Toy Tractor Auction

Before Christmas I had an auction at the North Star Township hall to find homes for Smitty's tractors. They (400+) were in our basement on shelves. We used to joke about if they were going to get dusted each year. None of the kids were interested in keeping his collection, but at friend Mary's advice, I did have both of the grandgirls keep one.

This picture is one long tableful and there were two more long sets of tables forming a U around the center where the bidders sat.

I didn't think they would be worth much for two reasons. One, he didn't keep the boxes that they came in, and two, he had engraved his driver's license number on each one.

But, my friends, after auctioneer, advertising, and other expenses, I had a check for just about $12,000. Isn't that amazing!

I had a few uncomfortable feelings about selling his collection, but it is nice to know that some went to children, to grandchildren, and to collectors who appreciate their value.
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This morning was brutally cold at 14 below zero. The water in the barn was frozen but I am partially to blame because I didn't think to take the nozzle off the hose. I got it thawed out by removing the nozzle and then sticking a little heater into the insulated water closet/thingy that the neighbors built for me. Remember? - here for a picture.

I had to include this really lovely photo taken by my dear young friend Heather when she came to visit over Christmas holidays.

Cold Weather is Here

Christina from Texas bought one of my Moebius scarves and in our conversations, she suggested that I design a winter hat that would accomodate lots of hair. This is what I came up with and listed it in my shop - here
Right now I'm finishing up another in a plain stockinette stitch using a natural brown alpaca/merino blend.

Chores this a.m. were a little brisk. The temp on my thermometer was zero but the television news is saying that it's 12 and 14 below zero. The temperature in the barn was 15, which doesn't seem too bad. I left the horses in and rewatered them because their water had frozen. The alpacas all have heated water. I opened the alpaca doors, but they don't seem to want to venture out. I will go back and check everyone about 10, and maybe kick the horses out. I think it's healthier for them to be outside than shut in their box stalls.

A Beautiful Michigan Morning

I don't understand the weather this morning. It was 10 degrees and the surrounding schools had fog delays. Everything is covered with that beautiful white frosty snow/ice. The dogs and I took a walk around the property to enjoy. The pictures above and to the right are about 200 feet from the back of my house. The deer have been in there and all the hot wire fences are down. Will have my work cut out for me in the spring. They have never foraged in my little wood lot so I'm thinking they must be hungry. All our snow must be taking it's toll. I heard on the radio that December had the record snowfall for Michigan - EVER.
Remember, you can click on these pictures for enlargement - especially if you want to see my dear Cassie under the trees.

Of course, I had to give you a shot of the barn. It's so nice to have energy left over after feeding and watering in the morning. Josh is working out incredibly. He is coming 3 days a week and I, surprisingly enough, am having no trouble leaving the poop hauling for him.

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I think the Heat Gods must have been angry at me yesterday. My furnace quit and I had to call a repair man. Of course, being Sunday, it was considered an emergency visit - $s. But I'm happy someone came and fixed it. The humidifier had leaked and dripped all over important things. Scott repaired it and I'm not using attached humidifier. Actually, I have a little cold air vaporizer that I'm running.

I keep a small heater in the tack room in the barn and that decided to also quit yesterday. Will have to replace that soon because I understand that we are in for some really, really cold weather later this week.

Little Libra Update

For all you friends who are following little Libra's (Jr.) progress. .....yesterday he was 4 months old and weighed 25 pounds exactly. Four month old crias usually weigh about 60 pounds. You may think this is not a pretty picture of him, but it sure is to me. He just finished eating his "gruel".Like most little boys, he hates to have his face washed. I'm up to feeding 6 ounces, 4 times a day now, but think I may cut back to 3 times a day for a little relief for me. He's still slurping and sucking down his concoction. Here's where I talked about the recipe - http://northstaralpacas.blogspot.com/2009/01/libra-cria.html

A Gift of Love and Memories

My down the road friend, Cary, gave me these beautiful handspun, handknit socks last night. Cary, I'm sorry, but I will probably never wear them. They are just too precious and full of memories and love to put on my feet. They hang here in my office.
The white stripes and knit "NorthStar" are from Pollux, my fiber boy. Cary said she added my alpaca around my ankle because it is so soft.
Cary handspun and 3 plied the gray from my roving of alpaca and SouthDown Sheep that I had Zeilingers blend last summer. These sheep were Smitty's joy in the barn. Cary doesn't realize it, but they were sold and left the farm about 3 hours before he died.
These socks are probably my most precious symbol of love from my friends and my years with Smitty that I have and I want to keep them forever. So, nope, I'm not going to wear them, not even as bed socks.
♥ Thank you, Cary ♥

Barn Help - EEEEHAW!

I am the luckiest woman in the world! I found someone who can come 3 days a week and help with the barn.
♫♪♫ Zippedy Do Dah ♪♫♪
Josh (above dumping on to the manure pile) is a 27 year old young man with a wife and baby, plus another baby on the way. What a worker! He's young, strong, and does an incredible, tidy job. He takes pride in what he does. Although he hasn't been around animals before, he likes them (talks to them) and wants to learn. Of course, I will pay him.
I feel like I have a new lease on life and my world looks as sunny
as this day.

And here are two more helpers in the barn today. Black Chinella and fawn Astra (Snickers) were assisting me with the feeding of Libra (Jr.) They are always too funny and usually manage to pull my hat off and get stuff out of my pockets.

Thanks, Beth, for taking this picture.

Christmas

So many blogs that I am reading talked about Christmas, so here I am doing the same. Little Max up above enjoyed our celebration day the Monday after Christmas. The grandgirls and my 3 adult kids were here. We missed Bob, my son-in-law, who had to work.
On Christmas Eve daughter Terre came and spent the night. We were going to Owosso to watch the grandgirls open their gifts on "the day" but stayed home because of some nasty, icy roads. T went home and I spent the day watching movies and eating junk food. Suprisingly enough, it wasn't horribly depressing, nor lonely.

Rob came home from Scranton, PA, the day after Christmas and stayed for a week. Lucky, lucky me. I love having my son around!!!! He did work his little hiney off though. This is a picture that Meg took of Rob plowing for me. He also repaired doors in the barn, moved many bales of hay, removed shelves in the basement, patched the holes, shoveled mountains of snow, hauled the snow blower to the repair shop, helped with chores every morning and night, even replaced my toilet seat (which I admit was getting dangerous)

On New Years Day we went to daughter Nikki, son in law Bob, and granddaughters, Elizabeth and Meredith's home in Owosso. Had a most lovely meal and got to play Christmas games. This pict is of Rob and Meredith taken by Meg. Again, I'll remind you to just click on the pictures for enlargements.

Many folks mentioned that the holidays would be really hard without Smitty. Probably because of all the forewarning, the days weren't so bad after all. I stayed pretty busy which is my way, I guess, of dealing with "stuff". We all missed him, of course, and I had many moments of that little lurch in my gut thinking of him and what he was missing.