Need Motivation

I just cannot seem to get motivated lately. And I have SO much that has got to get started. And finished. The Holiday market is in 2 months and I still have lots of soap to make. And jars and vases to get done. And rag rugs to finish and start. Just too much. And I am still gardening. Going to markets. I am going today back to the market on 27. I picked a bunch of pretty collard and turnip greens. And kale and lots of pretty colorful radishes. It starts at 3 but I need to be there at least by 2:15. Then I'll have to take my daughter to work at 5 so I'll have to leave the market by 4:30, unless I can find someone else to take her. But usually, if I don't sell most everything in that first hour or so, I won't.

I guess being a last minute type person isn't a good thing right now. I would much rather be here, sitting on this porch, with the  babbling brook  at my feet. But that ain't gonna happen.

  

Another stuck head.

This is what I saw when I went out this morning. Or really, what I heard. This is Amarillo. A few days before it was Annabelle. In the same spot. I thought only goats did this.

I have a cattle panel in front of the field fence because when my cow Mazie was over there, she tore that part of the fence down and  went into the field next door. So I put the panel up to give it more stability. But the past few days, the sheep have been putting their heads through the fence to get to the grass on the other side because I had their pasture mowed. So now this happens right there. I took the cattle panel down and tried to fix the field fence so they can't get over it. Silly sheep. It's always something around here.

Sheep Sex (Graphic picture. Beware little eyes!)

This afternoon when I got home, Leelah was pacing at the fence, by herself. The others were all in the pasture up by the road. So I figured she was in heat. I led her across the driveway to the other little yard where the meat birds are. And the boys in the other pasture. I called the rams and it was going to either be Axel or Alfie, whoever went through the gate first. Alfie went through the gate first. So off he went in search of Leelah. He found her in 10 seconds and went right to work. Good boy! I'll know if he's done the job in 5 months.

She is the first to go. I hope the others follow soon after. Maybe I can put one at a time in that yard as they go in heat. That would be ideal.

While milking Abby and Sandy tonight, I caught John Henry and Zarah too! Zarah is in standing heat. Yay! This will be her first.

So here we go!

My Peaceable Kingdom

This evening I went out to feed and milk. And put the Freedom Rangers and laying hens back in their pens. This hardly ever happens but they all went in without too much trouble. And I sat out in the sheep yard and got to pet Amarillo and Annabelle! I have been getting a little closer to Amarillo the past few weeks but tonight she let me pet her forehead! And Annabelle has never let me get too near her but I stood there for 5 minutes petting her little head too. It's a sheep miracle! Adelaide has been talking to them, that's what it is. She's telling them it's not bad at all. And actually is quite nice to be petted and kissed on the nose. It was so nice tonight. They are all such sweet sheep. I love my sheep!

They came back!

The Border Collies came back today. They are going to come at least once a week. I told them they could come more if they want to. They did really good today.Had a little more confidence and they actually got the sheep to move for them. Poor Darla, my biggest ewe, got ran over by the rest of the sheep. She's ok though. I think she was embarrassed. She'll get over it.

Lige is in the front. He's 7 months old now. His mother is Bonnie. She did really good with the sheep. He's still way young. He's just at the right age to be introduced to sheep, not for training yet, but just to get to know them. He's got great form. He has the crouch and stare with his mom down pat. He's a good dog and so sweet. He comes right to me when they get here. I love them both. I hope Bonnie is carrying my new puppy!

24%

This morning I loaded Adelaide up in the car and took her to the vet. A tech came out and drew blood. The vet came out a little later and said her red blood cell count was at 24%!! After 2 weeks of the Red Cell and whatever else I've been doing, this is great news. Up 15% from 2 weeks ago. He would like to see it at least around 30% soon. And he said he'd like to do another fecal before I do any more worming. Which I hope I won't have to for a long time.

So now I need to get both pastures mowed. Then let them rest a week. Then start thinking about breeding who to whom. I think Adelaide and Annabelle are just too small still. I will wait til December to breed those two. And I want to use Abraham, the black Finn ram, on them. This is Annabelle and Amarillo is the last picture. She's a lot bigger than them but she's Finn too.

So that's what's going on here at Outback Farm these days. Lots of musical sheep and goats. Hopefully next spring, we'll have lots of cute little lambs and kids jumping around again!

Kind of funny

We have a lot of bike riders out here all the time. Like the racing-touring bikers. With sleek helmets, spandex shorts and shirts. Tight butts on little tiny narrow seats. Crazy leg muscles. They are not very friendly either. I mean they hardly ever wave or head nod or even a finger lift. They look straight ahead. They do not move over. We have little 2 lane roads out here that are hilly and lots of curves. And they don't do single file anymore. No. Some kind of law in Ga. and Tn. that says they can have the whole lane now.

So today, I'm out in the garden planting some cabbage and Brussels sprouts and chard. I see these 2 bikers heading back to town. I can always hear them when they ride by talking. Well, I heard the guy say to the other person "Look at the goats". My sheep were all up in the front pasture by the road. I almost fell over. It was so funny!  (I have nothing at all against the bike riders. I like riding down the road behind them for miles waiting for a place to pass. It's not a bad view. Really, I don't mind at all.)





                                               This is how close the sheep were to the road.