Still Here...

Boone runs like the wind...or is that a freight train?

...adjusting to the new 'it's dark all the time when I'm doing chores routine' and trying to catch up all the projects that need to get done. I am closing in on 'the must get dones'. The flu kind took it out of me, but slowly I'm getting back to where I need to be. My cough has finally started to subside in the last couple of days which is a big relief. As I mentioned with the time change it's pretty much dark when I get home and dark when I do morning chores. It can get get dicey at times while feeding the sheep, keeping an eye on six little kittens, carrying in wood and etc. when it's dark as pitch. However we are adjusting. The first few days were tough though. Lots of yelling (me), getting lost (kittens), big sighs (Boone), but we are getting a routine now....

Here's the rest of the picture....that's a just bathed Ashley prancing along behind. They both had just gotten bathes and were being forced to hang out on the cleaner front area--the abuse just never ends.

It's cloudy today, but so far no rain. The other day there was an article in the paper that said that this past October had been the second wettest on record. And I'm sure most of that rain fell on the weekends.

Whaa? Trying to sleep here...got my cushy bed, got my blankie,
got my fire...

Yesterday I broke up Jeff's breeding group. It didn't go as badly as it could have, but let's say it didn't go as smoothly as it could either. It took allot of patience (on my part) to trick Jeff into a catch pen to start with. The girls were oblivious and in and out of the pen, but not old cagey Jeff--he knew what was up. Eventually though the girls free access to grain got to be too much for him, and he bulled his way in. I slammed the panel shut behind him and despite him trying to push his butt back through, I was able to wire it. Haltered him, took a fleece sample (I remembered!), and then worked on putting the ram shield on. What a mess--all that wool and curvy horns and little cooperation. He got pretty mad because he hates the shield, but eventually I got it on. Then I tied him up (where he did all kinds of fancy tricks like rearing like a stallion and trying to butt the post down, until I shortened his rope close to strangling length...), and attempted to coax the girls out of the pen. The theory there was they would run as fast as their woolly hides could go up to the ewe pen, since they've been pining over being separated all this time. But no. Chickie came out, meandered all over the place and Lark followed her along side the fence, instead of coming out the gate. Eventually they both came out, but they thought they'd just stay down there with Jeff, thank you very much. So I left them to wander and got Cal out of his idyllic getaway paddock and put him back with Jeff. Then I let the monster loose, and he chased Cal around for awhile, but the shield keeps him from ramming, and at his age he gets winded pretty fast, so it was all pretty low key. Meanwhile the girls still weren't cooperating, so I had to do all kinds of stunts to try and entice them up to the ewes. Finally the light bulb went off and they came deer hopping up there as fast as they could and even went in the gate like angels.

Whereupon they were beset upon by the savage masses--normally called ewes---and endured quite a bit of ramming and chasing before everyone settled down. So that is done. Jackie will stay with his girls until Jama can pick him up. It will be easier to put those ewes back with the main flock since they are in the same area and require only two open gates, with no decisions on the ewes part.

Ashley using any excuse to 'get silly'. Unfortunately when she gets real silly, there is allot of jumping around and excitement. Then Sage thinks he has to try and attack her. So he runs across the bed, growling and I try to stop him, and Ashley is pretty scared of him and well we are working on all of this...sigh...

Jeff will have to wear the shield for a few days at least, and he is very ticked off about it. Can't say as I blame him, as it looks pretty awkward at best --especially with all that silver duct tape I used to extend the eye pieces. Poor guy, looks like something out of an alien space ship. He is sticking close to Cal though and they seem pretty happy to be back together. Jeff's wool is gorgeous and I can't wait to see what the 'numbers' show.

Wood has been ordered (three cords) and I still have about a cord and half left for now, as well as a few piles of 'ice storm' wood to haul up. I need to locate some round bales--only about eight I think, as I still have hay from last year.

Wool and roving sales have been spectacular this year and it keep me busy sorting, boxing and mailing orders off. I'm so glad I finally 'bit the bullet' and got Paypal.


The dogs have been sadly neglected and like all good parents everywhere, to make up for it, I've been buying them lots of stuff--chewy bones and treats in this case. Also lots of pictures of them on the blog this time. They would like more walks please and not so much attention paid to those stinkin' kittens please. Ashley the Shredder has been very, very busy and has added Digging to her title as well. All sweetness and light she looks, but a very busy little body lurks behind that exterior.


Noah is doing very well. Only a couple of things now that I notice, and they are very minor. So far no more seizures and he is a playing machine.

That's it for now. I need to head out and unload some wood, and get Boone's house winterized. Then I think, I think, that the critical things are done on the list, if the weather shuts down on me. Well, except what the heck I'm going to do with six little Cheeto kittens. Still working on that one.

Boone...sound asleep. He just melts away into a gooey pile of wrinkles and snores. Wish this photo had been clearer. Quite the sight....