It's That Time of the Year!

Rosemary (like it's my fault it snowed!)

Obviously Nancy decided to sleep outside last night!

Sheep Snow Angel

Not that you could tell by looking outside. Outside the snow is falling fast and furious, and it's cold. The temperature is hovering at 28 but the windchill is 16, so it's not a pleasant pre-spring day out there. After 70 degrees on Thursday, it just seems bitter. It's a little bitter (and whiny) in here too.

Back to 'it's that time of the year'. Time to start indoor seeds, time to get the ewe flock ready for lambing, time to work up the soil....
This year I ordered seeds from Baker's Creek Seeds. I am splitting them with my brother who lives in Illinois, so that we can have more awesome gardens than my Dad. Uhm..I mean so we can share the cost of seeds and have productive and unique gardens this year. Yes. That is what I meant. So anyway, I haven't started seeds indoors for a long, long time, so there is some apprehension at the thought. However I'm a little tired of poorly performing Better Boys and California this and thats, so thought that I would try starting some heirloom type tomatoes and peppers. Nervous twitch. I'll keep y'all posted.

Last week I took off a vacation day to get caught up on the dreaded Spring Sheep Maintenance. Shearing will be coming up on March the 28th, which is a little later than normal, but lambing will commence on or about March 18th. (twitch, twitch...) Therefore, getting vaccinations done was imperative. Somehow I managed to pick, like, the best day in the month to take off. Sunny, up in the sixties. A gentle breeze for the soon sweaty brow. The Shetland girls were all easily penned up (read sneakily trapped) and I was optimistic. That didn't last long. The girls were pushy, shovey and just genuinely a pain in the patootie. Within the catch pen I set up a smaller working area--to keep from getting pushed, shoved, stomped and chewed on. It was a good idea, but the sheep kept shoving their heads through minuscule openings and then getting stuck and on and on. Very few of them cooperated with getting set on their behinds, so there was much thrashing (sheep), muttering (me) and generally just all around ill will. Also I forgot the cookies, which notched the ill will way up there. (I did go and get cookies before I turned them out, but that is not how it works. The routine is: trim hooves, vaccinate, worm and then three cookies each for their pain and suffering. I got allot of incredulous and angry looks.) All in all it went pretty well--casualty list was one finger pricked with a dirty needle, one tiny wrist slash with hoof trimmers (also dirty), one sore back and one hoof quicked on the last sheep. So it went and I got all twelve done, but it took awhile. It's a very good feeling to have that chore completed. I still have to do the five dorsets, but supposedly they aren't preggie so I have between now and the shearing date to get them done. I'll do the four rams/wethers on shearing day.

More breakfast please!

From what I could tell, there are four obviously pregnant ewes--Lark, Rosemary, Luna and River. Selena is not and I'm skeptical if Duckie is. There are about three other ewes that could be as they were mixed up in the ram breakout, but none of them looked it. It's harder to tell on the older ewes though and they are further out on their due dates. Should be able to tell more at shearing time.

Now, I need to finish cleaning out the barns and getting panels ready to set up for the 'blessed events'. Lambing is coming up awfully fast all of a sudden.

Our strange weather continues. Last Wednesday was the balmy sixty degree day, and Thursday was even warmer with a high seventy. On Thursday though the air was heavy with humidity and it didn't feel 'right'. Thursday night storms started building up quickly and before we knew it, there was a tornado warning for our area. Our exact area. (I live in a very rural area, but now the weather casters have started naming off these little areas as bad weather hits them). So I grabbed up blankets, pillows, my purse with cellphone, transistor radio and flashlight and stuffed it all in my pantry which is where I go in tornado warnings. Then I went about washing dishes and getting the dogs fed. I went outside frequently and since there was allot of cloud to cloud lightening I could see if there were any unusual clouds. Nothing looked like a twister. This all happened so fast that the weather spotters hadn't even been deployed. I had my scanner on, but it was uncharacteristically quiet, and of little help. We then got a burst of wind, hail and hard rain, and it was all over. Cooler weather ushered in and now today we have snow(around three inches so far) and cold temperatures. Next week we will hit the seventies again.

Tonight is our annual Fire Department Soup Supper and Annual Meeting (& Elections), so the snow will likely play havoc with the attendance. Our events are held in the Community Building, which has no running water, outdoor toilets, wood heat and is not insulated. There are no parking lots or sidewalks to scrape, just a road, a hill and stone pathway. We do have a microwave and refrigerator. ;-) Hopefully one of the guys will have the fire going hot and there will be enough bodies in there to warm things up. I am secretary for FD so myself and the treasurer get to sit back by the door and take money for the event. All you can eat for $3.00!! This is also a good time for any delinquents to pay up their dues for the year. (oops, that would be me!) I usually enjoy seeing my neighbors and friends, even if I don't get to mingle much. I have veggie soup simmering now, and will also take a plate of brownies. (begin commerical) Volunteer Fire departments constantly struggle with making ends meet and keeping their equipment as updated as possible. Besides keeping the equipment up to date and in working order, they also have to pay utilities, insurance and work comp insurance. In order to keep dues as reasonable as possible, 'fund raisers' are almost constantly being planned. If you live in a district where your only fire protection is from a volunteer department, consider supporting them as much as you can with not only monetary donations, but your time as well. Volunteers need not be as a 'firefighter' (although those are always needed too), but as a behind the scenes worker---helping with fund raisers, upkeep on the Fire House and property, and by attending fund-raisers. (end commercial) Fortunately we have not had to raise dues in a few years ($30.00) and have over a hundred members. We have operated 'in the black' for the last three years after paying off the tanker. We have a pumper, tanker and brush truck currently in operation. We also considered reducing the number of fund raisers but the community wanted the opportunity to be able to meet and visit at the dinners. Currently we do a supper in February, a garage sale in the Spring, and another supper in the fall. In the past we've also done drawings, ice cream socials, a fall yard sale (disaster), 'turkey' shoots and the like. As with most organizations like this there are about ten people who do most of the work to keep it going, so it's important not to try and take on too much, so people don't get burned out.

Well, what a strange post! Talk about all over the charts! No telling what I'll bring up next, so it's probably best if I stop now. Have a great weekend.

Pretty Kitty

Just a few shots of Meshach today. He looks pretty good for an 'old man'! I also thought I'd tell a little about how I got him. Almost twelve years ago, I had a huge half Siamese cat named Shadrach. Shad was a lynx point, and very beautiful, even with crossed eyes. He was also as ornery as the day was long and his crossed eyes proved very beneficial to him, as no one knew where he was looking when he decided to bite. Anyway, I digress. I hadn't had a kitten in the house for years and years, so even though Shad seemed a little over the top, I just thought it was kitten antics. (I've since realized that he was a rather unstable and quite vicious fellow, but I loved him all the same.). I still have scars. When Shad was a little over a year old, he suddenly got all quiet and depressed acting. (which of course in hindsight probably had allot to do with the most likely even then growing tumor) Hmmm... well, of course! 'He' needed a kitten. The story gets a little complicated here. I had left my former place of employment, just before I got Shad, and a good friend and former co-worker picked him out for me (and tied a blue string around his neck)--I got him just a few days later. So fast forward a year or so, and I called the same friend and asked her to keep her ears/eyes open for a Siamese kitten. Several months later she called and gave me the name of a lady who had kittens! I wanted a short haired male seal point and she had one. I arranged to meet her on the parking lot of the local grocery store. I arrived and waited and waited and waited. Finally they showed up, with a carrier full of kittens 'in case I wanted more than one'. They were a beautiful litter, but all I remember was Meshach and one long haired yellow brother. Their mother was a Siamese mix. The reality was, Mesh was long haired, probably only six weeks old and un weaned.

I took him, and we headed home. He was so bewildered and tried to bury himself in my hair, crying the whole time. He had strong lungs. There were some very trying times those first few weeks, as the little needled footed mite tried to bury himself in my neck and hair, every chance he got, meowing the whole time. Eventually he sorta resolved himself to being weaned, but he has never been happy with the fact, and still kneads my hair until it looks like a rat's nest, if I let him.

Since Shad was so rotten, I was a little afraid of his reaction to this teeny, tiny kitten. (Shad was very huge). I took Meshach in and set him up in a cage. Shad came over and looked at me. I told him this was his kitten and he needed to take care of him. Shad went over and plopped down right in front of the cage and just stared. Not long afterward, I opened the cage and the friendship was on. Shad never tried to hurt Meshach, although he played pretty rough as the kitten got older. I used to think he was flaying Meshach alive until one day, I observed them playing when Meshach didn't know I was around. Shad had barely tapped Meshach, when Mesh let out a terrible wail of pain! What a faker. To this day, sometimes he still does this and I fall for it every time! Other than his acting skills, Meshach was a model kitten, and never caused any problems. This was a huge relief after the battleground of Shad's kittenhood.


Shadrach and Meshach were best buds, and tiny little Mesh would curl up to his big bro. every night. Such a friendship grew between the big ornery fellow and the little sweet (but still a faker) kitten.

Shad struggled with his weight and inactivity over the next few years, but seemed content and healthy. Then one night he got up from a nap, staggered and fell over. I grabbed him up, his tongue and gums were blue. I rushed him out into the cooler air, and he came around. He wasn't in good shape though. After frantically calling around, finally a vet was found that would see him that night. I'll always remember little Meshach came over to where Shad was laying and gave him several licks on his head, before we left. Shad didn't come home alive, and it was one of the most distressing and depressing times on the little farm that I've experienced. He had a massive tumor that x-rays showed were scrunching his heart and lungs up into a little area. The tumor covered most of his chest cavity. No wonder the big guy had been so inactive. Because he was so obviously in distress I had him put down that night.

Meshach and I were devastated. I missed that cat so much and Meshach missed him even more. Shad was with me when I went through some pretty tough times and I was very close to him. After he died, when I would lay down at night, Meshach would crawl up on me and bury his head in my neck and literally make little sobbing noises. We would cry ourselves to sleep. It took many weeks for Meshach and I to work through our loss. Meshach became very needy and clingy for awhile, but eventually we both got a little less sad.

Since then Meshach has had two house buddies--Salome a lovely Himalayan female whose short but sweet story I will tell sometime, and then later Sage, whom you all know. Meshach has cared for them all, but never the closeness he had with his 'brother' Shad. And so the years have rolled along and we have been through many ups and downs together, this little furry friend and I, and our friendship goes deep. For those that say, 'they are just a cat' or 'dog', you cannot understand and sadly most likely never will. I won't waste my time trying to explain it. For all the rest of you? I know you understand and no explanation is needed or required. Here's to our furry friends and all the joy and even the inevitable heartbreak they give us!

Pizza, Pizza!

A couple of weeks ago, I got a hankering to make homemade pizza. I've tried it before, but the results were pretty dismal. This time I decided to make it completely from scratch (before I had bought a crust). I always love the pictures and recipes over on Farmgirl Fare , so that is where I went to get the basic crust recipe (she also has some wonderful pizza recipes). I already had in mind the toppings and had decided to play around with the sauce to find something that I considered tasty.

The crust turned out a little tougher than it should have, but I think I may have over-kneaded it a bit. It was very tasty though. For toppings I went with Mushrooms, Black Olives, Onions (only a smidgen) and Peppers. I sauteed them in olive oil in a skillet first then added them on just before baking the pizza. I also added mozzarella cheese as well as a variety of bits and pieces of other shredded cheeses (left over from various other cooking projects). I bought a baking stone a few years back, and it really does make a better finished product, in my opinion. Once everything was assembled, I baked the crust for about 10 minutes on the preheated stone, then added all the toppings. Another 10-12 minutes and it was ready to eat! I think when I make my next one, I'll make it smaller and try for several pizzas to freeze for later consumption. It's a bit of mess and time involved for only one meal. I took some of the pizza to my folks, and they said they really liked it too. I am trying not to add as much salt and other 'bad' ingredients to recipes, instead opting for other spices to add flavor.

If you've been thinking about trying the homemade pizza route, go for it! There are an endless variety of toppings to try. I chose veggies, as I'm not crazy about allot of meat on my pizza, and I also had most of the ingredients on hand. (I did have to buy the mushrooms, and mozzarella). There is something very satisfying about pulling the finished pizza out of the oven, and the smell is almost heaven.

Catching Up

Sage, Birdwatching

Just a few updates on things around the homestead. The weather has been very nice this week, with unseasonably warm temperatures. The peeper frogs are out in full force and will likely get their webby little feet frozen this weekend. The bad storms that hit Oklahoma and moved into Missouri, missed us as well, although we got several inches of rain. Everything is muddy and mushy, but we do need the moisture, so I'm not complaining. (add on: It's the weekend now, and the temperatures are much cooler again).

I've had to rearrange my schedule a little with letting the chickens out in the morning, since 'we' were visited by a 'possum last week. Normally I open the chicken house door while I'm feeding the sheep and doing the other chores. At that time it is still dark, and the chickens will come out at daylight. One morning last week, while I was getting ready for work, I heard a ruckus from the hen house. I crammed my feet in my shoes, and went running up there. I grabbed the shovel as I went. Inside the chicken house, up on the roost, a 'possum was selecting which chicken morsel it would like for breakfast. At this point it was daylight and the hens could see it and were scattering. I whacked it off the roost with the shovel and gave it another whack as it scuttled out the door. And said to myself, 'it won't come back today, after that'! Back to the house to finish getting ready for work. Ten minutes later, chickens are alarmed again and I run back out with the shovel. Yep, it was back. This time, I hustled the last chicken out, shut all the doors and left the 'possum in and the chickens out and headed off to work, lest I be late. My plan was to capture it and remove it when I got home. My Dad ended up doing that while I was at work, and I sure appreciated it. The 'possum was removed and relocated. However, all that to say that now I don't open the little chicken door until daylight, and then I usher all the chickens out. They aren't happy about it, as some are obviously not 'morning chickens'. But so it goes.

The same day, after work, I finally got my taxes in to the preparer. It was a relief to get it done and out of the way. I'd been procrastinating, then sorting, and then procrastinating some more. I was getting a little sick of myself. Now I just need to file it all away and forget about it.

Ariel seems to be doing pretty good. The thunder storms stress her out and she really isn't handling that well. She was started on Prevacox about six weeks ago, and it's made a big difference in how she feels. The aspirin just weren't cutting it anymore, and she looked miserable all the time. Her movements are free-er and she just looks better out of her eyes. I'm not sure what the long term affects will be, but since she will be twelve this year, it's more about keeping her quality of life now. She is on half a tablet a day and I'm toying with dropping that down to a 1/4 to see if a lower dose is effective.

The big Ba-Boone has completely recovered from his trauma last Friday. I'm hoping he doesn't repeat it, but there is a good chance he will. Friday and Saturday he was a mess, could barely walk, and so pitiful. Sunday we didn't go for a walk, even though he was feeling good enough to stare in the door at me and try to will me to take them. By then one foot was healed well enough, that instead of hobbling, he could limp. He limped on the one foot for a few more days and then started running around again, so he seems good now. We had more neighbor dog drama last night, but he was pretty careful. I checked his feet yesterday and they look great. Healing very nicely. (add on: While at the vet's yesterday with Rain, I saw a dog that was actually bigger than Boone! I think it was a Neapolitan Mastiff. She was very large).

Sage is trying to have UTI problems, but so far we've headed off the worst of it. I'm giving him Methigel and the vet said I might have to switch the food he is on. I prefer to wait and see about the food, as they've done so well with this food in the past. The Methigel supposedly acts similar to the special food and breaks down the stones, except you give it orally once a day. For being such a goober about life in general he sure is good about the meds. I think he secretly likes it. (It comes in a smelly paste, that I put in a syringe to get it down his throat).

Meshach also seems to be doing well on his predisone, but isn't as accommodating about the meds as Sage. Even though I try and open the bottle quietly, he often hears and slinks off the bed and tries to make his getaway. He is so predictable though that I track him down easily enough. The pills are much easier than the liquid was. He has been very playful lately and that is really nice to see again.

My little dark grey, bossy Shetland ewe, Rain is very ill. I have no clue what is wrong with her, and it's been ongoing for about a month. However she has stopped eating the last few days so it is becoming critical. She has allot of fight and spunk left in her. I've tried everything under the sun I can think of and that has been recommended by other breeders. I took her to my vet yesterday, and he really doesn't know either. For awhile I thought it was perhaps a bad tooth. Her front teeth look really good, and I know she has back teeth because she bite me when I was poking around in there. The vet checked all her teeth and mouth and throat out yesterday, but nothing there that was out of the ordinary. Originally she gave up grain, but was still eating hay with gusto. Then she was mouthing the hay more, and chewing slower. She has choked several times since this started. The other day when I gave her the sweet sticky nutri-drench she literally beat her head on the floor for several seconds. She did not have this reaction to the a-lyte water that I gave her. So anyway, her lymph nodes aren't swollen, her temp is borderline (the vet thought it was high at 103.1 but we had been wrestling her around, so I'm not sure it was), her lungs sound good, there aren't any neurological symptoms and so on. I came home with a whole wad of shots to give her-- from predef to a shot similar to Riddlin (to help her 'innards' calm down), as well as a broad spectrum antibiotic. There is another oral medication she is getting for her esophagus and stomach, but the name eludes me at the moment. In addition I'm still giving Vit B shots and supportive therapy. Since the 'sweet stuff' results in a violent reaction, I've just come up with a mixture that has an egg, vanilla yogurt (with lots of the beneficial stuff), a-lyte, few drops of olive oil and am syringing that down her several times a day. Accepting that I have done all the things I know to do, including much prayer, now we wait. Rain is seven years old, and is an exceptionally aggressive busy body, so it is strange seeing her so quiet. Her front leg still works well though and she is constantly pawing--telling me she wants out of that silly stall.

Warm Fire in the Wood stove

Alien Eyes

Could it be an Alien watching from just outside the window? Or is it merely a bizarre reflection amongst the snow flakes?

Deep socketed, slanted, dark orbs. Typical Alien eyes.

Oh, wait, that's just Sage. Think about it though. He is a rather complicated tortured little being. Hmmmm... (And, yes, I was about to get smacked in this picture.)

Can anybody tell I got the the first three seasons of X-files on DVD for Christmas? The possibilities are endless --according to them there are Aliens everywhere! This could sure explain allot. That strange co-worker? Uhm hum....

For years and years, I've had visions in the night (okay, dreams), about the things that live in my walls. Apparently there is a whole colony of people-things in there. They've made sleeping restfully very difficult. They've always been prone to watching me, and accusing me of not completing 'something' (I never can remember what it is, but I do know it's complicated and involved). This leaves me with the feeling of not quite ever getting everything done. Always that nagging thought, that I forgot something important. Sometimes when I awaken abruptly at night, knowing I didn't complete 'the task', I get mad, and tell them off (in my mind), "I don't care!" I silently rant, "I didn't sign up for this anyway!", then I flop over and go back to sleep. However, ever since Christmas these wall people have taken on a decidedly sinister air. Now they watch, and record and monitor everything. They are up to no good and it's exhausting. The paranoia runs deep. I'm sure it has nothing to do with watching the X-files just before going to bed.....Nothing....

Wait...what was that I saw out of the corner of my eye, running through the house? Maybe Sage....but no, Sage is laying on my legs.....!

Down for the Count

My big smashed faced, slobbery shadow is on the sidelines for a few days. I knew something was wrong when I pulled in down at the road to open the gate last night. Usually Boone is right by the fence, with a goofy grin on his face, storming around, happy as a clam, 'she's home! she's home!' Ariel is right there too, unless she doesn't hear me drive up. As I opened the gate, I noticed Ariel at the fence watching me, but Boone was sitting way back in the yard...just sitting there. Uh oh.


I pulled the truck up, and got out, and finally Boone got up...barely. Poor guy could hardly walk. His back was all arched up and he painfully hobbled over to the gate. Good grief. All kinds of things were going through my mind. Had he injured his back? A hip? I checked him all over, just in case he'd been shot or something. His one leg was quivering, so I was sure it was some kind of serious damage to the hip or back. He was very pitiful.


When I got to the hallway, I noticed blood spots on the pavement. Hmmm.... okay, I didn't see any blood on him, so a more thorough check up was in order. I got him to lay down and then looked at his pads. I didn't really expect to find much, because it seemed both feet were affected and why would he have cut both feet? Well, this is what I found (it's kinda graphic for those on the squeamish side --not naming names, here...;-) .

Hoochie, ow ow! This one is the worst, but the other foot pad is not much better. Poor old dork dogue. I've since treated them several times, and he seems better today. It's just going to take a few days I think. In the meantime 'we' are sidelined. It's just too painful to watch the big feller try and follow my ever step. He tries, but with that uber sad face anyway, it's just too much to bear.

I will admit this is a better alternative to my first fears, provided they heal up without complications. I was thinking all kinds of spinal, joint, or nerve damage. These dogs carry around so much weight that they tend have issues with these things anyway.

So a couple baby aspirin, peroxide, ointment and socks to keep him from licking off the medications and he was ready to sack out last night.


You are probably wondering, like I did, how in the world did he do that? Using my best CSI skills, and knowing Boone, this is what I've come up with. First a little background. My house is an old school house, and this gives the yard some unique features. Across the entire front of the house is a sidewalk that is about 4-6 foot wide. On one end of the yard, the sidewalk turns and goes along the side of the yard. It narrows down to a normal width sidewalk in this section. On the opposite side of the house, the entire 'yard' is concrete, the original floor to the part of the school that burnt. So to sum it up--lots of concrete surface. This works great in the respect that I never have to trim the dogs toe nails!

Here are the facts: Boone gets to stay out in the yard on Fridays. The (new) neighbor's dog is in heat (don't get me started on this whole subject!). Therefore there is a strange male dog lurking in town. Boone doesn't like strange dogs anywhere near his world. He goes gunning for them, to the extent that a fenced in yard allows. He zones out when he is charging around being tough. He also does this when he plays, and has hurt himself many times just by running around like some 10 pound Yorkie. He is very klutzy. He doesn't always think these things through.

Here is what I think happened: Said lurking dog, most likely came by the house in the adjacent field, or down the road. Boone and Ariel were barking and yelling threats. The lurker wasn't listening, so Boone went charging down across the pavement, perhaps tried to stop too fast, or skidded and stripped the flesh off his foot pads. It's the best I can come up with.

Ariel was exhausted too, so this all probably went on for awhile, before the big dogue went down. I gave a lecture while fixing his feet, about 135 pound dogs running around like rabbits, but I doubt it will make a difference. Still and all, I hate to see my big buddy hurting and hope he heals quickly.

Bad Breath

A couple of weeks ago, I took Meshach back to the vet. I was confused and unhappy with how he was progressing on the gingivitis front. He was doing much better, but there was still an odor and an on and off again inflammation around the gum line. Mostly I just needed clarification. I made a point not to make an appointment for late in the evening, as the vet seemed very tired to me the last time I was in, and didn't volunteer much information.

Of course Meshach cried and carried on the whole way over there, but he really did pretty good. We had to wait quite a bit as they were very busy. This time I was armed with more questions and wanted to know what the prognosis was. I was very surprised to find out that in all likelihood Meshach will have to stay on prednisone 'forever'. This really did come as a shock. We switched from liquid to pills, as Mesh has been throwing a wall eyed fit (even wrapped in a towel) with the liquid. The pills have been so easy and fortunately prednisone is one of the cheaper medications out there. He was given another shot of antibiotic, but the report was very good, as he is so much better than before. No ulcerations and the inflammation is not nearly as significant. I asked about side effects and while there could be some, cats seem to handle the prednisone better than some animal species. It could cause transitional diabetes in the short term and a whole host of other things long term, but I don't see many options here. I watch him like a hawk, but he seems to be doing very well so far. He has gained some weight back--probably a combination of the prednisone and also being able to eat without the pain he was encountering before. He is more alert and plays his sweet little kitty games almost like he used to. Most of the time finds him under the covers, but I have noticed he is much more alert than before. The prednisone also seems to help a little with the twitching fits. He still has them, but not nearly as often or as severe.

The little guy will be 12 this year, although that doesn't seem possible. My heart breaks to think of losing him, so I always hope that I'm doing the right thing on treatments like this. Each additional day is a blessing, so focusing on that helps.

Meshach, worn out and ticked off about the whole vet trip.