Had a phone call

AFTER I went to town and saw the sheriff. I told him what all has happened and he called the guy. And he actually answered! But then, when the sheriff told him this was the Walker Co Sheriff's dept, the guy hung up! The sheriff called right back and didn't get an answer.

So about half way home, my phone rings and it's him. And I'm in a place that's pretty bad for reception too. Keep that in mind. He said he'd been trying to call me for days. It goes straight to voice mail. He said he left numerous messages. He's had to go with a different phone company because Verizon is not good where they live. Hmmm...we had to go with Verizon way out here because it was the ONLY phone company that WOULD work way out here.

So he said he and his son came out yesterday to get the kids. He said he called a few times to tell me and left messages. I have nothing on my phone indicating he has EVER called. Nothing. And I have had my phone with me since I started leaving him messages. I do not believe a thing that man has said. He also said he tried to call the sheriff back but didn't get the number. I asked about the kids and wanted to know if they were ok. He said yes, they are fine. They are at the farm now.

I guess that's all folks! I'm done with this little drama. Now I can go work in the yard and plant stuff! Then milk a goat again tonight! Thanks for all the encouragement and I hope this is the end of this story.

P.S. AND next year, when I am ready to sell kids again, I WILL get more info on people buying them. AND I will go see their farms. So I'll just deliver the little rascals myself. Just to be on the safe side next time.

Milking Sandy again

I got to milk Sandy this morning. She had a lot of milk. It took awhile to get her to let it all down for me though. She misses her kids. But she'll be fine.

I was outside picking figs and saw the gate to the buck and ram pen open. Abraham was out in the holding area but no John Henry. I found him, alone, and put them both back in their yard. I had moved the sheep over next door and they were just a fence away from Abraham too. Too close for comfort. I do not want February lambs or kids ever again.

The 1st of October, I will put bucks and the ram with the girls. March sounds like a better time to have lambs and kids.

I'll be going to the police station while I;m in town to report what happened yesterday. Maybe I can get them to call this guy. I just hope the kids are all ok.

Well, how do ya like that?

So, I just got home from market. Sandy is out back bawling her head off. I go to see what's wrong. Well, her kids are gone. Just like that. These people came here and took the kids while I wasn't even here! No note. No calls. Nothing at all. That's just crazy. They did pay for them when they first came out here to see them. But they don't know a thing about these kids. When they were born or what shots they've had. It's just crazy. Not right. I called them and left yet another message saying how I hoped it was them that came out here and got the goats. And thanks for calling.

I have never been through something like this. It's just plain weird. Now I'm going to worry that they'll start calling and wanting to come get the kids and saying it wasn't them that got them. Great.

A dilemma.

I have a problem. Before I left for Colorado, I had put an ad on Craig's list to try and sell these triplet does. I got a call just a few hours later from a couple that were so excited and wanted all 3 and would come out right away to pay for them. They said they couldn't get them til the end of Aug. though, because their farm was not quite ready for the goats. I said that would be just fine as I was leaving for a week and didn't want the girl who was going to come milk Penelope to have to milk Sandy twice a day.

So now it's Sept. 4th. I have called a few times and left messages on the guys phone. I know it's his because he says his name on the voice mail. So this morning I called again. I said first that I hope they are ok. The wife had broken her ankle and was having to go to PT. I said that if I don't hear from them in a few days that I will start charging $5 /day /goat for feed and boarding, starting Sept. 1st. That's going to add up pretty fast to the amount they paid (in full, BTW) and then I will try to sell them again. I do have a copy of the bill of sale that states they will pick the 3 doelings up the end of Aug.

Has anyone had this happen? What did you do? Any other suggestions? I think I have done all I can do right now. I do hope they are ok and that they call and come get these girls.

Letting the girls out. Their first time.

Yesterday when I got home about 6:30, I let the girls out. It took them awhile to figure out the door was open. But one by one, they all went out. They didn't know what to do or where to go first! It was just so amazing and exciting to be out there in the wide open world.

                                                              They went this way....

                                                                    and ran that way!

I love the look on this one's face. Like she's totally amazed at all the grass and bugs and wide open spaces she can explore now. Where to begin?

I let them out again about an hour ago. I'll keep letting them out a little longer each day, til they are out all day soon. They are really loving this! I just hope they will stay in the chicken yard and not in MY yard.

An "old lady"

She's always saying "the old lady is slow today" or "the old lady can't do what she used to do anymore". Today she said "when you get to be an old lady, things start happening." I asked her what an old lady is. She said someone in their 70's, 80's, 90's.

I met her 30 years ago. She was 66 then. We had just moved in next door to her. I was outside one day and looked up to see this beautiful tall white haired lady walking through my yard. She introduced herself and said she lived next door. She welcomed us to the neighborhood. We've been good friends ever since. Although now, she says my mother used to bring me to her when I was just 3 years old, to teach me my ABC's and art.

I don't know how she became an "old lady". When did this happen? I can't put a date or time on it. But really, she only started acting like an old lady about 5 years ago. Really forgetful. Repeating stories over and over. Using a cane. Really hard of hearing. The list goes on and on. To me, she's still a beautiful woman. Full of grace and charm. She's a true Southern lady. Born and raised in Chattanooga and lived there and in N. Ga. most of her life. She's amazing. And healthy to be 96. She says she's 99. That the date on her DL is wrong. She's the only woman I've ever known who says she's older than she really is. She just wants to be 100. She's a mess, this lady!

I hope that when I'm an old lady, I am just like her.

Hello September!

 This morning, I noticed the Silver Maple tree has some yellow on some of the leaves. And there is a different feeling in the air. Fall's on the way!

                                                       Yates apples all over the ground.

                                      This is on the Granny Smith apple tree. How strange is that?

And the figs are coming on strong! I go out and pick a lot every day now. I took a lot to the market last Wed. And also made 10 jelly jars of fig preserves yesterday. I just picked a bunch for my friend this morning too. I'll be making more preserves as the days go by. I have 4 bushes and they are all just loaded.

                                The blueberry bushes are starting to turn and loose their leaves.

                                           This is the sedum, decked out in it's Autumn glory.

I love Redbud trees. They are my very favorite tree. I have wanted them here ever since we bought this place. I got this tree and another smaller tree from my mother's yard a few years ago. This one is about 15' tall now. The other one is really small but is growing and will hopefully be as big as this one soon. I love the leaf patterns on this tree too. So pretty.

We need to get all the oak tree wood split and hauled to the farm soon. I think we'll be having an early fall.