Christmas 2014

Merry Christmas from the whole herd here at Otium Farms !

This year has flashed by at breakneck speed....WOW !   But what a great and blessed year it has been.  Sorry about not posting for a while, but it is just not a priority.

 Here are just a few of my Blessings for the year.......

-Blessing....my sister Donna's MRI coming back with awesome results
-Blessing.....spending quality time with my son Joe, teaching him about cattle and farming and learning together, and from him as well.  We are a great team, and we accomplished a whole lot together, he is such a good man.
-Blessing....getting to see many of my relatives that I had not seen for a long, long, time,
-Blessing....realizing more and more, just how wonderful my beautiful wife is and how lucky a man I am


Here are just a few Highlights for the year......

-it was a great year for hay !  Joe was a tremendous help with the haying, we bought another tractor and it speeds up the process, with both of us on the job

Our trip to Maine was just fantastic, the kids had never flown before, and never seen most of my side of the family.  We stayed on China Lake, ate bunches of lobster, went to the reunion, spent time with both my Mom and Dads side of the family.  It was so good to see all of my Aunt's, Uncle's, and Cousins.  Spent part of a day with my Uncle Pete who looks so much like my dad.  He has a serious collection of antique cars, trucks, and tractors, which he did the restorations on.  While in one of his buildings I spied my Pepere's old Farmall Cub tractor.  Uncle Pete told me someday it would be mine !  How cool is that !  1953 Farmall Cub

The cattle have done well this year and we had a good market selling seed stock and some beef from steers.  I so enjoy the cows.  It is in my blood you know.  A lot of work and time, but to me it is worth it.  It gives me such a rewarding feeling after the hay is put up, or a new calf is born, or a new momma has her first calf.  I guess you would say it gives me a peaceful feeling.

I hosted a father - son campout for a group of boys (The Boy's Club) from my son Gabriel's school.  Gabriel is such Blessing to me.  He is smart, and fun to spend time with.  It was a really good time spent by all, getting closer to our sons and to our God.

My oldest daughter Ami has been spending time with a cowboy she met at one of the cattlemen's field days, helping him work his cattle.  At least that what she tells me she is doing.  My grandson Cash is growing up so fast, he is the cutest, and smart too, straight A's at school !  Here is a picture of Cash and I my daughter Ami sent me, from about 3 years ago, and one of Ami hunting, she is so pretty !  Look at those eyes!

Now lets talk horses.......my youngest daughter Christabel has taken a liking to horses.  And wow is she a natural, after some lessons from a really great instructor, Morgan, she entered a pretty big horse show, and well, I will let the picture tell the story.  I am one proud daddy in that picture.  Two 1st place ribbons out of three events.  So proud of her!

I hope that everyone reading this blog has a Very Merry Christmas ! Mike Reny