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"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

~Hebrews 12: 1-2

Our Pets

Since our "pets" will probably end up being referred to and sometimes featured in the blog posts, I figure I might as well introduce them properly.
Our first and most important pet (according to my husband):

Tubby!
(my husband named her- and, NO he will not be allowed to
name our future children if this trend continues (grin))
Tubby is a Normande/Ayrshire Cross and granted, my husband had
good reason to name her what he did, but still...
Tubby likes to be the first cow in the second or third row during milking.  My husband says it is because she thinks that she gets more grain that way.  All I know is that when we are too slow in opening the gate to let her in the parlor, she will stomp her foot and toss her head at us.

Bandit
Our next family member that I would like to introduce you to is Bandit.  Bandit was originally my cousin's dog, and she rescued him from the SPCA.  He is a wonderful kind-hearted dog (he even lets the chickens eat his dog food).  He loves children and is a sweet as can be...except when it comes to cats...and groundhogs.  We are happy about the groundhogs...not so much about the cats.  So, unfortunately for Bandit, he doesn't get to run free over the farm.  my husband calls him "Maugrim, chief of the secret police" (from The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe).  This would be example #2 of why he might not get to come up with the name for our future children...of course I sometimes call him, "the Great Bandido," so maybe our kids will get lucky and the hospital staff will name them.

Bandit - isn't he cute?
He is a husky/samoya mix.
For the record, we thought Bandit was just going to take a drink out of the water trough.  He, apparently, had other ideas.