Looking forward to 2017

Many of you still will be celebrating and visiting, and perhaps because of the weather, some celebrations will be extended!
Although the weather didn’t co-operate, we certainly can feel lucky because it sounds like places around us were hit harder.
If your visit was extended because of the weather, enjoy your extra time together!
—
On Christmas Eve, we gathered with my boyfriend/partner’s family in Stratton. Although it was a smaller crew, some of the family still is travelling in so we are hoping to see a few more of them yet.
Then on Christmas Day, we gathered at my house and it was great to have it spill over with people! An extra special treat this year was having my Auntie Kathy (my dad’s only sister) here with us!
She had a rough year battling cancer but is looking great and so much stronger.
Of course, with Shane’s health scare this past summer, we had a lot to be thankful for!
Although our girls are growing up fast, having kids around on Christmas and seeing their excitement in their gifts was priceless.
Last Friday, we skipped school and work, and just played with the girls all day. It was a great day to play–but we were all soaked from wet snow and amazing sunshine!
We are hoping to sneak in another day like this with my vet cousin’s kids and perhaps the Dryden twins!
—
On the farm, things pretty much will be back to business as usual. Many try to plan it so you don’t have extra chores to do over the busy holidays, but now those days are over so it is back to the normal routine.
When they were calling for that crazy amount of snow over Christmas, I started to worry that maybe my cows were too far from home. What if they all were stuck in snow?
They all seemed to come through that OK. They make a great trail for walking.
I often wonder who decided to be the “first one” to trudge through the heavy, drifted snow? I’m sure it isn’t the heavy older cow and not likely the young heifers, either.
—
2017 is quickly approaching and I’m sure everyone is making plans on what direction they will be going.
I wish everyone a great New Year. I hope it is filled with fabulous family, friends, and food!
I am looking forward to 2017 and I wish for good health for everyone, good markets for our farmers, and sunshine and perfect growing conditions!
I hope to take on less jobs and enjoy my own place more. I also hope that instead of crossing one thing off a list and adding three more, it works the other way around!
I hope that the movement of knowing where your food comes from, and appreciating local food more often when you can, continues! Agriculture is continuing to grow even in Rainy River District and though we often are overlooked, I think more and more people are realizing how great having a farmer as a friend is!
Happy New Year, everyone!