Snapshots of a Kansas Farm

It is a new year!  Time to put goals on paper to forget or fail at, right?  This year is different.  (I hope!) I have goals and I intend to keep up with it!  Will you join my challenge?  Use my goals or edit them to fit you!  I plan to give updates along the way.

2013 was a great year, let's make this one even better!

1. Lose weight - I have lost 8 lbs since starting my goal after Christmas!
2. Get in the best shape of my life - Unfortunately our exercise equipment is out of commission while the floor in My Purple Palace is waiting to be finished.
3. Eat healthier - I hope to eat more green beans and carrots this year! (Small steps for the picky eater)
4. Stay in touch with friends better - Now that we are grown up, my friends are scattered all over the state, country, and world.  Facebook, texting, etc. help, but how often do we not take the time to actually have a conversation.
5. Keep the house ready for company at all times - I currently have the house as clean as it can be for having one room completely emptied into the living room!

6. Do one load of laundry - (Thanks for the idea, Kelly!)

7. Do the dishes every morning - It sure makes the kitchen feel better to have everything clean and put away!

8. Take a picture of something with my camera...EVERY DAY - I want to have a record of everything that happens this year!

9. Learn a new skill each month - I am going to learn a new crochet stitch or pattern and maybe pick up sewing!

10. Cook at least one new recipe a month - I am a picky eater so I tend to cook in my comfort zone. 

11. Write more - I would like to start writing a letter with a friend, like a pen pal!

12. Finish our house projects - We have a long list!  It is all written down and ready to have projects checked off the list.

13. Have an open house for friends and family when our house is finished - I would love to have my family and friends come up to see our house when it is finished!  Be ready for an invite!

14. Get more involved in the community - We want to get more involved in the community and church this year!

And an obvious goal for life, cherish every day with Redbeard, Scraggly, Andie, and Custer - I am very lucky to call them my family!  I must enjoy every day this year!

Join me on my year long journey to be a better me by January 1, 2015!

Now to show what the snow has messed up in 24 hours.  Sunday we were supposed to have a potluck at church to celebrate new members.  That means us.  Our transfer to First Lutheran is finally complete.  It was hard to say goodbye to St. Paul's, but that is part of growing up.  I knew the recent snow would interfere with our plans.  Redbeard has cattle to give food and water to and with snow and frigid temperatures that means chopping a lot of ice.  Plus, the roads were less than ideal.  

While he was off tending to cattle, I made a dish for the potluck.  I decided macaroni and cheese would be a good addition to the potluck since I didn't have any eggs left to make a dessert.  In a short thirty minutes, I let the noodles stick to the pan and boil its slimy noodle juice onto the stove.  Yuck!  I was trying to do too many things at once.  Next time I will focus only on the noodles.  I blame it on the yucky snow!  It has me going crazy!

Redbeard finally got home right before 11 and church starts at 10:30.  We hopped in the truck and made the trip to town.  We entered right as they started playing the closing song, but at least we made it for the potluck.  Better late than never, right?

Here is what the roads looked like on our way to church

We had a great time at the potluck.  I think it was the best potluck I have ever attended!  Between cheesy potatoes, macaroni and cheese, beef and pepperoni Pizza Hut pizza, and Hawaiian rolls, I was stuffed!  I didn't even eat supper last night!

The road on the way back from church...much better, but still not great.

After church and the potluck, Redbeard and I went out to give a few bunches of cattle some more water.  They sure drink a lot, even though it is cold out!  Custer came along for the ride and loved every minute of it!

I blame my long, cold, yucky day on the snow and my long-time hatred for it.  It causes problems in our days, but it is nice to go chop ice and feed with Redbeard and Custer even though it is cold.

We are excited to have our new puppy, Custer!  

Chloe smiling for the camera

Chloe was a really interesting stray dog.  She would lay with the bulls in the corral in front of our house.  She would get up and nudge the bull if he hadn't moved in awhile.  When he moved a little she would lay back down and sleep.  They were great friends.  We don't know exactly what kind of dog she is, but she seems to have the shepherding instinct of a Great Pyrenees.

Chloe loves to sit and wait to shake our hand.

"Hello, I want to shake hands!"

"It's nice to meet you."

"I am coming to see you, Jessie!"

I missed you too, Chloe!

"Look at me!  I am so pretty!"

Chloe is the sweetest dog I have ever met.  She doesn't try to jump on everyone or get in the way.  When cars come down the road, she knows immediately if it is someone she knows and loves. When people pull into the driveway she will either greet them with excitement or she will run away and not come back until they have left. We like to think Chloe is a good judge of character. When Chloe likes you, she will insist that you shake her paw. She has always wanted to shake without prompting.

Goodbye for now

I have had other dogs in my life, but no dog will ever compare to the friend we have found in Chloe. My mom says that God knew what kind of dog we needed and I think she is right. Chloe is a one-of-a-kind dog and I thank God for sending her to us.

Snapshot #1 - Introduction                                                                                        Snapshot #3 - Momma