may not  know much about me so I am going to talk just a wee bit about me.

I am female (d’uh) 40somethingish years old – OK I am 48 – I said it out loud!!! HAPPY NOW!!! – I am 48 but quite frankly I still mentally feel like I am like 25.

Today my body feels like I am 80 because of the hay delivery yesterday – but save that for another time.

I am a 48 (ugh) year old female and the mother of two children. They have requested I not use their names but most of you know me on FB so you’ll know their names. My daughter is 25 and is…just…Lord I am so proud of that girl. She is me – at 25 minus the “her” that I had when I was almost that age. Smart, grounded, so pretty and I ain’t saying that because I am her mama – she is so pretty – inside and out. Just a wonderful young woman. So amazing and a kind kind soul. Sunshine in my life. I can have the shittiest day and a call from her and I just smile. We are kindred spirits.

My son is 20 – that man drives me insane. Gloriously and goofy insane. My son – there is a tune in his head – no one can hear but him – and he works/studies/grooves to this tune that is just him. He is quirky, creative, odd and unique to the core. Whimsical at times and incredibly intelligent and passionate. Puts others before him and suffers from depression that hurts my heart as I cannot help him with that.

But enough about them – more about ME!!!!

I come from a large family – we are breeders – not so much me – but my parents and their siblings generation tend to the larger families. I love my family!!! I really do. As children the cousins and us were so tight and then you get older and you lose touch and you try and regain. The ones that matter – I would like to think we are tight. We are fighters and cynical and comical  and idiots and passionate and care and etc etc etc. We Are Family – lalalalalalala! throwback.

I was married once. It ended. End of Story. I won’t get into it. It was there, then it was not and then it ended.

I have been in a serious committed relationship since 2001 and have found my partner in crime. He understands me, he puts up with me and my disjointed idiocy bitchy moods and smiles. He has a totally disgusting and twisted sense of humour that I adore and is frigging BRILLIANT and can fix anything. He is the “Rock” to my “Roll”.

I have been a serious committed (or should be) job since 2001 – hey hey – interesting as Hubby pushed me to take the job 🙂  I love my job some day’s I just love it more than others.

I am an emotional person. Others (work colleagues) don’t see it – but I am. I hurt when my friends are sad. I cry at movies – commercials – time changes – weather changes…

If I could go back to my 16 year old self (and family will understand why this age is important) you know what I would say to myself???? Nothing – I would say nothing – I would do nothing differently – I would not try and sway/change the course of my younger self’s life because everything that idiot did led her to the place where she types this rather long winded and quite frankly somewhat depressing blog entry.

This self has amazing children – amazing partner – amazing family and amazing friends and if this self had not gone through all “that self’s” crap – this self would not be who she is today.

The end!!

PS – the “boys” are fine – the weather somewhat sucks – I promise it will be more light hearted next post.

Cheers.

It’s coming- snow snow and more snow – forecasting 10-15cms tomorrow.

I am torn – I do love the cooler temps that winter brings. It helps me shut off the internal oven that is my life through this magical time of menopause, however, recalling the slugging of hay and buckets and the walking while working on my neighbours farm truly does not bring any warm fuzzy memories.

I feel it will be different though – our own place – our own beasts depending on us.

The ground is so frozen right now that the “boys” are having a hard time walking.

One would think large creatures would be used to walking on crappy surfaces – however my guys are tender footed – always have been – always will be – horse shoes are unfortunately not an option with either of them.

The snow will afford them a cushion – think about how us humans feel walking on stones in bare feet – add oh another 900 or so pounds and two more feet – it is painful I am sure.

I will embrace the snow with wonder and optimism that this winter will not kill me. I will learn how to drive and manoeuvre Maximus Prime – I will not complain – I will not curse – scratch that – I’ll curse I am sure. I will get a ton of fresh air – have a constantly snotty nose – wet feet – wet hands and static hair from hats. I will build a snow horse – have a snowball fight with the boys – drag 30 feet of hose so they have water – drive more hay under my non existent finger nails and sleep like a baby from the fresh air.

I will also update this week after the snow finishes. I am really looking forward to it and am hoping for nice weather this weekend to go out and ride in it.

More to come :)…

A moment while I gather my thoughts and think back on my day!!

I awoke – alone – hubby got called in for removal for 1:00 am – won’t see him awake for a few days.

Got up – look out the window – meh – that’s not so bad.

Started my day with coffee – shower – hair and went to get my Farmer Jane coveralls on – flipped on the floor lights via remote control – yep – I am high tech here – opened the back door and literally – laughed out loud!!

I knew Rita (my truck) was there somewhere – buried under a mound of snow – check that for later – good thing I started extra early she is going to take a while to clean off.

Loaded up my pre-soaked hay  – to cut the dust you know – and the “boys” breakfast and off I trudged – pulling trusty “green” my wheel barrow – trudge, trudge, trudge – holy shit – I thought – this is friggin’ deep – knee high in my yard. Trudge, trudge, trudge – thighs burning – calves aching – I am going to die out here because my legs will give out!!!

The “boys” as suspected have recovered from their tender footedness (is that a word -yep spell check didn’t pick it up) were frolicking and playing in the winter wonderland – tossing their heads and having a grand old time. I was happy to see that. Grain – done – off to dump the hay in the feeder – trudge, trudge, trudge, thighs burning – calves aching – EUREKA!! I see the feeder – squeeze into hay storage – flip on the lights and haul the hay to the feeder, trudge, trudge, trudge – holy shit I am going to die out here and the horses are going to eat me!!…come on lady – suck it up!!!
By this time the “boys” have finished their breakfast and are Lord of the Dancing around me – like the idiots they turned into over night – feed me feed me!!! – I toss their hay – noses turned up and shoot me the dirtiest look – Hand to God – they actually had that “Really” expression on their faces – they want the presoaked first of course. Dump the soaker and munch away boys!!!

Haul my ass back to the house – crap – have to feed the kittens – Hubby not here – kittens need to be fed – side note- anyone want a kitten – super cute- and free??? Kittens fed – Rita started – time to finish getting ready. Did I mention – it is not yet 6:00 am???

My hair – a write off – quick flat iron still will not tame that stupid cow lick  – screw it – pony tail and clip – I’ll go for the sophisticated chic look today – make up or no make up? do I have time?? uhhh can’t pull off the look with out the make up – son of !!!! it’s now 6::20 – want to be out the door by 6:30 and still have to clean of  Rita!!

Head downstairs – grab the snow brush – outside – Rita has melted nicely but I simply cannot be one of those DBags that just cleans the windshield – grab the broom- turn around to hear this sudden WHOOOOSSSHHHH  and thump – holy shit  – I have a tin roof and all the snow just narrowly missed squishing me – it was like an avalanche of white – ok – not an avalanche but it was alot.

No time to clean that up – jump in Rita and off I go. Thank God for Rita – she is 4WD and will plow through the knee deep mess that is my driveway. Blow out of the end of the driveway – ZERO traffic into the city. BUT then I hit the outskirts – and BLAM – bumper to bumper – city folk surely don’t know how to drive. Pull into work – time to spare.

Work – blah blah blah – emails – phones BS!!!

I left a little early – just to be safe – and come home and do the same in reverse minus having to clean off Rita.

Trudge, trudge, trudge,  thighs burning, calves aching – holy shit I am going to die out here but at least hubby is home – sleeping but home – he’ll find me when he leaves at 10:00pm for round two of snow removal, prancing ponies- hungry kittens, snow abound.

Thankfully – hubby has cleared the driveway – MUAH to him!! snow was too heavy for the blower so my entire driveway is like a rumble strip that are on the highway- you know the ones???

All and all – I survived – I am happy to see the “boys” being idiots again – I will have rock hard thighs and calves of steal come spring and it is simply a beautiful winter wonderland outside that I marvel in to see on our own little slice of heaven.

Not complaining one bit!!!

We’ll see what happens though when it is minus 40!!!

Folks – I just this moment realized how regimented my day is!!! epiphany abound!!!

My day starts at 0430 – I hit snooze ohhh – once or twice and am typically out of bed no later than 0500. If I have showered the night before 0515 (that is a luxury). If not coffee – feed the other herd – or if you prefer “clowder” as that is what a grouping of cats is – a clowder – see educational!! – into the shower to shake off the sleep – hair and then time to venture outside.

I pull on my “Farmer Jane” lined coveralls (pic this weekend) and head outside.

Prep the feed – a cup of this – a pinch of that – 10 of those – two of these into feed buckets. Gather the hay I have put on the steam the night before. What??? so I steam some hay??? wanna make something of it??? I dare ya. Side note – I got some second cut dusty hay and to cut down the dust I steam it so the “Kings” do not inhale – What?? do I spoil my boys??? Wanna make something of it?? oh hell – we could go around and around on this – onward.

Where was I?? Oh yes – lights on  – fence off – stumble through the dark and BAM!!! fed horses – I won’t go into detail as I believe that is in a prior post.

By this time – 0615(ish) and done – back to the house – dress for work – heels and hose – hot rollers for extra body in my hair – rollers out- spritz of the spray – pit stick – spray of CK1 – and voila- working professional.

I like to be out the door by 0630  – no later than 0645.

The commute begins. Hit the 416 and hammer down folks. The commute is bliss – find some good tunes and sing (badly) all the way into the city.

IF and I do mean IF my son is at his father’s – stop in and wake the sleeping Prince to get him off to a good start. Yes I know I know – he is 20. Two things – to me – he will ALWAYS be 5 and I have learned that the first 15 minutes of your day dictate how the rest of your day will go. If I can wake him with a smile – then I have done my job.

Arrive at work by 0730 – work blah blah blah – leave 0430-0445 usually the latter, side streets to highway and HAMMER down.

Home 1730-1745 (530-545 -24 hour clock – look it up people) and  don the ever fashionable but somewhat smelly “Farmer Jane” coveralls and time for feed- cup of this- pinch of that – toss in a carrot – grab the hay I have been steaming all day – what??? oh never mind – slog through the dark  – flake of hay here- flake of hay there – check the water and finish 1815 to 1830.

NOW – time to go back inside and cook dinner. My best friend of late is my slow cooker – prep a dinner the night before and voila – dinner done – if not something simple – salad perhaps – I try to limit take out to once a week MAYBE. I do like to cook.

2000 night check to make sure my “boys” are tucked in and hit the hay!! no pun intended. Read for a bit and lights out. Next day start all over.

On the weekends I may – just may sleep in until at least 0530 GASP the boys will be fed later than normal – will they survive???

I ask you – do I sound like I am complaining??? I’m certainly am not.

You see – this has been a dream of mine for oh – I don’t know –  since birth!!! When I met hubby – we always talked about owning our own farm and what we would do and what animals we would have and EVERYDAY – I drive in my driveway to the view that we first saw when we fell in love with this house and this property and I smile – a big huge goofy smile.

It is not everyday that people actually get to achieve their dreams. I am fortunate (broke) to have gotten this chance to live my – nay  – our dream.

We are blessed to be able to do this – to see this dream come to life.

With the mud and the mucking poop, the hauling hay and the building fences, the dumped kittens and the cold hands – wet feet  – everything about this makes me grounded and smiling and happy.

So there ya go!!! My day in a nutshell or a hay bale – you pick.

As you all know – or whoever may by chance be reading this – I had my first challenge of being away for a longer period of time from my beloved “boys” and home.

This post is more about how I got to my destination – how I got home from my destination and how grateful I was for that friggin’ destination to be over!!!

I left Sunday for a business trip in Chicago – my flight at 11.25am. Like a diligent traveller, I arrive at the airport – two hours prior to departure. Heck – it was Sunday – who knows -maybe everyone and their mother was leaving Canada that day and the line ups could be long. Ya…no – breezed through security. What a waste!!

I sit in the airport in the international lounge (if you can call it that) eating a greasy breakfast and surfing free wifi (thank you Ottawa airport for having FREE wifi!)

I look at my watch…hmmm – we should be boarding now. That notion was short lived – in typical Air Canada fashion – the flight was delayed – in typical O’Hare Airport fashion – crying weather issues. Hell a sparrow farts two counties over and they shut that place down.

Ok – Ok – the weather was bad – so I found out -tornadoes- winds – locust – I was happy to be delayed.

Remember flight leaving 11:25 – so 12:25 comes and goes  – 1:25 and so on and so on and they’ll two friends  – sorry side tracked.

Oh well -if my flight is cancelled there is the 5:00 pm – oh that has actually been cancelled – ok think think you need to be in Chicago for 9:00am tomorrow – Eureka!!! I “protected” a seat on the 6:00am flight – mine will surely get cancelled if the weather is that bad.

I meander to the podium – to check out the situation – the flight crew is there – “hey what’s the news?” I ask – “Tornadoes in Chicago” they reply – “Oh dear – guess we’ll be getting cancelled?”  I say hopefully – the pilot – lovely young woman – ” No – there is no one who wants to get to Chicago more than me – I get to go home when I get there and have not been home for a bit” she says.

So I wait – and wait – head to “powder my nose” – and walking back to my seat – run into the pilot – “Get ready” she says ” they are about to announce boarding – we have a window”. “Excellent (shit!!) I reply – don’t get us killed” I joke – she smiles.

Easy take off – great flight – until approach that is. Of course by this time the plane is half empty. People with connections made other arrangements.  Only the die hard (idiots who have to be there) are on the plane.

Then comes the approach – well I have to say – it was uhhhh bumpy??? rocky?? what is the word?? SCARY -we are bucking and weaving – and lurching – the poor young man next to me wakes up “Oh – we are landing?” – “No sweetie” I reply – “We will not be landing this time” ” But the gear is down – I can see the ground” he says. “Listen to engines – she is not slowing – she is using the gear to stabilise the approach so she can hammer down and take her up again”.

The young man looks at me like I am crazy – and we circle – “Sorry folks – wind shear – we’ll circle and try again” the nice young pilot announces.

We circle – we approach the gear comes down – the young man’s eyes light up – “We are landing?” – No sweetie….see above – it’s getting late and I am rambling. ” how do you know all this” he asks ” Are you a pilot??” – “No but I have watched enough Mayday to know the signs” hahahahah!! that was cruel – I simply tell him that planes fascinate me – I travel alot and I know the sounds.

Pilot “Sorry folks, wind shear – third time will be the charm” VRRROOOMM – up we go again. We circle – approach – to and fro – up and down – side to side (getting nauseous)- the nice young man looks at me – “This time” he asks – like I am an expert??? – “This time”, I tell him.(???) I am no expert.

That pilot – has some “set” on her – she kissed that runway like is was glass.

Summary – I was last off the plane – smiling – I walk to the front – the pilot was there ” Rocky approach” I tell her – she smiles – “Sweet landing” I say -she quips “Told you I wouldn’t get you killed” Well played pilot lady – well played.

Oh – right – went away for three days – Sarah managed fine -Hubby managed fine – the “Boys” are fine.