The Winds of Change

Snow Pack in the Meadow

The bitter cold has subsided, snow has stopped, and temperatures have warmed up to a balmy 32-35.  This has been change enough to create some significant melt, and has allowed us to catch up on various tasks that have been frozen for the last month.  Our driveway is a bit messy and slick with slush, but the snow has become heavier and at least has been compressed.  Getting out of our driveway has proven to be a bit tricky (even with Cam plowing), but we haven't had any hang ups as of yet!  I was able to muck out the chicken coop today, which has been a frozen mess as well.  Unfortunately with such deep snow the chickens have been much more confined, which leads to a much larger mess.  After several days of warmer weather though, I was able to clean it out and get the chickens out of the coop for a while.  There is something about a clean chicken coop that puts a smile on my face when I go to bed.  Happy chickens=happy eggs!   I've also been getting out and riding my horse a bit, while trying to take it easy on the snowy terrain.  It's past riding season for many people around here, but after speaking with several friends about riding in the snow, I decided to give it a go so as not to lose a whole winter of training.  I'd say I've definitely found my match in stubbornness, and am enjoying working with her, while finding my confidence back in the saddle.  The kids are also enjoying their time on Kit, and this makes me very happy.  Hopefully come spring we'll be ready to put the miles on.

Besides fun on the ranch, I am in my first week back to school following winter break.  The first day is always tough and makes me question what I am doing to the very core.  Driving away from your family is something that is not a natural thing for me, and it kills me to do so.  Nevertheless, I am so close to the finish line, and I'm feeling very motivated to focus hard on these final two quarters.  Less than 6 months....around 150 days to be exact.  I'm glad I'll be working in Tonasket this quarter, which means a 15 minute commute, and a lot less gravel.  Cam has also been doing some career searching, and while I don't want to give away anything before it comes to fruition, it certainly is a topic that has been on our radar.  We are lucky to have our neighbors and a few good friends to help out with childcare, and the details of balancing our schedules.  I do miss the ease and security of having family around to help in times like these.  We are not ones to leave our children with any random stranger, and it burns hot in my heart to think of doing so.  I'm trying not to get ahead of myself with worry though, and just trust that it will all work out as it should. 

Coyote Decor--And a Shed Found on Our Property

Cam's been able to do a fair bit of coyote hunting recently, both on his own and with one of our neighbors down the road.  We seem to be gaining solid connections around here, that luckily have access to some amazing country!  Everytime he comes home he has great tales of the land, and people he has met.  He also made several stretcher boards that will be used to stretch fur.  I talked him in to letting me put one fur on my chicken coop, and I think it suits it just fine!  We also recently came across some guts, yes literally guts (cow in origin), and Cam placed them strategically within shooting range of the shop.  We're thinking coyotes, wolves, who knows what we will bring in??!!!.... RAVENS..... that is what we have heralded.  Ravens, crows, and HUGE eagles.  Now when we ride or hike through the meadow, all I can hear is eagles chattering away.  Not exactly as Cam planned, but cool nonetheless (they are enormous birds); and the more I thought about bringing coyotes and wolves closer to my home and animals, the more I was ok with birds.




There sure seems to be a lot of craziness happening in the world right now.  It's hard not to wonder and worry how it's all going to play out.  While I love our seclusion from the "busy side," I worry what kind of world will be left for the little ones.  My mind seems to be steeling itself and focusing intensely on them, and creating something they can always safely return too.  I'm hoping they will love the country as much as we do, and that we can all learn skills that will be useful to live a simpler life.  It's time to buck up, and make it happen!