Greenwood City
Happy Groundhog Day everyone; hard to believe January has come and gone and for the most part been a mild start to a new year. Legend has it that if the famous groundhog named “Punctuality Phil” emerges from his barrow in Pennsylvania on Feb. 2 and sees his shadow winter weather will continue for six more weeks across the U.S. However if he does not see his shadow then spring temps are just around the corner. I think this year he is playing whack-a - mole and he keeps popping up out of his barrow predicting spring then winter then spring over and over again! As that’s been the trend. Last year Phil didn't see his shadow.
As I’m typing my column for this week there is a winter weather advisory warning for our area and the forecast for the next few days are unsettled conditions. The new fallen snow has paved a carbon copy detailing who’s been there where their going and what they re doing at approximately what time. Soon smaller animal trails cross up with other larger animal paths making traveling through the snow more easier to survive. More snowflakes are dancing in the sky shuffling their way to the earth's floor covering up old tracks leaving a fresh new page to the story. The shovel becomes a helping hand when removing the accumulation built up within our way. Snow plows maneuver their way among the human trails cutting a path for others to travel to there destination easier. Delays and cancellations are carefully decided by higher authority to assure safe traveling. The birds on the top of the tree canopy reach the warning of a storm approaching. work must press on as life continues, whether the weather be good or whether the weather be bad. Survival is a way of all walks of life.
Let's take a glance of my past week. The twins had their first basketball game last Wednesday against CPS and the Woodstock Wolves won! Way to go kids! Sheyene contributed to the score by making a two-point shot.
The kids and I keep our eyes on the night sky as the northern lights shined a marvelous glare.
We butchered a steer on Sunday filling the gaps that were appearing in the freezer. When we butcher our farm-raised animal everyone in the family takes part in the process, from cutting, grinding and packaging it's all teamwork and when it's prepared on the table to eat we all come to respect the life that was sacrificed for the meal and we can all rest assured knowing how the meat was raised and know that it tastes good because it was properly handled. It's a lot of work from beginning to end but well worth the effort.
Saturday, we ventured out to visit a really nice horse stable to view some beautiful Clydesdales for my grandfather, as he still longs to find a nice work horse. I exchanged our Billy goat for a new Billy goat to throw in a new gene pool into the herd. He quickly knew what his job was as soon as we introduced him to the does.
Silvian got two new ducks to add to our collections. They're a neat breed rare in this area for they originate from Florida. The turkeys are making a usual appearance now along with a few deer and a couple of plump gray squirrels all making the birdseed a daily snack. A sly fox made his appearance early evening last week thinking he was going to snatch a duck for snack, but for now he was unsuccessful.
I made 28 pounds of fresh butter, which was once again spoken for even before I made it. We are still awaiting the cows to freshen as our calculations were a bit off. The boys are hoping for a nice pair of steer calves, but I'm in hopes for heifers to add more milkers one day.
This weekend we are celebrating my twins' birthday; they will be turning 10, such a big milestone. Raising twin boys successfully for a decade is a great achievement. I can only imagine the adventures we will endure the next ten years!
My thought for the week is: If you seek happiness for a year plant a garden: If you want happiness for a lifetime plant a tree.