Merry Christmas to all

[cakadu]

I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for joining in over the past year - we've had some great discussions and I've learned a lot from you all.

It's come to the time of year when we reflect on a lot of things and I hope that next year brings better for us all. We need to be grateful for what we have because there are so many out there that don't have the comforts, peace and security that we hold dear to us every day.

Cowman, it's good to see you back again and I hope that your health remains with you in the coming year.

Muttley, I believe it was you who earlier in the year was going to quit worrying about farming so much and spend more time with your kids and your family. How has that turned out? What would you continue to do the same and is there anything that you would change? How about the rest of you - have you had similar experiences.

Thank you to all of the new names that have appeared on the site over the past year - it's been great to see more people joining in - I hope that we have much more of it in the coming year.

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas - health and happiness in the New Year.

Linda

[countryguy]

Linda

Thank you so much for your thought provoking discussions and for donating your time to be such a top notch moderator at Agri-ville.

Merry Christmas and all the best to you and yours in '04

And to the rest of the Agri-ville community thank you for sharing your ideas here.The wealth of knowledge here is astounding.I learn something new here everyday.I hope the great discussions continue here in the new year.

Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year!

Countryguy

[Muttley]

You bet I took my own advise and started worrying less about things out of my control. Not that I am worry free about the farm but I sure don't lose sleep over it anymore.
I found it was the little things this past year that I changed that made it better not the big things. Times were tight for money like usuall but we still found time to go camping with the kids, we go to a local park that allows me time to still hay. What I did different was this year I shut the old baler down at noon and went swimming for a few hours with the kids, they loved it and I found I enjoyed haying again. When money was short we still tried to find enough for the kids(toys, go to movies, etc) I figure old Saskpower can sit back on their honches and wait.
The number one thing(I try do do but sometimes failed) was look at life from my wifes point of view, it's amazing when one starts to realize there is life after farming or in my case cuts back. I was so married to farming I figured I'd die before I quit.

For all you people facing a finacial or overwhelming problem from farming, kick back go spend a little money on you and the family. A movie in the city, watersliding at a motel, guys go buy your wife that new dress you can't afford(that she will love). Even a day out toboganing down a valley hill, take your kids out of school and go to a cow sale (you don't have to buy to enjoy).
Shop for a new truck(let the dealer think your going to buy, you get a day driving new trucks for nothing)

Sounds kinda dumb but what I'm saying is go spend some spouse, kids, and me time. I have to go now my kids are waiting for me to cook them bacon and eggs(and I am without a doubt the wost cook in the world, but it has become our Sunday morning Dad thing)

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR

Muttley

[carebear300]

Just a note to thankyou linda for all your time and trouble that you put in. I am one of those new people that really enjoy all the discussions and different viewpoints on this site. I may not always agree with everybody but do respect their point of view because this is one place that I have found that everybody sincerely cares about the future of agriculture. Hope that you all have a great holiday season and a rewarding and profitable new year. Barrie

[cowman]

Merry Christmas Linda! And thank you for the excellent job you do here and putting up with us old rednecks ranting and raving! You ask the right questions and you bring things back into focus...all in all you are a class act!
I guess we all hope 2004 will be better than the last couple of years and hey we're due for a break!
I think the trick to survival is not getting wrapped up in all the negatives but to focus on the positives in this life. It's a long old road and the race isn't won on any short stretch of it.

[cakadu]

Thanks for your kind words - they are really appreciated.

People ask me why I keep moderating on the site - it's because I find it so interesting and fun. The diversity of opinions keeps me thinking and stretching in so many ways.

I agree with carebear - we might have different ideas and understanding them is of great benefit to us all. I don't have to agree - just understand another's viewpoint.

I am constantly learning from what I read in the various rooms on the forum and it's terrific that we have a place to express our views. Many times I have gone away thinking about things from a new viewpoint.

It's terrific that we get opinions from all ages and all walks of the ag industry because we need them all. I for one firmly believe that we have to pay attention to those farmers that have been around for a long time because there is much to learn from them. I think what I would like to one day see is a mentoring program putting young and old together and I suppose we get that to some extent through this site. People haven't farmed for 50 years or more without knowing something.

Things change and we need to look at life with new eyes and that is where the younger farmer helps. Together, I think we can make it work for the future.

All the best to everyone.

[cakadu]

Muttley, I am so very happy for you and the changes that you've made. I'm sure your family is much richer for it.

When I take a look around me, it seems to me that what kids need and often want is to just spend time with their parents doing simple things. The biggest influence in our children's lives are us as parents and if they can see us handling things in an appropriate manner, then they learn to do so as well.

Going to Disneyland is fun, but having Mom and Dad around every day to do the little things is so much more meaningful. One of my most vivid memories from my younger days is having a family reading day - which was generally Sunday afternoon. We didn't do too much and if there were strangers looking in the window, they may have thought it odd, but to this day all of us are still avid readers.

If we had enough snow, toboganning sounds like just the ticket. I can recall having this big hill between the neighbors land and ours - every winter we would take old grain shovels and ride these shovels down through the trees. Looking back on it, I'm surprised there wasn't someone seriously injured - but man - what fun. (Of course, there weren't parents around when we did that!!!)

It sounds like you've come closer to having balance in your life. That's just great.

[Muttley]

Wishing it would snow tonight is something old Mr. Clause could sure bring us. My kids and myself are real sad that we can not do the hill thing.
I was told last night I should get the snowmobile going just in case.

So whats everybody out there doing for the holiday's?

We are going to my parents place Xmas eve then both sides here tomorrow. It will be a full house both days. Most relatives we see almost daily, but it would'nt be Christmas unless we got together.
We still have one little Santa waiter in our household and that helps to get us all in the spirit!!!!

[cowman]

Sure wish I could send you some snow Muttley as we have too much as far as I'm concerned! I guess I should be grateful but it is a darned nuisance at times!
Hope things are going well for you and all the best in 2004. It is nice to have young kids around on Christmas as they are still innocent and enjoy the holiday. I had my two grandkids out last night and they are all excited.