Snow Storm Woes

Here on the farm, we are experiencing another round of fairly heavy snow and are expected to get 1-3 more inches on top of the 9 or 10 we already have. I hate it, but I am thankful that I have heat, power, and water unlike so many people in Texas. My heart truly breaks for those that are without heat and power as well as water. 

Many of us in the midwestern part of the United States and those in the northeast are fully equipped and aware of what a winter storm is capable of and we are generally prepared, but these poor folks are not. Many rural families near us are still on roads that are impassable due to the snow and slick conditions and our county is fairly large and rural and the highway department is capable of clearing them, but there are also many gravel roads that they can't do much with. However, due to the areas in Texas that are struggling, winter road conditions are not usually an issue and they are not equipped with items to clear roads as we do. I am hearing reports of people using their cars to stay warm and although it is not a safe decision, I am fully aware that if my children were freezing, I would attempt to do all I could to keep them warm. 

I am also hearing reports of stores being out of many supplies and that gas stations are without gas, which is required for generators and other such items that can be used as a source of heat. I am fortunate that I have wood heat ( electric for backup) and I am able to cook over it in cases of no power. I also am well equipped with plenty of food ( three freezers and two pantries), but many do not store those amounts of food. I would say I could live for a few weeks without power. However, I know a few that could not live many days. I would say that water, although not the safest, could be found by melting snow, but without power and in freezing conditions that would even be hard to do. 

Please, if you know anyone in Texas, reach out to them and make sure that they are safe and have essentials for a few days. I have reached out to Linda at lindaslifejournal. I have also been in contact with my cousin and her family as well as the founders of our Pink Zebra company, who live in Texas. No one should not be checked on. 

Prayers to each of you until we meet again. 

Snow Storm - The Day After

Snow Apocalypse has left the state and we are in for a beautiful sunny day with very cold temps. I must say that we look as though we live in a snow globe and the scenery from the winter is beautiful, but I am thankful that it is over. I am not a fan of snow or cold and have truly questioned why I live here currently. 

The Front Yard

The Side Yard

Do you notice on this photo that the snow is almost to the bottom of the picnic table bench? I know it truly looks like a mess in the yard and it is at times, but we keep it much cleaner looking in the spring and summer and I have big plans for it this year. 

From the back porch

Now, this shows just how messy our porch is. There are many items here that were set here before I had surgery to be stored in the garage and barn, that no one ( mind you, three other adults live here) could put away for me. I never leave my chairs open for snow to sit in them, but no one seemed to consider that and I can't get out to do anything with them. 

This is taken from my front window. 

We have a metal roof and we have discovered that they are quite dangerous really. The snow build up on them can come crashing down and in this picture, you can see the ice that is building up to fall, but look at how pretty the icicles are that form from it. 

Metal roofs are also not a good idea in case of a fire as it does not allow easy access into the attic. We thought we were doing a good thing when we had it put on, but we are rethinking it now. 

If you are a fan of bath bombs, I highly recommend that you check out my Etsy page here. My daughter has chosen to open a bath bomb business and I will be listing for her here. She is a single mom of a 5 year old and a 4 month old and is trying to find a way that she can stay home and provide for her girls at the same time. I pray that this is one thing that will help. We help financially as we can, but she is currently struggling a bit and so, I am hoping that the many avenues that she is trying now will be an asset to her. 

Until our trails meet again, may your trail be blessed and your ride be smooth!

Snow Storm #1

Our corner of the world is currently under a winter storm warning and I must say with the way it is snowing, I would not be surprised if we don't get record snowfall today and tonight. We are predicted to get an inch an hour and I would say that it is fairly accurate with the snow we have now. I know many states are struggling with the same weather and I pray that you all stay safe. Please be aware of road conditions and stay in unless you have to go out. 

Provided by Google Images

Our county has gone to a red travel status due to the snow and blowing conditions. Red means that only emergency personnel should be on the roads. Being that we sit on an East- West road and the wind is predicted to drift many of those closed and we are in a rural area, I am more than prepared for a long stay inside. My kids are safe and I pray that there are no emergencies within the next couple of days.  I will attempt to post photos tomorrow once the snow stops. 

We are predicted to get another snow storm on Thursday and I pray that it somehow misses us, but I don't think that it will. We are not to be above freezing until sometime Saturday or Sunday so we will certainly be inside for the next few days. I feel for the animals that can't be brought inside, but I am thankful that they have warm houses and they are feed daily and checked on daily. 

Many businesses are closed and have sent employees home in order to keep them safe and I know families are thankful for that. My soon to be son in law is a truck driver, but he is home each night and he made it home safe and he doesn't plan to go to work tomorrow. I am thankful that he is smart enough to know that roads won't be in good shape. 

This shall pass and it will just be a memory and I just pray that others are smart enough to stay safe. Sending love and prayers to each of you! God Bless until our trails meet again!

Super Bowl Sunday Feb. 7

Hello Sunday! Yes, it is a Super Bowl day here. We are not huge sports fans, but we watch the Super Bowl each year and I am a huge Patrick Mahomes fan so I will certainly be watching tonight. My husband likes Tom Brady, so our house will be as divided as the stadium would be if it were full. 

Life on the farm today is simple as the chores were done early so that we could rest and relax today. It is super cold out and I truthfully, do not want to be outside. We checked on the horses, chickens, cat and one dog that is outside. Yes, he has a warm house to get into and he is checked on regularly when it is cold. The next week or two here is supposed to be really crazy cold and we may have snow the next few days, which won't make life any easier. Of course, with my foot still recovering from surgery, I am truly unable to get around outside so my husband has to do most of the work. 

Who is your pick to win tonight? It feels like a game between the new upcoming talent and older talent? Patrick Mahomes is certainly set to break records set by some of the big names in NFL, such as Brady, Manning, Jones, Namath. Just to name a few.  Of course, Brady has played several years and is one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Brady is older and more seasoned, but that might not play to his advantage in this game. 

We are having snack type foods for our dinner. We will make pigs in a blanket, tater tots, pizza, and possibly breadsticks as well as chips and cheese. We also have French Onion dip and we will certainly have some paper plates to eat off of as I don't plan to do dishes tonight. 

I hope whether you are watching the game or not, you have a blessed Sunday evening!

Life

Good Morning Everyone! I pray that this post finds each of you healthy, warm, and in good spirits. I am going to my daughter's again today to spend a few days with her. We work our Pink Zebra business together and I am thankful to say that she is finally truly helping with the work and truly trying to make a good go at this business. 

Provided by Google Images

Our rally training is on Saturday and it brings a new catalog, lots of new scents and many new warmers and lights as well as other products. That is part of the reason that I am going to her house, as we are watching virtually and we want to watch together, plus we are having some of our customers with us as well. I am still not sure that I enjoy the virtual meetings like this, but with the Co-Vid restrictions that we have all across the US, we must do things this way.

Are you ready for life to go back to some kind of normalcy? I am. I want to travel with my friends, I want to have meetings with other Zebras and I want to meet with Tom and Kelly, the company founders again. I want to have a birthday party and not worry about how many are there or who might be carrying a virus. I want to go to church and sit by friends. I want to go to a salon and be able to wait inside with others getting a haircut. I want to be able to go to the doctor with my husband and my grands. I want some normal!

I have done well with the quarantine and I have done well with wearing my mask and all the other new virus related guidelines, but I don't want to live like this anymore. I want my life back to some kind of normal. I know our normal will be changed forever, but I also keep my hands clean all the time, I keep sanitizer with me to use on carts, etc. because there are germs everywhere and have been for many years. I clean and sanitize my home weekly and I am fully aware to not go out if I am sick. Common sense can prevail through many situations. 

Summer may seem a long time away, but it truly is not and I wonder if we will have a normal fair this year. These 4 H families look forward to the fair and those kids work so hard all year to show off their animals and projects and it seems so unfair to have a virtual fair and a fair that doesn't allow animals to stay at the fairgrounds. A show that doesn't allow the public in to see the work that they have done. My grand doll can be in mini 4H this year and I want her to be able to go see her work at the fair. I want to be able to show her around the fair and let her see the sign that has her mom's name on it as part of the Jr. Leaders group that rebuilt a concession stand in the cattle showbarn. again, I want some normal to the fair. I miss milkshakes, fair foods, even the crazy midway. I miss seeing other friends that we only see at the fair. 

Co-Vid 19 has taken many loved ones and it has taken many of our traditions from us in the past year, it is time to reclaim our lives and our traditions, so I am making it part of my daily prayer that God take Co-Vid away. 

Until our trails meet again, I wish each of you a blessed day!

Welcome February!

Image provided by Google Images

Welcome to February! 

February brings thoughts of love, hearts, and Valentine's Day for many of us. February is the shortest month of the year and I believe that God made it that way because it can be some of the gloomiest days here. It seems that we get most of our cold and snow in February and I am not sure that we could survive a full month. I also believe that it is the springboard into spring. 

I know here on the farm we are looking forward to the long daylight hours that February brings as well as knowing that March will bring some warmer weather and brighter days. Some of our cloudy, gloomy days will soon give way to sunshine and brighter days. We are also looking forward to spring and all the new that comes with it. New signs of nature waking up and planning for that awakening. 

I am beginning to plan for some new flower beds this spring as well as looking to do some repairs that are truly needed around here. My husband and I are planning another remodel in our home soon and I pray that it goes smoothly and looks as good as we are thinking it will. As far as the farm goes, I don't know that we will be bringing any new animals in this year as it has been a rough winter for us health wise and we are thinking of making some changes in what we truly want to do with the hobby farm. 

Of course, I am also anxiously awaiting the days I can get back to the barn and feel and smell my beautiful Sugar, a wonderful horse. I am looking forward to the day that my grand doll can ride again as well. Sugar is such a great horse and so patient with the little ones. 

Such memories were made this day! Granddoll and her cousin riding!

We also will celebrate our daughter's 30th birthday this month. How is it possible that the beautiful little girl that was such pleasure to raise can be turning thirty? She was two years old when I met my husband and they became friends before he and I became a couple. Amazing how God worked that out, isn't it? 

Happy February to all my blogger friends!!