Well, excuse ME for trying to do something KIND.

Last Saturday was yet another fun edition of:

Steer Butchering Saturday.

Which is obviously my most favorite day.

We abide by a rule that states we only go to town once if we can help it at all.  So we had to combine steer butchering day/Christmas at Ma and Pa’s.

David and the boys were busy unloading the beef and they needed some extra muscle.  David did not ask Kate or I.  Because all he needed was Hadley.

She is freakishly strong.

We were of course being super rude and running late to Mother’s Christmas Dinner.

And then I saw David’s pants.

Me:  David!  There is steer flesh on your pants!

David:  It’s fine.

Luckily, he had thought to bring a change of clothes.

And Auntie Datenut made us all masks:

She is sew thoughtful.

(Do you get it?)

Auntie Datenut is not in the picture.  But Aunt Candi is.  So there you go.

***

On one of my delightful walks with dogs, Charlie found the leg of the aforementioned steer.

And played “keep away” with the puppy brothers.

Basically living their best lives.

We pass this lovely memento daily on our walks:

It makes my heart happy.

***

Mom:  Taylor!  I need you to get a present ready!

Me:  What?

Mom: I bought these frames of pictures with the girls and PopPop, but the pictures are too big for the frame.  Can you help?

Me:  Well, just trim them.

Mom:  I don’t know how.

Me:  Just take the paper behind the frame, place it on the picture, and cut around it.

Mom:  Yeah, I can’t.  You need to.  You are a teacher.

Me:  Yes.  Because cutting pictures to size requires a teaching degree.

I don’t have a picture of the actual frames, but here are the pictures:

Kate is on the left.  Hadley is on the right.

Kate turns 18 tomorrow, if you can believe such a thing.

Guess what we are going to attempt to do this year to celebrate?

Hopefully ‘Rona will permit it.

***

It has been snowing all day.  Thankfully, none of my driving teens needed to drive anywhere today.

I started doing some touch up paint around the house and I would like everyone and their mothers to know that I hate painting.

I was being all no-nonsene-ish and told the kids the dogs had to be outside or in kennels.  Because Norman the puppy grabbed a stir stick that I had used to mix paint and ran around with it, thankful I got him a new toy.

And what fun!  And paint!

At one point, the boys went outside to ride four wheelers and the dogs went outside with them.  When they returned, only Norman and Charlie were with them and Niko, the other puppy, was missing.

Well, the snow is currently deeper than Niko is tall, and Niko is still a precious baby.  We called and called for him, but he did not come.

So all the kids and I went out to search for him.  And he was nowhere.

We searched the house and all outbuildings.  We walked all around our property that he has been.  We looked for at least a half hour and I was sure he was dead.  It was so awful.

I had been watching him pounce around in the snow with Charlie earlier, having a blast, but noticing that he was definitely sinking easily into the snow.  I was sure he was stuck somewhere and freezing to death.

He weighs like 8 pounds, people.

Finally, HD walked through the large round hay bales and noticed Niko seeking shelter on the ground under the large pile.  It was such a relief.

And I could stop panicking that Kate’s puppy died on her 18th birthday eve.  And I am done with animal sadness for the year.  Thank you.

The snow is still coming down.

When David got home, he and the boys set out to start plowing.  LD was running a four wheeler with a plow.

And for reasons unbeknownst to all parties involved he headed for the woods to start plowing.

?

And then got the four wheeler stuck.

?

Me:  Why are you plowing in the woods?  We need to plow the driveway.

LD:  Well, excuse  ME for trying to do something KIND.

?

The four wheeler is unstuck.  The driveway is plowed.  The dogs are all safe.

And this is the last night I will have all four of my kids be under 18.

Happy Wednesday!