Kitty Spa
During the cold months, a fire is built in the stove in the milk tank room each morning and evening so the room is nice and toasty. I call this room the Kitty Spa! At one end of the room is the milk tank , and here's the other end of the room with the wood stove and miscellaneous milking supplies.

When we go down to do chores, we let the cats and kittens come in so they can get warmed up. They are spoiled rotten. There are 9 cats visible in the middle picture above, but there are probably another 5 or 6 just outside your field of vision. That's Johnny Carson by the stove and Spitz's kittens Spice, Spots, and Sparks in the picture on the right.
Kitten Kaboodle is smart and always manages to have her babies in the milk tank room. Here they are in January , happy to sleep in their box; and now they have to be like the big kitties and sleep anywhere and everywhere . From front to back: Kitten Kaboodle ("Boo"), Gretchen & Shadow, Spike, and Boogaloo.
There is a fan over the stove that blows some of the warm air into the milk parlor so we don't freeze to death while we're milking when it's really cold. This morning we didn't even need to wear our hooded sweatshirts while we were working in the milk pit!

I'm wearing my favorite sweatshirt. Can you see what it says? "I'm in over my head..." Standing in that milk pit, I don't think there's a truer statement ... except maybe "Sh** happens!"
The cats (we have 40+) await fresh, warm milk every morning and evening, which I deliver to 5 locations. I told you they were spoiled!!! Kit Carson has moved her three "babies" from the junk yard to the little shed next to our house. One of these days they'll move to the hay barn (I hope!) and then I won't have to bring milk to this fifth location. Carson (the mom) is in the center, with Samantha on the left and Lightning on the right.
Carson's third baby, Obama, is a scaredy cat and won't come out until he's sure it's safe.
I hope you've enjoyed this little visit to the Kitty Spa and the milk parlor. Want a kitty??

I SURE KNOW HOW TO PICK 'EM

The following is a quote (January 8, 2009) from Hoard's Dairyman, The National Dairy Farm Magazine:

"It's official, at least in the eyes of the Wall Street Journal writers, that dairy farming isn't much fun. In the January 5 issue of the New York-based business paper, dairy farming ranked 199 out of 200 professions. The only job below it was lumberjack."

My first husband was a lumberjack for 4 years in Brimson, MN. My second (and last!) husband is a dairy farmer.

I SURE KNOW HOW TO PICK 'EM

beaucoup de babies ...

We finally met Ayden in person. He is 4-1/2 months old and he smiles, makes lots of sounds, and waves his arms around a lot. What a good boy!!
Here he is with his dad Joe.
And here with cousin Haylee.
Here is great-grandma watching over the little ones while the rest of us are stuffing our faces.
It was a noisy gathering with Edith & Pat, Weldon's 3 daughters & Joe, their babies, Beth & Steve, and us. With everyone telling stories and laughing about memories from the past, our few hours together flew by and, all of a sudden, everyone was getting ready to leave. We didn't get any pictures of the 3 girls together nor of them with their babies. Drat!!

We finally found Kit Carson's latest babies (born around Thanksgiving) - in the junk pile, as usual.
Look closely and you'll see one of the cuties...
No, wait! That's Weldon. Yes, he's definitely one of the cuties!!
Three new kittens.

The white one took a chunk out of my finger the first time I got my hands on him. Turn up the sound and you can hear him growl in the video.


I am finally beginning to see the baby calves as "cute." This one, born Dec 29, captured my heart.
Actually, her black ears captured my heart. There's her little white head and then those black ears that look like velvet.
When she was even younger, the inside of those velvety ears was a brighter pink.
Amazing :-)

Babies are super cute ... especially when you don't have to live with them!

What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace. Agnes M. Pharo
What is Christmas? It's the birthday of the King who can change the thoughts of our hearts to reflect the quote above. Happy Birthday, Jesus :-)
What is Christmas? Family! Of my "blood family," only Anna & Marshall are near enough that we can actually get together. I celebrate with the rest of my family via cards, e-mails, calls, and gifts. Fortunately, Weldon's sweet family is right here and they've taken me in with open hearts so I am not lonely during these wonderful days.
What is Christmas? Check out the pictures!
At Anna's on December 14 ....
Every year I give Marshall an ornament as a reminder of something that he was doing or learning or enjoying that year.
This is Anna's sweetie, Jason
And now, Christmas Day at Edith's ....
Four generations (times 2):
Edith, Weldon, Jennifer, and Aniston
Edith, Weldon, Kathryn, Ashley & Haylee
Jennifer's hubby Scott
Kathryn's hubby David
Pat holding a marzipan pig :-)
Steve & Beth and their daughter Maria
Their son Wesley & his wife Ashley (holding Aniston)
These pictures may lead you to believe that we had a quiet gathering with sweet smiles and humble fellowship. But, no! This is the Keiger farm, and even Christmas cannot escape farm humor. Beth had asked me if there was anything that Weldon wanted/needed for Christmas. All I could think of was a poop pusher. That's the snow-plow-like shovel he uses to clean the barn floors after we're done milking. So, that's what she got for him, complete with 4 rolls of toilet paper on the long handle. As a side note, I had got Steve a bottle of hot sauce called, Professor Phardtpounders Colon Cleaner ("an elixer of capsaicin extremus"). So ... Weldon starts to unwrap his present and when he gets down to the blade, the craziness begins. What the heck is taped to the blade of the shovel? It looks like ... no! No way! Beth, what is this??!! She insists that a candy cane bun she was baking fell to the oven floor without her knowledge and when she found it later, it was burned to a crisp. Looking remarkably like a pile of crap (sorry), she taped it to the shovel. Natural farmboy that he is, Weldon just had to get started. First he had to try eating the crap (eeeuuuu), then he had to set up various scenarios to be photographed, all the while the rest of us laughing hysterically. We got a few pictures of the Colon Cleaner and the "candy cane" together; then Weldon added a note: "It works!" This went on and on, till finally Edith decided it was time to clean things up. It certainly was a lot funnier than it sounds here in writing :-)
To close on a kinder, gentler note ... Here we are in front of our tree the day after Christmas, surrounded by a few of our gifts. Thank you, one and all, for the cards, gifts, calls, and displays of love. We love you right back and wish you a

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Where is Ayden??

Haylee is on the left, Aniston on the right:
Great grandma Edith is on the left, Weldon on the right :)
Aniston & Haylee are in Grandpa's arms!
But where is Ayden?
He's in New York ... sitting on Santa's lap!

ANISTON PARKER KEIGER DOWD

Yes, the newest "star" has arrived! Aniston was born shortly before midnight on November 19, weighing about 6 pounds 4 ounces. Her parents are Weldon's middle daughter Jennifer and her husband Scott. We visited the happy family this past Sunday and were able to hold and hug and squeeze the little darling.

Although her eyes are closed in these pictures, Aniston was very alert, her little eyes darting every which way, taking in all the sights of her new world. Talk about an early Christmas present :-)

Congratulations to all and to all a Good Night!

... All Boy ...
Marshall loves to participate in sports: soccer, wrestling, tennis, golf, bowling; and this year was his first try at football. I got to see him "play" during their pre-season jamboree in September.

On Saturday, November 8, I was able to attend his team's Football Awards Banquet. I was surprised by how many people were there, but parents love to see their kids and grandkids do well and achieve their goals. We enjoyed a good lunch and cake, and then came the awards.
Each of the players got a trophy and a few, including Marshall, got perfect attendance/good sportsmanship certificates.
The team's only win for the year was in a pre-season game. This was a young team (most never having played before), so the coach has big hopes for next year.
Although he's "all boy," Marshall has a sweet and tender heart, which I hope he'll continue to develop. (As a grandmother, I'm entitled to such sentiments.) Anyway, girls go gaga over a sweet guy - just ask Weldon :-)