He's getting better

He really did great today. He gets better each time he comes here. And I think he enjoys being here with the sheep. He follows commands much better. I think he just may become a good herd dog after all. I am proud of him.

The sheep were a little winded after a few times around the pasture and yard though. They were all panting. It was around noon when they got here so was a little warmer. But we did not over work them at all. It was only about 5 minutes total. They are getting used to the dogs too.

I love watching the sheep running. They run with their heads help up high. So regal looking.











Bonnie, the older dog, was not quite as interested in the sheep today. She's about a month along in her pregnancy now so needs more breaks. So we didn't keep her in too long with the sheep.  So another good shepherding day with the Border Collies.

And I made 2 batches of soap! One is Pumpkin Spice and the other an Orange-Clove. The house smells so good! I love making soap. I need more vegetable shortening again. I am always running out of at least one oil. I'll take pictures of the soap when it comes out of the molds.

Around the farm

It's a cool kind of wet morning here in North Georgia. The grass is real wet. Went out to hang clothes this morning barefooted and it's cold. But it looks like it will be sunny and in the low 80's. Hopefully enough to dry up some of this slippery mud.


This is Penelope and the little Boer buck, who is nameless right now. Last night it looked like that spot on his back was shaped like a heart. But not this morning. More like just a red circle. He is SO fat. And little. I really don't think he has gotten anything done since he's been here with Penelope and Sandy. They both still act like they are in heat most of the time. And teasing poor John Henry on the other side of the fence. I do believe John Henry has done the deed. All 3 of the does he's with look settled. I'll keep them all together till the middle of October.

Yesterday, I opened the fence to the North garden. It's so buggy and nothing growing good in there. So I decided to let the sheep have at it. I did get some cucumbers but they were small. The bugs ate every bit of the field peas I had planted in Aug. And the turnip greens are all holey. The okra is done. And the sweet potato patch is a jungle. So the sheep can clear all that out for me so I can find some of them. They do such a good job of weed eating for me. And the chickens love all the bugs out there too.

This is Fiona and Axel. This morning I thought maybe she was coming in heat so I put her over in the "breeding yard". Went and got Axel and he chased her all over the yard. Not at all like Leelah and Alfie the other day. And she baaahhhed the whole time she was in there, except when she was running. Poor Axel is pooped. So I  put her back over with the rest of the girls and him back with the boys. He looked really disappointed, poor guy. But there will be another try later.

I had put Gracie and Darla in with Alfie a few days ago. Gracie was in standing heat. Darla, not so sure about her yet. Didn't actually see anything. But saw Alfie hanging around her a lot. So I think Gracie and Leelah are settled. Maybe Darla.





And this is a bird nest I found under an apple tree yesterday. Made with Darla wool and grasses. So amazing. I love that the birds used the wool I left out there for them. Just amazes me the intelligence these animals have. I love it.

I went to the Battlefield market yesterday with lots of collard and turnip greens, radishes and Blue Lake and Roma green beans and bell peppers and banana peppers. Sold quite a lot of it. But had to leave early to take my daughter to work. So came home and put a lot of greens in the freezer and will cook some for dinner tonight. I feel like a big pot of collard greens with a smoked ham hock. And some cornbread too of course!

Oh, and the Border Collie's are coming again today!! So looking forward to seeing them again. It was pouring rain Monday so they had to wait til today when it was a little dried out here. They are so pretty and clean, I hate to get them all muddy.

And I will be making some soap today. Gotta get some more made. I will make an orange-clove soap and more pumpkin spice. Love that smell! Just like a pumpkin pie right out of the oven. Yum!

So that's what's going on here at Outback Farm. I hope y'all are having a great Thursday so far!

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!