Always be prepared..........

The other day I was reminded why I never leave the house with out my extra gear.  It was warm, (well that is relative to where you are I guess), but here it was 36 degrees and the sun was shinning and to me it was warm.  When it was time to go feed cows, it felt so nice outside that I headed out without my coat, my warm hat, or my snow boots.  My reasoning was.....it only takes about 45 minutes to feed the cows.......I drive the tractor....which has a cab........so I will be warm.  Well, at the last minute, a voice inside my head said "grab your coat" so I did.  However, I should have listened to it a little more, because I'm sure it was saying, "and your hat and boots".   It was well over 4 hours and after dark before we made it back to the house.  My feet and ears were so cold when we got home.  I totally know better!  Normally I do not leave with out extra everything, gloves, hats, etc.   I always have 2 or 3 pairs of gloves, my light ones I use for liners, my nice leather mittens, and my lined leather gloves (you never know when you might need fingers).  Sometimes I also have my unlined leather gloves, (just cuz I like how they fit me).  Then for hats, I have a stocking cap and my baseball cap so I am prepared for cold or sunshine ( if it's really cold I also carry my rabbit fur hat).  And my coats, I have a quilted flannel jacket that I wear inside my big  outside coat, so I can shed a layer when its warm or bundle up if it's cold.  The pockets in my coats are big enough to hold all of these things, along with my phone, my camera, my glasses, and my little Leathermen tool.  Yes, it is a little bulky, but as I have been reminded by My Farmer, this isn't a fashion show.  And as I was reminded the other day, it's best to be prepared!  The only thing I haven't figured out how to easily carry with me is an extra pair of foot wear.  I like to wear just my sneakers or work boots most of the time if I can, and only wear my winter boots if it is cold or the snow is deep.  I don't like to always wear my boots because they are sooo heavy, and it is really difficult to run in them plus I look really funny running in them.  But I have yet figured out how to carry my extra footwear, cuz my pockets are already full with other stuff and besides shoes or boots would totally add weight that I really do not need, not to mention being a little awkward.  I was thinking that I could tie them on a string around my neck like my mom did with my gloves when I was little but I'm not thinking that would work real well.  So for now, I'll carry everything extra, but the footwear.  Oh, and by the way, if you are wondering what happened and why we were so much longer feeding that night then expected?  It's because the bulls, evidently, visited the cows a month before they were suppose to and we have unexpected baby calves.  But that's livin' the life....the Farm live that it...............