OK, I'm starting to fall off the blog wagon. I miss having the feedback that I used to receive from sending e-mails to you all. Well, not really feedback, but a "hey, great to hear from you, we are fine!" or something like that. How to fix that?
What has happened here since 5/9? Well, the visiting dog killed a total of five chickens before going away. That leaves five chickens and one rooster. One of the chickens is setting on at least 12 eggs. So you don't have to check the internet, it takes approximately 21 days for eggs to hatch so we are waiting. We are only getting one egg a day from the other chickens. I need to leave the chickens locked in for a day to find out if there are more that are capable of laying.
Wednesday school's topic was Lewis and Clark - for the 2nd week. I can see why it took 2 weeks to review, that was a really long trip! We also had a surprise birthday party for the teacher. That evening, our two older kids had their church youth club meeting. The topic was edible wild plants. I tried fried cattails and boiled cattails. Lots of fiber there, not much taste so the fried were better with a little butter and salt and pepper (in case you were wondering). I sure am glad pizza was ordered for the final course.
Thursday I was gone most of the day and the rain came down all day. When it came time to bring the sheep in for the night the creek in their pasture had swollen and the sheep couldn't be convinced to use the little footbridge. Mark and I chased those evil beasts for 30 minutes. Finally Matthew came riding up on the pony, Ginger. He looked like the Lone Ranger - without the mask and the white horse. Yeah, and his legs were dangling, he was riding bareback and had just tied a piece of twine onto the pony's halter to use as reins. I guess the comparison just isn't there. Anyway - Matthew and his equine mount assisted in herding the evil beasts back across the creek and towards the barn. We hooked up two heat lamps for the cold, wet babies. By the time we got to the house I was soaked up to my knees from wading back and forth across the creek at locations other than where the bridge is located. I also had the lovely odor of wet, dirty sheep all over. Needless to say, the first stop was for a shower with lots of soap.
I missed the alumni weekend at my high school. Last year it was 20 years since graduation and I had a marvelous time. I think at 20 years after high school you are who you are - no pretending any more. Ten years was weird. I was nursing baby (who had been born 4 weeks prior) and trying to hide that fact from boys/men who were not allowed to acknowledge (in high school) that girls had breasts. I'm digressing badly - anyway, I missed the weekend. A big hello to all of you from the class of '84. I had a great time last year - my best friend from high school (CK) and I caught up just as if we had seen each other the day before. I found it to be a lot of fun to talk to people you knew (then) and be able to hold a conversation without all of the teenage angst/insecurity/pecking order that comes with high school. Well, nearly everyone in our class had overcome that - all except two individuals, one of which was our class president who told the class liason (when she called to encourage him to join us) "I'm past all of that" or something to that effect. Idiot - obviously he isn't out of the angst/insecurity/pecking order or else he is bald and fat. Anyway......
On Sunday Alyssa attended a birthday party for two children. It was held at the children's museum. There were so many children there (just for the party) - it was insane. I heard the number 27, but was hoping it wasn't true. We all went to the library after the party just to let our head clear from all of the noise pollution.
The kids have finished most of their schoolwork so we are coasting now. Oh, it feels good, but I've already started scanning the used lists for books for next year. Right now I'm scoping for a Saxon 76 math book.
We are off to Wednesday school tomorrow. The last class is next week - Matthew graduates from 8th grade that evening. I'm feeling quite old suddenly. I will attempt to recapture that youthful feeling on 5/31. The final event of the year is a field trip that includes mini golf and go-carts. Alyssa isn't old enough to run the cart alone so I have to drive for her! I love zipping around the track at top speed.
Happy week to you!
5/17/2005
5/09/2005
Update & Happy Mother's Day
#10 (the prolapse mom) had her baby on 5/4. She had a little girl all by herself, no assistance needed.
Happy Mother's Day one day late. I didn't know how much my Mother meant to me until I became a mother and learned what total unconditional love is like. That said, here is how we spend Mother's Day at our house:
We worked on cleaning my husband's part of the barn. We had to work around a hen who decided to set in one corner. A dog came running by the patio doors. A pretty black and white female border collie with a collar. Called the sheriff, no lost dogs. Called the local radio station and no return calls yet. The kids thought she was great (she can shake with both paws), until she killed a rooster. Now the dog has been chained to the dog house. I have called the postmaster (she knows everyone) to see who has a black and white border collie that might have run last night during the storm. She is going to put up a sign at the post office and we are going to show the mailman when he comes with the mail today. We also tagged, castrated and docked tails on the remainder of the lambs- that was before breakfast. 26 lambs this year - unless one more mother surprises me with a baby. I think we are done though.
It's a rainy Monday here, but no one is complaining as it was very dry. The farmers were seeding like crazy trying to beat the rain. We have let the sheep out into the big pasture and the electric fence seems to be holding.
Let's see other news - our youngest has a loose tooth. Just a few weeks left of school. I need to order ITBS (assessment) tests for the two oldest. That's all for today!
Enjoy your day!
Happy Mother's Day one day late. I didn't know how much my Mother meant to me until I became a mother and learned what total unconditional love is like. That said, here is how we spend Mother's Day at our house:
We worked on cleaning my husband's part of the barn. We had to work around a hen who decided to set in one corner. A dog came running by the patio doors. A pretty black and white female border collie with a collar. Called the sheriff, no lost dogs. Called the local radio station and no return calls yet. The kids thought she was great (she can shake with both paws), until she killed a rooster. Now the dog has been chained to the dog house. I have called the postmaster (she knows everyone) to see who has a black and white border collie that might have run last night during the storm. She is going to put up a sign at the post office and we are going to show the mailman when he comes with the mail today. We also tagged, castrated and docked tails on the remainder of the lambs- that was before breakfast. 26 lambs this year - unless one more mother surprises me with a baby. I think we are done though.
It's a rainy Monday here, but no one is complaining as it was very dry. The farmers were seeding like crazy trying to beat the rain. We have let the sheep out into the big pasture and the electric fence seems to be holding.
Let's see other news - our youngest has a loose tooth. Just a few weeks left of school. I need to order ITBS (assessment) tests for the two oldest. That's all for today!
Enjoy your day!
5/02/2005
Happy May Day!
I'm writing this in retrospect about yesterday because had I written yesterday my post would have been full of $%^?*@!$. Not the image of the kinder, gentler shepherdess/rancher/mother/homemaker/blah, blah that I want to portray to you, the lovely reader. SO, I delayed my comments by a day.
I had yesterday all planned. We had left the youngest child with my parents on Saturday night. The two older children had a function near Minneapolis and my husband's role was that of chauffer. Where did that leave me? Sitting at home ALONE waiting for lambs to be born, feeding Sophie her bottle, eating bonbons (don't have any), reading books, warming my feet by the fire, etc.
The morning started off beautifully. Mark and the kids got off at 4:30AM (they had to be at their commitment at 9:00). I heard them rumbling about, but chose to mumble a farewell from my warm bed. I leisurely got up at 7:30 and took a bottle out to Sophie and freed the sheep from their warm, (smelly) barn. [Before I go any further I need to describe the state of the farm for you. We have several pastures (grassy areas where animals stay for you non-farm folk) that are fenced separately, but can be joined together by opening gates (you do know what gates are, don't you?).] Continuing....it was a little chilly, however, the water in the water trough wasn't frozen so it couldn't be that cold, could it? Before I had finished the task of letting the pony out, freeing the chickens (and yelling at them for only producing one egg - whoops, kinder, gentler) the sheep had jumped the fence, had crossed the yard and were heading across the road!!! The babies had not accompanied their mothers in this delinquency, so there are 25 lambs running up and down the fence on the inside and 21 big sheep heading for greener pastures. OH, I was so angry. [Please note that I am losing the perspective I had hoped 24 hours would give.]
I started yelling for the bad animals to come back. No response, not even a glance in my direction. Now I had to strategize. I couldn't just open the gate - the babies would all run out and they are even harder to corral than their mothers. No, can't do that. I had hoped to maintain that warm fuzzy sleepy feeling and jump back into my still-warm bed. Not happening.
Here is the plan - tie the pony. If she gets away, I'm throwing in the towel and getting out the gun (to use the animals - don't write or call about suicidal thoughts and how to help them, I'm not that dumb). Done. Now move the babies into the upper pasture (the one with the better/good fence). They don't move easily. Their mothers can be motivated by grain, not so with the little ones - all 25. Finally done.
Now to get the 21 evil beasts [deep breath] back. I tried the grain trick. Oh yeah, here they come, but then the remember that they are mothers and stop at the fence to encourage their children to join them in their delinquency. Not happening.
Did I mention that herding sheep happens best with multiple individuals, strategically placed? Did I have any help other than the barn cats who were looking at me like I am crazy? NO?!!
After having to get out the whip (no, don't call the ASPCA - I didn't use it on them, I think it just made me feel better) and running back and forth many times I got them all in. Everyone except Vashti (aka spawn of Satan). She kept running past the open gate (with me hot on her heels) - Steve, you may be able to whup me in a marathon, but I'm sure I've got you on the sprint. I can turn on a dime (or a pile of XXXX) and move like the wind.
Long story made a bit shorter [I can feel more gray hair forming as relive yesterday]. I finally fashioned a run to get Vashti through the invisible gate. I'm sweating, irritated and nasty at this point.
The sheep were put on hay and water. I drag myself back into the house, burst through the door to the telephone ringing and my husband sweetly asking, "where have you been?" I look at the clock - TWO HOURS of my reading, napping, bonbon time have gone by.
Well, the diet for the evil animals remains the same - hay and water. My father purchased an electric fencer charger and accessories yesterday. I'm checking the internet to see how many volts we can run through the wire before the wool burns or the sheep drops dead. We're going to go just under that amount.
Did I mention that I was doing all of this in beautiful May weather - NOT. It was sleeting, hailing, snowing and doing all of the horrifying winter weather ND can throw our way.
Don't ask about my day - the bed was cold, I had not purchased bonbons...
Happy May to you, lovely reader.
I had yesterday all planned. We had left the youngest child with my parents on Saturday night. The two older children had a function near Minneapolis and my husband's role was that of chauffer. Where did that leave me? Sitting at home ALONE waiting for lambs to be born, feeding Sophie her bottle, eating bonbons (don't have any), reading books, warming my feet by the fire, etc.
The morning started off beautifully. Mark and the kids got off at 4:30AM (they had to be at their commitment at 9:00). I heard them rumbling about, but chose to mumble a farewell from my warm bed. I leisurely got up at 7:30 and took a bottle out to Sophie and freed the sheep from their warm, (smelly) barn. [Before I go any further I need to describe the state of the farm for you. We have several pastures (grassy areas where animals stay for you non-farm folk) that are fenced separately, but can be joined together by opening gates (you do know what gates are, don't you?).] Continuing....it was a little chilly, however, the water in the water trough wasn't frozen so it couldn't be that cold, could it? Before I had finished the task of letting the pony out, freeing the chickens (and yelling at them for only producing one egg - whoops, kinder, gentler) the sheep had jumped the fence, had crossed the yard and were heading across the road!!! The babies had not accompanied their mothers in this delinquency, so there are 25 lambs running up and down the fence on the inside and 21 big sheep heading for greener pastures. OH, I was so angry. [Please note that I am losing the perspective I had hoped 24 hours would give.]
I started yelling for the bad animals to come back. No response, not even a glance in my direction. Now I had to strategize. I couldn't just open the gate - the babies would all run out and they are even harder to corral than their mothers. No, can't do that. I had hoped to maintain that warm fuzzy sleepy feeling and jump back into my still-warm bed. Not happening.
Here is the plan - tie the pony. If she gets away, I'm throwing in the towel and getting out the gun (to use the animals - don't write or call about suicidal thoughts and how to help them, I'm not that dumb). Done. Now move the babies into the upper pasture (the one with the better/good fence). They don't move easily. Their mothers can be motivated by grain, not so with the little ones - all 25. Finally done.
Now to get the 21 evil beasts [deep breath] back. I tried the grain trick. Oh yeah, here they come, but then the remember that they are mothers and stop at the fence to encourage their children to join them in their delinquency. Not happening.
Did I mention that herding sheep happens best with multiple individuals, strategically placed? Did I have any help other than the barn cats who were looking at me like I am crazy? NO?!!
After having to get out the whip (no, don't call the ASPCA - I didn't use it on them, I think it just made me feel better) and running back and forth many times I got them all in. Everyone except Vashti (aka spawn of Satan). She kept running past the open gate (with me hot on her heels) - Steve, you may be able to whup me in a marathon, but I'm sure I've got you on the sprint. I can turn on a dime (or a pile of XXXX) and move like the wind.
Long story made a bit shorter [I can feel more gray hair forming as relive yesterday]. I finally fashioned a run to get Vashti through the invisible gate. I'm sweating, irritated and nasty at this point.
The sheep were put on hay and water. I drag myself back into the house, burst through the door to the telephone ringing and my husband sweetly asking, "where have you been?" I look at the clock - TWO HOURS of my reading, napping, bonbon time have gone by.
Well, the diet for the evil animals remains the same - hay and water. My father purchased an electric fencer charger and accessories yesterday. I'm checking the internet to see how many volts we can run through the wire before the wool burns or the sheep drops dead. We're going to go just under that amount.
Did I mention that I was doing all of this in beautiful May weather - NOT. It was sleeting, hailing, snowing and doing all of the horrifying winter weather ND can throw our way.
Don't ask about my day - the bed was cold, I had not purchased bonbons...
Happy May to you, lovely reader.
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