It is another beautiful day today! The horses and calves are happier, and are soaking up some sun. The horses are alternating between eating the hay bale I dropped in the pen for them yesterday and the windbreak I made. I guess I put the bales a little closer to the fence than I thought.
Tonight is Extravaganza Night in town! Local businesses have a lot of specials and draws for customers. There is also a parade, which is usually pretty awesome. Its amazing how creative people are with the Christmas lights on a float. I'm so happy the weather is at least co-operating this year, as it will make the horse drawn wagon rides much more enjoyable for all. The bonfires will also be lit in different locations and the ice rink is ready for the skaters. And with the little bit of snow we got over the last couple of days, it will definitely feel like Christmas.
I am contemplating getting my decorations and Charlie Brown tree out of their storage spot. With all the fabric I still have stacked in my computer area, I am unsure as to where to put the tree this year. My house is less than 1000 square feet, so space is very limited. Maybe I'll have to get extra busy over the weekend and make a few more quillows and some Christmas stockings. That will use up a couple of bolts at least.
I have also been writing some articles and publishing them on Helium and HubPages. I am quite excited and impressed with Helium, as I continue to earn money on a daily basis. Along with my sewing, my writing is turning into a lucrative hobby.
I continue to expand my horizons and enjoy the things I like to do. My goal is to have a farm which provides my family and I with most of our needs. I am trying very hard to purchase a place of our own, and am putting away as much as I can for it. I long for a sewing room again and a space to call my own. If men can have their "man caves", women should get their space as well.
Have a great weekend everyone, and for you struggling writers out there...I encourage you to click on the links above and browse the two sites. It may be the boost your career needs. And for those who aren't struggling, your expertise is also welcomed.

Our cold snap is over! I shouldn't complain about the cold though...it didn't last very long and being an Albertan you'd think I would be used to it by now. I will be taking advantage of the warmer afternoon and moving bales around so it is easier to feed the horses and calves when it does get cold again.
I finally got my sewing machine pulled out again! I made a quillow yesterday in a solid green poly/cotton blend. It awaits being taken into town to the little store that has my other crafts on display. I will be making a few of them over the next week, as they make wonderful Christmas gifts. I have decided to use solid fabrics only for them, and no pillow panels. Sometimes solid colors are the best. They are also great to keep in a vehicle, especially during the winter months. They do not take up a lot of room, and come in quite handy in case of an emergency. They are also great for napping passengers. Since these are very basic, I will be charging $40.00 each for them. While at a local Craft Sale a few weeks ago, I saw them retailing for $55.00. They were, however, made with a pillow panel. Mine are approximately 40"X70".
I have not started Christmas shopping yet...is that a bad thing? I still prefer to make gifts, but most people on my list want certain things. Whatever happened to the day of homemade gifts and appreciative recipients? Last Christmas I did make my daughter a crocheted toque and scarf set, which she wore all winter. It was something she needed, and will get many years of use out of. When I was a little girl, my Grandma used to make my sister and I slippers and pajamas...those were the best gifts ever!
I had best get busy and continue on with my list for the day. Until next time...stay safe and remember what the holiday season is about. It is so easy to get caught up in the commercialism and hustle and bustle.

Winter is here!

Much to my dismay, winter has set in. I am not liking the cold...seems the older I get, the less I like it. The worst part has got to be the bone-chilling wind that cuts right through everything. The temperature this morning was colder than yesterday, but it felt warmer because there was no wind. Doing chores was much nicer!
Along with winter comes the holiday season. I do not usually decorate our house until the beginning of December, starting with my Christmas Village. I always have fun setting it up, and it is not uncommon for the little figurines to get moved around occasionally. My kids call it our Ukrainian Village.
I am hoping to put up a few lights outside this year as well. I know it should have been done when the weather was warmer, but since no lights will be going on the house itself it won't be a big chore.
I have had a hard time getting into the Christmas Spirit the last few years, but this year feels better. Different circumstances the past five years have put a lot of stress on me, but I can see a light at the end of the tunnel. I like to think of myself as an optimist, and try to find good in every situation. That can be very difficult sometimes.
I am concentrating more on writing these days, and am trying to bring myself to start a book about my son's diagnosis, treatment and recovery. It will be good for the healing process, but also very difficult to write. I have an article on HubPages about it, and had a hard time with that. The book will be so much harder to write, but will have so many benefits. I guess I just need to bite the bullet and do it.
I also have a mountain of fabric to do something with. The Holiday prints keep calling my name, but I have yet to answer them. Time to find my Christmas Stocking pattern and get busy.
Errands await me, so I will close for now. Have a great day all!

Second Year

Our second year of 4H has officially started! We brought the new calves home yesterday, and they seem to be adapting well. They are from the same farm, so are familiar with one another. They do miss their moms though, and are bellowing frequently. Another day or two and they will be more comfortable with their new surroundings and won't be quite so noisy.
We learned quite a bit last year, and decided to put the rope halter on the project steer while he was in the head gate. That was much easier than trying to rope him and tie him to a post, which is what we did last year. The fun part is going to be hanging on to the end of that rope. He is over two hundred pounds lighter than the one last year, so he shouldn't be as hard to hold onto....at least I'm hoping not.
We had a couple minor repairs to make in the corral, but it was done before the calves arrived. That was better than having to work around them. The biggest fix was blocking off the V-gate, as they could easily escape that way. The horses didn't try to go through it, but calves are a whole different story!

Busy, Busy

My last week and a half has been busy! We are building a pen for our horses, as the 4H calf and pen mate arrive on Sunday. According to the previous owner, the horses do not like cows....they put his through a barb wire fence. We do not want the same scenario, so will keep them separate right from the start.
I have also found a new venue for my writing! When I haven't been working in the yard, I have been getting a feel for the new site. I have also been reading and rating other articles, which I really enjoy. I am very good at spotting mis-spelled words and improper grammar, so this is fun for me. I only wish I could read these articles before they are published and fix the mistakes. My kids tell me I'm psycho when it comes to that, but my son admits to being the same way.
I wish I could find a proofreading job as a sideline...it would make the author's articles rate higher if they didn't have the errors. I do know sometimes its just a slip of the finger, and spell check only picks up on it if the word is spelled wrong. There are many cases where the word is spelled right, but not in the right context. For example, the meant to spell "if" and spelled "is" instead. That is why it is so important for authors to double check their articles.
The most wonderful thing about the new site I have found for my writing is it has already brought me some money. I have five articles published already, and have only been with them for just over a week. I have read and rated close to one hundred, and that helps boost my earnings as well. The more I submit, the more I earn. I also like the fact they have many different channels to write about. I have many interests, and have made myself a list of titles on the site that need articles. As the days and weeks go on, I will work through my list and reap the rewards.
For anyone who likes to write, I highly recommend Helium as an outlet for their creativity. Along with a place to publish, authors also have access to many resources with which to improve their writing skills. I was fortunate enough to have found the site via an article I read on HubPages and I am more than happy to share what I found. An author's success depends on others...words mean nothing if they are not read.
Have a great day all!