I woke up this morning to find Russ sitting on the edge of the bed, fully dressed, watching TV. It was still dark. He brought me a coffee. I could read the signs. This guy was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. All he really said about it was, “its hard to sleep when the wind is howling.” I agree, I think it takes some strategies. One of mine is logic. I relaxed a bit when after our coffee I looked at my phone and realized that despite the horrific howling wind the wind chill was still above -50. I had thought it might be close to -60. I scanned my brain for all previous experiences where our cows suffer due to weather. I knew that they would be okay. They have lived this -46 before and when out of the wind its only -29 and that is totally in their skill set to live within. Logic.
A little later I told Russ, “I want to put up a blog today that just has something fun and encouraging in it, amid these conditions, but I can’t think of anything.” A little later a few things rumbled to the surface. A few things from yesterday that I am thankful for. There are lots of words that start with T that reflect things that are good for us and our relationships, like time, treats, touch, travel and teamwork, I have been known to call these Vitamin T. Today I am adding the word thankfulness to that.
I am thankful that yesterday morning when Morgan left for work and found that the truck he had plugged in wouldn’t start he had what seemed like a miracle happen. On his way back to the house he stopped at my Bronco and tried it. It started. It wasn’t plugged in and it was parked outside. He popped back in the house and asked for permission to take it. I said “yes, on one condition, you stop at Grandma Shirley’s and pick up the cake she made us.” ”I will on the way home,” Morgan replied. That was good to have clarified as it was only 7:15am or so. Morgan got to work and later returned with a carrot cake with cream cheese icing, Shirley had made it for Russ and I to celebrate our anniversary. Lots to be thankful for there.
Russ called in the late morning and asked if lunch would be thrown off if he and Ron just kept working til they were done chores and then came in for lunch, all done what they absolutely had to do. This meant a late lunch that coincided with Morgan’s return from work and time in the afternoon to relax together. Our TV is not in our living room. Its in our bedroom. We have a king sized bed, in the olden days with some strategy is was possible for all five of us and a couple pets to fit on it, it easily holds three three of us now watching TV, and still the pets too. I had quite a bit of energy yesterday and was not interested in TV time for the longest while, I am working on some organizing. When I did join the guys they were watching a DVD series called “Justified.” When the time is right to watch it together one of them will say to the other, “Let’s go to Kentucky.” Its their code, their bro language, and it refers to the place where the show is set. Anyways. Russ and Morg went to Kentucky and I later joined them. At that point I didn’t really want TV I just wanted to rest a bit with my guys. So, Russ got up and let me in, I lay in the middle of the bed, with Morg on one side, Russ on the other. I put my earbuds in, closed my eyes and started a podcast I had been wanting to try, it was a meditation for rest. It was a slightly hilarious scenario and I knew that as it was unfolding. As I was guided to take deep breaths and exhale strategically, which might seem a bit woo woo to some, the tight mood of “Justified” was in the background, Russell’s hand was occasionally straying under the cover of the blankets for a quick feel up and Morgan’s cuddle with Coffee Dog was not without some restlessness. This meant that as I was guided to relax I frequently had a part of a dog landing on me. It was my choice to be there and so I just took it all in stride. In truth, as I lay there, I knew, these are the best moments and I need to savor this. I did relax and eventually was recharged and left to make supper. I would be a fool not to be thankful for the warmth of those moments.
Part way through my supper efforts Jill called. I visited with her until supper was ready, then said, “Jill we either have to hang up or you need to come join us at supper.” She opted to join in, we made it a video call and set her at the table so that she could see us and we had a bit of a family dinner. She ate her dinner in Regina while we ate at the ranch. Then she kept us company while we did after supper clean up. Technology sure helps to keep us in close contact. I am thankful for that.
If you want to have a look at what action here looks like this on this snowy morning this 43 second video gives a glimpse. Russ was getting extra feed into the corral to accommodate cows looking for extra shelter. The corral is now quite full of cows that moved in from the shelter up north.
I hope that whatever your day holds you have time and opportunity for Vitamin T, whether its time together with pets or loved ones, treats, travel (maybe a youtube travel video?), touch, teamwork or thankfulness. Vitamin T is good for generating warmth.
As Far As The Eye Can See 