tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631357801990965322024-03-12T19:08:58.371-06:00Why Geraldine!?Thoughts on moving to a tiny farming community in central Montana. Stories of the life and people here.Prairie Barbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240921744739191451noreply@blogger.comBlogger126125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763135780199096532.post-18693597460299646882016-10-25T11:05:00.000-06:002016-10-25T11:05:10.229-06:00Some Random Joy - A Post From the Past<br />
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<a href="https://barb-dickinson-79sw.squarespace.com/blog/2013/11/9/some-random-joy" id="yui_3_17_2_10_1477411656377_1809">November 09, 2013</a><span class="author"> / <a href="https://barb-dickinson-79sw.squarespace.com/blog/?author=51bf5d7ae4b090c42fe6bb44">Prairie Barbie</a></span></div>
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My super awesome friend Michelle told me about the pumpkin pie spice, flavored coffee creamer that's at the grocery store right now. She said it was <em>so</em> good and slightly addictive. I tried it. She was right. I got addicted.... But it goes against my "food morals" and it felt like a sin. Ya see, I have this thing about fake food. You know, the stuff that <em>claims</em> to be food, but really isn't? Such as, "processed cheese food product". Or even coffee creamers that don't have any actual cream in them at all! They have hydrogenated this and mono that, artificial flavors, coloring and on and on....</div>
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Here at the farm we are producing as much food for ourselves as possible. We like our own, organic eggs, pork and lamb. There's nothing like knowing where your food comes from! Granny just brought home a pickup load of pumpkins and has been making pumpkin <em>everything.</em> Bread, cakes, cookies, pies and they are all so good! Pumpkin pie is pretty much my favorite. I could eat it all year long. Which brings me back to my coffee....<br />
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This morning I had what just might be a <em>genius</em> idea! I added the half and half and sugar to my coffee like always. Then I looked at the pies on my counter and realized I had pumpkin pie spice in my cupboard. Wouldn't ya know!! It's <em>awesome in my coffee!!</em> Just a little bit goes a long way. The best part is, it isn't fake! Just the real deal and so yummy. So I just thought I share this with you, hoping to inspire you try something new today! Now go make something beautiful....</div>
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Bye for now,</div>
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PB</div>
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Prairie Barbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240921744739191451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763135780199096532.post-15407266348796378952016-10-21T09:24:00.001-06:002016-10-21T09:24:20.977-06:00SunriseHow many photos can one take of the sunrise? Does it ever get old? So far....no.<br />
It doesn't matter that my files are already filled with the sunrises and sunsets of my Montana life. <br />
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Every time the sunrise shows her colors, I'm drawn to run outside with my camera and capture it.<br />
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Of course the backdrop of this old homestead makes for an idyllic setting.<br />
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Can't you just hear the rooster crowing? Trust me he is....<br />
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and the old stud horse wants his grain, so I better get to it.<br />
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Enjoy your day out there, wherever you are.<br />
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Now go make something beautiful,<br />
PBPrairie Barbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11531795362707096785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763135780199096532.post-82170801789862388062016-10-05T09:18:00.000-06:002016-10-05T09:18:06.882-06:00Somebody Needed to Write ItSince our Jury girl had her first litter of pups two weeks ago, I had been asked about a million questions about livestock guardian dogs. I sometimes found myself "copy and pasting" answers to those questions to multiple people each day. I thought, these answers need to be available to folks who are interested in LGD's!<br />
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So I wrote a little book. Somebody had to, might as well be me! It isn't an overly technical book, just information I had to share from personal experiences and the photos I have taken over the past four years. If you're looking for more of an encyclopedia, this isn't that book. But for some fun facts and information, I'm your girl!<br />
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My book, "Life With Livestock Guardian Dogs" can be purchased as an e-book or a soft cover book. The e-book is an instant download so you don't have to wait for the mail carrier!<br />
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Let me know what you think!<br />
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http://www.blurb.com/b/7387652-life-with-livestock-guardian-dogs<br />
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<br />Prairie Barbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11531795362707096785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763135780199096532.post-10397320204062858402016-10-02T10:17:00.000-06:002016-10-02T10:17:21.518-06:00October Homestead<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's definitely autumn around here. The mares and colts are enjoying the last bits of green(ish) grass before the snow flies. Soon it will be weaning time for the two little fillies. So we spent some time with them yesterday afternoon and introduced them to halters and brushes.<br />
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Little Eileen has grown into quite the young lady. She is pretty willing to go with the program, whatever we ask her to do. That's the way we like our colts to be.<br />
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You can tell by looking at Reba that she is bred to run. We call her the "little red rocket".<br />
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We also happen to have a litter of livestock guardian puppies that are busy growing like weeds so they can soon head out onto farms and ranches and guard them from predators. We are so fortunate to have a pair of "LGD's" to keep the grizzlies and other predators from strolling onto our place. In this area we are all having to learn to live "with" the bears a lot more than a few years ago. The dogs are part of what makes our lifestyle possible in such a high predator area. But for now, they sure are <em>cute</em>!!<br />
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The baby chicks we brought home last spring are grown now and have started laying an abundance of eggs. I had to snap a picture of Zorro yesterday, as he strutted around to show everyone that he's the boss.</div>
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The last of the garden will be harvested today and the soil will be turned over to rest. Does it feel like Autumn where you are? I really hope it does! This is one of the best times of the year....</div>
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Now go make something beautiful,</div>
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PB</div>
<br />Prairie Barbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240921744739191451noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763135780199096532.post-6258732442123041492016-09-13T11:50:00.001-06:002016-09-13T11:50:55.932-06:00See You On The Other Side<br />
Yesterday morning my Grammy left us for heaven. It's a call you prepare yourself to get one day, but also the call you never really think you'll get. Grammy lived almost ninety years on this earth. She has been a solid presence in my life and for the past four and a half years a daily presence in the lives of my sons. I'm so thankful that we were fortunate enough to have my grandparents move to Geraldine for this season of their lives. <br />
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Grammy was much like many grandmothers I suppose. She loved her grandchildren. She spoiled us at times. We knew we could count on Grammy to take us to Dairy Queen every day when we visited her in Seattle. She would take me with her to second hand stores and let me pick out fancy, frilly prom dresses for playing dress-up. My Grammy's fondness for second hand stores was undisputable. She also dearly loved little dogs, fast cars and jeans with sparkly pockets. She wasn't the kind of grandmother to sit and knit you a sweater. She wasn't the kind of grandmother who loved to bake you cookies. She was the kind of grandmother who showed me it's ok for a woman to take off on a road trip alone in a fast car. She was the kind of grandmother who never set out to impress anyone. She was always authentically herself with no apologies. She had a quiet strength and independence that I believe was rare in a woman from her generation.<br />
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But she was also a devoted wife to my Grandpa for sixty seven years. Together they raised four feisty daughters. She had an unwavering faith in the Lord. She loved to sing hymns in meeting and the fellowship she had there. So while there is a big empty space in our lives from her leaving, I know she is saving a seat for us at the feet of Jesus. <br />
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So in my heart I haven't said goodbye to my Grammy. I've said, "See you on the other side." <br />
<br />Prairie Barbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240921744739191451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763135780199096532.post-71318868703190267832016-08-25T17:20:00.000-06:002016-08-25T17:20:00.602-06:00On The Map!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last month I got an odd email. A little gal claiming to be a TV producer wanted to talk to me. "Yeah suuurreee," I thought. She said they wanted to film a TV episode about 6-man football and that she had read a blog post I had written about the Rivals football team here in my little town. (You can read the post she found if you click <a href="http://prairie-mom.blogspot.com/2014/01/six-man-film-you-need-to-see.html" target="_blank"> HERE</a>.) I wrote it a couple of years ago when a filmmaker made a documentary about the team. So I did a Google search to check out this "stranger" and found she was a bona-fide producer. So I wrote her back and agreed to talk to her about my little town.<br />
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She called one afternoon while the kids and I were enjoying ice cream from the drive-in in Fort Benton. I sat there with my soft serve dripping all over and told her a love story. The reasons I moved here, the many things I love about our little place and a few of it's secrets. We talked about the football team but we also talked about the <i>life</i> we have here and why it's so special. I hafta say it was a fun conversation because it's basically what I blog about already. <br />
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Alyonka let me know they were coming the week that school starts to do some filming. That is this week. The kids had their first day of school yesterday and the film crew was there. The kids were lit up like the Fourth-of-July! I got to hear about the experience from my favorite high school kid. How it was weird, but fun, but really weird to be filmed while you're eating! Gotta love it!<br />
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The feeling I'm having about what's happening here this week is.... tickled. How cool is it that this <i>tiny</i> town in the middle of nowhere is once again getting a little national attention?! The kids here will likely remember this unique experience for the rest of their lives. They are feeling so special and important right now. <i>They</i> get to do a TV show! The children of farmers, ranchers and truck drivers get a few moments to shine like stars. Yup, I'm tickled for them.<br />
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So sometime in the future, look up "Vice World of Sports" for the episode on "The Rivals" and there you will see our little town, right there on the map! Prairie Barbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11531795362707096785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763135780199096532.post-980445304767802322016-07-31T16:01:00.000-06:002016-07-31T16:01:48.105-06:00Farmhouse Project: BedroomHi guys! How've ya been? I have been working on sooooo many things I can't even tell you. But this is one project I wanted to share with y'all.<br />
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The master bedroom in the old farmhouse has been my focus lately. First, Prairie Granny and I took apart and dragged out the no-longer-functioning, therefore unused, huge treadmill that had overstayed it's welcome by about a year. Next I decided we needed to squeeze another large dresser into the not-very-large room. <br />
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The only space I could do that was along one wall, right next to each other. So I scrounged around the house and gathered up enough wall décor to make a collage big enough to span both dressers and treat them like they are <i>one</i>.<i></i> I think the result was pretty good!<br />
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The next thing I did was figure out what to hang above the bed that was more "farmhousey" than the little sparkling thing that has moved with me from house to house over the years....<br />
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Ta-da! I still used the sparkling thing! I just hung it from an old window frame that used to be in the chicken coop here on the homestead. No kidding! I have been loving the ideas I see in magazines and on <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/prairiebarbie/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> that use old windows and doors as wall décor. Like these....</div>
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I know I still have a ways to go with this room. With this house, for that matter. But A little at a time, we're getting there.<br />
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There are some things I <i>love</i> about this room now.<br />
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My nail head trimmed headboard.<br />
The wall color. Sorry, can't find my can to get you the color. What kind of blogger am I !?<br />
The bench that sits at the foot of my bed. (Found down in the barn at my previous farmhouse.)<br />
The original wood floors.<br />
The ceiling fan that my mom and I installed. Ahhhh....<br />
The original closet doors with their very old hardware. <br />
And of course my new "feature" above the bed.<br />
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My "wish list" for this room is:</div>
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To someday refinish the floors.</div>
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Some nicer, more sturdy and decorative curtain rods.</div>
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Fresh, farmhousey, stuff for the bedding. Like some new pillows and a throw maybe. </div>
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But for not spending a single cent on décor to update this room, I hafta admit I am tickled with it. I would've shown you 'before" pictures but I would have been embarrassed. And I didn't take any. Ha! <br />
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Thanks for checking out my little farmhouse project and sticking with me on my little blog.<br />
I've been living a double life. Well, kind of anyway. I have<i> two</i> websites. But I am seriously considering simplifying my online life back to just <i>this one</i>. Anyhow.... If I figure out how to consolidate all my content I think I will be hanging out over here on "Why Geraldine" a lot more often.<br />
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Now make something beautiful,<br />
PBPrairie Barbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11531795362707096785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763135780199096532.post-79648449148347696542014-07-11T14:18:00.001-06:002014-07-11T14:18:28.928-06:00A Birthday Party for GeraldineMy little town is a pretty special place. At least some of us think so. Over the Fourth of July weekend we had us a reason to throw a party. The town of Geraldine turned 100 years old! The town was scrubbed, painted, spruced up and fixed up like it had a hot date! Long empty flower beds were filled, streets were swept and just about everyone put a coat of paint on <em>something</em>! Then we had a parade. <em>Of course </em>we had a parade!! Summer in a tiny, Montana town just wouldn't be the same without parades!<br />
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We had our fire trucks and old tractors and vintage automobiles....<br />
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Of course there were cowboys.... and mountain men. Like, real ones.<br />
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We had some floats of a variety you wouldn't see, say in San Francisco or Seattle....<br />
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There were something like a hundred entries in the parade this year. Which is amazing considering there are usually about seven.<br />
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Where there are cowboys, you also find cowgirls. Of all ages....<br />
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But my very favorite.... has to be the draft teams! I <em>love</em> them!!<br />
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So there you have a little view of our small town party. We also had a concert with the Bellamy Brothers, which had to be the biggest name to <em>ever</em> make an appearance in Geraldine. Then we had a street dance and the best fireworks show this town had ever seen. All and all I think we showed our small town pride just perfectly and here's hoping we will see another hundred years for Geraldine.<br />
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Bye for now,<br />
PBPrairie Barbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240921744739191451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763135780199096532.post-19970027735124734452014-04-25T07:00:00.000-06:002014-04-25T07:00:01.022-06:00Blooming Tulip<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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I didn't think this story would get written. I don't like to write sad stories and I didn't think this was gonna end well....</div>
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Ten days ago Miss Ivy had her babies. Twin girls that came just a bit earlier than expected. Sadly, one baby did not make it. I don't think she even took a breath. But one tiny, precious thing was alive. She was the oddest color for a goat. In the sunshine she almost looked <em>pink </em>with a black stripe down her back. Immediately I knew her name was "Tulip".</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tulip's first hour of life.</td></tr>
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I quickly noticed that Tulip wasn't in perfect health. She had a very large, abnormal swelling in her throat. She was weak, cold and had no interest in momma's milk. Not a good sign for a baby goat. If they don't get momma's colostrum milk within the first few hours of life they usually die. Colostrum is how most baby critters get their immunities. And she wouldn't eat....<br />
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I reached out to a network of Farmgirls for advice and information. I also read on the internet about "goiters" in goats and how they are caused by the mom not getting enough iodine. It said the Boer breed is particularly susceptible to being iodine deficient and Tulip's daddy is a Boer goat. The prognosis was not good. But I am a "never say die" kinda girl. While I know that losing animals is a part of ranching, I refuse to just accept that. I'm stubborn and I hate it when any kind of critter in my care dies.<br />
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So I tucked tiny Tulip into my lap on my 4-wheeler and led her momma across the farm to a warmer place in my main barn. Then I fashioned a make-do goat pen inside the feed room, moved the feed to a safe spot, bedded it deep with straw and hung a heat lamp from the rafters. I used two different ropes to secure the heat lamp because hate those things and the risk of fire associated with them. But they are a necessary evil. After getting the heat lamp to just the right height, I grabbed a 5 gallon bucket for a chair and sat with tiny Tulip on my lap, soaking up the heat. After an hour or two, I milked some colostrum from Ivy and fed Tulip, one drop at a time from a syringe. She still had no desire to suck and would not even try a bottle. The swollen thyroid gland made it difficult for her to swallow. I wanted to cry.... <br />
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Finally, late that night she had an <em>almost </em>normal body temperature so I tucked her into the straw, said a silent prayer and left her and Ivy to themselves. I really didn't think she'd last the night, but to my surprise she was still hanging in there in the morning. She ate a bit more from the syringe, protested the iodized salt I mixed into the colostrum, forgave me when I rubbed molasses on her gums.... the day went by and she was still here.<br />
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On day three she started to come to life! She even gave a few half hearted sucks on a bottle! More syringe feeding, lots of time under the heat lamp but she was ok. <br />
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Day four she finally nursed on her own!! Just a little bit, but she did it. She started with just tiny sips and still needed the syringe but she was getting stronger and her swollen thyroid was shrinking! I started to allow myself to have hope that she'd live. I finally allowed my little boys to see her and pet her. Up to that point I hadn't because I didn't want their hearts to break when she died. She did start to develop a slight fever and raspy breath sounds so I began an antibiotic treatment right away.<br />
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Today, I am pleased to tell you that after 4 days of doubt, 5 days of antibiotics and Prairie Granny and I watching her like a hawk, Tulip is thriving!<br />
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Her swollen thyroid continues to shrink. The pneumonia symptoms are completely gone and she is a happy little goat!<br />
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There is nothing cuter than a happy, baby goat! I think they are even cuter than puppies!<br />
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I'm kinda glad I'm stubborn.... and I'm really glad Tulip is too. Stubborn enough to live against the odds. <br />
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Bye for now,<br />
PBPrairie Barbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240921744739191451noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763135780199096532.post-88257113736341191282014-04-09T13:44:00.001-06:002014-04-09T13:44:05.442-06:00The Knitting GroupYesterday I got a wild hair. I decided to grab my knitting projects and head down to the senior citizens center and join in on the knitting group that meets every Tuesday. I had some new yarns I was pretty excited about and looked forward to being able to knit and talk to some grown-ups for a couple of hours.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the scarf I finished at the knitting group.</td></tr>
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I did happen to be the youngest woman in the room by and average of maybe forty years. I think the ladies were a little surprised to see me plop down in a recliner to join their group. A couple of the ladies knew who I was but the others I had never met before. So I gave a short run down of who's place I had bought and that my knitting was strictly out of fleece from my own little fuzzy critters. Then I just listened mostly....<br />
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One lady in particular had me fascinated. Her name is Katie and she has lived all of her life right here in Chouteau County. I believe she said she was 83 years young. She grew up on a homestead up in the Highwood Mountains, on Shonkin Creek. <br />
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Her dad was an immigrant from England and her mom had immigrated from Scotland. She told me how her dad came here, homesteaded the place and was raising sheep up on the Shonkin. Until the wolves, (yes wolves!) the coyotes and the harsh winters decimated the sheep. Then he became a sheep shearer and would travel around each spring, shearing hundreds of sheep by hand, in a time <em>before</em> electric clippers. Anything to help make ends meet.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Geraldine in it's early years.</td></tr>
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Katie's mother was one of 10 children back in Scotland. When one of her siblings came here to Geraldine, she ended up following. Her sister's children had both died within three days of each other, during the scarlet fever epidemic. The sister was just six weeks from delivering a new baby when she lost her children and sent for Katie's mother to come help with the baby and also work in the general store they ran here in Geraldine. She was here for a couple of years before Katie's dad came into the store one day.<br />
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A friend had told him, "There's a young lass down at the store you outta meet." So he made the trip to town with the excuse if needing to buy a bar of soap, just so he could meet the "lass". They met and then courted for about a year before getting married. He was 47 and she was 28 when they married. He moved her to the homestead where sometimes it was six months before she even saw another woman. But Katie says they loved each other and were the happiest couple on Shonkin Creek for all of their marriage.<br />
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I don't know about you, but their story just tugs at my heart. What a legacy of love to have! Now Katie's son runs his cows on the homestead place. They are one of the families that have been here in Geraldine since the very beginning of this place. All because two people fell in love....<br />
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I warned the ladies at the knitting group that they might end up on my blog. I have their blessing and it is my hope I retold Katie's story without errors. <br />
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Bye for now,<br />
PB<br />
Prairie Barbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240921744739191451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763135780199096532.post-2548085973155865342014-04-08T21:04:00.001-06:002014-04-08T21:04:26.369-06:00Mr. Goat's Horrible Not Very Nice Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We have had a "guest goat" for a few months now. He is hanging out at our farm until Miss Ivy has her babies. Or maybe just "baby". We're not sure.... Anyhow, Mr. Goat is here to keep her company because goats really much prefer to be in the company of another goat. I didn't want Miss Ivy to be lonely! I'm not exactly sure of Mr. Goats real name, I think it might be Butternut....or Buttercup...or something like that. But I just call him Mr. Goat.</div>
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Today, Mr. Goat had one heckuva bad day. I don't know why.... and I don't know how. But Mr. Goat managed to get himself into this little pickle....</div>
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As my big boy and I were walking around the farm doing the chores this afternoon, we found him in his pickle. I usually don't do the chores until my son gets home from school. He's my official gate opener and I need his help. So Mr. Goat looked to have had himself stuck like that for quite a while. A few hours at least, maybe longer.</div>
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The obvious thing we needed to do was remove the panel from the fence and give his poor little kisser some breathing room. But of course we had <em>walked</em> down to do the chores and my hammer was <em>all the way</em> up at the house. (Note to self: Put hammer in big barn, near goat pen.) So this cowgirl had to hoof it up to the house as quickly as possible. I tell you what, I am not in shape for a quarter-mile run, uphill, in muck boots. But I made it without passing out, grabbed a hammer and drove the pickup back down to the goat pen. </div>
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I yanked the fence staples out and freed the panel. Then my big boy pushed his behind forward while I did a twist and yank procedure on his head to fit his horns back through the fence squares. His little head is gonna be sore for a day or two! And his lips were chaffed and swollen too....</div>
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But a minute or so after being released from the goat trap, he was happily in the feeder, chowing down.... that's always a good sign. </div>
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I think I'll call Mr. Goats owners and let him know he would like to come home soon.... he doesn't like my fences.<br />
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Bye for now,<br />
PBPrairie Barbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240921744739191451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763135780199096532.post-50325321413437767522014-03-20T21:53:00.000-06:002014-03-20T21:53:17.957-06:00How About A Glampout?!<br />
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Prairie Granny and I had another crazy idea. We get a lot of those!! It's not easy for us to get away to take our cute little glamper out glamping. So we have decided to host a glamping rally here at the farm!!! For those of you who think I am speaking some other language: Glamping is, Glamour + Camping = GLAMPING! We have been fixing up our little vintage camper. It now has pretty pink floral upholstery, a pink chandelier etc.... Now I just need the perfect glamping, vintage dress! I'm thinking something very colorful and glitzy....</h3>
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So far, we hope to have everyone pull in on Friday afternoon or evening and share a bonfire, meet-n-greet on Friday night. Saturday is open for adventuring around Montana and we are looking forward to a potluck on Saturday night. </h3>
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So next June 6, 7 and 8th we are hoping that lots of ladies will bring their glampers and enjoy our little piece of heaven. We'd like to see a donation of $25 per camper for the weekend to help cover the costs of setup. </h2>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ObWA2fSJblM/UyuymRdcJiI/AAAAAAAACAo/L-9UqwKQzsg/s1600/MalloryGenesis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ObWA2fSJblM/UyuymRdcJiI/AAAAAAAACAo/L-9UqwKQzsg/s1600/MalloryGenesis.jpg" height="566" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AStbfvi7ecg/UyuziJgBzaI/AAAAAAAACBg/1YnrLu5FxNE/s1600/sunset2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AStbfvi7ecg/UyuziJgBzaI/AAAAAAAACBg/1YnrLu5FxNE/s1600/sunset2.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the painted sunsets from last summer.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eDiJa2GLflg/UyuzPJuI7kI/AAAAAAAACBY/pDfdXfbOzdM/s1600/barbietruck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eDiJa2GLflg/UyuzPJuI7kI/AAAAAAAACBY/pDfdXfbOzdM/s1600/barbietruck.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The old truck loves to be a photo prop!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yBBj_d3YIvE/Uyu0CAHvYxI/AAAAAAAACBo/fMW3LAUIn3g/s1600/IMG_6216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yBBj_d3YIvE/Uyu0CAHvYxI/AAAAAAAACBo/fMW3LAUIn3g/s1600/IMG_6216.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Square Butte from my back porch 03/18/2014</td></tr>
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The mighty Missouri River is minutes away for those that love to fish. There is a charming ferry that crosses the river to a jewel of an antique store in the town of Virgelle. </h4>
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Nearby Fort Benton is a very historic, darling community. There is an interpretive center and the actual "Fort" that eventually became the first town in Montana. The Fort is open to the public from the end of May through the end of September. Visitors to the Fort will see rooms filled with period furnishings, the trade store with buffalo robes, beads, trinkets, blankets and other period trade goods, the warehouse with its fur trade era collections, and the blacksmith & carpenters shop.</h4>
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My little farm is home to horses, calves, alpacas, goats, chickens and piggies. There should be plenty of cuteness to go around! </h4>
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Shoot me an email at <a href="mailto:prairiebarbie@gmail.com">prairiebarbie@gmail.com</a> for contact info and to RSVP.</h4>
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Bye for now,</h3>
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PB</h3>
Prairie Barbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240921744739191451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763135780199096532.post-53432749675580313702014-03-01T08:55:00.001-07:002014-03-01T20:48:44.060-07:00Hello MarchOk, it's the first day of March. Almost spring. Could it please, please start to act like it?? It's -14 this morning. We have a good six inches of snow. This has been the coldest, snowiest winter in about 15 years. I'm over it. So, I am going to reminisce.... Just to remind myself spring will eventually get here.<br />
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I took these last spring and summer.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iNws_0fGkkA/UZWP14pE8YI/AAAAAAAAAzA/ebx0X3IKc1U/s1600/bale+picker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iNws_0fGkkA/UZWP14pE8YI/AAAAAAAAAzA/ebx0X3IKc1U/s1600/bale+picker.jpg" height="640" width="450" /></a></div>
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Here at the farm or just down the road....</div>
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Mostly just as I wandered around my yard in my bare feet with a coffee cup in one hand and a camera in the other....<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zbbbi4MHQbA/UxH_arqtejI/AAAAAAAACAI/qsxeSfMrcyg/s1600/IMG_2861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zbbbi4MHQbA/UxH_arqtejI/AAAAAAAACAI/qsxeSfMrcyg/s1600/IMG_2861.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Or from the porch....<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v_CjVc_Id3w/Uagmwa3PINI/AAAAAAAAA6I/189H1Lk1tBg/s1600/Herd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v_CjVc_Id3w/Uagmwa3PINI/AAAAAAAAA6I/189H1Lk1tBg/s1600/Herd.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Sometimes I had to set the coffee cup down.....<br />
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Ahhhh.... I don't know about you, but I feel better. Maybe I'll go lower all the window shades, crank up my heat, put on some capris and a tank top and <em>pretend </em>it's spring.<br />
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Bye for now,<br />
PBPrairie Barbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240921744739191451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763135780199096532.post-71534004433366580852014-02-28T09:07:00.002-07:002014-02-28T09:07:16.946-07:00While The Sun Shines<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I think we have all heard the expression, "make hay while the sun shines." Well, I'm gonna add to that. <em>Haul </em>hay while the sun shines! Yesterday was a gorgeous day for February in Montana. Somewhere around 30 degrees and not a breath of wind. But that has changed. It's 3 degrees now and snowing. There's a storm heading our way that is supposed to bring more snow, high winds and temperatures back down to -20 or so. The wind chills will even be worse than that!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NDsCKMFXcP8/UxCvrUX_51I/AAAAAAAAB-w/0Hk9umQAEuI/s1600/hayhaulin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NDsCKMFXcP8/UxCvrUX_51I/AAAAAAAAB-w/0Hk9umQAEuI/s1600/hayhaulin.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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I never used to pay any attention to the weather. Not much any way. Boy, has that changed! Now I have learned that watching the weather reports can mean being prepared for nasty storms or being caught out in a blizzard. Kind of a big deal out here on the prairie.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H9X9f1JzpEk/UxCwRKRkfzI/AAAAAAAAB_I/4ovaT33uMpE/s1600/ice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H9X9f1JzpEk/UxCwRKRkfzI/AAAAAAAAB_I/4ovaT33uMpE/s1600/ice.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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So in preparation for this storm, I decided to haul hay all around to the different parts of the farm where I feed each bunch of critters. I normally load a few bales each day, off of the stack and deliver them around the farm. Now I have bales stacked up near each bunch of critters. Some near the goat/lamb pen, some near the horses and calves pasture gate and some up in the alpaca barn. Now I won't be hauling hay when it's -20 below and the wind is trying to blow me off of the haystack! Instead I was hauling hay in the sunshine, in shirtsleeves no less! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p7SuCwXnHGA/UxCwvTswjHI/AAAAAAAAB_g/zapIyJG8SZw/s1600/forcam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p7SuCwXnHGA/UxCwvTswjHI/AAAAAAAAB_g/zapIyJG8SZw/s1600/forcam.jpg" height="400" width="262" /></a></td></tr>
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The alpacas were out frolicking and hoping all that hay was for them! They love their groceries!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9pgnarvRs3w/UxCwOQvqVFI/AAAAAAAAB_A/nagQdVcDyIY/s1600/cricket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9pgnarvRs3w/UxCwOQvqVFI/AAAAAAAAB_A/nagQdVcDyIY/s1600/cricket.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"No really, you can just leave all that here." ~ Cricket</td></tr>
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I also got some things cleaned up around the farm, fueled up the tractor and trimmed the pony's hooves. The snow kept balling up under his feet, making it very hard for him to walk. I'm hoping a hoof trim helps a bit. A good brushing made him a happy boy too.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z24oeTydilc/UxCwnp7S78I/AAAAAAAAB_Q/2RkDdYLN_TM/s1600/skeeter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z24oeTydilc/UxCwnp7S78I/AAAAAAAAB_Q/2RkDdYLN_TM/s1600/skeeter.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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All of us seemed to be soaking up the sunshine while we could.... I'll let you know what tomorrow brings.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> "Paris" the barn cat.</td></tr>
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Bye for now,<br />
PBPrairie Barbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240921744739191451noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763135780199096532.post-9931725242159227132014-02-27T09:36:00.003-07:002014-02-27T09:36:38.750-07:00Winter Bliss<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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People in the city often think small town, rural living is "boring".</div>
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"What do you do for fun?", they ask....<br />
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They wonder if my kids are too "sheltered"....</div>
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I think the folks that have asked me that need to get <em>out</em> more!</div>
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What do you think??</div>
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I think.... I wouldn't trade this for the world.<br />
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Bye for now,<br />
PBPrairie Barbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240921744739191451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763135780199096532.post-87143136764677006942014-02-24T08:35:00.001-07:002014-02-24T09:49:20.777-07:00Being FollowedThis is the start of a new week, thank goodness!! Last week was a tough one. There are times when we all have more on our plates than we think we can handle. Days that almost shatter us. I'm sure that all of you have had times like that too.<br />
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But now I'm just feeling grateful. Saturday the weather was still quite chilly, but nice enough for my big boy and I to actually talk a stroll around the farm while doing chores. Most of these winter days we have had to take a pickup, for heat and also to haul hay. That little walk with my kid and my critters was just what I needed. <br />
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As we stepped out the front door, the calves perked up, bawled at us and began to follow us along the fence. <br />
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The little black mare took a break from grazing and came over to the road to say hello and joined the parade along the road towards the barn. She thought I should definitely show off how hard she works to get good and dirty!<br />
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The alpacas met us at the gate and made a little marching formation, following behind us as we made our way up to their little barn and the feed room. This is Genesis making her, "feed me now!" face.<br />
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The chickens all swarmed around me, clucking contentedly and following behind as I went around straightening up their pen. Even though they had a fresh meal in their house! Happy little hens just hanging out to see what I was up to.... <br />
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That was the moment. The moment I looked up and took my first deep breath in a week. The moment I realized everything really <em>is</em> going to be okay. Even on my weakest days I have these happy little children and happy little critters to help me "pull focus" and remind me what's important. I felt like all of them had been following me around the farm, just to say "Hey! Don't forget! Life is good!" Sometimes being followed is a <em>good</em> thing....<br />
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Bye for now,<br />
PB<br />
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<a href="http://www.theprairiehomestead.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/barnhopimage.png">http://www.theprairiehomestead.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/barnhopimage.png</a>Prairie Barbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240921744739191451noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763135780199096532.post-11436916452468230902014-02-07T10:04:00.001-07:002014-02-07T10:04:40.749-07:00So You Wanna Be A Farmer?Lately there is quite a movement happening. At least it looks that way to me. There are more and more people, men and women alike, that are craving a more organic, agricultural lifestyle. To put it simply, they want to be farmers. On websites like Pinterest there are oodles of boards named, "My Dream Farm" or something similar. All of this is such a great thing! The world needs a lot more people devoted to farming and feeding the world! <br />
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The images we see of small farms and homesteads are all pretty idyllic. Happy little chickens, adorable baby goats, perfect cottage gardens with flowers every where. A lot of that is truth! The baby critters we have in the spring are precious! The chickens are truly a joy to watch scratching in the dirt. Sometimes there is time to tend a flower bed or two.... </div>
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It can seem like a perfect life....</div>
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All the sunshine and fresh air a person could need for a happy soul. The rewards of growing the food your family consumes....</div>
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But today, on yet another sub-zero day in north central Montana, I have to ask the people with the dream of farming dancing in their heads; "Are you sure you wanna be a farmer?" I have a little list of things for you to consider before you jump into an agricultural life with both feet.</div>
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The day when the automatic waterer, frost free water spigots and hoses are all frozen. Water gets hauled by hand, in 5 gallon buckets for whatever distance it take to keep the critters alive. Of course it's usually -30 below when we're out hauling water. </div>
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The day when the wind blows so hard it literally blows the doors off the barn and your sheep scatter into the wind on a grand adventure. So then they have to be rounded up in the 100 mile an hour wind. By a person, aka. <em>you.</em></div>
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The day the both of your livestock guardian dogs do a great job of defending your farm from <em>a porcupine</em> and end up with faces full of quills. Off the vet for enough drugs to keep them from biting your hand off when you yank the quills out one by one.</div>
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The day when you find yourself giving an alpaca an enema and helping him <em>extract</em> the blockage that is giving him colic and threatening his life.</div>
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The day when a hail storm comes and completely wipes out your entire garden just as it's starting to look so promising.</div>
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The day that your out riding your horse for some actual fun and relaxation and it's interrupted by a not-so-lovely rattlesnake that crosses your path and spooks your horse. You instantly envision getting bucked off right there on top of that rattler! </div>
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The day a coyote gets a hold of one or more of your chickens. The ones you nursed along for two months in your garage to keep them safe.... I could go on.</div>
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I have had each and every one of those days sometime during the year. I am not sharing this to discourage anyone from chasing their farming dreams! But yesterday, as I hauled that water 300 yards, through 18 inches of snow, in -20 below temperatures, I was questioning my sanity just a little bit! Then I thought of others with this dream and had to ask, "So you think you wanna be a farmer?" I hope you do! But be careful what you wish for because it just might come true!</div>
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Bye for now,</div>
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Prairie Barbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240921744739191451noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763135780199096532.post-79312815619047761132014-02-05T08:59:00.000-07:002014-02-05T08:59:13.940-07:00February Freeze It's a pretty regular thing for us to get our most bitterly cold weather in the beginning of February. We can almost count on it. December really threw us for a loop this year with some of the lowest temperatures we'd seen in over fifteen years. There was a week that the thermometer was stuck at around -30 below zero. Then we had some serious wind chill at around -65 or so. Wicked. <br />
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So now it is February. As predicted we are having another cold snap. It was -25 when I got up this morning. Thankfully there isn't much for wind. <br />
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The sunrise always looks a little <em>different</em> at sub zero temperatures....</div>
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Judge and I think it's just too dang cold! We're gonna hang out here for a while and drink hot coffee. Well, I'll have the coffee.... Judge is good with keeping his spot on the floor held down.<br />
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Stay warm everyone,<br />
PBPrairie Barbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240921744739191451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763135780199096532.post-9717201968266279532014-02-01T08:54:00.000-07:002014-02-05T08:03:25.471-07:00Prairie ChickensThis morning the rugrats looked out the window and told me the chickens were out. That's not good! We have to keep them in their fenced area so the "guard dog", Jury doesn't eat them! But when I looked out the picture window, I just smiled. It wasn't the chickens.... it was the <em>prairie chickens</em>. Also known as female, Ring Necked Pheasants. Lots of 'em!<br />
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These girls have been hanging out in our little, scrubby trees. Most likely to get themselves up and out of the 8 inches of fresh snow we have. The pheasants <em>usually</em> are found scurrying around in tall grass and the ditches along the highway. Taking to the trees isn't something we see them do every day....<br />
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One of their very favorite tricks to pull on us humans is to try to get us bucked off of our horses! It never fails that we'll be riding along, minding our own business and WHOOSH! A pheasant or two will <em>explode</em> out of the grass right under<em> </em>our horses noses or bellies! Even the best of horses will have a minor heart attack when that happens! Heck, even I have a heart attack when that happens!! The pheasants laugh at us... I know they do.<br />
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But today there will be no riding. We'll just watch them bounce around in the branches as we all wait for Spring....<br />
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Bye for now,<br />
PBPrairie Barbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240921744739191451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763135780199096532.post-52634936790230468012014-01-29T16:39:00.000-07:002014-01-31T14:55:48.838-07:00A Winter WalkThis morning a little storm blew in. It started snowing hard. But the wind had kindly stopped blowing and the temperature stayed right around freezing. Not any of that below zero stuff we often get at the end of January. <br />
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I decided it was actually quite a nice day, in spite of the little blizzard going on. So in effort to get a little exercise, I chose to walk around the farm to get my chores done. Normally I have to drive something that can haul hay this time of year. But there is a little extra stacked up in the barn so I didn't have to haul any today. Perfect day for a winter walk....<br />
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Today's snow is very heavy and wet. It feels much like a Spring storm. The girls almost seem to enjoy this weather.<br />
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Mudflap is not amused.... but he is never amused.<br />
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The calves were happy to see me put out their bales of lunch so they could stop rooting around in the snow covered grass.<br />
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The ponies are loafing in their shed....<br />
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The chores are done, the gate is closed and it's time for a cup of tea.....<br />
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Bye for now,<br />
PB<br />
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Today I joined the Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop! Check it out for more fun!<br />
<a href="http://www.deborahjeansdandelionhouse.blogspot.com/2014/01/farmgirl-friday-blog-hop-143.html">http://www.deborahjeansdandelionhouse.blogspot.com/2014/01/farmgirl-friday-blog-hop-143.html</a>Prairie Barbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240921744739191451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763135780199096532.post-63419283666544804062014-01-24T09:39:00.000-07:002014-01-24T09:39:01.837-07:00Is There Anything Better?Yesterday I fired up the old John Deere and went to spread some new straw out in the barn. But the weather was so completely lovely and perfect I decided I could take the time to clean out the barn too! Usually that's a job we don't get to do until spring. But I couldn't help myself.... <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The calvies had to follow me up to the barn and see what trouble they could get into.</td></tr>
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Is there <em>anything</em> that feels better than a clean barn, bedded with fresh, fluffy straw? Let's see.... maybe looking into your newborn baby's eyes for the first time. Or the moment you realize the object of your affection loves you too. Or maybe getting on the scale and seeing that you've lost ten pounds. Those all feel pretty good too. But ahhhh.... a clean barn. It's even more divine to me than a clean house!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Zorro" and his hens also got nice fresh straw in their winter house.<br />
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The calves were so happy I gave them a nice, clean bed! They couldn't wait to get in to start messing it up, right away!! It's a bit like cleaning house with my twin toddlers running around behind me, making more chaos.... Lord willing, I'll get to do it all again soon.<br />
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Bye for now,<br />
PB<br />
Prairie Barbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240921744739191451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763135780199096532.post-7577948942863067072014-01-23T09:45:00.000-07:002014-01-23T09:45:48.168-07:00Mystical Montana<br />
This morning we woke up to fog so thick we couldn't see past the yard..... I had to wait quite a while to take these photos for you.<br />
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Fog is probably one of my favorite natural occurrences. I know I have written about it before. <a href="http://www.prairie-mom.blogspot.com/2013/08/magic-morning.html">(Click here to check out that post.)</a> Fog doesn't happen all that often out here. Usually it signals a weather change is on it's way. I'm praying this fog means <em>Spring</em>! A girl can hope right? I do know we have February to get through yet. But when March rolls around we can usually at least feel a hint of Spring in the air. I'm probably getting ahead of myself....</div>
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But it's easy to start thinking ahead to brighter, warmer days when everything is looking so beautiful!</div>
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I can't even believe I get to wake up to this wonderland....</div>
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It's a long way from the Seattle traffic or Houston chaos that were once my life....</div>
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Mystical Montana at it's finest....</div>
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Well kids, I am off to go fire up the old John Deere and roll out some brand new, fresh straw in the barn. </div>
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Bye for now,</div>
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PB</div>
Prairie Barbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240921744739191451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763135780199096532.post-47372996370045820752014-01-20T20:22:00.000-07:002014-01-20T20:22:59.610-07:00Just Wanted To Say "Hay"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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Hay there! I brought along my camera while my big boy and I did chores this afternoon. There wasn't anything "special" going on. Just another absolutely perfect, mid-January day in Montana. But I though you might like to come along with me and enjoy the farm for a minute....</div>
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Skeeter wanted to be sure you had a good chuckle today....<br />
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Miss Ivy says hello.... Doesn't she have the most beautiful gold eyes? <br />
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Good ol' Rhett was thankful it was his day off.... <br />
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The not-so-innocent, but innocent looking lambs were posing nicely for me today....<br />
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The big boy got to play mountain goat on the stop of the hay stack.... <br />
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There isn't a day that goes by that I'm not aware how blessed we are to live this life. Simple pleasures and beautiful things everywhere we look, no matter what we're doing. Take a look around you right now. I'll bet there's blessings everywhere....<br />
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Bye for now,<br />
PBPrairie Barbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240921744739191451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763135780199096532.post-89684513955002268902014-01-18T23:04:00.001-07:002014-01-18T23:04:46.526-07:00A Love Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hOvnBALEblY/Uttc-QOZ_EI/AAAAAAAABz8/SATLx5MpzcU/s1600/rhett.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hOvnBALEblY/Uttc-QOZ_EI/AAAAAAAABz8/SATLx5MpzcU/s1600/rhett.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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This is a love story. It began in the spring of 1997, when a big eyed, red colt came into this world. He was a blessing and a gift from the start. After a horrible accident, I had given my favorite mare, "Sevens" to the veterinarian that saved her life. After kicking herself out of a two horse trailer and hitting the asphalt at 65 miles per hour, she was always going to be a little crippled. We were all thankful she would be sound enough to be comfortable and would make a great momma. Some months after I signed her over to her new owners, they called me and asked if I would like to breed her and get one baby out of my beloved mare. It was a gift I have <em>never </em>forgotten or taken for granted. The other gift was from my dear friends who owned a stallion and gave me a breeding. Such generosity and love is so rare and I was doubly blessed. A year and a half after that fateful phone call, the world was given "Rhett".</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-McNdNOpYmtw/Utte8KnmymI/AAAAAAAAB0w/B2yxFExpiYA/s1600/rhett2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-McNdNOpYmtw/Utte8KnmymI/AAAAAAAAB0w/B2yxFExpiYA/s1600/rhett2.jpg" height="295" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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From the start he was special. He had a bit of a large, bony frame but a chiseled, handsome face and was built quite correctly. He was smart and sensitive and full of himself! I decided I would keep him a stallion, at least for a while. He was to be my new show horse. And show we did! Rhett and I showed in almost every event at one time or another. He also got the chance to be a sire to seven beautiful foals. All of them sorrel stud colts like their dad, except the last colt, who was jet black.</div>
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When both of us were young I never imagined all we would go through together. I was 20 when he was born. Young, carefree, selfish and driven to see the world. He was my only obligation or responsibility other than myself. I never in my wildest dreams thought he would someday go from the fiery red stallion, to the quiet old gelding that slowly plods along dirt roads with my precious babies in the saddle. </div>
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I believe in great loves. I believe the great loves are here to show us the truth and meaning of love. Whether it's the great love of a spouse, a child or even our beloved creatures that God gives us....Through the ups and downs, plenty and lack, I have had a red horse that never let me down.... </div>
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Bye for now,<br />
PBPrairie Barbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240921744739191451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763135780199096532.post-23374141726527373172014-01-16T13:54:00.001-07:002014-01-16T13:54:32.947-07:00It's Quite Possible That I Am StrangeThis morning was a <em>gorgeous</em> morning here in Geraldine! The wind finally quit and left us with sunny, warm weather! You would never believe it is mid-January. This was the perfect morning to get my calvies vaccinated and the sick alpaca doctored up.<br />
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For those of you that aren't ranchers, I'll show you a little about how we do that....<br />
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First we tell them good morning and ask them to pretty please go over into the catch pen like good boys....</div>
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Then once they are in the catch pen, which is behind the chute, we open the chute and ask them if they would please all go in the chute all nice and orderly.... The alpacas watch and laugh at them!<br />
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Everyone was perfectly well behaved today as did just what we asked....</div>
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Then I walk along the foot rail, on the outside of the chute. I lean over each one and give them a little shot under the skin of their necks with this thing....<br />
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After about two minutes, everyone had their shot and they were ready to be let out to go eat breakfast....<br />
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See... there ya go. Piece of cake!<br />
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I know it's a little weird. But for some reason there is almost nothing I like better than messing with cows. I am far from being any kind of an expert at any of this. I've been lucky enough to occasionally participate in brandings, gathering, vaccinating, calving and such throughout my life. I know I have so much more to learn. But I love the accomplishment of the work involved. I love being outside in the fresh air, even though it usually smells like manure. I love the sound of the cattle bawling.... The only thing better than working cows, is being on a horse while working cows!</div>
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Now that is my idea of a great day.... I know, I know.... I'm probably a little strange.</div>
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Bye for now,</div>
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Prairie Barbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240921744739191451noreply@blogger.com1