A Special " Auction Farm Sale Bill"

A while back while looking in a Bible I had of Mom's an auction farm sale bill was found. Dad was drafted into the army during WWII and since he and Mom lived in the country with small children there was no way she by herself could manage all that needed to be done. They decided they would sell the farm items and animals, then she would move to town. Mom had a farm auction. She had tucked a sale bill in her Bible.
Amberlea had it framed for me. It looks great! Thanks Amberlea! You did a great job!
How special it is. A large part of family history that occurred close to 70 years ago. All of this happened before I "arrived in the family".



Mel looking over the sale bill

Trinket and Rosebud

Surrey Hills Farm is back in the horse business. Trinket and Rosebud have joined our farm animals.
Mel had been checking out rescue facilities that take in abused and neglected horses. After checking on-line and making some phone calls, he discovered Greener Pastures, a recue facility, located in Stonewall. He talked with them and they had 2horses they thought would be a good "fit" for our farm.
Trinket, a Paint, is the one we adopted. She is good with kids and that was what we were wanting for the grandkids.
Rosebud, the sorrel, is the one we are fostering. She is uneasy in new situations, but after settling in and knowing a routine she will be a great mare to have around to pet, brush, and take care of.
We filled out adoption papers and foster care papers to be able to get them.
Who knows what kind of abuse and neglect these horses have seen. Our goal is to provide them a loving home where they will be well taken care of.

Trinket and Mel visiting with Phylis and Liz


Mel and Phylis with Rosebud checking out Mel


Rosebud


Loading the horses




Mel and Trinket


The barn cats checking out what is happening - Boots is the veteran and he has had horses around before. Pee-Wee, the curious kitten, is smelling the halters to check out what is taking place.

Christmas Day

Mel and I had a wonderful Christmas. How blessed we are!
We checked out stockings to see what we had and then on to open our gifts.
Mel received a DeWalt worksite charger and radio combination, a chain saw sharpener, videos and candy.
I received a beautiful Swarovski necklace and earring set, (gorgeous), Ralph Lauren pajamas and kitchen trinkets.
We enjoyed brisket, beans, fried potatoes, cornbread and carrot cake. That menu has been our tradition for many years.
Later in the afternoon we enjoyed a visit from Jerry and we watched the movie, Wall Street Money Never Sleeps.
Thanks Amberlea and Mitch for being elves as you assisted us in getting the items!
We are looking forward to our family Christmas with the girls and their families. in January. A time for memories and fun together!

Christmas Eve at Grammy's

The Bradford Family gathered at Grammy's house for Christmas Eve. Delicious appetizers, dips, ham and desserts were enjoyed by all. It was nice to visit with everyone.
Grammy's gift this year was a small freezer. She had mentioned earlier that she would like to have one for garden veggies since the only freezer she had was top of her refrigerator. Grammy now has a place for many veggies and other things. (We'll just hope the gardens provide enough for us to freeze this coming garden season.)


The freezer was in our garage and Mel loaded it in the pick-up


Some of the goodies and gifts


Grammy resting


Mel and Clark unwrapping the freezer with Grammy watching


Grammy admiring her new freezer

Moving Hay

The last 2 days Mel and I moved hay to the Annex and the blue barn to get ready for the winter and possibility of bad weather.
Boy, do we have a system worked out! Mel loads the hay on the hay trailer, I drive the pick-up and trailer to the Annex or blue barn, I "pop the levers" and the hay goes rolling off, then I return and we start all over again. What a great working farm team we have become!







A picture of Mel "popping the lever" - it's hard to take a picture of myself doing that.

The New Bull Goes to the Annex

Yesterday our new bull, a black cross-bred one, went to join the cows that we had moved to the Annex. He is a big "dude" and I am always relieved after dealing with moving a bull. This bull replaces the former Beefmaster bull we had. (He can be seen in our blog picture.) When sold, he weighed 2050 pounds. Wow! What a big guy!
The cows all had to come running to greet the new member of the herd and check him out.

Reunited with Mama Cows

We took the mama cows first and then the calves. As you can see in the pictures the calves "flew out of the trailer" and then were happy to find mamas. The mamas were anxiously waiting for their babies. They are funny to watch!

Welcome Back, Cows

Today was "cow moving day" to get the part of the herd to the Annex since the fencing was all completed. Cowboy Mel and Cowgirl Cathy were all set to get it done.

The cows are waiting in the lot ready to be moved


Getting the trailer and water trough all prepared


Cows ready to "detrailer" after their trip

Our 30% Chance of Precipitation

Here are pictures of our 30% chance of precipation according to the weather people. I suppose "Mother Nature" didn't recieve the memo concerning that prediction.
Regardless, the snow was very pretty and definitely puts a person in the "Christmas Spirit"!

Christmas Candy

Making Christmas candy has been a tradition that my Mom did when I was growing up and I have continued the delicious tradition myself. After Mel & I married Mom and I would get together and make several kinds of candy. Now, usually one or both of our girls do it with me. We even have our matching aprons that we use when we do. Next year hopefully both girls can be here to make the candy and Emma and McKaylea can help. They may decide to continue the tradition.
I learned about chocolate wafer candy, which is wonderful for melting and dipping various things in it, while teaching at the Deaf School. Several employees would order together from a company in Kansas. One year I did the ordering and the order came in bulk and needed to be separated out for the various people. Melodi was about 4 at that time. She was so helpful and enjoyed helping. As she would put the chocolate in bags, she would nibble a piece. After devouring several pieces of the rich chocolate she became sick. It has taken her a long time to like chocolate again and then it is only in moderation.
I now purchase this candy at Hobby Lobby. Several colors and flavors are available.
This year with schedules and distance, I made the candy myself. Baklava, Payday, Peanut Brittle, Baby Ruth Bars, chocolate covered peanuts, Peanut Patty, and I Don't Want to Grow Up candy was what I made.
Mel has been enjoying the candy. He says it is my fault that he gains weight. Surely not with the tempting candy.

Some of the candy made


History of sharing the candy:
While living in Roff, the candy would be shared our retired neighbors.
When we moved to Surrey Hills it was shared with 3 older men Mel golfed with who were widowed or divorced, living alone.
Now I share with our "little gardener friend", Shelton, and my brother.

New Fence Completed

After tearing out the old fence (see earlier post), having the county level the ground, time and money, the new fence is now completed. Cows will be moved back to their home with a new boundary to keep them in the pasture. I'm sure the cows will be appreciative of the work and money involved.

Old Christmas Tree Now a Hat Rack

In an earlier post the story was told of our old Christmas tree that was not usable now (at least that's what I thought). Well, my sweet hubby with such an imaginative creative eye thought differently. He took it to his workshop/barn, stripped the greenery off the branches and made the neatest hat rack one could find.
The old Christmas tree


Now becomes a creative hat rack