So, today is stretch the fence day! Oh, and deal with metal posts if they have "issues" day. Can you believe it? I can't. It's been such a long slog. I am completely, and 100% exhausted. The dogs are not happy- Danny and Kylie got into a spat- I am pretty sure Kylie started it, but it shows just how much cabin fever they all have.
Yesterday the guys had a hard time doing the H braces, and tension wires. I am so glad that my father could supervise. That's all they did yesterday, and that was three guys. OY VEY. Money money money.
I was so tired this morning, I couldn't even stand to play with Danny; I had to sit down. I am about at my limit. We still need to get gates up, and also the pen by the barn, but I may use stock panels for that, and make it a bit of a round pen.
My allergies have kicked in too. Oh, and my house is atrocious- I need to clean the heck out of it this weekend. After I sleep about 25 hours.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Changing the name
I have decided to change the name of the blog, I think. I think the new handle will be "Everybody loves Lucy". That's because everyone who meets her does. I couldn't love her anymore, in any way. Lucy is everything that a first mate/working partner, and friend could be.
Lucy's loyalty is unwavering. When I leave the car, Lucy will look in the direction I left and maintain her surveillance, calmly. People can literally walk up to the car, lean into the window, stare at her, and she ignores them. She only has eyes for me. She is not nervous or worried, she's simply on sentry duty for me.
On the days where we can't work, or play, lately, that's a lot, she understands, lets out a sigh, and waits for me to get home, and then lies next to me in bed. She doesn't HAVE to do anything. She would like to, I guess, but she's just going to go with my flow.
My mother, who is not a real dog lover, commented on how well behaved she was at Easter, and then added that she was SO pretty. That's my Lucy, pretty and well behaved. Looks shouldn't matter, but when you have her looks, well, you can take credit.
Many times, I think that Lucy is all the dog I need. Seriously. She is everything I could want.
When we trial, we either do extremely well, or her nerves get the better of her, and she gets wonky, but at the end, generally without fail, as we walk off the field, Lucy will make a bee-line for the judge, and wiggle, and try and give them a kiss. Even folks who have been in the sheepdog trialing game a long time are seduced by her elan, and joie de vivre.
Today, Lucy will sit at home and wait for me, only for me, and when I get home, she will wiggle up to me, and just revel in the fact that we are together.
I love you Lucy, and so does everyone else.
Lucy's loyalty is unwavering. When I leave the car, Lucy will look in the direction I left and maintain her surveillance, calmly. People can literally walk up to the car, lean into the window, stare at her, and she ignores them. She only has eyes for me. She is not nervous or worried, she's simply on sentry duty for me.
On the days where we can't work, or play, lately, that's a lot, she understands, lets out a sigh, and waits for me to get home, and then lies next to me in bed. She doesn't HAVE to do anything. She would like to, I guess, but she's just going to go with my flow.
My mother, who is not a real dog lover, commented on how well behaved she was at Easter, and then added that she was SO pretty. That's my Lucy, pretty and well behaved. Looks shouldn't matter, but when you have her looks, well, you can take credit.
Many times, I think that Lucy is all the dog I need. Seriously. She is everything I could want.
When we trial, we either do extremely well, or her nerves get the better of her, and she gets wonky, but at the end, generally without fail, as we walk off the field, Lucy will make a bee-line for the judge, and wiggle, and try and give them a kiss. Even folks who have been in the sheepdog trialing game a long time are seduced by her elan, and joie de vivre.
Today, Lucy will sit at home and wait for me, only for me, and when I get home, she will wiggle up to me, and just revel in the fact that we are together.
I love you Lucy, and so does everyone else.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Maybe two days...
Today, two new guys, plus the one that started yesterday came to work. Three workers = lots of work done. The report is that my father came by and chain sawed the brace posts, so now we're ready to put them in. My brother had put the fence roll on the unroller I got, so they were able to pull the fence off that. That, I hear was the easy part. They had lots of trees etc., to move the fence around as they walked it. Oh boy.
When I got there after work, they had done everything but 1/2 of the lane line (there is a road there, and I call it a lane). So, tomorrow, they pull the rest of the fence, and then we install the braces/pins/tension wire. I know how to do this, but I am concerned they might mess it up. May ask my father to supervise.
So, after we get the fence stretched, and attached, we are DONE. Some how, that seems unbelievable.
I am really hoping I can get sheep in there by the weekend. We shall see.
When I got there after work, they had done everything but 1/2 of the lane line (there is a road there, and I call it a lane). So, tomorrow, they pull the rest of the fence, and then we install the braces/pins/tension wire. I know how to do this, but I am concerned they might mess it up. May ask my father to supervise.
So, after we get the fence stretched, and attached, we are DONE. Some how, that seems unbelievable.
I am really hoping I can get sheep in there by the weekend. We shall see.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Light? at the end of the tunnel?
Well, what a difference a day makes. The new guy started today, which was good, because the guy who said he would keep working, just never showed up, or called today. No matter, because the new guy was very good. Got lots done. I had a good friend supervise for me, and things went well. We are now ready to put in our horizontal brace posts, and tension wire. Then, my friends, we have the fence to unroll which will be one un-holy mess. There are so many trees. I hope my help doesn't bust a gut too bad. I think we will need four guys. Seriously. I will see how many show up tomorrow.
I am also going to look at sheep tomorrow- Tunis. I am a bit concerned because I have heard that feet issues are a problem with the breed- I do not want that.
So, I think certainly by Thurs/Fri, the fence will be done, and that is with the odd emergency run to TS.
Dogs would love it to be done, because they are certainly sick of all of this neglect. I throw the ball for Danny (in the house) in the morning, but that's it, because I run to the farm after work.
Anyway, once all of this is done, there will be a PARTE!
I am also going to look at sheep tomorrow- Tunis. I am a bit concerned because I have heard that feet issues are a problem with the breed- I do not want that.
So, I think certainly by Thurs/Fri, the fence will be done, and that is with the odd emergency run to TS.
Dogs would love it to be done, because they are certainly sick of all of this neglect. I throw the ball for Danny (in the house) in the morning, but that's it, because I run to the farm after work.
Anyway, once all of this is done, there will be a PARTE!
Monday, April 5, 2010
I hate fence
I really really do. I have just about had it. I have not done most of the work, but I supervised all weekend, and after work last week. The two guys I have are good, but toward the end of the day, they turn into slackers. Today they set a post not up to my standards, and I am irked by it. I may have it pulled, and it's a BIG one. Part of the requirement for the job, was to do the job right, and be hard working. Yes, it is back breaking, hard work, but I am paying them fairly, and I even bought them pizza today.
We have about 6-7 more posts to go in tomorrow, and then we can start unrolling the fence. That should be a real joy, because the ground is so uneven.
I have spent way more than I wanted, and LOTS more in labor than I expected, so yes, I hate fence.
I am hoping to be done with this God awful work by Weds/Thurs, how I will afford it, I don't know. This isn't even a huge area.
Well, that's all my complaining for now.
We have about 6-7 more posts to go in tomorrow, and then we can start unrolling the fence. That should be a real joy, because the ground is so uneven.
I have spent way more than I wanted, and LOTS more in labor than I expected, so yes, I hate fence.
I am hoping to be done with this God awful work by Weds/Thurs, how I will afford it, I don't know. This isn't even a huge area.
Well, that's all my complaining for now.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Headway
Well, it's been a while since I've written, and that's because I have been flat out like a lizard drinking.
I found some good hard working (well, pretty good) guys to come and put in the fence. I have had to work while they have been at it, but I can see that they have really put their best into the work. The posts were set on a line, so they all lined up just about as perfect as is humanly possible. They are also level, each and every single one. They worked two days full on. Oh, and while doing the line stringing they had to clear brush/prickers, so that added some work.
Now, we've just got to set the gate/corner posts and then attach the fence. This will be at least two more full days. It's not easy. Each fence roll weighs 260 lbs; so it won't be easy to wrangle them. I don't even know if I have enough fence at this point. We shall see.
The dogs have not gotten any work, because I really need to focus on getting this done- hopefully by Monday. That's what I am shooting for.
I cannot wait to be able to just sit and look at the fence, all done, with sheep in the pasture. Seriously, it will be just surreal. I have been thinking about this for years, and finally it's come to fruition.
My arm is still in it's sling, which is getting very old.
Well, that's it for now.
I found some good hard working (well, pretty good) guys to come and put in the fence. I have had to work while they have been at it, but I can see that they have really put their best into the work. The posts were set on a line, so they all lined up just about as perfect as is humanly possible. They are also level, each and every single one. They worked two days full on. Oh, and while doing the line stringing they had to clear brush/prickers, so that added some work.
Now, we've just got to set the gate/corner posts and then attach the fence. This will be at least two more full days. It's not easy. Each fence roll weighs 260 lbs; so it won't be easy to wrangle them. I don't even know if I have enough fence at this point. We shall see.
The dogs have not gotten any work, because I really need to focus on getting this done- hopefully by Monday. That's what I am shooting for.
I cannot wait to be able to just sit and look at the fence, all done, with sheep in the pasture. Seriously, it will be just surreal. I have been thinking about this for years, and finally it's come to fruition.
My arm is still in it's sling, which is getting very old.
Well, that's it for now.
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