Christmas Day is fast approaching.
Yikes!
Is my tree glowing softly in the living room?
Nope, it’s still taking up space out on the porch.
Are the stockings hung by the fireside? A negative on that as well.
Are the outside lights and decorating (indoor and out), the holiday cleaning, baking and cards in the mail, the gift shopping and present wrapping all done?
Minute portions of all are complete.
Only six more sleeps to the day, eh.
Whew, something tells me it’s shaping up to be a busy week-to-be around here.
As I mature, however, I am finally embracing the notion that it is really foolish to sweat all of the small stuff. Why do we continually heap so much stress on ourselves.
I will strive to not worry over undone chores and just be happy, happy, happy if those near and dear to me (who must travel to get here), arrive safe and sound, as planned.
Nothing else really matters.
The cows are still dribbling in from pastures and range.
Winter hit with a vengeance, arriving so abruptly that both the livestock and the producers were caught with their pants down, so to speak.
The early date of the early snowfall wasn’t so much of an issue as was the great amount of that first dump of snow.
The volume is what raised havoc on rural ranch operations.
Cattle that would normally be out grazing on grassland pastures are now in the ranch yard munching on feed harvested over the summer and, depending on locale, they have come to feed bunk, anywhere from a couple of weeks to more than six weeks early.
An untimely glitch, perhaps the Grinch threw this spanner into the works!
At least we know for certain that it will be a white Christmas. Happy holidays to each and everyone of you!
Liz Twan is a rancher and freelance columnist for the Tribune/Advisor