Christmas is Creepy

 

I’ve got something to share that’s quite off-topic from what I usually post about here on my ranch blog. But this subject really spoke to me and I wanted to share it with you all and see what you think.

I don’t think I’ve ever considered Christmas creepy, but recently I’ve looked at the holiday from a different perspective.

Both of my twinlings have been following a fascinating 16 year old boy, named Lucas Cruikshank, (the young man in the video below) who has been producing, acting, and editing his own productions on You Tube since he was 12 years old. That might not be such a huge deal until you consider that these videos are making Lucas famous, and not just on You Tube, where each of his videos receives between 1-9 million views and he has his very own channel, but Lucas has also been doing TV and radio interviews, and has walked the red carpet in Hollywood, and even guest starred on Hannah Montana!

And all because of his entertaining creativity and talent involving a humorous character called Fred Figglehorn, posted on You Tube. Lucas, who has been a dancer since the fourth grade, has said in interviews that he would like to be in movies and TV shows, but that his dreams have proved quite challenging seeing as how he lives in Nebraska with his parents, two brothers and five sisters. But things have certainly changed and agents are calling him now.

Check out his Christmas Cash video. Very fun!

 

One afternoon I curled up with my sons and watched several of his videos, some of his interviews and read as much information on Lucas as we could find, and I have to admit I was impressed and amazed at this young man and how the world has become so much smaller because of the internet, that a talented teenage boy, surrounded by corn fields in Nebraska, could be discovered and possibly have his dreams fulfilled. wow.

So returning to why Christmas is Creepy. It goes back to the old childhood nursery rhymes….many of them quite scary to frighten kids so they don’t misbehave. Santa Claus seems like a jolly, friendly guy…..but if it weren’t for parents convincing us that a huge, hairy fat man sliding down our chimney while we are asleep is a great thing to happen…….I’m sure we would have had nightmares!

 

And let’s not even discuss how traumatic it might be to actually catch Mommy kissing that fat, hairy man while he’s in our house delivering presents.

And yeh, Frosty coming to life sounds great in theory, too. But when he’s standing outside our house at night and staring into our window with his beady little eyes, that might be a little bit creepy.

Then there’s Rudolph with his blood-red nose. Maybe the other reindeer who refused to play with him, know something we don’t.

And what about poor Grandma being ran over by those reindeer?

And I still recall the nightmares I had after watching The Christmas Carol when I was a young child. I imagined my own Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come visiting me while I was asleep. Now that was creepy!

And we all can agree that retailers have turned the magic of Christmas into a nightmare with all the commercialization, right?

Well, check out this funny video produced by Lucas. My kids love it and I have to admit, even though the words are weird, being that Lucas’s voice is sped up to play the part of his silly character Fred Figglehorn, the music and beat is great. (I’ve even got it on my playlist, I like it so much. lol!)

Now, Lucas is barely old enough to drive or work a job, yet, through merchandising and selling advertising space online, he has already made over $14,000 in just one year, and that’s only working about 5 hours a week creating his weekly videos to place on You Tube.

Lucas Cruikshank has a true entrepreneurial spirit………and that’s not creepy at all.

     

On My Own

Ranchman John had mandatory overtime on Saturday morning so it was up to me to cowgirl up and take care of all the animals....AND I DID IT!!!
All by myself, no less!

And the first time since Christmas Eve! And technically, the first time since last year! hah!

(Excuse the following old photos from my archive folders, as I forgot my camera. I know! Me! Without a camera! Crazy! lol!)

First I walked Zuni outside to her tie-out. She still has a tendancy to get excited and pull, so I've avoided walking her for the past 3 months. But on Saturday, she listened pretty well. Everytime she pulled, I said 'Whoa', and she stopped. She'd almost make a good horse.

Then I let the chickens out, fed them some scratch and refilled their water. Chatted with them for a couple minutes. They always seem to enjoy that and I love listening to them cluck and chirp right back to me.

Afterwards, I headed up to the barn. I took both my crutches because of the uneven ground and the steep hill, and whew was I glad! The gusts of wind wanted to blow me away, and the crutches gave me a bit of a grip and some balance, and a little more speed.
(Archive photo from almost 2 yrs ago, the first day after our llamas arrived)

I fed hay to all the woolies and Baby Doll. I brought a folding chair into Baby Doll's pen and then I picked out her feet and brushed her. When I was done, I sat beside her, while she had her breakfast, and I ate my Clif bar and sipped my coke. It was really nice.

But then I realized that I forgot to turn on the water back down at the house. Darn!We've been keeping it shut off so it doesn't freeze, and we also have a small leak at both pumps in the barn. We don't want to waste anymore water, so we have to remember to switch the water on, down at the house, everytime we go up the hill to the barn.(Archived photo from almost 2 yrs ago)

So I trudged back down the hill and turned the water on. Then I pushed my way back through the gusts of wind up to the barn again.

A few months ago our crazy dog chewed the hose leading from the pump in the barn to Baby Doll's black bucket, in the paddock, and we don't yet have a hose long enough up there. So I had to refill a large laundry bucket 5 times and carry it to her bucket in the small paddock.
Baby Doll has a heated bucket in her pen, but she loves her large black bucket in the paddock better and will choose that one to drink out of, over the blue heated one, if given a choice.

I didn't get too far until I realized the bucket was way too heavy and awkward for me to carry and my knee was starting to hurt.
So after thinking a bit, I decided to load the water bucket into the wheelbarrow and then push it over to the side of the barn where my mare's black bucket is kept. I lost a pint or two of water each time, but it was much better than trying to lug the heavy bucket myself. It felt good to figure out a way to do it myself.

I could have woke up my twinlings and asked them to help me, but I wanted...NO...needed to do this myself. I also wanted to go back to the way things used to be, when I had the barn to myself with peace and quiet. Just animals munching hay as the morning sun gently warmed the barn. Hanging out in the barn with the animals is the best therapy, and not being able to do it had left a huge empty hole in my life.

After filling Baby Doll's water bucket, I refilled the woolies' water. Their water buckets are directly below the pump, so no lifting was required. The woolies were happy, too. Their buckets were almost dry. Ranchman John hadn't filled them up Friday night, as he thought he could do it in the morning. (hah!)

And then after all the work was done, I loaded up on some horse cookies and treated the llamas, goats, sheep (I was surprised the sheep would like them, but they sure did. Blanca, the Navajo Churro was nuzzling me for more!) and Baby Doll came over and stuck her nose into the muzzle mayhem for a few cookies, too.

It always makes me laugh when Baby Doll and the llamas rub muzzles. I remember how freaked out Baby Doll was about the llamas when she first came to live here. I think she considers them her herd now, except when she sees them off our property when I take them for walks. She's so funny. She acts like she doesn't even know them anymore. (Archive photo from almost 2 yrs ago when the llamas first arrived)


I was so happy to get my back-pay of llama kisses, too. I swear, you just haven't lived until you've been kissed by a llama. Their soft fuzzy lips tickling your cheeks, nose and lips with their rich grassy breath wafting around your face. I tell ya. Pure bliss!

I'm looking forward to taking the llamas out for some hikes when summer gets here. It's so relaxing walking with them. They don't spook like horses do and they are always so curious and willing to go wherever you go. They are also easy enough for a small child to walk as they don't pull on the lead and are very gentle. Most llamas seem to enjoy being near children, too.(Archive photo from almost 2 years ago. Jenna was only 4! Awww!)


Anyway, by the time I got back to down to the house, I was so stiff and sore, and could barely walk or bend my knee. My ankle was so swollen, too. Weird. After changing my clothes and cleaning up, I took my Tramadol and some Ibuprofen and spent the rest of the day in bed.

Was it worth it?

Hell ya!
(Archive photo from almost 2 yrs ago)



From the Tower of,

Sunday Stills~Animal Husbandry

"Animal husbandry is the agricultural practice of breeding and raising livestock. It has been practiced for thousands of years, since the first domestication of animals."

This is my first week participating in the Sunday Stills Challenge, and I'm so excited about the subject matter that Ed picked out. Ed said, "This will be easy for most but a challenge for some of us…:-) For a real challenge how about 3 or more animals in the pic?? Or 2 or more different animals in the pic?? Have fun…Ed"

I decided to take Ed up on the Real Challenge! And as usual I included a little story along with my photos, because that's just the way I roll around here. (These were all taken from my bedroom (tower) window)


Uh oh! He doesn't belong there.


Baby Doll says, "What's the llama doing out, Mom?" "Um, we got a problem over here!"


Yup. Just a wee problem. (Yikes!)


Shepherd Boy Jax to the rescue!!


Now that's the way to herd your flock!


Who needs a herding dog when you've got the amazing Shepherd Boy Jax doing his thing?!


That's it. Open the gate.


Herding his flock comes easy for Shepherd Boy Jax.


Time out for some poo removal. It's difficult to concentrate on herding when you've got llama beans or goat berries in your shoe.


Herding llamas is a piece of cake for Shepherd Boy Jax!


Whew! Animal Husbandry is hard work!
("Mom, why must you always have that camera pointed at me?")


Shepherd Boy Jax knows how to unwind, though.


Wheeeeee!


Thanks for stopping by!

From the Tower of,

I Found my Smile

Thank you to everyone that left me such kind and supportive comments. I really appreciate it. I'm feeling better now, and it all started with this:

How can anyone be unhappy when watching animals having fun. Pepper is such a goofy goat.

Then I sat down on an old picnic table in the Wooly's paddock and was immediately greeted by goats. Mud Pie thought my hat might make a wonderful snack.

I was laughing so hard I was almost crying. Goats seem to know the best way to make someone happy.

And they are just so cute!

Latte, my mini mancha doe spent some time with me, too. She is such a sweet little goatie.

Luna, my sweet Angora goat doe is such a beautiful girl and I enjoy watching her just relaxing.

Watching my two beautiful sheep always makes me smile. Blanca, the Churro ewe, and Svetlana, the Karakul ewe are both looking forward to being sheared. They are very close and where one goes, the other is always right there beside.


Nevermind the video and feelings of dizziness, I finally used the video function feature on my camera, so I wasn't sure what I was doing. But this is how I spent my Saturday. The other voice you hear is my son Jax's.



And then, after Baby Doll's farrier was done trimming her feet, I took my folding chair over to Baby Doll's paddock. We were both enjoying the sunshine and each other's company, but I was surprised when my mare walked up behind my chair, stood with her head over my shoulder and rested there for a while.


She was just so loving and gentle. She just just stood there with her cheek next to mine. Sometimes she would lightly lean in to me, or very softly rub her face or chin on me. She let me scratch and stroke her ears, her chin, her jaw, and her lips, too.

I was almost afraid to breathe or move when my mare was relaxing beside me. I didn't want anything to disrupt our special moments together.

It was a great day for some goat, llama, sheep and horse love. There is nothing like a day spent with your critters to bring a smile to your face.

I also went on an impromptu New Mexico road trip on Sunday, but I'll talk about that in another day or two.

So what did you do all weekend?

From the Tower of,

My World Tuesday~Views from the Tower

Come along with me and see what I see in My World Tuesday.

When I'm not lying down watching my leg and knee bend while it goes up and down in my Continual Passive Motion Machine, stretching my healing ACL.........



I am gazing out my windows watching the world go by. And these are the things I see.............


I see Blanca, a Navajo Churro Sheep.....counting sheep for an afternoon siesta.



I see Pepper, a Boer/Cashmere cross goat, napping on a table.



I see a llama scratching an itch.



I see a dozing elf-eared mini-mancha goat named Latte.



I see a beautiful Mountain Bluebird eyeing up some llama wool for nest-building.




I see Catlinite, our gelding llama, dutifully watching over his flock.




I see a herd of goats basking in the sunshine.




I see Miss Luna the angora goat looking pretty in her sparkling white curls.





Pepper says, "Darn paparazzi, always taking photos of me!"




There is something so calming about sleeping sheep. Who needs to count sheep when you can see one sleeping? (yawn....)




I see lovely llama statues.



I see my painted pony, Baby Doll, and my neighbor friend's horse, Scout.





I see two dead horses.......Just kidding. They're really just sleeping.




See? No dead horses here. hehe


And did you happen to see the numbers on my CPM? Yep. I made it to 90 Flexion!! I've struggled for 4 weeks to bend past 60 flexion but my knee just wouldn't stretch without pain. So this is a major milestone for me and I'm quite happy about it. Of course, it's just in time, too, as the company is picking up the machine today. So, I'm on my own with physical therapy and exercises to get the rest of the way there.

Wish me luck! (Do you see it? 90 Degrees!!! Woot!)


By the way, I thought I had it bad. Poor Gertie of City Boy Starts Farming had to go through a Knee Reconstruction Surgery due to ripped ACL, too. But Rancher Ron has taken good care of his pooch, and she is on the road to recovery.


Finally, I'd like to ask you all to say prayers for, send positive healing thoughts and vibes to Rebecca of Yellow Jacket Ridge Ranch and her stepson, Clayton, who has recently suffered from a stroke that has caused his brain to bleed. He is now in a coma in a Denver hospital, on full life support.

And one more. Callie over at MidWest Horse could use some words of support and encouragement, as well as prayers for her hubby, Steve. He slipped on the ice yesterday and broke 3 bones in his ankle, and had to undergo surgery to repair his mangled ankle. Poor guy. And what a lot of stress for Callie, who is also being harassed by an obnoxious, rude blogger, who keeps leaving her hurtful comments. Stop by and send her some love, ok?


Have a beautiful day everyone!

From the Tower of,