Couple of photos

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Dog and cat pancakes

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Minus three

Cleaned the spare room yesterday, and removed the old desk top computer and all it's WIRES!  What a mess they are.  It's now in storage.  Felt good to get things cleaned in that room.

Three sheep left to be someone else's training sheep.  If  ewe does not get bred here, and all's well with her, she simply can't stay.  It's too expensive to feed sheep...  So, three down.

The lambs are doing well, and growing in leaps and bounds.  "T" as I call her is so adorable.  She's the youngest, but the bravest.  She was jumping straight up into the air and kicking out.  I really love her.  Most of the other lambs are eating hay now too, and grain when they can snatch some.

I have to start getting work done in the barn.  Yuck.  But, gotta do it.  Going to be a quiet weekend I hope.  Whoops, remember now that I have to go into work tomorrow and Sunday.  So much for quiet.

Well, that's the update.

I wish I was handy....

We had a bit of weather yesterday.  Just enough that I ended up feeding in the barn yesterday, as the snow was coming down so hard, I thought it might get lost in the white stuff.  Everyone is fine.  When I got to the barn, I noticed everyone was IN the barn, even with no hay, so mothers are staying with smart lambs, who I assume are the ones to want to be in there..

Didn't bring the dogs with me, as I just couldn't fathom trying to walk them in this muck/wet.  Turns out I had a major headache and upper back/neck pain, which pretty much put me to bed very early for the day.  I still have issues today.  I have no idea what I did to myself.  But, I do hurt.

I had someone contact me wanting all of my sheep manure, but he's got a roll-off truck, and getting that sucker down there will be nigh unto impossible, without getting stuck.  He has a skid steer, so that should be very helpful... Hope he comes...

I am on the look out for a trailer to be able to move my sheep when I need.  I thought I might make one out of a Tractor Supply landscape trailer, like many friends have done, but I really don't like their sturdiness... So, have contacted a few ads. 

The trial that was scheduled for this weekend was canceled due to the weather, so that means the first one of the year will be the hardest of the year..  I know I will have to walk from the post, so I will stretch my hamstrings well....  Still, looking forward to getting things moving.

I am also really considering throwing caution to the wind and taking a loan against retirement to get some work done at the house.  I have a check list and I can't stand it much anymore...

Or, I can wait seven years until I can afford it... I don't know!  I wish I was handy...

I may have a couple friends over to work dogs this weekend, depends on weather.  I hear we may get more "weather" on Monday...

Happier than ANYTHING!

Well, if I don't get more takers for the manure pile, I will just load it in the truck and in a few loads get it out of there.  The pile is a testament to why one does not lamb in winter...  A lesson that I am reminded of every day :)

The lambs are well, and one ewe still to go.  At this point I think she may have been bred by the ram lamb who came a few days after the other ram left.  Hmmm, pretty good for a lamb only 6 months!  But, we will see.

I worked the dogs, and I was so happy.  So nice to be doing that again.  Dan came in nice for the shed and I got it first try!  So happy!  Then I worked Joe and decided to do some flank direction proofing and small flanks.  I was very happy with how he did. I also was able to send him for some sheep as they took off, which totally gets him in the zone and the right place... Good dog Joe!

My brother is clearing another field, and that makes me happier than ANYTHING.  I am so happy!!!

Just about back to normal for work etc.   Hope to be able to make the trial this weekend.  Have things to do, but will get it done!

The ART of GIVING

It seems as if there is a whole new culture of people out there giving advice on how to ask for money, donations, anything that is needed.  I am just amazed at this.  We should be empowering people to learn how to get what they want by good old fashioned hard work and or initiative and ingenuity.  Nothing should come just because you ask.  Before you ask, you should have a trade in mind, or something..  It's called being humble, and having pride.  

Giving comes in many forms; perhaps someone says they will get the tab at dinner, and you take care of it.  Perhaps someone owes you a few bucks and you let it go.  Perhaps a WW2 veteran goes to the counter to pay his pharmacy bill and you pay for it.  Perhaps you decide to pay the toll for the guy behind you on the bridge. All of these show good will.  You don't want anything in return.  You just do it, even if you really can't afford to.   Maybe that action will catch on, and more people will do it.  Lead by example on this.  I hope there are people out there who still do these sorts of things.

If you must ask for things because you want them, you should return the favor some how.  It is not an "art" to beg for items you want, it is a scurrilous act just meant to fulfill your greedy dreams.  

We all need to give more.

Fauna, not flora

This morning is not going as planned. Got a call from John last night that his truck is out of commission and we can't deliver the sheep.  Great.  Maybe the buyer can figure out how to get them, as I don't have a trailer.. I still had to get up early, as the guy picking up manure was coming.  I made some coffee and had some excellent (understatement) Irish Soda bread, and headed up with my full coffee travel mug full, to the farm. Just as I was feeding, the guy showed up.  Nice man.  I helped fork the manure in his truck, and when he was leaving, he said he would be back for another load. I told him to tell others, as I would like it to go... I have no way to spread it, and I am not a gardener; not a flora person, rather, a fauna one :)

I worked the dogs yesterday. It's so good to be back to doing that.  Joe was beat after our work.  Dan too. Sheep are fit and happy to be worked I think, well, I think!

I may clean my filthy car today... The dust... it's bad.  Have to get back in the swing of things.  Well, time to get moving again...