Farm Foreman Training in Progress

This past weekend was a learning experience for Matt. Not only did he successfully give more shots but he also learned to give a pour-on, which prevents lice and parasites. He saw a cow get checked to see if she was going to have a calf, and he learned that some cows are wild.


We went to the farm to help mom and dad this past weekend. We did enjoy a dinner at McKenzie River Pizza on Friday night, pretty good place. I did like their fish tacos. From there we headed home to wake up the next morning to give shots the first and second time calving heifers, brought the open cows down from the hill, and then we bangs/vaccinated the heifers. After that we started the big project that made mom happy, we split wood and STOCKED her basement. We set a record for the amount of wood that the basement held and I’m hoping that she’s good for the rest of the winter. Matt really enjoyed it, brought back memories of his Michigan youth. I worked up a good sweat, no denying that.

On Sunday, we worked the steers, who were not born on the place, they are Dad’s new feedlot project. These steers were a bit crazy compared the stock we were used to working. Mom brought them up the chute, Dad gave the hormone, Matt gave a shot and the pour-on, and then I weighed them. Glad that we had a system worked out, otherwise it could have taken a bit longer for Mom and Dad to do it themselves.

Was a nice weeked to cuddle up with the fire after we were done working.

Work has been bit crazy too lately for us. Matt got his annual review from his board and passed with flying colors. They bragged about his communication and enthusiasm and vision for the airport. Made me wonder if I was marrying the same guy, Just kidding. Kinda. Ok, I am. The super star has been fighting a cold for the past week and today it got the better of him. He stayed home to rest up with his blankie and the kitties only to text me about how disappointed he is with our tea kettle and then tell me that our pulp-free orange juice is too pulpy.

I’ve also joined the Rural Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary. I’m a bit excited to get involved with something again, as I find I’m a bit restless since I moved back. Not everything is the same since I left, including my social circles and the groups I was involved with. Nice to get a bit social again, I’m not sure what to expect but so far it’s been a welcome group of women.

Best meal: Mom’s potato soup with a half of a grilled cheese sandwich. Something pretty great about comfort food.

So many good quotes:

MJR after leaving the farm: “I didn’t have the heart to tell your mom that she wore me out.”
ALM: “Me too. And to think, she worked way harder than we did.”
MJR: “Yeah, I know.”

MJR: “So I embarrassed myself today I think?”
ALM: “What do you mean?”
MJR: “Well, your dad asked me how my pour-on was? So I said, I’m fine but the squeezing makes me hand a bit sore, but my forearm is good. And then he asked again, No, how is your pour-on? That’s when I realized he was just asking me if I needed more.”
ALM (giggling): “It’s not that he doesn’t care about if you are sore, he just is happy that someone is doing the job and has the supplies needed to get it done! Ha!”

C-C-C-COLD.

So the cold is here. How do I know it’s here? On Sunday when Matt when to start my car, it didn’t. Yes, that’s right. Not a turn, or a crank, or a wheeze, nothing. It reminded me that yes I had a garage and like me, it wants it back! When temps feel like -24, who cares what the actual temp is?

We had a busy weekend, all the way from Friday night’s impromptu supper out to a day off on Monday. Saturday was a great day. We woke up, I had a latte and then we bundled up and headed off to the Sales Barn, for Bull Days. Mom and Dad have been coming for the past 4 years and I’m glad. I’ll take anything I can get to see them. Dad should have been happy with how the bulls looked, I thought they showed pretty well and he had a great bunch. The only thing to improve the event would have been the weather. It was so cold that morning to walk and check pens. It was nice to get inside and visit with Mom while Matt read the paper.

That night we had the DRFD/Rockpile’s Chili Cook off. What a great event! Rockpile, a local oilfield company decided to host this event with all proceeds going to the fire department and they took this event serious! They filled all the available teams and then some, they sold oodles of tickets, they got a great band (Outlaw Sippin’), they had a great selection for silent auction items, and they decorated and created a great event. It was amazing to see the support and turn out in the community. Here’s hoping for an annual event.

Sunday was a lazy day, mostly because it was freezing and we didn’t want to go out. We did go out to shovel the stairs, walkways, and sidewalk but that was about it! Matt was supposed to have dive but due to the chili cook off and the cold, it was cancelled. So much for having the house to myself that afternoon. I didn’t get the sewing machine out or the things I wanted to, did manage to have a nap! Matt was more ambitious, he baked chicken wings and made his own sauces for us to try!

Monday, was a federal holiday. Now that I’m working for the government again, I like those holidays. I slept in, read a book, and enjoyed a morning latte before we got up and started moving around for the rest of the day. I worked on a few wedding things and had a mini heart attack when I realized that we have 7.25 months until the wedding. What!!! So much to do, decorations to decide on and shore up, tuxes to decide on and rent, people to ask, invitations to word, and I won’t even start talking about Matt’s list!

Best meal: the chili cook off was a great selection of choices. I actually really liked the grand champion winner, who had an awesome presentation. There was also a pork recipe that was pretty amazing.

“I’m not buying a cow, today!” – MJR to Mom and I.

Brutus, Gandalf, Oban, and Sebastian

In November, we had Winter Storm Brutus and this past weekend we had Storm Gandalf. They were about the same, a lot of hype, but happily, their wraths were minimal at best. I couldn’t help remember those winter storms of 08 and 09 when I had so much driveway and sidewalk to shovel and it seemed that every day was a day in the cold removing the drifts that went up to my thighs. I’m glad to have less driveway and much less sidewalk. The only thing I wish for is that I still had my double garage, there have been many days where I miss that! Someday, Matt and I will have a house with large closets, a garage, a separate room for sewing for me, and two bathrooms, and it will be above ground and have a southern window and no upstairs neighbors that make me want scream on a bi-weekly basis. Ahhhh, dreams. Don’t get me wrong, this place is good for us and we are blessed to have a great rent, enough space to live comfortably, and we can have all of our cats there, which most places aren’t too good about. So we’ll just sit and talk about the day when we can have our own garage and house.

We did have a major advancement in the wedding planning. We have officially sent the save the dates and I know people have also been receiving them! It’s very exciting to know we are closer. 235 days or something out still, but closer. I know I’ve mentioned it to my mother but the hotel situation really makes me nervous. It’s a big weekend in Bismarck, it’s Pow-Wow weekend and I know the hotels will sell out, as they’ve done in the past and I want to make sure people get a room in either our hotel or one close by. I know there is public transportation in town, but I know no matter what, it’s going to be a tough weekend for rooms. So translation: If you are coming to the wedding, please book your rooms now!

Best Meal: Matt and I went to the St. Benedict’s Health Center’s 1st Annual Crab Crack. What a great little event they created. You get 2 crab leg sets, 3 ribs, a baked potato, coleslaw, and bread after getting to sample some of the microbrews that they made available. Highlights of the evening include: the great crab, the pear cider, the coleslaw, and listening to Shawn Oban play.

ALM: “I’m fighting for every bite of this meal. Crab is so much work.”
MJR: “You wouldn’t have to if you gave me what’s left of your crab legs.”

Winter Blues…

I’m ready for summer, not sure if it’s the winter blues, the wedding blues, or what. I sure have a funk. This past week has been pretty uneventful. I’ve been working on wedding details, hoping to get Save The Dates out by the 15th, I know they are printed, they just need to be picked up, stuffed, and sent. We even have a few RSVP’s in now…so far we have a total of 8 people committed.

I’ve been busy at work with housing inspections. One aspect of my job is that I inspect the houses that farmers bring foreign workers to live in. It’s been interesting and at times a bit trying because of the common sense approach doesn’t always follow the rules. This isn’t like anything I’ve done in previous jobs but I’m enjoying it. Yes, I admit I’m not wild when I find out that my last inspection made a personal call to the governor because I told him it wouldn’t pass unless he put screen doors on, but it is very interesting to read the rules and what’s available.

Matt’s been busy at work, we’ve had some lengthy discussions about bids, bills, RFP’s, and car rentals. He likes these conversations better than wedding ones. He did make me happy, he told me that he pushed the September board meeting back a week as he doesn’t think he’ll be able to get prepped for it the week he typically does. They asked if he had a higher power in his life than the board, and he answered yes. I am still waiting on the meeting minutes to confirm this.

He also took on a little home project that has changed our kitchen. He added a distiller to our sink, which means we don’t have to buy distilled water, but we also have extra room in our fridge. The cats were very interested in this project as he was on their level and in a cupboard…all of their favorites.

Speaking of the cats, I’m not sure if they have the winter blues too or not. They have been at each other more than normal. And not just the TD/Lola gang up against Nike. It’s all of them. Nike against TonyDanza, Lola against Nike, Lola against TonyDanza. Ugh, all the hissing and one armed slap fests drive me a bit crazy somedays. They were enjoying Matt’s Christmas goose blind for awhile, most expensive cat toy I’ve ever bought.

Best Meal of the week: I made a lavosh, which is a version of a thin-crispy pizza. I put mushrooms, spinach and havarti cheese on it. I wasn’t too sure and I would do things a bit differently the second time but I was really happy with how it turned out. Matt and I both thought we’d be scrounging up other things to eat afterward but we didn’t even finish it.

MJR laying under the sink: “While I’m under here, we could clean.”
ALM: (if I don’t answer him maybe he will think I didn’t hear him and will do it himself)
MJR laying under the sink: “While I’m under here, we could clean.”

1-1-13

So…it’s official, 2013. It’s here.

The Christmas tree is gone. It’s like Nike knew that I had reported how well everyone was behaving and decided to go against my word. She started eating the Christmas tree last week and when she determined that she couldn’t eat it very well, she settled with just knocking the pine needles off to form a second layer of the tree skirt that was prickly and green. Great. I used to prolong the takedown of the tree when I was younger, this year I didn’t. I’m sure I will be finding needles for the next couple months and now the kittens don’t have a maypole to chase each other around. It is amazing how much room the living room has now. We actually got quite a bit of stuff put away and there’s not even a box in the kitchen or living room! It only took 2 ½ months and 2 holidays.

We are prepping for the wedding, well kinda. We are even getting RSVP’s from the website. We have 2 in, each bringing a guest. My mother is proud to have beat Randy in claiming first official RSVP’er.
ALM (fist pump): We are getting married this year!
MJR (not looking up from his book): yes, we are.
ALM (pump still in the air): I wish you had a little more enthusiasm.
MJR (not looking up from his book): 
Best Meal: 1st supper of the year: ribs, mashed potatoes, carrots
"You made it to midnight this year." - MJR