Humidity

Yesterday it was hot again... the humidity is well, it feels like we live in Florida.  Many years ago I was down in Florida on a trip that my employer paid for, and I was in a rented house. I  remember how humid it was when I went outside and I vowed to never live in a place where that was considered normal!  It was just bad...  Well, this is reminiscent of that time..

When I got to the farm, I decided I would work the dogs each just for five minutes.  Brought mom and lamb in to feed, and I checked one of the Border Leicester crosses.  She has been laying down a lot, and looks very fat, so I wanted to check her feet and her bag.  No bag development and her one foot the front part of it had been sort of chipped some how, so I trimmed her feet, even though they did not really need it.  Maybe she's just hating the heat.. I will keep a watch on her though. 

I selected some sheep to work and started with Dan, did a bit of shedding and that was enough.  Then I worked Joe, just getting his whistles set- almost there, would say he's 90% sure on what each direction flank whistle is, and then need a walk up and then we are set (already has his down whistle).  He worked nice and I think he's starting to understand what I want when I say "lie" which means slow down, on the drive.

Flies are really bad on the sheep.  I have one ewe in particular which is really bothered.  Itchy, and rubbing herself.  I found a place to get natural (that works) fly repellent and will be ordering it.  Poor sheep.  The flies just stink.   The sheep with the thicker wool are in better shape this way, they have more protection.

Got the run order for the sheepdog trial I entered next month.  I run on Friday afternoon and late Sunday afternoon.  This will probably mean I will not need a hotel.  Although, it also means a TON of driving.  I am just not sure what to do.  

Well, that's it for now.  Today is more of the same weather-wise.  So, I will hibernate with the dogs/cat in the house after work/farm!

18 month pile of pig............

Manure?  Do you realize that since she has had two sets of Pigs (at least) in that time, that subsequent pigs lived in that filth?  Replete with their predecessors brain matter splattered in it?  I cannot believe how disgusting she is.  The concept of "deep pile bedding" means that you add fresh bedding quite often to keep the top dry, and then you clean it out as necessary.  Eighteen months of manure?  THE SMELL, not sure if you have been around pigs, but they are well known for their, shall we say odoriferous output...  That picture.. that absolutely stinking filthy mess, that is just obscene.  I would DIE before I would allow an animal to live in  that mess.  Those poor pigs.  Probably had to butcher them as they were just about hitting the barn ceiling...

Hemming and Hawing

Yesterday Charlie was scheduled to come and pick up the ram lambs.   After work, on the way home I stopped at the market, and then mowed the lawn.  So much mowing this year...

On the way to the farm, I was hemming and hawing about what to do with the sheep when I pulled the ram lambs, as they and their mothers were in the temporary field with electro-net and you should never leave weaned animals in e-net- as they tend to um, disregard the netting while looking for their young...  I figured I would leave them in the larger field and leave the rest of that group in the e-net, but then thought, that will be a small group... maybe mix them... Only thing was, that there is that young lamb, but things should be okay with ram, as she no longer smells brand new, and maybe because she is a she...

Well, all that thinking was for nothing...  When I got to the farm, *someone* had knocked down the gate (which was put up total cob job by me), and all the sheep were mixed... Everyone was grazing, which, considering the heat outside, was rather surprising, but they did look happy to be back together...

I brought momma and her lamb in to eat, and then Charlie arrived.  As soon as the barn door was open all the sheep went in, for it is so hot, they are just really wanting out of that blasted heat- they are panting just standing.  So, I opened the small room gate and they all went in.  I caught the ram lambs and Charlie and I carried them to the trailer.  The biggest ram lamb was HUGE.  It took two of us to carry him and he is bigger than my yearling ram...   Got them loaded up and off they went.  Left all sheep together.  When little lamb is bigger, all are going to temporary fencing to graze that stuff- lots of great browse in there.

I got home from the farm and I made BLT sandwiches.  I took three bites out of one and could not eat anymore.  I think the heat had gotten to me.  So, I ended up just having some rice... I also washed all my bedding, so last night it was comfy in my room, clean bedding, a/c going and read my mystery.  Slept well.

Today will be another hot one.  Poor Dan and Joe are going a bit stir crazy, but it is just too hot to work them much, and I can't get to the farm until the hottest part of the day.  Will take them on a good long walk today.

Update

Grass is growing, lambs are growing and other than that... hopefully my waist isn't! I have been busy.  Did a bit of string trimming until the string trimmer quit (at the farm).  I have been training Joe and Dan.  Getting hot lately.  One group of sheep are in the back of the barn, dutifully taking care of the browse that is back there, and the other group including new mom and June bug lamb (that's what I am calling her), are doing well.  Mom gets a bit of grain once a day and now comes running to me to get that grain. I usually put her in her jug to eat (with June Bug) and then I separate out some sheep for the dogs to work, and then leave the others with new mom while I work the dogs.  Works well.  I have a nice differing group of sheep, so some are good for driving and some good for gathering/shedding.

Went to my nephew's graduation yesterday, it was very well done.  Two nephews graduated yesterday, and we had a party afterward for them.  The cake was amazing :)

Today it was quite warm, so got to farm early and worked the dogs.  They were okay, but it was bloody humid, so not the greatest time to work them.  At one point when Joe was pushing sheep out for drive- SOMETHING caught his sniffer and he literally stopped everything to check it.  No idea what that was about.  Dan and I are shedding again.  He's just not a stellar shedder, he would MUCH rather keep sheep together and many times I try and hold that single a long ways and he will let her get back.. that is so frustrating.  I am going to start to teach Joe how to shed this fall, when it's cooler, he needs to understand and like it.

I am hibernating in the house today, thought I should mow the lawn.. .But it's 86 and very humid, YUCK.

Hope it cools down before next weekend...

Mrs Wallace

I have figured it out.  I always said that the animals were her muse.  The recent post about the falconry where she talks about riding her horse having a Hawk sitting on her arm.  I think she actually believes she is a cast member of Braveheart.  I am not kidding.  Seriously.  All this not so that she can actually do anything constructive with the animal, but just so she can see the image of herself with a Hawk on her arm sitting on her Horse.  What is next?  I BET she will start having horse jousting competitions, and maybe how to build a knight's armor.  Haggis will be the next recipe.  Look out everyone, here comes Mrs Wallace ;)

It's a girl

When I got to the farm yesterday, I did my customary check out the sheep before I sent Dan.  I had been doing this of late, because of the pregnant ewe, and not wanting to send a dog out to get sheep and her maybe being otherwise indisposed... As I checked yesterday, sure enough she had a water bag.  I decided to bring the flock into the paddock, and then into the barn.  She was pushing standing up, and then quickly lay down.  She was very vocal during all of this.  In not too long a time I saw a foot.  So, I waited a bit, and then I could see she might be getting tired, and as she is a bit young to be lambing... and well, I am a worry wort.  So, I brought her into the jug and proceeded to help her.  As I pulled one leg, the lamb pulled it back- I love it when they do that...  Anyway, after her pushing and me pulling, we got it out and I put it in front of mom, cleared nose/mouth and rubbed a little and mom was cleaning it immediately.  Little one was also trying to grab on to anything to nurse.  She got up pretty quick, yes, a girl :)  I gave mom a bit of grain, fresh hay and water and left them to be.

This morning on the way there I hoped all was okay, one never knows... When I got there, they were happy together and I gave mom some grain and fresh hay/water.  Later, I opened the gate to the jug to see if mom wanted out.  All she did was meander in the room, so I took that as a sign she was not quite ready to introduce her lamb to the big wide world.  So, I put them back in the jug.

There was supposed to be a guy coming to buy the ram lambs, but he never showed.  I am not surprised, as this guy did not seem so, well, honest.. hard to put it, but I did not really believe he would show up.  So, the boys get to stay a bit longer.   Since I was there, I set up a couple rolls of e-net so I could put the hill sheep in it tomorrow.  Lots of great browse and grass, which ought to keep them a good long while, so the other field can replenish itself.

So, now I am home and for some reason I am just very very tired today.  Oh, wait, I did work Joe this morning. I must have picked the perfect sheep, as they just stood where ever I put them and I actually got to let Joe do several real outrun/lifts/fetches!  He was great.  So happy with him

Oh and when I got home I did get the lawn mowed, even if it was really too wet in the lower portion of the back yard from the 2.5" of rain we got!

Petticoat Junction, NOT

Anyone remember this schmaltzy show?  Well, last night, this is what came to mind after I read more fantasy drivel.  If I read one more time about the "mountain".... Folks, it is no mountain, it is a hill, just off a main road, with street signs, stores and myriad of people.  Saying it is mountain homestead is like saying I am a an *almost* Pulitzer prize blog writer...  almost.. yes, that's right ;)

And, when people who live nearby look askance at you after learning that you are alone there, it ain't because you must be lonely, my dear, it's because it's a mess, and smells and how can one person actually make that big of a mess?  No, it's not sympathy, it's discontent with having a feed lot next door.  Remember, there ARE people near there... lots of them.

Every farm has smells, and a bit of mess- you know, baling twine around, or piece of wood, or the like, but real, true farmers take a look around, and clean up as they are out there... they take pride in their place.