Be Still........

....then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains and shattered the rocks

But the Lord was not in the wind.....

After the wind there was an earthquake......

...But the Lord was not in the earthquake....

After the earthquake, there was fire...but the Lord was not in the fire...

...and after the fire....a still small Voice....
I Kings 19: 11-12

Be still and know that I am God
Psalm 46:10

Itsy-Bitsy.......Kitsy

Did you really think I'd let a week go by without kitten pictures?? I must say, I am smitten with these kittens. Big time. Except when they scream because they want out of the box, then scream because they want back in the box. I say 'they' but mostly it's him. This little sweet face is a front for a very determined little mind.

So...maybe I'm a little extra smitten with this little black kitten...(Negotiations are in progress with the house kitties....)

Next we have 'Chunky Cheese', aka 'Ears'. I think this little kitten is going to be a big kitty someday. He looks smaller than the rest, but actually weighs more. It's all in his ears I think.

First steps...just earlier in the week they were toddling and bobbling around trying to walk. My sister was unnerved with their wobbliness...as they sat sprawled around like a bunch of drunken sailors, with nodding heads. Now only days later they are scampering. Say it ain't so! My babies are growing up. This little calico kitty is reminds me of the old Archie song...Ah Honey.....'pour a little sugar over me'..she is so sweet. Cradle her in your hand and she turns to mush.

Independence could be this kitten's name. Very triumphant to crawl out of the box and find mummy. Even better have her all to himself!

Like the Calico this little Torti gal just goes all soft and mushy when cradled, she loves being loved on. Always one of the first to pop her eyes open and cling to the edge of the box when she hears my voice.

I didn't leave the other little black kitty out on purpose... but I think I accidentally erased the photo. It is in the picture with the calico though. Posed pictures are probably gone by the wayside. I think I took fifty pictures just to get a half dozen that weren't blurry! With their bobbly heads and always in motion bodies, it's going to get harder and harder!

What fun though. Hope you enjoy them too.

Fairlight Jackdaw--Shetland Sheep of the Week

Fairlight Jackdaw

(TR Just Jack x Fairlight Duckie)

My flock is predominately moorit, or moorit carrying these days. Breeding season is fast approaching and I've been trying to finalize my plans. With so many brown based animals, I feel comfortable using a couple of black based rams this year. Since this post is about Jackdaw I'll feature Jeff at a later time.

Jackdaw is a 2009 ramling out of Three Ring Just Jack and Fairlight Duckie. He was my sole spotted lamb this year. Usually I don't keep my rams for breeding, since I have limited room to grow them out, but he was such a nice looking little fellow, I thought I'd give him some time to grow and see what happened. I have a sad lack of pictures of this little guy, because he has a problem....he is always eating. So out of dozens and dozens of pictures of him, I have maybe two that has his head sorta up. Most are not flattering.

I want to do some line breeding back on these sheep as they have many of the older lines in their pedigrees as well as not so common spotting genetics. JackieD and Jeff are both going to do this for me this year. I'm only planning on breeding five ewes. Three will go to JackieD and two to Jeff. All but one of those ewes should carry spotting genetics, and the fifth one has shown some promise. I'm hoping that Jackdaw will be like his dam and produce spots no matter what kind of pattern bred to. We shall see.

This little guy has the prettiest loud flecket markings, and his fleece looks like it is going to be a really nice soft intermediate. His horns should clear with room to spare. I was very concerned about his tail, but it is looking much better these days. For awhile it seemed to have a 'hairy' appearance, but I think it's going to be okay. It's by no means a tiny 'fluke' but the shape is correct and it isn't overly long. His hocks are actually better than what appears in the photo, as he was in the process of sidling away from me. He is wide and square front and back. He is black and white, although he looks brown, he is sun faded. I think. He wouldn't let me near him the other night after I stalked him with the camera. Anyhoo, I don't think that he is modified, but he does have modified in his background.

Temperament wise he is very calm, friendly, but not pushy. I just really like this little guy and hope that he can produce the elusive (for me) spots. This particular genetic package has clicked well in my ewe flock. Once breeding groups are set up, I hope to post more (and much, much better!) photos of him and the ewes he will have in his group. Of course I'll also post Jeff and his two girls as well.

The end.

Tomatoes...The Real Thing.....

If you all remember, early this year, I took the plunge and planted tomato seeds in order to raise my own plants. I had poured over the heirloom seed catalog and decided on Arkansas Traveler, (a large red tomato), Yellow Oxhearts (very large yellow tomato) and finally Cherokee Purples ( a medium size dark red/purple tomato). The Cherokee Purples were the ones I was most excited to try. It's been years since I raised a nice consistent tomato crop and I hoped that going 'back to the basics' might make a difference.



After much drama, I finally managed to get most of the zillion seedlings I planted (note to self, plant fewer seeds!) into the ground. Somewhere in all the fuss and muss, I lost track of who was what, and was just grateful they were finally transplanted into the garden. There they sat for a month, looking pained and frail. Then suddenly they took off. Their initial fragile appearance lulled me into not putting up tomato cages. Big mistake.



Needless to say, it's a jungle out there in the 'mater patch! Not only is growth rampant, the bugs have been just, well, beastly this year. From tomato worms, to stripped beetles, red mites, ants, grasshoppers and I swear squash bugs (on the tomatoes!), the fruit has suffered. It's a race to see who can harvest the tomatoes first. Usually 'they' win.



However...I finally got my first Cherokee Purple! Woot! In the first picture it hadn't quite peaked out at ripeness yet. It is also sitting next to my one harvested tomato from the "Russian Dark" plant that I got from the fiber fest. The Purple is on the right, and the Dark on the left. Look shockingly similar don't they? Unfortunately I didn't get to sample the Dark as it went bad before I even realized it. I have saved seeds from both though.

This next photo shows all three varieties that I have so far harvested from the seedlings I planted. (The cherry tomatoes are from a plant I bought). The little green pear shaped one in the middle, is actually a red tomato--I got in a hurry, thinking it might be an odd shaped 'oxheart'. In my mind these look suspiciously like Romas...oh yes they do. And the little just bigger than cherry tomatoes....are those suppose to be Arkansas Travelers...or what?? Very odd. I still have bunches and bunches of big green tomatoes coming on, as well as a ton of these Roma looking things, so maybe the other two varieties will 'show up'? Can they cross pollinate and cause this kind of variance? It's a mystery. I'm very happy though that I've gotten a few of the Purples.

So, (drumroll please) yesterday I decided to taste test my first Cherokee Purple. Oh my. I have never eaten such a juicy, rich tomato. Full of sweet, full bodied flavor, it was amazing. I gave one to my folks and they felt the same way---they said it was 'meaty' and 'tasted like tomatoes used to taste'. Wow...I think these babies are worth all the trouble I went through. I do see why Tomatoes have become these bland, pale creatures though. These wonderful heirlooms would never last as their shelf life is very short. The tomatoes that are shipped must have tough skins and the ability to stay 'crisp' in order to make it to the shelves in the store. I wonder if the hybrid varieties that we grow aren't along the same lines. While they are still miles better than a store bought tomato, the flavor is very mild compared to this heirloom tomato.

I will never look at a tomato the same way again..... ;-)

This picture has nothing to do with Tomatoes. I slipped up on Sage while he was taking one of his five million a day baths, and kept whispering --"don't turn around Sage, don't do it" He couldn't stand it of course......He had to turn around.

Best Buds

Lovely Ashley
(looks innocent, doesn't she?)

Ashley has been here two and a half weeks now. Wow...it seems much longer than that. She has been adjusting amazingly well, when you consider all the new things she has had thrown her way.

Boone--worn to a frazzle, but still keeping his toys close

Basically she is the sweetest thing, and has very good manners (mostly). She already comes when she is called (just need to work on a more prompt response) and how to walk nicely on a lead. She is learning 'farm dog' things, like go in the yard, or lets go for a walk, leave that alone, wait and such things as that. When I have more time this fall, we will work on basic obedience, like reinforcing the come response, sit, stay, down, off etc. She is absolutely crushed when she thinks she is in trouble, or even if Boone is in trouble.

She has enough puppy still in her to keep me and Boone busy. She has decided that it is incredibly fun to dig up and shred the foam in the bottom of the dog house in the breezeway. She has also gutted a few stuffed toys, and pulled some wool out of a bag. All very mild things, but adjustments have to be made--like keeping 'valuables' up off Ashley level. :-)

The Twins...tired after another busy day

Boone is absolutely worn out. It's almost hysterical how tired he is. Every chance he gets he falls deeply asleep, only to be jerked from dreamland by Ashley barking, or Ashley rushing by to check something out, or...horrors... Ashley stealing his toys!

Boone's 'emotional state' has improved so much. He isn't as fixated so much on everything that I'm doing (too tired), and he enjoys having someone to play with and run the fence and bark. They really are seeming to bond very strongly. It's very hilarious when Boone tries to 'teach' her things. I've caught him at it twice. He is forbidden to chase chickens and/or lunge at them from the other side of the fence. Now, while he doesn't always do what he is suppose to do, and sometimes does exactly what he isn't suppose to do, he does know what he should or should not do. Ashley was at the fence, politely sniffing nose to beak with a chicken through the fence wire. Evidently Boone didn't think she should be doing this, so he trotted around her, then came back towards me, inserting himself between Ashley and the chicken and pushing her away. The first time I saw this, I thought it was just a fluke. Then one day, I was going into the barn lot (where the dogs can't go), and Ashley moves up behind me, intent on following (because she doesn't know the rules yet and I wasn't paying attention). I turned back and just caught out of the corner of my eye Boone doing the old insert his body between her and the gate, and pushing her back. He had a very stern look on his face, "we never go in there, girlie, unless we have our leashes on!"

Scary dog chases

They play often, and have scary dog chases through the yard. I can't watch. Ashley tries to body slam him, but she just bounces off. First she will chase him, then he chases her and back and forth.... We are working on 'sit' when she gets treats, and Boone very dramatically sighs because he is sitting and everybody should know you have to sit to get treats!

The other night, my Mom, Sister and Niece all came up to visit. Actually they came up to meet Ashley and the kittens.... We were down at my folk's house eating pizza in celebration of their Anniversary. Afterward we all walked up to my house. Boone and Ashley saw us and of course they barked some. Then I'm not sure what happened, but Ashley suddenly exploded into this hyperactive little blur. Boone was doing his slow, dignified high stepping trot back and forth along the fence, politely wagging his tail and wiggling a bit. I think that he pushed Ashley out of the way and she took offense, because then she started chasing him and bouncing off him, and yapping in his ear, like a little bird dive bombing a hawk. Boone tried to ignore her, and keep up his happy little trot. His face got more and more embarrassed looking though, as the little gnat kept after him. It was too funny. In all fairness, this is typical collie behavior---they like to pester each other when they are barking and running--but obviously Boone thought this was just outrageous! Ashley then was all over my guests, having a great old time jumping on them (she hasn't gotten that lesson down pat yet) and lavishing them with collie kisses. My sister was bent over, I think saying something to Ashley and Boone took advantage of the opportunity to give her a big slimy kiss across her head. Who needs hairspray?

Ashley just after her first bath

Yesterday they both got baths--Ashley's first here, and she did great. I want to point out in the photo of them running, Boone is nasty dirty. This was after his bath....he had just rolled in the dustiest spot he could find. I lectured him, but he just ignored me.

In her two weeks here, Ashley has been busy running a raccoon out of the hall every night (sometimes multiple times), meeting sheep (they are still skeptical), and chickens and cats. The adult cats adore her, and she does a kitten check for me most nights, and gives them little swipes with her tongue. We've went out thistle digging and fence checking, and on walks down the road. She's met Heidi, and found all kinds of old toys to drag up in the yard. Most of all she has helped brighten the days of two sad souls and keeps us busy keeping up with her.

Ashley feet and Boone

First There Were Peeps.....

Now Circus Peanuts? I'm beginning to think that maybe Meshach is like 'Stitch' on Lilo and Stitch...and alien being trapped in a cat suit. I must say though he is far sweeter than Stitch ever dreamed of being!

Regardless, this little kitty alien has a definite sweet tooth, that much to his chagrin he seldom gets to satisfy. He also likes to drink water out of a bottle...but that is another post.

Saturday (just barely) Musings

Fairlight Orion
(Locksfield Griffen x Fairlight Luna)

The trip to pick up Orion and Pina Colada (ewe lamb) went very smooth. I left work a little early, swung through and picked up my sister, who went along for moral support, and got to Allena's way earlier than I anticipated. So maybe it only took an hour, when I said it would take two and half.....

Fairlight Orion

Musket Yuglet Ram

Despite a horrific storm the night before, where Allena had to go out and rescue bedraggled chickens, turkeys and sheep, she had the sheep re-penned for me that evening. After a quick tour of the farm, looking at the lambs, ewes and rams, we headed back home.

I was very pleased with Orion, since I hadn't seen him since last fall (except pictures). He was very calm and has turned out quite lovely. His fleece is a lovely shimmery golden silver and he has retained face color. (These pictures were taken with flash and he isn't posed very well...) Once I got home, I was able to unload first Orion and then Pina into their side by side individual cattle panel pens in the garage. Pina was distressed and vocal for awhile, but soon quieted. It was remarkably quiet throughout the night. I was suspicious. My sheep were running about like mad things when they heard the newcomers. I was afraid that I'd never be able to pen up the ones that were leaving Friday morning.

By morning though they had settled down and went right about their routine of going into the catch pen to be fed. Birdie put herself in a stall for me to conveniently pen her into, and I easily caught Rouen's twins. One by one I 'led' them to the garage and put them in with Pina. Around 7 a.m. James, the buyer from Texas pulled in and went about getting his very nice two horse trailer backed up to the garage. After getting everything ready (water, hay bags, hay in the trailer) we loaded up the sheep. Orion traveled in a goat carrier in the bed of truck and the ewes had free run of the horse trailer. Quite nice accommodations, but they were in for a long ride ahead. At least ten hours (but turned out to be more like twelve). An email from James assured me they all made it safely and the sheep were happy to unload and move into horse stalls for the night. By 8:15 a.m. I was showered, dressed and on the way to work. Not to bad...and a huge sigh of relief.

Three Ring Just Jack

(Sheltering Pines Jerome x Locksfield Brietta)

The other three ewe lambs will be leaving, most likely over Labor Day weekend. Shortly after getting assurances and deposits on the sheep, I got another email from a lady that lives near here that wanted to buy sheep! I ended up referring her to Allena and I believe she sold her several, including Just Jack, sire to my lambs this year. It was a crazy, but very fruitful week.

My main (Shetland) flock, once it's all said and done will number thirteen ewes and one ram lamb. I am keeping three ewe lambs from this year, and Jackdaw (ram lamb) at least until after breeding season.

If anyone is interested I do still have one adult Shetland ram available...Omen. He is a nice black smirslet, intermediate fleece, absolutely perfect tiny fluke tail and nice conformation.

In other news the kittens all have their eyes open and their personalities are emerging. I could sit and play with them for hours. I'm going to be working on constructing a kitten 'romper room' out in the garage, to keep them safely contained but give them room to play. It will be out of chicken wire and 2 x 2's...I think.

Just Jack
Moorit Yuglet Flecket

I need to double check and make sure that I have hay coming and if not, track some down. There are a few ewes I'd like to hand shear to remove clumpy fleece due to the rise. I'm toying with shearing the three ewe lambs that I'm retaining. Gorgeous fleeces, and I hate to see them trashed this winter. Celtic festival is coming up, which means halter training the lucky sheep that will be attending. All the lambs have been wormed again. Grass also needs mown, and new mailbox put up. (I mean old crappy looking mailbox!)

Hmmm...I think maybe what I really need to do is take a vacation....

Early Morning

A rare treat, these three calmly posed for me as I stopped the truck and took their picture.

Looking at these lovely peaceful pictures, you might think the last week was very peaceful around here. But you would think wrong. It wasn't a bad week, just not....quiet and peaceful. Let's see, the best I can recall, it all did start rather peacefully last Monday, when I took a nice vacation day. It rained quite persistently all day which was rather nice as we needed it. There are always inside projects to do as it were. I even managed to get a couple of scarves put together--not felted yet--but at least they are ready. Another project on my always growing list, was to run ads on the sheep, yet again. My ram/wether lambs all sold pretty fast this year, but it's been quiet on the ewe sales front. Very odd, not even the usual interest, just quiet---I was beginning to worry a bit (yes, Allena, I'm sure I was just beginning to worry! ;-). Every month I continued to list them on the groups.

The old Moon Valley Ranch---used to be a huge sheep farm

Things began to pick up Monday night. Monday night was the night of the four legged thugs...'coons invaded Butterfly's space and stuck their rotten paws in her cage, dragging any and all food out. When I was out there at 10:30 p.m. I saw all the mess and a very nervous cat. I was nervous too. Scared they'd go after the babies. Up and down all night checking to make sure all was well, wasn't conducive to a good nights rest. Kittens were fine, Butterfly was fine, but shook up, new container for cat food wasn't so fine.

Tuesday it was back to work, tired or no. Tuesday I wracked my brain trying to figure out how to keep Butterfly and the kittens safe. Finally that night I set up a huge (xxl plastic dog taxi) crate in the breezeway, and moved momma and babies to the hallway for the night. Thus began what I call kitty daycare commute. Every night Butterfly goes into a small pet taxi and with the box of babies under one arm, I carry her and the kittens to the breezeway. Every morning the process is reversed and everyone moves back out to the kitty condo for the day. In the meantime I set the live trap and caught one large (most likely female) 'coon (no I won't kill them, yes I relocate them, and no I don't relocate them around other peoples homes or farms).

Tuesday night was also the night the two legged thugs came to town. Around 12:45 a.m. five vehicles came screaming into town. Yelling obscenities, throwing rocks at the old store and acting like total idiots they tore around the vicinity having a great old time. My neighbor who owns (but does not live in) the house across from me, heard them from where he lives about a mile and a half away. He came charging up to see what was going on, forgetting the signal (honking) before he stealthily pulled into his driveway and doused his lights. This resulted in the unfortunate consequence of being spotlighted by the ever vigilant neighbor (that would be me). He was quite flustered, but I found out later he thought my Dad did it.

So, the sheriff's department was called, showing up much later after all the ruckus was over, and the hoodlums had driven off, after subjecting the neighborhood to their crude rudeness and getting their pictures taken by my Dad (for which they screamed more obscenities). By the time the ruckus died down, with phone calls back and forth to my folks, it was getting on two. Second night very little sleep.

Tuesday was also the day, of not one, but two separate inquiries into buying sheep--both from Texas. Since there was some crossover in the sheep they wanted, there followed a flurry of back and forth emails and deposits, as well as a frantic phone call to the vet to set up inspections for health papers. To the vet who was leaving in three days for an extended vacation of six weeks or so. Also arrangements with Allena to pick up my ram Orion (one of the sheep sold) and an ewe lamb of hers that would complete the package on one of the buyers, since I ran out of sheepies.

That all sounds pretty simple, but trust me, it wasn't and took several days to accomplish. Wednesday night I got home from work and took a nap. Yes. I. did. That helped. I think that night was quiet, but I wouldn't swear to it. Thursday and Friday involved continuing to work on the sheep sales, oh, and pesky real work of course.

Somewhere along there, my Mom spotted the UPS driver at my house. She asked me if I got a package. No, no package. I'm expecting a couple of wool roving deliveries so emailed to see if either place had mailed a package and yes, one had. Let's just say that humanity has been overwhelmed by the machine of idiocy and leave it at that. Okay, I won't leave it at that. Calling an 800 number gets you someone far removed from the package and problem, who can't give intelligent answers to your questions. Yes, the UPS driver had attempted delivery. No he hadn't left it or a note. He determined, based on my missing mailbox, that I had 'moved'. Forget the dogs in the yard and other signs of occupancy. They were going to send me a postcard. (A postcard?) Did I want to go and pick it up at the center where it was being held hostage? No I did not. I have to work, and the center is 50 miles one way. Could they perhaps deliver it to my folks address? (Which is what the regular driver always does) Well, he would check, did I care to hold? Oh yes, I would hold. So the driver tried to deliver it two days later to my folks. My Mom happened to see him out the window, otherwise, he wasn't going to leave it! The roving is very nice, by the way...

Saturday, I was off to the little city, to pick up health papers from the vet, and a certified letter from one of the buyers. (Which, by the way, if I had a mailbox and the regular driver, she would have honked or something to let me know it was there, instead of taking it all the way back into town...)

So, things actually came together well in the end, papers are in order, sheep are finally tagged. (hate that job) This Thursday night I have to go over to Allena's and pick up my ram and the ewe lamb...I hope to get home by dark, but it's not looking promising. I'll try and unload them into the garage, where I built a divided pen. Then I'll need to get the three ewes that are leaving from here penned up. The buyer is suppose to be here at 7:00 a.m. in the morning! He is driving up from Texas Thursday, staying overnight at a rest area, then heading over to my house to load up. Then he will start on the ten hour trip back home. Yikes. As soon as we get the transaction done and they are on the way, I'll head in to work. I've already made arrangements to use some vacation time.

Next weekend three more ewe lambs will be picked up by their new owners, also from Texas. They are tagged, health papered and ready to go, so hopefully things won't be too stressful.

Oh and did I mention the torrential rains and the one of the most horrendous sounding storms I've ever experienced?

Niangua River Early Morning

(pictures were taken early a.m. as I took the back roads to work so I could empty my live trap)

Weekly Kitten Update--Week 2

But first a few photos of Butterfly, with her sleek (okay skinny) new figure. She really isn't looking too bad, just thin, and it's no wonder. She is such a good natured little thing.

Alright...here we go---kittens at about ten days.....

So cute...

Torti

Orange

Black 1

Orange/White...oh my, the eyes are starting to open.....

Calico

Black 2

Group shots

One lucky little kitten gets to be an 'only' for a few minutes!

Eyes are now open on all of them, to varying degrees. They are much more active now. Sometimes they will be sitting and will stare at me owlishly out of their solemn little faces. Soon they will be tumbling and playing and Butterfly won't have one seconds peace.

The weighing process--most of the kittens are up to about 8 oz now, and are gaining steadily. Now that their eyes are open they won't be as agreeable being weighed!

If you are interested in a kitten, let me know. Most of these babies will need good, forever new homes. Butterfly is also available, but she would be available only to an indoor home. They will have their shots, wormings etc. and we are trying to pull funds together for them to be spayed or neutered. They will be ready for their homes sometime around the last of September.