Awash In Spring Things

So I forgot to post this, a little outdated...but here you go....

Tang "the Kid"---nearly a year old and busy all the time

It's that time of year!  Along with the  warmer days, and the lovely green grass comes so many things to do...and they all need doin' now!
 

A glorious Spring Sunrise

The sheep are sheared (hallelujah) without incident and 18 fleeces are awaiting the final picking over and processing, but they'll have to wait their turn.

A variety of lettuce--planted in March and ready to pick!

The Collies were all carrying their messy winter coats around--mats and all.  Two have been bribed and boosted up onto the grooming table to brush, de-tangle and trim.  Carly still awaits her beauty treatment...then it'll be start over time again, as more coat sheds and tangles in the other two.  A bath is badly needed by all three.

Callum & Willow  hanging out in the Assisted Living wing.  Callum is 11 and his mom Willow is 14.  They have their own stall at night and their own grassy paddock in the day.

The tomatoes, peppers, peas, carrots, squash and pumpkins all had to be planted.  Still have a few things to get in the ground, but it's looking better.  Everything will need to be mulched soon, before the weeds consume them.   The day after shearing I headed out and did some plant shopping over at the Mennonite communities.  I may or may not have bought 34 tomato plants...it's all a blur and I don't remember.   By 'sharing' (willing parties or not) with my Mom, Sister & Niece  I pared it down to something like 14, 15, 17 something plants...or so.    I have lots of different heirloom varieties.  I did confine myself to 2 pepper plants--yay me!

Beautiful roses from my Beautiful Niece

The yard and pastures are running amok and neither the sheep nor I can keep up with it all.  I'm having to mow and mow just to keep everything from turning into waist high weeds and seed heads.  We've had some lovely rains--and it makes a difference.  I turn the sheep on the big pasture during the day and let them run the front pasture (which surrounds my fenced yard) at night.  Eat! Eat!  I tell them.  They look like bowling balls with legs.     

Cookie time for Gracie!  Her eye is completely healed.  After spending big bucks on prescription meds from the vet, and no relief for her and nothing to lose we went another route.  Plain triple antibiotic ointment for people smeared in her eye daily and supplementing with L-lysine for a week made for a dramatic turnaround.  I'm so happy.  

Did someone say Cookies???   Blackberry is another cookie monster and you have to watch your fingers with her! She is a Willow daughter too.

I love Spring, but it's a time when I just see so much that needs to be done and none of it should wait, that I feel overwhelmed....then slowly slowly I'll start to make some headway as we fall into the hot steady drone of summer.  

Minty poses while on a walk. 

And so I'll just leave you with some pictures and hope to soon be back to post again.  Enjoy the season!

Carly Sassy Sue

 

Ashley plodding along.  She likes neither wet ground or humid weather and is just a touch of a drama queen about it.. 

What I thought was a lovely photo of Minty...until I saw the tongue sticking out....

Brenda Lee....she was a 'drought' baby and lost her mommy to a terrible accident, so she has been spoiled a bit.  The goat stand is her own personal feeding station so the other sheep couldn't bully her out of her food.   I caught her just standing there on it the other night...perhaps dreaming of a shot of corn.

And lastly....the lovely Trinity and the Big Rotten Sage (and his teddy bear) have a quiet relaxing moment....

Summer Half Over

And summer is half over.   The last time I posted was in April, and since then the typical summer things have transpired.

 I planted a garden and have harvested a few things, fought the bugs, and  marveled at how big some of the squash plants are getting.  My tomatoes are producing lots of green tomatoes, but some type of stink bug is sucking the juice out of them faster than they can ripen.

Peppers, Tomatoes, Squash & Cabbage from the garden

The weather has been pretty good (so far) this summer, although at the moment it is pretty warm.  We experienced the most lovely cool front last week that required a warm fuzzy blanket at night so that the cats and I might be toasty.  Now it is back to 'real' summer.  It's getting dry now so hoping we get some rain soon, before the pastures burn up.    

Fresh Black Prince Tomato, Yellow Cherry Tomato, & some refrigerator pickles Mom made

The aged and infirm in the sheep lot consist of three at the moment.  Well, there are more than three aged sheep but only three that are infirm at this moment.  Willow is 13 and moves slower these days, but is as independent as always.  Her son Callum, is 'only' 11 but he suffered a back injury as a youngster in his ram days, and it's catching up to him.  Big white sheep, Annalea has a gimpy front foot, but other than needing to be guarded at feeding time does okay.  Willow and Cal hang out together and move at the same speed.  They avoid the rambunctiousness of the other sheep and I separate them at  feeding time.  This hot weather is hard on them.


The sheep and I have finally worked out a mutually beneficial system on grazing the front area of my place.  If you remember they have been rather at loose ends since all the leader sheep died over the last few years.  I couldn't get them to calm down and stay in most of the areas on the front of my land without penning them tight.  And even if that worked, they would then refuse to enter the area the next time--contrary to popular belief they aren't stupid. (Now stubborn..yes)  It was a real battle and very frustrating.  However, the solution was happened on accidentally when I was late putting them out front one night to graze.  They seemed much more calm during that time, so now after all the chores are done and it's almost time to go in the house with the dogs, I will turn them on the front, while I'm giving Cal and Willow their evening meal.  I leave the gate open to the paddock and they graze up until dark and then go out again at first light.  They have kept the front 'mown' pretty well.  Not the short 'just so' cropped look from the lawnmower, but I like it.  It looks a bit messy but it's short and green and full of life--lots of little flowers everywhere.   I've mown it three times this summer and will do so again when we get a good rain, but this is lots less than if I had to keep it all short on my own. 

Millie Cuteness Overload

My sister got a puppy!  This is huge.  She has been dithering about getting a puppy for years.  Sweet little Millie joined the family a few months ago.   My sis has been dealing with all the 'stuff' that goes with an energetic pup, and it keeps her busy (and a little worn out).   Millie is cute as a button and is part Maltese and Shih-tzu--a MalShi, and was a pound puppy along with her siblings.  You can read more about Millie on here. 

Millie & her big Green Frog

 My nephew had a brain bleed at the end of May--he was only 36.  He is doing pretty good now, going to therapy three to four times a week.  It's been very hard on him and his wife and four children to adjust and cope with this in their lives.  It was a sad and scary time and we were all happy to be able to celebrate his 37th birthday with him on July 4th.   His therapy will end sometime in August and hopefully he will be released to drive and also to go back to work.

Cleanup on the hen house has finally been accomplished.  It was a hot nasty, NASTY, job, but the worst of it is done.  I'd let things go over the last few years with only a few hens so there was layer of about four to six inches of very dry chicken litter on the floor.  I got that all shoveled and swept out (that sounds so quick and easy...) while wearing a mask.  Then I hosed everything down inside, but since it didn't drain as well as I expected it turned into some drama and  hard work getting the water out.  It needs another rinse off, but we will see.  Now I need to do some repairs around the outside edges  and install new nest boxes, and fix the roosts...and, AND....get some new chickens!  I'm kinda excited about that.  Ready for fresh eggs, and I miss seeing their little bobbing shapes around the pasture, not to mention their role as scrap disposal systems.  I only plan to get about six hens, or so and would like to get young adults.   

There is a new stray cat.  I'm pretty sure it's a young tom.  It took a little while to figure out there was a new cat in town as he looks an awful lot like my two elderly outside girl cats.  Only they are more portly.  He comes up every night and talks to the cats in the catio, and that was what gave him away.  My girls talk but it's more a screamy meow, and his is rather a melodic mewmewmew.  So anyway, he has a date with the live trap and a trip to the vet for tutoring, then I guess I'll just release him and if he wants to stop in and eat he can.  Not really needing anymore kitty residents.  I don't think he is very wild but he is spooked.  I suspect he was dumped.   He is a beautiful silver grey and if I could find a farm home for him I'd be pleased!  Only this isn't the worst of it in the cat news.  There is a kitten.

One very sad misused kitty

First Meal at Hotel Paradise--he was thin and scraggly looking

Lip Smacking Good seemed to be the verdict

A week later and Ashley is consoling him--you can see the 'oddness' about his rear hip and leg

Seems my vehicle here on the parking lot at work was chosen by a wee kitten to lay near enough by to be noticed.  I'll also point out there were many vehicles and people on the lot that day.  Many.  I was leaving for the day and I did not see the kitten laying there in the grass against an old garage.   Seriously I try not to look around too much anymore.  However a weak, desperate meow did get my attention.  And again, until I saw it there.  I tried to leave.  Got it some treats out of the truck to give it, but no way could I bring it home.  It was so thin and dehydrated that it couldn't eat the treats, couldn't hardly even get up.   So I picked it up, tried to fob it off on another employee then put it down on the seat beside me and went home.   I had a little water bottle and poured some in the cap for it to drink and it was very thirsty.  It looked like a little girl to me.  The next day I got it worked into the vet after I got off work.  By then I knew that something was wrong with it---something in it's hips or back.  It could wobble around but was very unsteady on it's legs.

Feeling better but still favoring the leg --you can see how he sticks it straight out

Off to the vet yet again.....

Off to the vet we went the next day.  Without expensive tests and x-rays nothing obvious presented itself, but the vet's best guess was either a  fractured pelvis or some nerve/ligament damage.  He was also concerned that some of it's organs had been displaced and herniated, but everything 'sounded' good in the lungs and heart.  So back home we went with predisone and 'bed rest' instructions.   The next day he took a turn for the worse (yes, it was a he) or I thought he did.  Because it was so intensely hot I gave in when the vet discussed keeping him for observation and anti inflammatory injections over the next several days.  He was much perkier by Monday.  Now three weeks later he is more steady on his feet and the 'problem' seems to be located in the right hip area. He does well until he gets tired then you can tell it bothers him.  I am keeping him confined in a dog crate in the breezeway during the day and he has a small exercise  pen set up under the tree that he goes into before and after I get home from work for some change of scenery.  I also let him follow me around the yard for a short time in the evening. (edited to add:  he is loose in the yard when I'm home now)  He isn't as energetic as most kittens his age, but he is coping and hopefully will heal --the vet thought thirty days of restricted movement would be beneficial.  He was only about seven weeks when I found him.  Our best guess is he probably got thrown from a vehicle that he hitched a ride on...but we'll never know for sure.    Now he needs to go back for shots soon (edited:  he had those this past weekend) as they felt he was too young and weak the first time around.  I have a lead on a possible home for him, but have to have assurance that he is wanted before we proceed.  I will also keep him until he is hopefully better. (edited again:  possible home has never gotten back with me...)  He is very cute as all kittens are, but I cannot offer him much here.   He would be an outside kitty in an unsafe environment, albeit well fed and loved.  Praying for a home for him!   His temporary name is Tang and he is a very self assured young kitten and I think he will have a ton of personality.

Tang--Looking Better

Last night I was thinking that it would soon be time to get the wood supply ordered for winter, not to mention the hay.  It's been a strange year for hay--it was cool and wet for many days and so the first cut got delayed.  Yet, we never really got any good long soaking rains.  Just days of drizzle and clouds.   The ground is very dry and it doesn't take much to bake it.    I'm hoping though that we get some good rains as farmers are finally getting their first crop off the field and there should be time for a second cutting provided we get some moisture.   It's hard to think about winter... the older I get the less I cope with cold and inclement weather and having to drive on slick roads.  (especially the latter!)

Making himself to home on one of the many outside cat bed/nooks--needs lots of naps

But we still have some time to go before then.   There will be lots of hot summery days still when I will probably be hoping for winter.  

Collie Carpet--Minty, Ashley & Carly's favorite place to spend a hot day (inside in the AC!)

I guess that is it for now.  Hope you are having a good summer in your neighborhood!

Catching Up

Tomatoes, Peppers and Millet

Warning...picture heavy! 

Cabbage!

So as I may have mentioned in an earlier post, we were getting extremely dry here.  Typical July/August weather, but still after last years drought, a bit scary.  All that changed last week.  We have had monsoon like weather for over a week.  I lost track somewhere, but I think we got close to ten inches at the little farm.  Maybe a bit more.  It would storm everyday--sometimes several times a day.  The usual pattern though was for it to roll in around 4:30-6 a.m. (chore time) and then clear up a bit in the evening.  The ground was very saturated, but we never got into any serious flooding issues, because for the most part it came steady but slow.  However just a few miles from us, people would randomly get true gully washers, and there was a tremendous amount of flooding in places that haven't flooded in decades if ever.   Evacuations and even several deaths were the result.  The whole pattern was bizarre.  We are still under possibly more rain issues this week, but so far it has been mild showers in our area.  The humidity doesn't feel as bad, but it's been pretty high the last week--it feels nasty when you walk out into it. 

I wasn't really saying 'I told you so' but it wasn't a surprise to see the brand-spanking-new-built-on-edge-of-the-riverbank RV park under water one morning.  I mean it's called river bottom land for a reason.  Sigh.

My 'new' planter--this is an old bbq grill that I had converted to a flower pot when I was a kid.  Fast forward 30 years and I found it squashed flat under a pile of scrap that my Dad and I hauled to the recycle center.  I popped it back into shape and scrounged some broken bits of  'wandering jew' plant off the parking lot at MFA, and added some flowering plants and viola! 

This was the scene a few weeks ago when it was so dry and the leaves were falling into the dog's pool

The rain has been a tremendous boon to pasture, and if all goes well, I should have pasture way up into the fall, with judicious rotation.  I'm falling behind on mowing as it's so wet, but did manage to slog the weedeater through the jungle in the catio and around the garden on Saturday.  I had several limping sheep for a few days which is probably from wading through the muck in the paths, but always a concern it could be something worse like foot scald.  They do seem to be clearing up on their own though. 

Meshach--high on 'nip

I'm posting some picture of my gardens, but this was before the monsoon and it has tripled I think in growth since then.  Some of the tomatoes are splitting because of too much rain, but am hoping the rest will be good.  I have lots of varieties this year and for the first time ever some nice looking heads of cabbage ready to harvest. 

My two old outside girls--Echo on the left snuggling with her mom Dixie on the right

The fur crew seems to be doing okay.  They keep me way to busy meeting their lengthy demands, but I'm always thankful when the day is done and everyone is still alive and kicking and in good spirits. 

After a week on good food, and meds to heal up his allergies. Can you even resist that face??

I still have the stray dog, and even though I have exhaustively searched for his owner, there has been no response.  I have put up fliers,  newspaper ads, all the online lost and found (and craigslist) avenues and haven't had anyone claim him.  I've had several people ask if they could have him, so I'll have to face placing him soon, but you better believe the person that takes him is going to be given a thorough checking.  I gotta tell you people make me pretty sick with their lack of commitment.  One minute 'oh I'd love the little doggie' and then the next thing you know the 'little doggie' is old or a nuisance and they kick them out.  Jerks.  I mean how does an 11 lb house dog end up in a remote area on his own with no one looking for him?    Can you tell I'm stressed by this responsibility of finding the little guy a good home?   The little Jack Russell I found and was able to adopt into a loving home last fall is doing so good.  What a lucky little dog he is.  I'd love to find an equally caring home for this guy. 

Here is the little wart hog--you can still see the bare areas--he has a good covering of short hair coming in

It doesn't help a bit that he reminds me of my first little dog--Boots--although he is much nicer than my beloved spoiled Booty.  If I were at a point in my life that I were retired and home much of the time he would stay, but it will not be fair for him (or me) to go that route now.  He has come out of his shell a bit and seems pretty assured in his place in this 'new life' he has.  Scares me to death how he plays with the big dogs.  Although they usually try and be careful, Minty isn't a very careful dog and she plays pretty rough.  Carly is usually more mindful of him and will even get down on his level to play by laying down.  She had his leg in her mouth gnawing on it the other night--at least it looked like she was, but obviously she wasn't crunching or he would have been yelping!  My first three dogs I had when I moved out were two collies and a Pomeranian.  The Pom came a little later and grew up thinking he was a Collie.  Nicky would lounge around in the Collies mouths while they chewed their bones!    Pray I can be discerning in finding him a safe and loving home!

Here you can see his size in comparison with the girls.  They have all gotten along well--they were trolling for treats here

The Collie girls are doing well, but I think I'm drowning in hair.  Will they never stop blowing coat this year??   Minty has had a big hotspot on her back near her tail and Ashley has had itchy paws--to the extent that I made her her own personal set of leggings to wear at night so she wouldn't chew them raw.  Liberal amounts of organic coconut oil were applied to both dogs and things are better now.  I have also been rubbing the little dog's bald parts with the coconut oil and tell him he looks like a little wart hog ready for the BBQ grill.   The stuff really seems to work though and it doesn't sting like the meds from the vet.  

Ashley in her hated super special leggings--doesn't her expression say it all?

Can't believe it's mid August now....Autumn is nearly upon us and will rush by...and then it'll be Christmas..  (do you want me shut up now?)  Oh, to be ahead of the game just once.   I'm sure though I'll go falling through the seasons as usual, everything last minute and hectic. 

Hope you all are doing well during these summer days.  I do read your blogs, although I'm not always good about getting to comment.

Hot

And really really dry.  I'm laying low in the house today.  Up early to tend to all the beasties and will do a noon watering and check on all, but otherwise I'm hibernating!  Pastures are shot.  I worry about all the old ones--the ancient chickens, the elderly sheep.  Here was my (brief) morning outside in pictures.  Hope it's cooler at your house! 

Looks more like fall with all the downed leaves

Here are the five elderly members of the flock.  The youngest is nine (the black one) and the rest are ten. 

Chaco & Noah hanging out in the catio

The 'garden' is growing.  The tomatoes are thriving in the heat

Cherokee Purples--Maybe I'll have tomatoes this year!

Volunteer Sunflower--cheerfully greats the burning sun

Trumpet vines --- fill up station for the hummingbirds

Deck tomatoes are looking great!

Trinity soaks up the sun....even when it's too hot for the rest of us

Hot Dogs.   Ashley, Minty, Carly

Trumpet vine--early morning heat haze

Minty wants me to do something about the heat!

The heat is hard to handle...but it's the dryness that is dreadful.  It's hard to see everything withering and dying.  

Praying for rain!