Tin man (woman) needs oil

With all this wet weather I am particularly concerned with parasites- worms, in the sheep.  Since I found that one yearling ewe (the preg one) thin at shearing, I have wormed her several times, and she seems good, but not strapping like I would like.  I wormed all last month, but since then saw a couple green butts.  I ordered some Valbazen wormer, and now all lambs/adults have been wormed with that.  I do not like to worm more than I have to, but I know how lambs can go down hill fast from worms, and of course the adults, who have some resistance to them, pass on lots of eggs that lambs can ingest, so, I figured all would get a good dose of Valbazen.  Now, probably will not worm again for a couple months or more- lambs will get another dose probably in August.  Losing that one lamb was a giant wake up call.

I am very sore from my finagling the sheep for worming.  I am walking rather like a tin man who needs oil.  But, it's done...

I have loads of house work to do, but I am just not really interested in doing it... I think my sister and I need to agree on a price and I will have her do it!  Hmmm, boy would that be nice...

Nothing really interesting happening, except for last night, in my dreams.  I was laying in bed and Ginger came up to me, purring, very happy and lay in the crook of my arm.  That was a wonderful dream.  I miss Ginger so much and I have not really reconciled it... 

Well, that's it for now.

Pictorial

The one ewe left to go!

My little girl Tank

The inseparables

I love my mom

WW I bi plane

Cicadas...

I think I like Sheep

I am having some pancakes and strawberry jam with my coffee, and I made too many.  Even though the dogs/cat already had theirs (before me) I guess they will get more!  Coffee is good.  Coffee is the elixir that makes the day actually start and my mornings very efficient...

I watched a lot of "Mountain Men" last night.  It showcases several different people in different parts of the country living off the land.  It is interesting, but I see the same thing happening to the guy Eustace in North Carolina, as me- struggling to pay tax bills and finding good, intelligent help... it's a common affliction it seems...  It can be hard to find good help, but it's out there...  Interesting show, new one on tonight, on A&E.

I am pretty tired today, not sure exactly why, but partially because I thought about my sheep last night.  I have decided not to sell the ewes that the man wanted, as I will just not have enough for breeding this fall.  They are good quality ewes, and I just can't let them go.  So, just the ram lamb and wether like I initially planned is for sale.  Not sure if he will take them but we will see.  Money is not everything... today anyway!

I may work Joe and Dan today, or I may be lazy.  It's one of those six of one, half a dozen of the other days, where you could very easily just chill,or  get off your butt and get things done... maybe after more coffee...

I want to get some cleaning done in my kitchen here at the house and sled out the big pile of Thistle at the farm.

I never got started on my new book last night...

Well, that's it for now.  Soon, I will take new pics of the lambs.  The black cross bred lamb who was limping the other day seems better now and oh BOY is she gorgeous.  WOW.  You know, I think I like sheep ;)

Nice man....

Busy day today.  I had to work, so got there at crack of dawn, and then off to the farm, as I had a guy coming to look at some sheep. When I got there, I checked preggers and her friends, and separated preggers and a friend out, and worked Joe on the rest.  He was a good boy.  Grass getting mighty high; needs to be mowed- brother said he would...  After I finished working Joe I pulled thistles out.  Did not have shovel, only a pitchfork which made it harder.  Got them all together and then they man showed up.

Had Dan gather the sheep for me, and the guy and I stood at the fence with sheep held to us by Dan.  He did very well.  Sheep all in a nice tight group.  After we checked them out, we then went to the other field and I had Dan gather them into the paddock.  The guy right away noticed my littlest lamb- how pretty he says.  Yeah, she's nice I do like her a lot, and she's staying..

So, we made a deal and I am supposed to hear back from him next week.  He wants to start his own flock. Nice man.

After he left I walked Dan and Joe and then checked hill sheep again.  Ram has loose droppings, which I think is from the grass, but to be sure I wormed him.  I also fly sprayed everyone, as they are really irritated by the biting flies.  Tons of them after a rain.  I feel bad for them.   Gave both fields of sheep some minerals, cleaned out the barn, and then headed to parents' for a visit.

Now home after a nice early dinner and just about ready for a nap!

Will read my new Murder She Wrote mystery and shut my eyes for a bit...

Confidence in driving....

Been a busy week.  Work has been busy, and as we all know, summer brings on a lot more yard work, etc., to be done.  Got the lawn mowed and string trimmed, and it looks great.  Next is to trim the shrubs- they have never grown this much before, it's incredible. 

I got the barn cleaned out and limed and shut the door, so no more mess in there.  I like for the sheep to be comfy, but even just the few that go in there, make it a stinky mess, which brings in flies.  So, it's closed off now, until of course the huge amount of rain we are expecting tonight through Saturday. The ewe still has not delivered, so I have to keep everyone in two fields, so the males don't bother the new lamb.  I have a buyer for a couple ewes and the ram lamb, so they are going soon.  The ram lamb is a total stunner.  Wow. 

One of the ewes is being bothered by the flies, more than anyone else.  I put swat on her, where she is itchy and sprayed everyone with fly spray.  I also sprayed the trees they hang out near, so if they rub against them, they get some fly spray on them.. thought that was pretty smart. ;)

Been working Joe and he's been doing well.  We have made progress in confidence in driving and he's quick to respond to my commands.  I think we have our away whistle, and by next week will start on come by. 

Well, that's the update for now!

Don't get me wrong

I hope you don't get me wrong. Dreams are special, and if you want something, you have to go for it.  But, you need to have a good plan; carefully thought out, and always be prepared for road blocks.  Even though I am so very fortunate to be able to do what I am doing, always, in the back of my mind is that this IS a huge luxury and if I had to, well, I would have to make the big decision... Then, that's when the big question gets answered- how bad do you want it and can you do it....  I hope it doesn't happen, but if it does, I hope I am up to the challenge.

If you want something, start thinking about how to go about getting it... start working toward it, but do not believe by luck and fame, you will get others to fund it for you... because THAT pool of resources will dry up.. and you will be left selling your personal possessions just to keep a roof over your head...

A glimpse into part of our day

I pull into the driveway, and as I get out, I am thankful that I did not get there much later, as it is already quite warm out, and in this heat and humidity Dan and Joe get hot very quickly.  Coffee filled travel mug in hand, I open the back of the Jeep and let the dogs out.  Dan, then Joe.  Dan makes an immediate bee-line down the hill with Joe in hot pursuit.  They know our path, we have taken it every day for all of their lives..

As I walk down to the first gate, a green welded bar gate, I have Day stay and then walk through, I release Dan and he and Joe gallop down the first part of our walk through the middle field.  I look up to the hill field, and do not see sheep, but I know where they are; they are in the center of the field, under a Maple tree, staying cool.  We continue our walk, and I remark to myself that I have never seen the grass this tall.  I believe it's Orchard grass, and the seed heads are almost chest high!  I then add, that we need to get this mowed!  We continue on our walk, Joe runs ahead, Dan runs ahead but always checks back in with me. I spy the sheep right where I thought they would be. About half way through our walk, all of a sudden about one foot from me, a big brown blob flies up off the ground, I quickly realize it was a Turkey- a hen, and there were several tiny Turkey chicks peeping to keep in touch with their mom who just beat wings to get away from the dogs and I.  Fortunately Dan and Joe are not hunters and we leave the little Turkey chicks to find their mom...  In addition to the jolt by seeing a Turkey that close to me, I am also smashed into by a 17 year Locust who must have been scared by said hen, because as she took off he/she simultaneously hit me and bounced off.

We continue our walk and Dan jumps into the pond, as usual, to cool off.  I then bring Dan and Joe to the Jeep and leave them in their crates with the back open, and I set to check the sheep.  I have two groups of sheep now, since there is another ewe that is pregnant, and the wether, yes, the supposedly neutered ram lamb is mounting her and reacting to ewe's urine... great... I do not need her bothered by him.  So, yesterday, I took the older lambs/mothers, the ram and the wether to the hill field, and leave the two youngest lambs, their mothers, three non -pregnant or mother sheep, and the pregnant ewe in the lower field.    The latter group is in the barn, the coveted area- when it is hot out, for two of the walls are field stone, making that room cooler than outside.  I check everyone out see that pregnant ewe is not looking close, so then I decide to clean out the barn a bit.  I get that done and then, it's time to leave and get home to get more cleaning done.

Thanks for coming along....