Beauty before me...Blue Moon Style

I haven't left our property in over a week.  Haven't used the truck.  Haven't needed to.  Haven't wanted to. All I need is here.  And I'm fiercely fond of my land.

Tonight I just may howl at the moon.  Twice in one month, at that.

"Beauty before me, I walk with.
Beauty behind me, I walk with.
Beauty above me, I walk... with.
Beauty below me, I walk with.
Beauty all around me, I walk with."

Navajo Night Chant

While you were sleeping...

Not sure what awakened me in the night...a stirring dog, the full moon, the woodstove reduced to embers?


What will we miss while we are sleeping?

Check here...

Where's the Wabbit?

See where our wabbits wander...here.

Tuesday Tour

Had a wonderful couple, Sue and Mark, from Indiana come to run a team of huskies today. They were real troopers, as they had to walk in ~ down our long drive due to too much snow for a vehicle entry.

Guess who didn't run today...Miss Union, who retired from the dog yard to make room for one of the "newbies", Shiloh.
 
 

 
Miss Union is more than happy to retire this year.
 
She's lovin' that heat that only a filled woodstove can deliver.

The Morning After the Storm

I love the morning after a snow storm.  All is quiet.  Life is renewed.

Today there is a 90% chance of snow, temps below 20.  Perfect weather for running dogs, which is just what we will be doing in less than two hours. 

The winds have died down so I can load the woodstove without fear of it "taking off".  Wintertime brings so many worries that summertime lacks.

We are also keeping a close watch on our new cow, Duchess.  Today she may deliver a calf.  We were unaware when purchasing her last week so this is a new concept to consider, among our many other chores and tasks. 

The excitement of a new calf is mingled with caution, as she is a first-time heifer.  The unknown awaits.

Our main cow, Dixie, never had any problems.  We raised her as a baby and waited nine long months for that first calf to arrive. 

She has delivered two fine calves with ease.  D2 and Luna. 

We will hope for this same outcome with Duchess.

May your day be full of God's wonder...

Sherry

You can also portage the Internet and see our journey here.

Our New Cow ~ Came with Baggage

There's a good possibility our new cow we obtained last week, came with a little extra baggage ~ a bagged up udder.  Expecting.  A long 9 month wait ~ just like us two-legged folks.

Hubby, Russ, thinks is certain she is carrying a calf. 

We'll know soon ~ within 3 days he figures.

Last time he notified me of an impending calf birthing, he was spot on.  The very day. 

Little Luna was born.

With Duchess, we'll wait and see.  Meanwhile we'll be ready for anything.

Malakai's Sunday Run

Come see ~ Click Here.

Beauty in Snow

Stay tuned ~ adventure awaits...

The Day After

We hope

everyone had

a wonderful Christmas~!

Happy Holidays from Last Chance Kennel @ Russ-Stick Acres!

Malakai ~ Our Christmas Eve Gift

Stay tuned for the complete story of  "Coming home ~ Malakai".

You can also portage the Internet and see our journey here.

Merry Christmas from Russ-Stick Acres

Merry Christmas from Russ and Sherry at Russ-Stick Acres.

My offgrid farm friend, Homemaker Ang, posted this a while ago. I haven't been able to get it out of my head.

Take a moment ~ and see the true meaning of the Christmas spirit ~ compliments of the Ingall's family.

Blessings to all...

Christmas Eve Road Trip

Road trip this morning to get our second Siberian in as many weeks. This boy is an 80# one-year old who, according to his current owner, is ready to rock and roll. His name is Lightening, but I have plans to rename him. Malakai. We don't usually rename dogs - only when they come from Animal Control and their name is unknown. However, we also renamed Zip, our Blue Heeler pictured above. She was Dutchess...but she wasn't a Dutchess...she was a Zip, pure and simple. For weeks we called her Dutchess Zip, and then just finally dropped the Dutchess. We will do the same for Lightening Malakai...Malakai. Malakai means messenger.  I wonder what his message will be for us...stay tuned.

Snowy Solstice

Yesterday, the earth tilted, and the sun stood still.  Winter Solstice has come and gone for 2009. 

Another milestone completed.

Life at our place continued on ~ no interruptions.

Russ, and friend Pat, retrieved our two new heifers from up near the Mighty Mac and returned them safely to our awaiting bull.  Life is good.  For us, and Dexter's Double Dippin' Dudley the Studley.  If you squint, you can even see him smile.

Yes, life is good.

My ride to work was beautiful as usual.  Serene.  Pristine.

Until I came across a lady who landed in the ditch due to snowy, solstice roads.  Perhaps it was the tilt of the earth that landed her there.  That would be my excuse.  She was fine.  She was standing by her vehicle, gloveless, hatless, cigarette in hand, pondering her next move.  She hopped in with me and I drove her to a relative's home. 

Typical day in northern lower Michigan.

A couple weeks ago, I was driving home, excited to get back to my farm, hubby and critters.

I spotted a beautiful horse, a Paint with flowing mane and tail, trotting with pride perpendicular to the country road I was traveling.  He was next to some other horses, but appeared to be traveling a tad too fast to stop at the fence.  He didn't.  Because there was no fence.  He was loose.  Out into the road he shot.  I quickly braked, but also swung out and hogged the road, as a car behind me, not having seen the horse, was attempting to pass.  The beautiful boy was trotting proudly down the centerline, away from the barn and his equine friends.  When all was safe, I pulled to the side of the road, tossed my keys (a move I would later regret), and started calling for the horse.  "Here boy...come on...Here boy...".  Amazingly, he turned, snorted, and came flying back my way, heading straight for me at a dead run.  My mind froze with "Stallion?... or Gelding?".  Now what?  Duck, run?  I stood still as he flew past me, back up to see his stable mates who occupied a fenced area next to his.  He didn't hesitate.  He flew up the fence line and ducked into the open gate, and trotted to the shared fence to nuzzle his buddies.  I ran up, shut his gate and all was good.   The caretaker came out of the barn with a bucket of grain and I explained to him it wasn't needed ~ his boy was back home.

Typical drive home.  I wonder what today will bring...

Winter Solstice or not, life is good at Russ-Stick Acres.

New Cows Today~!

Russ and friend, Pat, are heading up to Levering with the livestock trailer to get our two new cows today from our farmer/musher friend, Sam. 

The two girls are tested and ready to go ~ moving permit on file. 

Moving permit you say?  Read more about it here ~ Walter says it best.

Follow us on our journey at Russ-Stick Acres.

Just watch...'nuff said.

http://www.foodincmovie.com/

Don't forget to follow us at our main Blog ~ Russ-Stick Rambling.

Our new dog ~ Shiloh

Check out his story @ Russ-Stick Rambling

Winter 'tis here...to stay

Come follow our winter fun at Russ-Stick Acres!

Pure Bliss

My nieces, Mindy Jo and Landon, enjoying a summertime ride on Buck. 

Check out our other adventures at Russ-Stick Acres.

Christmas Gift Idea ~ Russ-Stick Style

Check it out~!  Here...

Poll Results

Hard to believe, for anyone that knows Rustic Russ, but we met...

...on a computer!

Talk about fate!

Follow our adventures at Russ-Stick Acres...