Those weeds? After a lengthy Internet search, followed up by some common sense approach techniques, I realized they are wild raspberry bushes. Where they are coming up is right where we cut a boat load out this March. Makes a lot of sense. I got that stupid heart palpitation and tightness of chest when I was doing this, but I got a lot out. Still more to go. Want to get it done when the ground is still soft. They have heaps of roots, and they also have runners.

Worked Danny yesterday, still working on off balance flanks. He was a little tight on his right outrun yesterday, but that may have been due to that side of the field being too long. Will ensure better work today. Sheep are good. They like it in there. Gave them more minerals yesterday- they love them. The loose minerals is the only way to go- they dip their lips in and then lick them off, and then go back for more. Still wondering why they smell like licorice (the minerals that is).

This weekend, need to go to grocery store for basics, work the dogs, maybe pick up some piles, but I think, honestly, I have to pay my nephew to do this. I am just not able to do that sort of work without that heart thing, and it scares me a bit. Now, I could do that fencing without problem, but there was not a lot of strenuous stuff. It's weird. Maybe I need to keep a diary listing how long it takes before I get like that and what the symptoms are.

My sister and I have started to plan the party of my parent's 50th wedding anniversary; I need to make sure they keep the date free, without them knowing what for. Plan to invite tons of people, and probably have it at the Mason's lodge, or VFW, or something like that- will either have a band, or a dj, or, as my sister suggested, some good use of an IPOD and good speakers :)

I was thinking last night, as I chatted with some friends, that boy, I am in debt, but boy, I am happy. Ten years ago, you would never have heard that from me. True, I work as much as I can to get out of debt, but life goes on. Money does not define me, and neither does work. What defines me is all of it, the animals, the daily life, work, as it were, and when I shut my eyes at night, can I say I am truly happy? Yes, I will say I am. I am busier than ever, I get out of bed at a dead run, it appears, because for some reason, I feel like I am missing out on the best part of the day, if I stay in bed. My grandfather used to say that. He would be out milking the goats long before us kids got up and when we went down to the kitchen, first thing we did was get his breakfast ready. It was really a good life on the farm. Animals were always fed first, and everything had a schedule to be kept to. That's how I am.

Right now I am having some wondrous coffee and a yummy English muffin... Taking a little bit of time this morning....

The summer seems to be flying by this year. Scary how every year it seems they go faster and faster. I feel like I am on some sort of life ride, and can't wait to see where it goes next...

Well, that's it for now. Better get something done!

Rain. Solid rain this morning, which I could tell by the fact that none of the dogs wanted to get up. The hearing of these animals.... I am glad we are getting rain, we need it, and I want the other pasture that I am resting to get as much water as possible- not only for grass, but I have to pull these horrendous multi-stemmed weeds. They are huge, and have to go- sheep will not eat them.

Sheep are good in the other pasture. The Border Leicesters have all gained weight, and the rest look good- even the lambs. They have decided their resting place is smack dab in the center of the field, next to a pen I put in there. They like to be near buildings, or the like. This weekend I will check the floor in the other part of the barn they can go into now, and allow them free access should they like.

I picked a date for the sheep clinic, Aug 27/28, and have at least one confirmed open handler coming, as well as my vet friend. Should be very good. Have had five people contact me to sign up.

Today, since it's raining, not sure what I will get done- I want to pull those weeds, at least start, and I also want to do more cleaning in the house- started on that last night. Had a nice night last night, listening to old tunes on youtube and chatting with friends. Nice relaxing night.

Well, that's it for now.

One good thing about being busy, is you lose a little weight. That's good. Also, you sleep better at night :0)

So far this week, I attached the sheep/goat fencing to the gates, some of them, anyway, and cleaned up a few things at the farm.

Yesterday was a whirlwind. Had my normal day at work, and then went to John's farm to drench the sheep as they got sheared. They really needed shearing and they also have not, to my knowledge been wormed, so they needed that too. I will say most looked very good though. John got a new gun/back pack assembly, and that was a real dream to use. One squirt and done, and auto-reload!

After that, I went to the farm and walked the dogs, and then worked Danny on just the Border Leicesters. I put the others into the barnyard. I may work the yearlings today. Danny is doing well, and doing better on off balance flanks. After I finished working on the gates, I headed home. I decided I better mow, so I got that done, took a break and then out for string trimming. I left the electric cords out there because I still need to trim hedges/shrubs. Then, the outside will be almost decent (need to pressure wash the siding still).

When I went inside, I got some neatening up done, but today will be massive cleaning. The dogs have all been shedding a lot lately....

Slept pretty well last night, almost finished that book by Earlene Fowler (go and get these books, if you are like me, you will love them!).

This morning, I let boy kitty out as usual, and when I called him to come in, he would not. EEK!!!!!!!! He had a baby mouse! He was just sort of standing next to it, and watching it. EEK!!!! Not HIM, my baby boy kitty! Not a killer!!!!!! The irony here is that is why I supposedly got him- to catch mice..... So, I trundled out there with my shoes half on/off, and saw a small mouse clearly freaked out and I picked up my boy, and carried him in (on his back, because he likes that). As we went, he purred, and meowed- cuddling to him in any form is a good thing. Then, when I set him down in the living room, he commenced cleaning himself off, because that hunting is hard, dirty work, you know?

So, today I have nothing planned, other than perhaps some work at the farm when I am there, and cleaning the house.

This weekend, most people I know are going to go to Hop Bottom for a sheepdog trial. I skipped this one, because the next two weekends I have trials, and two weekends in a row is more than enough for me. I suppose I should trial Danny more, but $$ and time is always a factor. I don't do the Canadian trials either- no way I can justify that expense/time.

I am planning on having a sheep handling clinic at my place, and perhaps a bit of dog work interspersed. Also, a vet friend of mine will be coming, so we can get a lot covered at once. Now, just to pick a date.

So, that's it folks!

Life is busy, but it's good. Danny would maybe disagree, because he has had little work lately, but tonight that will change. I have been busy working on things around the house and farm, and we also broke because of the heat. It's going to be good temps all week, so I am psyched about that.

So, let's see.... The fence guy who said he would come by on Tuesday to finish, free of charge, unless his dentist appointment caused too much pain, did not come Tues. He said he would come Friday. I called him Friday, knowing full well, since I did not hear from him, that he would not. I knew as soon as I spoke with him he wouldn't be coming. He then regaled me with how he was sick from the heat, and blah blah blah. He said he would come Monday or Tuesday and I said "I can't wait that long". And I meant it. I asked him some questions about the fencing and then hung up.

Then, I called both Tractor Supplies near me and asked if they had sheep/goat fence in stock. One of them had all I needed (I had measured the field earlier), and I said "great, I will be in". It was at that point that I decided "in for a penny, in for a pound". I am going to fully commit myself to my sheep keeping and invest more $$ toward a goal of having enough room to keep a breeding flock. I have one life to live and I am going to grab it and not be afraid of anything anymore.

So, I called my friend John who drove me to get the fence, and we dropped it off at the farm, and then me at my house. I then put an ad on craigslist for fence help and one out of the two that offered to work, showed up. We worked for two days and all but about 40 feet are done. Sheep were in there all day yesterday when we worked, and boy did they eat. It appeared that weeds were the favorite item. They usually rest more, but it was cool, so they were happy.

Before I could leave, I had to put the sheep back in the other pasture, and I sent Lucy to get them. They were in a wooded section. I sent her, and they came running and I put the sheep up. Then, Lucy ran back to the pasture they came from and ran out again. I had absolutely no idea what she was doing, save for may just running around, but out of the woods came two lambs. I had no idea that they were there, but Lucy did. We got them in the field with the others and I just shook my head in amazement at my Lucy.

So, today I will finish the fence, and start putting a few more t-posts in, and the sheep will have new digs!

So, summer is in full swing, even if the calendar disagrees. This means I hibernate.... I just can't hack high heat and humidity. Dogs get a walk around the pasture, and a dip on the pond and that's it.

Yesterday was the last sort of okay temperature-wise day we were going to have. After work, I headed up to the farm, walked the dogs and then checked the sheep. So far so good. I noticed that one of the older ewes looked a bit thin, and scored her and she had lost a little bit of weight. I decided I should worm them, as I did not worm them when I did the Cheviots one or two months ago.

I got Lucy and we were able to get three done, just holding them on the fence, but this one pain in the butt ewe would have none of me getting to her. So, I had to bring them down by the gate where there is a bit of a corner. I dosed her, and as usual, Lucy was a great help. Would not have sheep without a dog, no way. I think I am getting good at noticing little things in my sheep; things that are off in a small way. This, I hope means I can catch things before they go to far south.


The fence guy neither called nor showed up yesterday (surprise surprise). He said he would come Friday if not Tues, so let's see. He's a real pita. But, almost done, so I have to put up with it a little longer.

Well, that's it for now.

Yeah, busy, yeah, over-tired. What else is new? Yesterday, I felt pretty horrible all day, but today I stayed in bed a bit longer and feel relatively human today. Made an appointment for a B12 shot, and an appt with my physician. I need to get healthy again.

I had a lesson with Aled Owen on Friday. It went well, and I learned some new techniques to deal with Danny being a bit short on his left outrun. Aled is very good in that he requires pretty much perfect work, but the dogs never seem over taxed/stressed by it. That's a big thing for me.

Weekend, I was beat all weekend- got minimal stuff done, but did bring home three ewe lambs and two ram lambs (for freezer). First night was spent in barn yard, but yesterday, I put them with the big sheep in the pasture. Today I want to worm everyone.

Fence guy *may* come today, if not, he will be there Friday, to finish up. I may end up needing a stronger charger, so we shall see.

Going to be horribly hot this week, until it breaks on Friday, so really, no dog work, besides walks. Sheep hate the heat, so do I and the dogs.

That's about it for now.

Ahhhhh Wednesday. As usual, it takes me this long to recover from a trial....... This last trial was 2 hours away and I got up at 4:30 am each day. I am not built for such things.

It has been very hot this week. No sheep work and yesterday was spent running around. Lucy was sore from some thing, dropped gas off so my brother could mow the training field, this was after work. Last night I just slept like a rock. Until that is, Ginger woke me up wanting help to get past Lucy (shakes head).

Today is a new day. After getting some good rest, after work, I will hit the grocery store and get some steak and potatoes for dinner- maybe I will make them for my brother and I, and I may bring home some lambs. Have to get that done- at least one in tact ram which is for freezer, or maybe breeding for someone else. Depends on how mother nature is.


Fence is still not done. I am so sick of it all. I really just want to go with field fencing anyway, and may end up just borrowing John's truck and getting it. That way lambs can be in there.

I am stressed lately over things I can't control, and that is exhausting.

I have a lesson on Friday, but weekend off, and also the next several off. YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, that's it, manic-ly pedaling and seemingly not getting anywhere!