I noticed two of a neighbor's cows out this morning on my way to the feed store. They were happily grazing in the ditch - still none of our pastures have grass to speak of, so I left them alone. It is a lightly traveled road. On my way back I met a sheriff's deputy trying to get the cows off the road. I asked whether he knew where they lived, and he did and seemed determined to herd them home without getting out of his truck. The wise cows had separated and were headed in opposite directions. I left him to it.

I'll bet the cows had more fun than he did!

Today we never saw the sun. There is a thin layer of overcast above us, enough to block the sun, but thin enough that the mountains to our north that have some peaks over 9,000 ft, were pink with the setting sun shining on them, while we ground dwellers were still under the cloud layer in the fading gray light. Our temperature started out in the low teens at daylight and never got above 25 all day. We have no snow, and haven't had any moisture falling on us for at least 3 weeks.

What's your favorite farm related bumper sticker? Mine is "Don't cuss a farmer with your mouth full".

Around here you see a lot of "Eat more rice. Potatoes make your butt fat." I have, "Save a cow - eat a vegetarian."

Anna, I've resembled that picture, but find it wears off the farther away you stay from cows.

We have snow in the shady spots, but today is supposed to be in the 40s and tomorrow in the 50s. While we've usually had over a foot by now, the total is much less. It comes, melts, snows a bit, melts. Odd year.

Porkpal, I want that bumper sticker. I've seen it a couple of times on the back of old pickups.

Both of my sewing machines are on the blink ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rainy here today. Semi-foggy too (like my brain...........LOL)

Have a Pork Producers meeting tonight. I think I will make up the Bacon Jam recipe I got from someone over at another site, make up a loaf of bread machine bread and see what the group thinks. See, that way I won't have to eat it all myself; can share and hope it will be all gone. Sooooo...........guess I will get busy.

I don't think I posted a photo of the extent of my Christmas decorations. I know if I go back and look I will lose this post, so I'll just post it; if it is a repeat, bear with me. I am old, you know.

When I went to Madison on Monday I was casing out all the pine trees along the way, and when I came home I stopped and cut some. I figured anything along the highway right-of-way was fair game.

porkpal: Thats a great story.I love cows,holsteines mostly.

It's cold and cloudy. There was a bit of snow overnight that is hiding in the grass. I took my #1 sewing machine to have it cleaned and adjusted. Now, if they can get it back to me before Christmas, I may get everything done. Fortunately I have the #2 machine, so all is not lost.

Have you seen the ad at the bottom of the page from US Farmers and Ranchers Alliance and their Food Dialogues? I kind of coasted through one day, but didn't have time to stop. It looked like something worth spending a little time in.

Happy Solstice, All.

Isn't today Beethovan's birthday? Happy day!

Kathleen, where is this ad?

on my screen, it's just under the box that you type new posts in. Here's the link: http://www.fooddialogues.com/?...

Got the long distance gifts shipped yesterday. Almost done with the cards. We've gotten little bits of snow which nestles in the grass until the temperature rises between the precipitation impulses. I'm not asking for a snow storm, but a couple of inches would be nice. The local ski resort has manufactured enough to open today. Maybe I'll have to drive over to get a feel for the season!

I have no ads (?) - thanks for the link.

We were supposed to get rain this week, but once again it all went north of us. We are normally one of the wettest areas of Texas; this year is all backwards!

It sounds as if you are a lot more prepared for Christmas than I am.

Got snow last night............not much, just enough to cover the ground and have the highway department salting like they were preserving meat. Jeez..............The way they salt around here it's a wonder the ocean still HAS any salt. Or Bonneville..............

I didn't do cards this year; I succumbed to the Christmas letter. Got most of them out yesterday, but my printer ink is about gone so needed to hop to WM and get a set of cartridges. Not many more to run off.

Here is how me make our housecats suffer.

After I posted, the snow got serious and I drove to town through slush. the grass is all covered now and it is falling like in a snow globe.There is almost no breeze and the snow rises and falls on a whim.

My mother always tells me that she thinks I must have been a cat in a former life. She could always find me in the sunny spot curled up with a book. Not that most cats would waste their time with books, but we humans have to have some advantages.

Poor cat, overworked and underfed for sure!

No kidding. LOL

I think we're the only dairy farm on earth that doesn't have cats. deep sigh

dawn is brightening the eastern horizon and I need to get to work. I have bread rising and am cutting out a house coat for the eldest GD, oh, and playing on the computer! My cup of tea is gone, so I guess I'd better get back to work.

I just made my cup of tea. And I'll be off to the Torture Chamber shortly. *sigh*.............

All the culinary industry is impressive. I'm beginning to panic due to my lack of readiness for Christmas.

My daily work schedule works well as long as nothing gets added - like Christmas!

Shortest day of the year - plan accordingly!

Howdy, Kathleen, et al....

Just popping in for a brief "Happy First Day of Winter" salutation. And "Happy Solstice"!

I haven't read much of this thread but I can imagine ya'll are in holiday high gear or, if like me, "holiday slo-mo". This is the first year in decades there is no tree up and decorated. A far cry from the years past and heading into the woods on the annual Christmas tree hunt.

Kathleen and all ya'll north, I imagine there is snow on the ground. Our version, rain, is in abundance today! And a balmy 58º to boot! Go figger. Looks like I'll be puttering in the greenhouse, pulling weeds or the like.

porkpal, I see you are in Texas...you must still be picking tomatoes down your way! Or starting them soon for a February plant out?

Have a great day, Folks. Do something fun.
Best to all...

Shoe