We arrived at the farm on New Year’s Eve and celebrated a quiet evening watching The Blacklist on Netflix…no party hats or fireworks for us! Kota heard a fair number of firecrackers from neighboring communities, and kept us busy all evening trying to soothe her. I don't know what we would have done without the Thunder Shirt!
New Year’s Day we spent with Cousins Kathy and Eric enjoying a champagne brunch in Clifton at the Corner Drug Cafe.
The food was good (including perhaps the best creme brulee I've ever tasted).
And the company even better. We love having Kathy and Eric nearby, and treasure the opportunity to get together often.
As a special treat, when we got home I watched my Texas Longhorns (#15) beat the Georgia Bulldogs (#5) 28-21 in the Sugar Bowl. I love it when the Horns step up and play like they did during my years at UT! There was more on-the-field excitement than expected when UT's mascot, Bevo, charged Georgia's bulldog mascot, Uga, and almost took out a couple of photographers and spectators in the process. I guess the dummies didn't know that cattle view most dogs as some sort of wolf or coyote...and react accordingly. In fact, when we work cattle with our herding dogs, we try to acclimate our cattle to the dogs before we ask them to do any work. By now, our small herd is pretty manageable unless the cows have young calves.
January 2 and 3 didn’t give us a chance to do much besides sit by the fire and watch TV. A light drizzle and freezing temperatures sheathed grass and trees in a sparkling coating of ice.
We woke to icicles on plants and the gator, and it continued to build throughout the day.
It was beautiful, and fortunately wasn’t heavy enough to do significant tree damage.
It was cold, though. One of our resident eastern phoebes was puffed up like a feathered Christmas ornament.
The ice was gone the next day, and we headed back to Austin to celebrate Brian’s 49th birthday.
Debi, Mallory and Myles joined us, as did Brian’s step-brother, Brad Hlista and wife Justine.
Kota gave Brian the gift of a good belly-scratch…hers, of course.
A good time was had by all, but I can’t believe it’s been 49 years since I welcomed my son into the world. What a joy he has been, and he has given us the world’s best grandson, daughter-in-law and step-grandkids. Thanks, B!
The weather has been alternately balmy and bitter, but we’ve been blessed with wonderful sunsets and sunrises.
Rue would rather be outside, but when it’s too wet or cold, she consoles herself with one of her new Christmas toys. She especially likes Lambchop, and we are amazed that he has so far survived the frequent dog tussles.
And speaking of dogs…Rue and I have had a great time in December and January at herding clinics put on by our friends Jack and Vivian Christensen of Meridian. Jack arranged for several of the area’s top Open handlers to come and help less-experienced handlers (including me) to work with their dogs.
I can’t begin to say how much I appreciate the way all these folks have given of their time and expertise to help grow the sport we all love so much. In addition to Jack, a big thank-you from me and the other Ranch/Novice handlers to Allen Mills, Brent Phelps, Gary Young and Steve Rhidenour. Having you folks to look to as mentors has been more beneficial than you know.
Rue and I still have a long way to go, but she works with enthusiasm and a lot of desire. Thanks to my friend Lindsey Posener Williams for taking the following shots of Rue and me working.
Again, we had a great day with old friends and new, and look forward to more opportunities as the spring progresses.
