Monday, March 23, 2020

What I've Been Up To

Life as we know it has changed for most everyone lately, but it's business as usual for us. I know many of you are finding a new temporary normal and some of you are sewing your way through it. No sewing here.

Last week I made a 9 hour road trip and spent a fast week with my mom. I left Tuesday and came back Saturday. I didn't see the sun the entire time:


 Yes. I know we all need to stay home, but at the time, the government hadn't delayed the tax deadline and I am the only one mom has to tend to her taxes. She and Daddy had a real estate business and I have been doing all the book work for it since he passed 10 years ago. All the property has been sold and paid off so this ought to be the last year. I have been staying home and we didn't go anywhere while I was down there. She was actually booked to take an Alaskan cruise in May and I strongly urged her to cancel that when I first heard of the virus. As it turned out, everything was shut down anyway, but she cancelled her trip before it got that far. We had a good visit while I was down there and I was able to tend to things on her to do list that were important to her. I got my exercise by digging and pulling out green things that didn't belong:


Out where I come from we like anything green, even weeds. I spent 5 hours sprucing up her yard one day and I loved every minute.  I love playing in the dirt!


I also cleaned out her greenhouse. She fed me well in return:

                                                

German Stuffed Peppers from my childhood - no recipe. It's just something she's always made:

                                             

Lots of empty miles (over 500) to get back home:

                                

I did make one stop because a girl needs a bathroom during a 9 hour trip

                                  

It just so happens that the nicest, cleanest bathroom I know happens to be at a quilt shop. 😁 But no, I didn't shop around. I look for some solids for a friend that they didn't have and I pulled one bolt for a binding. I wasn't in there for more than 5 minutes. I would have bought some of this Texas Wildflower fabric if they had had any, but they were out and waiting for more:

      

It's good to be back home:


With our camp man hurt and DH tending to all 128,000 acres alone, it really wasn't the best time for me to be away, but we are about to get even busier and I figure this COVID-19 pandemic is going to get worse before it gets better. We're still on for work at the Sale Barn today and I'll have 3 days of cooking for a crew this week. Yes, I hear you fussing, but folks in agriculture, medicine, law enforcement and first responders are still on the job. I can't help with the empty shelves of toilet paper but we can do something about keeping meat on the shelf.

We have to have all of our bulls tested for Trich (Trichomoniasis) annually as per government regulations before we put them out with the cows.


Trich can cause major economic losses due to infertility, it can cause the cow to abort - thus diminish calf crops  - and extend the calving season. It is also very costly to eradicate as cattle must be quarantined and tested multiple times. We have friends who lost 90% of this year's calf crop due to a neighbor's bull that was infected that crossed the fence. That is devastating to a rancher's livelihood.

So, I am cooking this week. Yes, I will take precautions. It's probably only a matter of time, but as of now, there are no cases of COVID-19 in our county, nor in any surrounding counties. Still, precautions are being taken. I keep a pretty good supply of groceries on hand and will be able to feed everyone without making a big grocery run although I might be running low on ice cream. 😉

9 comments:

Dorian said...

Wow, that is a very long dry to take Karin! Glad you got a visit in to your Mom. Just be careful, and do what you have to do. Take care!

Donna said...

Glad you got to visit your mom and play in her dirt! Ha! I don’t think anyone realises the ag business is 24/7! My sister’s friend and her husband ran a dairy farm. There is no such thing as time off either on holidays or pandemics! The cows have to be fed, watered and milked every day! Milked twice a day in fact! Did your stray calf ever find his mama? Would you please post some pictures of your home cooking this week and a picture of Skeet would be nice too, oh and all the handsome cowboys you get to eat with??? Hope you find a little time to quilt this week! Take care!

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

I laughed at the green weeds comment! I love to see them too.... ha ha! Glad you are staying safe - and glad you are still working to feed the rest of us!!

Tired Teacher 2 said...

I’ve been thinking of you. I know your Mom appreciates all that you do for her.

The Joyful Quilter said...

Glad you got to and from your Mom's without incident. Good luck with all that cooking and ranching!!

Shepherdess55 said...

First, ditto all Donna's requests. I'm glad you got to visit with your mother before the Covid-19 virus was in your county. Even though I'm involved in agriculture, I didn't know about the Trich testing of beef bulls. Thank you for the agriculture lesson. It sounds as serioius as toxoplasmosis is in pregnant ewes.

I hope your camp man recovers quickly. Our operation is just me and my husband. I'm praying we don't get the virus but if we do, I hope we don't have it at the same time as there is no one else to do chores. As you can imagine, very hard to drag yourself to the barn when very sick.

Judy said...

These are trying times, for sure, but a wonderful reminder that our Lord is preparing us for his coming. This is the beginnings of earth pangs and I’m leaning on His goodness and blessings than ever before. In times like these we need our anchor. I’m glad you helped your Mother. Blessings to you and your hubby.

Janet O. said...

Interesting to hear how things are going in your neck of the woods (and your Mom's). You are a busy lady, for sure! Good luck with your cooking for the crew. I make my own ice cream each week we have family over for Sunday dinner, but I would never be able to keep up with the needs of a crew!!

Sherrill said...

Aww, I know your mama was glad to have her girl home if only for a quick visit. You always get so much done no matter where you are. But also know hubs was glad when you got home and now for more fun..3am wake up, cook cook, clean clean! Whew And hopefully no trich in your bulls.

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