Nativity Restoration

I bought these vintage nativity figures from our church rummage sale last week. They are richly painted but in bad shape. They were stored in newsprint in an attic and the plaster was cracking. I am applying new plaster and paint matching patches on each figure. But the time is worth it as they are quite nice quality. This is the first nativity I have ever had that is a complete set.

She's Empty

We had concern that our grey mare was pregnant. She never displayed mare heat symptoms and was very bossy. She was accidentally exposed to a stallion while at a trainers stable in January. But our vet confirmed she is not pregnant, just has hay belly. Luna did not enjoy all this attention and wanted to get back to her round bale. We are relieved she is not pregnant. We have our hands full with the 4 we have now. The good news is we found a local trainer for our babies for next year. They both will be green broke under saddle as trail horses next summer. Going to be a lot of riding this summer.

Transfer Switching

Wow, what a busy week it has been here on the farm. On Wednesday my neighbor Rick came by to install our transfer switch. He is an electrician and knows how to do these things. We have lived here on the farm when the power goes out and it is not fun. Bucketing water from the pond in winter to water the animals is rough. So Rick told us what to buy and we had the parts ready and he installed them. A transfer switch allows you to run selected circuits in your house by generator power until the power comes on. However, our generator was not cooperating and the built in GSCI prevented us from using it in that capacity. So today we bought a new generator that can do the job. I get to get lessons on how to set this up and run the house off the generator via the switch this weekend. So if alone, I can have running water, computer and lights until the power returns. It feels great having a neighbor who cares enough to help us install this and show us how to run this. I am so happy to have a safe back up plan in case we lose power again this winter.

Fall Ready

Here is Osa in our pasture. She is looking for rabbits, coyotes and escaped chickens. The weather turned cold here in the 30's at night. So Osa gets to come inside by the wood stove at night after all the chickens are put up. Today, she got hoof trimmings from our farrier after he trimmed our horses. The cold means it is time to slow down and enjoy the beauty of fall into winter.

Sunday Afternoon

This Sunday we were invited to a friends house in Mountain View, the McMullens. They are constructing a 2 car garage themselves. After 50 years of marriage they decided they needed a real garage to keep their cars clean and dry. They can even park their tractor inside it. I have to admire their strength and energy to do this project along with raising cattle themselves. I hope I live to be their age and have a 50th wedding anniversary, too.