Grand adventure: Looking for spring.

Last week, I decided to take the goats and dogs for a little walk out back. I wanted to see if there were any daffodils popping up yet. There's a few patches of them in a few spots way back behind us. So off we went.

Out the gate and to the left is a little lane that leads to the hay fields and the hills. Sandy is leading the way!

   Up the little lane to the open pasture. You can see the ridge from here.  Bubba and Stella are already to the clearing.

The goats get to the end of the lane and wonder which way to go now. To the left? To the right? Straight?

                            They just don't know so they are running around in circles. Silly goats!

We didn't see any daffodils poking up in the one spot. So we headed up to the big old oak tree to see if there were any up there yet. Bubba and Stella are running around now like wild dogs. They love it back here.

I will let y'all know tomorrow if we saw any daffodils. And continue on with our Grand Adventure.

The wood pile

Yesterday, I went to my first knitting class. It was a few hours. I did learn a lot. And re-learned how to cast-on and some other things. We are going to be knitting a prayer shawl. The class will last 10 weeks. It's fun to get together with fellow knitters.

Then, had to go home and get the husband to get a load of wood up on the mountain at our friend Kid's. He has been keeping us supplied with wood for awhile now. He just retired and the man will not sit still! He has about 25 acres up there and goes out and cuts dead trees, splits them up and calls us to come get them. This is one load from yesterday. Filled the truck up then we stacked it all in this thing that Kid gave us. It got all the wood from that load in there.

                                                  This is the wood shed, almost full again.

This is the other truck load we got yesterday afternoon at Mrs. T's. Her 100 year old oak tree that was cut down last fall. Our son-in-law Jason has been going over there and splitting it for us. He's a great SIL! But this is only ONE load. There are probably 4 more to go. We were too tired to unload this last night when we got home.

  So I made a good hearty breakfast for us this morning. And we will go unload this truck full of wood. And tomorrow, we'll go get another load from Mrs. T's.

We should have enough wood for next year too. But, the weather stations are calling for a big winter storm here for Tuesday and Wed. this week. I have already called it off. I don't want to see any more snow and freezing temps. I am DONE with that! But, IF it does happen, we will be ready for it.

John Henry

I sold John Henry yesterday. He's moved to Tn. to be a herd sire for a mix of goats. I am so happy I sold him instead of making him goat sausage. I don't think he would have been very good. He was a very good buck and did his job well. I just want to find another buck later in the fall. So I am buck free for the moment!

Some fat ewes.

These are some of the better shots of the ewes that are due any time now.

                This is Fiona. (She's named after my middle grand daughter, Coryn Fiona.) She's Bridget and Bonnie's mother. She is half Katahdin and Dorper.

                                      This is Gracie. (She's named after my oldest grand daughter, Chloe Grace.) She is Beatrix's mother. She's full Katahdin.

                    This is Leelah, who I think is Fiona's sister. (She's named after Kansas, my youngest grand daughter.) She's half Dorper too. And Blossom's mother.

This is Adele. She is Leelah's lamb from 2 years ago. This will be her 1st lambing. I think she is bred. I never have been able to get too close to her. But she's a little better about letting me touch her nose now! She is a mix of a lot of breeds. Hair and wool. But bred to Abraham.

This is Amarillo. Full Finn and 1st time bred. To Abraham who is full Finn as well. So I hope the lambs are pretty. And hopefully colorful. I would love a black lamb.

And April. She is full Katahdin. I just got her a few months ago when I got the black ram. From the same place I got the other 3 hair ewes. She is possibly related to them. About the same age too. Supposed to be a really good mother.

I didn't get a good picture of Adalaide, but she is due soon too. She's full Finn as well and also bred to Abraham. So I hope I get some pretty wooly lambs from her and Amarillo. I'll probably keep them.

I'll be selling most of these lambs this fall. I am also trading 2 ewes and a ram for a weaned bottle calf. I think that's a pretty good swap. We are almost out of beef.

Egg hunt, anyone?

This morning I got the sheep back over in the big pasture. I had to get all their feed pans first. As I was walking past I saw these eggs. On top of this old rabbit cage. Frozen and cracked of course. It's those Barred Rock hens. They are notorious for laying any place but a nest box around here. I always see at least 4 of these hens out in the yard. I have also checked in the garage and cat room when I see one of them going out of those places. Haven't found any eggs there yet. But here they are. I'll leave these and see if there are any more later.

Then, when I opened up this bag of wood shavings to put more out, I found this egg. So the egg hunting has begun. I always did love an egg hunt!

It's a beautiful day here so far. I have been hearing the birds chirping and they sound different. Happy, I think. Like they know Spring is just around the corner and they better get busy building those nests. There is a different feel out there to me. A fresh feeling. New and fresh.

Go ahead and laugh now...

I realized what I did. It took awhile, but it just hit me.

I thought about this all night. Again, planning and figuring out how and who to put where. I got up this morning and fed the sheep and chickens first. Then got all the shots ready and went out to get the goats in the milk room. I wanted to give them the CD&T shots about 6 weeks before they all had kids. I don't normally do this, but wanted to this year because of all the sick does last year. Thought this might help a little.

So got Penelope, Zarah and Sandy on their stanchions and Zeeboo tied to the fence outside. Gave them all their shots and was feeling so good about doing this.

It was after that I realized when I put John Henry in with them. October 28th. Then I realized what the date was today. February 6th. I really thought that I was right on this. I'll let y'all do the math because math makes my head hurt.

Look at Zeeboo. She's like, what were you thinking, woman!

And Penelope and Zarah are not happy about it at all.

And Sandy. She's ALWAYS the last goat to kid. She's done with me now. I know.

Not much today...

This is an old house up on Missionary Ridge overlooking Chattanooga. I love this house. It is huge. And the property is probably several acres. And it's for sale! Anyone interested? Can you just imagine living in this big beauty? I'm sure, back in the day, it was  the place to be. I took my mother up there a few weeks ago because she'd never been. It's part of the Civil Was Battlefield. Lots of monuments and plaques in people's yards. Big grand mansions and little cottages. I just love it up there.

Yesterday, on the way to town, it must have been bird suicide day. I think I might have killed 3 birds, but could have been more. It was awful. All the way to town, birds kept flying right at me. It was really strange.

I went to my friend Libby's today for a while. She was much better today than yesterday. I am so glad. When I got home, I went to put the chickens up and gather eggs. I think this morning I got 4 from the coop nest boxes. I took an egg carton out with me. I filled it up and got 11 more eggs. So over 2 dozen eggs from my fabulous hens today!!! I am SO proud of them. They really are good hens.

My husband went to a get together with some of his friends tonight. So I am ALONE tonight!! It's been months. All my shows come on tonight. The Middle, then I switch back and forth to American Idol. Then to AI til Modern Family comes on at 9. Then back and forth to Ai, then AI. Then at 10, CSI comes on. And they are all new shows tonight. And AI is starting Hollywood Week. I absolutely hated when AI came on Wed. nights. Because unless The Middle or Modern Family is reruns, I miss so much of it. And this year's contestants are amazing? Anyone else watch AI?

And here's Stella, sprawled out belly up in front of the wood stove. What a mess that dog is. I love her. And see Bubba on his couch?

A little green on this dreary Monday...

It rained ALL night here last night. It's just a muddy mess out there again. But, it has been a long time so I am ok with it. I dreamed last night that the grass was turning green again. It was such a nice dream. I'm so looking forward to some color again. I can't even imagine how it looks out there without looking at pictures. But it's SO pretty!

I want to get bees again. But not sure whether to just order a package of bees or looks for another established hive. There is a guy not too far from me who has a lot of hives. He said he might sell me one. But then I'm thinking it might be easier to just get a package so I can get the hive where I want it without bees in it. Any ideas about this? For those who have bees, what is easier?

I saw a cute little Bluebird on my blue wisteria vine this morning. And I have seen those red breasted birds that I can't think of their names. Soon we'll have the yellow jonquils popping up all over.

I have to tell a story about my friends, Libby and Barry. Libby has cancer and has been home a few weeks now in a hospital bed in their living room. They have had this pesky male cardinal that goes to their porch window every morning around 6 or so and pecks and flutters for hours. It's been doing this same thing for a few years now but since Libby is in the living room, it hasn't bothered her. But now it wakes poor Libby up. The other day she had just about had it with this bird and told Barry he needed to do something about it. Well, what does a guy do to make his wife happy? He shoots the darn bird. Just shot it dead. And left it right there on the ground, for all the other birds to see. Libby has been sleeping so much better since.

Sunday thoughts...

 Someone on FB was talking about her cat and all the toys the shelter gave her when she adopted him. And how he seems to find other things to play with instead. Like a bread twistie tie on the kitchen floor. Or her husband's guitar string that hangs out of the case that the cat takes between his teeth and makes the scariest noise ever!

So I got to thinking about my cats and dogs and what they play with. Mostly the cats play with birds and dead mice and moles. And the dogs? Well, it looks like a cow died in the front yard most of the time. Just give them a bone and they're good to go.

When I took the 2 lambs to the butcher this past Tuesday, I asked for all the organs. When I looked in the cooler after picking it up, they also had 5 lamb legs in there. 5 lamb legs?? Where were the other 3 legs? I just thought that was so funny. And only 1 liver and kidney.

So, this is what my dogs play with. Bones. And Stella, she has to have something in her mouth at ALL times! When I let her out in the morning, she has got to find something to take out with her. A piece of paper, a sock, a piece of wood. Whatever. That dog is so funny!

And this is the round bale after 1 week. Do you think they'll make it to next Sunday? I don't know. And I have only 18 square bales left. I've been using 1 bale for 2 days for the goats and alpacas. So I hope to stretch those til the end of Feb.

I went ahead and made an appointment for Feb. 18th to take Abraham and John Henry in. I think I'll get all burger from Abraham and John Henry will be sausage. That will be 2 less boys around then. And I'll just put Bilbo Baggins in with the alpacas til the ewes have all lambed, then try to get them all together.

And these hens. Goodness, they never rest. Not even on Sundays. This is a double-yoker. Nice huh?

And this is what these girls do when they get out every morning. Run to these nesters. There are 2 hens in these 2 nests. They will both be full of eggs. Silly hens. They are so funny to watch.

I am trying to get all the clothes and rugs washed today. We are supposed to be getting rain for a few days. And then maybe snow, the way the weather people are talking. I so hope it goes some other way. But, I did hear some talk last night at the wold game dinner that if there is still snow on the ground 2 days after a snow, that we will get more snow like a week or so later. So yes, there was still snow all over the place even 4 days after. So here we go again? It's already warm enough out there to melt all the ice, so it's muddy!

I sure hope y'all have a wonderful day!

My mom

This is my mom. She started volunteering at Hutcheson Hospital a few months ago. She loves it. And everyone loves her. She is very helpful. And a fast learner too. She loves to bake and bring all that goodness to work with her. They all love that!

Just wanted to show off my beautiful mother. She looks good in blue, right?

5 day forecast

It was really nice today. Got up to about 50. Not really looking forward to rain, but it hasn't rained here since Dec.

And I have been hearing talk about another potential snow coming again next Thursday and Friday. I am choosing to not believe it. I can do that, right?

This is my friend's pond today. It doesn't look like it got to 50 today, does it? It's FROZEN! But it really is beautiful. Some of the designs were really amazing.

My husband went to get another truck load of firewood from his friend up on the mountain today. Filled the wood shed back up. He heard yesterday that his brother went into the hospital up in Rockwood, Tn. yesterday with blood clots in several places. He died this afternoon. This is his 3rd brother to die. My husband is the youngest of 9. His oldest brother is still living and there are 4 sisters in the middle. He's pretty shook up about this. He was debating on going to see him when he got the call. So please say a prayer for the family. Jim has a daughter and son and 2 grand kids.

Smile!

                 I think I would just like to hibernate for the rest of this crazy freezing winter. I am tired of it.

                                                                          That's all.

Snowy morning at Outback Farm

I think it got to maybe 10 last night. 66 in the house. That's what I have my central heat thermostat set on. It did come on during the night but that's ok. I had the water faucet in the bathroom upstairs dripping. All the cats still inside in the barn with heat on over there. I'll keep them in til tomorrow.


The dogs are fine in the snow. I've seen Bubba laying out in it a few times. When they come in, they lay in front of the wood heater. I caught Stella all sprawled out on her back awhile ago in front of the wood stove. Ran to get the camera and of course she got up. Anyway, she sure did look comfortable.

Yesterday, the chickens all wanted to stay in the coop. So I went ahead and brought them their food. Locked them all up for the rest of the day and night. This morning, there were already 7 eggs. One was frozen solid and cracked. I guess that was laid yesterday afternoon. So I am going out to get eggs several times a day.

 Here's my one legged rooster, Black Bart, this morning. He really has 2 legs, but it's %#@*!

                     Here is the fire pit, all covered in snow this morning. I love the designs on the blocks.

The round hay bale after 4 days so far. Looking pretty good. It might last a few weeks. They do seem to be hanging out there most of the time.

April, the new ewe, is getting pretty big in the udder. She was in one of the stalls this morning. I told her she better keep those lambs right inside and not let them come out any time soon. I hope she does.

I saw this shovel in the corner with this snow that looks just like a heart. Isn't that pretty? And so farmish.

So Georgia appears to be closed/ Like the whole state. There were so many people stranded over night in their cars on the roads in Atlanta. And even some kids on school buses til way into the night. Poor babies. Lots of stores opening up to let stranded people inside to get warm. It's a mess out there, people!

The snow is actually melting from the roofs and awnings on the house. But when it hits the ground, it's turning to ice. So I have to be really careful when I go out. So that's what's going to happen during the day. Then tonight, slick ice all over the roads. So please be careful if you have to get out there. I am staying home. I have lamb bones on the stove, making broth. I'm going to make a lamb stew for dinner. Just sounds really good today. With a cast iron pan of crispy hot buttery corn bread. Yummo!

I'm firing my personal weatherman.

 This is NOT what it looked like this morning when I woke up. Nor did it look like this when I was loading up 2 ram lambs to take to the butcher. Nor did it look like this on the way to the butcher. OR on the way home from the butcher. But a few minutes after I got home, it started to look like this.

And it got whiter and whiter. And of course the C word. But I won't say that word.

So, our daughter called from work to tell us school was closing at 11:30 and could we go get Kansas. We  had to go to town anyway for an appointment at 1:30 at H&R Block. Also wanted to take some soup to a friend and my mom. And take a cooler to the butcher for lamb organs.

So we headed out. I took pictures all the way to town and back. There was NO ONE on the road til we came up on this about half way to town. They were going maybe about 15. And would put brakes on going DOWN hills. And there are just about 3,876 hills on the way to town. OMG!!

Out other daughter called to say she was leaving work and would go get Kansas, but she was just crawling because it was like rush hour at 10:00 AM. Took her 2 hours to get home.

So we went to the school and got the grand child. Along with all the other people getting theirs.

On the way to Abby's, we had to go down this cool hill in the Baptist church parking lot and act like teen agers and do donuts! It was SO fun! Scared the poor child a little though.

Here's the grand, playing in the snow at Mrs. T's house. She's on the old oak tree stump. It's HUGE! We stopped there to get some wood from the huge wood pile that our son-in-law Jason has been working on splitting. We thought it would give up traction on these treacherous roads.

Isn't this magnolia tree beautiful all covered in snow?

 Before heading home, we went back to the butcher to take the cooler. I thought I might be able to go ahead and get the lamb organs but when we finally got to the top of their hill and got out of the car, I heard the sheep. Poor guys. He said it had been crazy all morning and he hadn't had a chance to get to them yet. So I'll go back in a few days. But going back down that hill was so scary. We almost slid into the ditch. But we made it.

Oh, we also got a call from the guy who was going to do our taxes. He canceled. He lives up on the mountain and was going home. The mountain is in this picture up ahead. Can you see it? Can you also see all the traffic going the same way we are?

This is at the crossroads of 136 and 193. Can you see the snow plow truck across the road? With salt in it. If you turn right, you go up the mountain. It looked like the truck had been up that way. So that's a good thing. To the left is Lafayette.

 
 And here we are, back home, safe and sound. I do have a good driver. He knows how to drive in snow. Unlike most everyone else out there. People are stupid when it's like this. Really. Stupid. I mean, there is cautious. Then there is stupid. I'm just glad I'm home. And all my kids and gran kids are home too.

                                And here are my snow-covered sheep. Even Abraham is white.

My snow-covered house. When we got home, it was only 64 degrees in the house. That's pretty darn #*^#!  So I went out and grabbed some little old pieces of wood and threw them in the stove and it got back up to a little over 70. Lots warmer than 20.

It will probably be looking like this for awhile. And ALL schools are closed tomorrow and probably the rest of the week. I'M stayin' home!

Decisions

 Yesterday, I got this round bale of hay for the sheep. They seem to like it. At first, I thought they might just eat til they ate the whole thing and die. But they ate awhile, then they'd go out and graze a little bit, then lay down. Then they'd go back and do it all over again. They really haven't made too much of a dent in it so far. But they are eating it. So I hope it'll last at least 2 weeks. We shall see. For just $15, this should be affordable. I may just get round bales for the sheep from now on.

I have to load up 2 of the ram lambs in the morning and take them to the butcher. I hate doing this, but that's why I have them. One of them is a friend's ram that's been staying here. The other is the make-up lamb for the screw up at the other butcher on the mountain that I will never take another animal to. So I am not making any money on this lamb. Just losing money. I learn as I go.

I cannot remember if this was a morning or evening shot. It was a few days ago, I remember that much. And I love it. Every day is so different. It never bores me to see the sky, in all it's glory.

This is what I see every morning. All the goats and the alpacas, standing there waiting on me to come out the door to feed them. I still have John Henry. I just don't know what to do with him. I have tried for months to sell him. And I have thought of butchering him here and making sausage out of him. But he is still stinkin' like a buck in rut. Not really bad, but I still smell him. And he is still in with the does because I have nowhere else to put him. I am also thinking about butchering Abraham, the ram. I'd use him for dog food. And the little black ram too. He is the smallest ram I have ever seen. He's not much bigger than Buttercup, who was born last April. I just don't want any males to have to worry about for so many months. So many decisions to make. Any suggestions?

And these alpacas. What am I going to do with them? I was thinking, after the ewes have their lambs, that I could put them together. I think they'd be ok that way. People put llamas with sheep and they're ok. Why not alpacas and sheep? Any thoughts on that too?

It's been beautiful the past 2 days. I have washed loads of clothes and towels and sheets. And hung them out on the clothes line to dry! I have to wait til the washing machine line thaws out to wash anything. So when it does, I am washing all I can. And when the sun shines, outside they go. We are doing all we can to keep electricity down here. What about y'all?