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It's been a while since I have had my camera out. I am kind of stuck in a rut. I needed some motivation, and this weekend created the perfect opportunity. Our first real snow of the year.  Snow on their backs means they are happy and healthy.
This is Blast... A bull we raised, sold and then bought back this summer.
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I am not a goal setter. I think it is because I am like most people and peter out after a few weeks or months. Then I am a failure because I didn't complete my goal and a failure at goal setting. It just doesn't help the momentum or ego.  But, I do enjoy looking back at the previous year to see what I have accomplished.
I call it reverse goal setting. Looking back at all we have accomplished, just motivates me to keep plugging along. They have learned not to show their emotion in the show ring. To not let the frustration show. But to me...I see so much emotion in their faces.  I watch them in the show ring and I can almost tell what they are thinking by the look on their face.
Santa made an early stop on the Farm. It was a surprise to me... But the 3 Wiley men are over the moon!  Nash is an 8 week old full-blooded German Shepherd  We have talked about getting a puppy off and on for a while now. Daisy is almost 12 years old and really slowing down. We really don't want 2 dogs, but we know that sometimes it is better to get a puppy when the older dog is still around to help train. Daisy is the best dog ever! She stays home and is Daniel's shadow. We are really hoping she will train the puppy to stay home. Having a farm dog that you can trust to leave out and about, but not run off is priceless. It allows the dog to be a part of your family and farm. Following along as you do chores and "helping" herd the cattle when you need an extra hand.  Daisy was a surprised as me and the boys were.  Of course Nash is getting lots and lots of attention, but we have made a special point to give some extra attention to Daisy. We live on a farm and have "farm" dogs. A.k.a. they roll in manure, mud, dead animals and any other gross thing they can find. So...all dogs stay outside around here. However, we do occasionally let Daisy come in the house to sit on the rug. But, now that she is pretty well deaf, it is hard to tell her to stay on the rug. What Santa did not warn me about was that Nash is too small to stay out in the garage, which means Nash is a mud room puppy for now.  Daisy is pretty much over the puppy. She only stayed inside for a few minutes and was more than ready to go back to her rug in the garage. Too much commotion. She would rather just sleep.  Santa delivered Nash on Friday and then Nash made his first trip to a cattle show to unload cows and equipment. When he got home, he got his first bath. He wasn't amused.  That's a little better.  He had a busy weekend and spent most of it being held and taking naps.  We want to expose him to as many people as we can, and what better place than a cattle show to meet all kinds of new people and experiences.  Of course, he was the star of the show.  At one point, someone asked us if he could walk. What can I say...he is spoiled already.  He loves to snuggle in to take a nap.  Except that nap didn't last very long.  Nash is not a fan of the cold just yet. He is going to have to grow a thicker skin to survive around here. But for now...we are spoiling him rotten. The next show is in 4 weeks and I am pretty sure he is going to be a lot heavier and won't get as much cuddle time, so we are taking advantage of it now. You might also like... I wasn't going to write about this. Everyone has their own dirt...why would you care about mine? I am a mom who works full-time, mother's teenagers, runs a farm, writes a blog and tries to find time to spend with my husband. I am also supposed to keep a clean house...but that is usually what goes by the wayside. What does it matter if I clean today? There will just be more dirt tomorrow. Except....I just found the perfect solution!  This post contains affiliate links. We have talked many times about hiring someone to come in a help with some of the cleaning.
I just haven't pulled the trigger. I don't know why...there is just this nagging feeling that I should be able to do it all. That Superwoman syndrome we all fight. Maybe it is just that I would have to clean up in order for the maid to come. We had a discussion in the car this weekend about how we are no longer grass or cattle farmers...but we now are mud farmers. And the harvest is plenteous! While California is devastated by dry conditions, we are knee deep in mud and muck. We travelled the state this Thanksgiving weekend and saw tons of crops still not harvested because the farmers can't get their equipment out in the fields. We even saw pictures of friends' combines buried in the fields. It has been a rough fall and harvest season here in Ohio.  Even though we don't farm crops and don't have to worry about getting combines stuck, we did have to change plans for our final cutting of hay.
Now that our growing season is done, we are still farming and caring for our animals. However...that too has been an unusual challenge.
This was our 4th year to attend the North American International Expo.
​This year was different for us because not only were we exhibiting, but we were also in charge of the Miniature Hereford show. 
It was a very busy week, but it was a good week....mostly.
We leave for Louisville, Kentucky this week to show at the North American International Livestock Expo. This is the first show of the season for us. We never feel ready enough, but ready or not, hear we come.  We spent the weekend making final preparations.
The boys....
I mean Daniel.... Got a new toy. They decided that they just had to have a drone. They really wanted to take aerial pictures of the farm for the website...in other words...they were trying to sell me on it. 
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AuthorHello! I am Heather... the city girl turned mom to manure loving country boys. My husband and I both grew up in the city, but spent weekends visiting grandparents in the country. We are first generation farmers who learn best by almost always doing things the hard way. I hope you enjoy following along with our adventures down on the farm. Archives
December 2018
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