wrapping up

Its hard to believe that 2 1/2 years ago, Ladd and I picked up our lives and moved out here to Colorado to begin a new chapter. That chapter is coming to an end this May, when I graduate. I will proudly walk across a stage and likely with a sense of surrealism, accept two degrees - one in Veterinary Technology and one in Associates of Arts.



This closure of this phase of my life becomes more and more palpable as each week winds down. This week I wrap up my last shift of animal care in which we feed and water all the farm and exotic animals living on our farm. Its always been a drag to wake up so early - especially in the cold months - to drive up to the farm to do the chores. Yet when its time to do the chores I speak of, its really quite blissful; rewarding, actually.

We love our animals here at the farm and it shows.




This is how I feel about school. Its hard to get up in the mornings, hard to choose to study or do homework instead of going out for a pint or watching TV or napping, but overall, my experience at this school is quite blissful as well.....rewarding, actually.



Only 4 more weeks and I will be off to fulfill my externship requirements at the fabulous Sedgwick County Zoo. I will miss my husband and furry babies but it will be so worth it - I just know it.



Until then, I am trying to find all the strength left in me to give it my all these last few weeks, and to take time to look around me and absorb the rest this experience and my friends can teach me.

goat races and such

It's baby season around here, again.

This year, we are keeping all the goat and sheep babies.
We have been asked to play with them as much as possible to get them used to people and being handled.
Last week, the farm manager asked all of the vet tech students to take the goats and sheep on walks if we wanted.
So.....a few of us went out during a break, haltered them all up, and took them on a walk.
We ended up having a race.
Twice.
I have video, but alas, I can't figure out how to view it, let alone share it!
Ladd would be so proud. :)

Its funny, though.
Right now, nothing seems cuter to me than watching baby goats and sheep run. Its funny. Kind of like Rudolph.

Christmas and New Year's Eve 2008

This year, Ladd and I were able to spend Christmas Day together here in Glenwood Springs. It was nice. We watched movies, ate yummy food, drank our favorite drinks, and gave our furry babies their Christmas gifts. It was nice to have that day for ourselves.

a new scratcher


catnip was had


rawhide bones were chewed


Then, we were thankful to be able to drive home to Kansas the next day to see family again.
This year went down as my favorite time at home for the holidays, since moving out of the house in 1998.

My mom and sister-in-law graciously saved a large amount of their vacation time and used it to spend time with Ladd and me.
A whole week!
And Ladd also saved a week of vacation for the trip as well, which I am very thankful for as well.
It was great.
And once again, the Christmas time with family overlapped with Rachel's birthday.
She chose to spend her 30th birthday with all of us!


This look is showing her nervousness of the cost of the gifts she was about to open from her husband. ;) Cute.


Lots of relaxing, naps, food, drinks, games (I learned about the famous "Wii" - super fun by the way), gifts, bonfire, etc.
I am thankful for the time with them.

My mom and dad paid for Brad, Rachel, Ladd, and me to spend the evening together however we wanted, one night.
We had before dinner drinks at Brad and Rachel's.
Then, we went out for DeLIciOUs burgers!
We finished the night watching The Dark Night at their house.
Good times.
I'm thankful for Brad and Rachel and our relationship with them.
My husband, Ladd, was already friends with both of them before we even met.
Rachel is not only my sister-in-law, but also one of my best friends.
Since we don't see each other often enough, we really enjoyed our time together that night.
Thanks, Mom and Dad.











Time with Ladd's family was one of my best times with them as well.
It was even more relaxing than usual.
My mother-in-law is by far one of the best cooks I know.
Her food is absolutely amazing and I always get so full, because I want "just one more" bite! ;)
I'm sad to say, I forgot my camera when we went to his folk's house.
So, no pictures from the festivities there. :(

Thanks, Jerry and Kristin, for letting us invite ourselves over to see your kitty!
It was fun to be on your turf for a while.
I wish we could spend more time together and get to know more about each other.
Maybe we siblings could all get together for drinks or something, next time the family gets together?!?!?!




We enjoyed New Year's on the farm with a bonfire, per my request.
Ladd and I don't like to be driving on New Year's Eve, since we both like to partake in having a few drinks.
Bonfires are a favorite of mine.
I went to several when I was in High School and college.
Some of which were at my folks' farm.







And the Kansas sunsets.
SO glad to see these again!

doin' chores

Twice a semester, each vet tech student is assigned to a group with about 4 or 5 other students to do chores on the farm. Each group is on duty one week at a time.

A couple weeks ago it was my turn, along with 4 other girls. It requires being there at 7am and 5pm on the weekdays, and 9am on the weekends. This gave me a LOT of time in between classes and let me just say that I got quite a bit of school work done that week. :)

I enjoyed doing the chores. It brought me back to when I was younger and still lived on the farm. I was a 4-H kid and daughter of a cattle farmer (well, he also farmed crops) and so livestock is nothing new to me.

While growing up on the farm, I "owned" 2 horses, a couple calves, a steer, and several sheep. The horses weren't bought by me. Dad already had Billy when I was born (which was one of the reasons my birth mom chose my parents to be my new family). He was a spectacular horse. He lived a long and happy life at the farm. Soon after he died, I received a horse for my 13th birthday.

You see, in our family, turning 13 was a big deal. A new chapter in life. You were, afterall, officially a teenager!

The celebratory tradition included a big party thrown in your honor (the whole 8th grade class came out to the farm for horseback and hayback rides, lots of food, and fun) and a bigger than usual present. Brad got a go-cart on his 13th. I got Poco. Troubles Poco Dell, to be exact! He was BEAUTIFUL! It was such a nice surprise. I remember it like yesterday.

But I digress.....

Doing chores on the farm reminded me how much I miss these large animals. I occasionally dream of having a small ranch someday. Just a few goats, a couple horses, maybe some chickens for fresh eggs, etc.

This is why doing these chores is a good thing. It forces reality onto you like a big slap in the face! A farm means feeding and watering these animals twice a day. EVERYDAY! You have to buy hay, feed, equipment, etc. Its not all romantic, you know.

Nonetheless, its good, healthy work. Its a peaceful and gorgeous time of day, when you do chores in the morning. Its so quiet. No hustle and bustle. No sound of students or cars. Just the rooster, goats baaahing, and horses snorting, out of hunger. I watched the sun rise over the mountain each day.

Glorious.

Hopefully, I can snap some better shots for you next round when I'm not so preoccupied with creating my own routine.




The main vet tech building is to the left. It holds 2 classrooms and the teachers' offices. The middle building was brand new last year. Its our new science building. It holds 2 separate lab classrooms. We are so thankful for this new addition. The building on the right is the small hospital we use. The small cage in front of the hospital is one of the raptor cages. It houses a golden eagle and a bald eagle - one of the features at this school that made me feel this is where I need to be.



Llamas sort of freak me out when they stare at me. Their eyes and eyelashes are so HUGE. They always look like they are plotting something.


No, his head is not stuck. :)