I just have to say...

That farming in winter SUCKS!!! Really BIG! I just have to be honest here. If no one wants to see an honest blog post, then go elsewhere please.

I used to love winter. When I was younger. But now I just don't like it. All the mud and mucky mess everywhere.I guess if I didn't have animals, it would be a whole different world here. But I have 18 sheep. 5 goats. 2 alpacas. 35 chickens. 6 cats. And 2 dogs. The 2 dogs live inside, most of the time. So when it rains, they go outside for a few minutes to do their thing. Long enough to come back in sopping wet. So they know the drill. Sit on the kitchen rug so I can wipe them down with a towel. Which I really don't mind too much. It gives me some time to really love on them. Which most of the time I'm just too busy to do. Because of all these other animals.

Now I have some favorite blogs I go to almost every day. Most of them have goats and sheep and chickens too. Most all are farm blogs. Some have dairy cows too. And donkeys. I don't think I have ever seen or read about the crappy parts. And I'll give some examples here.

Like a few of them feed their sweet clean little goats cookies. I do that too. But I have never seen a picture of them covered in mud from when the goats jump all over them. Or when they are knocked down by those precious little kids., trying to get to that cookie before another goat gets it. And taking turns? HAH! Ever seen a goat be nice and give a cookie to another goat? Mine would kill the other goat first. There is NO sharing among goats. Or sheep either. It's all for one. That's it.

Or when the sheep almost knock them down trying to get to their feed bowls. Like when the gate is opened and they all try to get through all at once. It really is funny. But not when you're in front of that gate. I have come pretty darn close to having some broken knees.  I'm not saying it'll never happen either. And I have been knocked down several times by sheep, crazed by fear because I am giving them a drench of wormer or something. Sheep are crazy. Yeah, I said it. Sheep are CRAZY! I have seen them leap 10' in the air to get away from a human who's only trying to help them. Never seen that on a farm blog.

And I love the blogs where there are children. I have never heard anyone say how many times a child has been head butted by a goat. My grand daughter was. Right in the belly. Knocked her 3' away, on her back. And I have been rammed by a ram. NOT fun. It hurt really bad. The ram was gone a few days later.

Or people being spit on by Llamas or kicked by donkeys. Why don't people just be honest and tell the world how it really is on their perfect little farms, in winter.

And, in winter, while I'm not milking, my milk room looks like a tornado went through it. It's a mess! I don't care either. Not right now. I will get it all cleaned up soon enough. There's no goats going in right now, so they don't see it. They'd probably roll their eyes at me and call me lazy.

Yes, it's raining again here at Outback Farm. Like we need more rain, right? I can hardly walk out there for all the wet clay. Did you know when clay is wet, it's like skating on ice? I slide all over the place. I just want a few concrete trucks to come in and concrete this whole place right now.

My personal weather man just informed me it's going to RAIN ALL DAY! And we have to go to a doctor and run some errands. Yay!

I would just love to see the crappy parts of winter farming on some of these pretty blogs. Just to know I am not the only one who hates farming in winter. And farming in winter SICK? Even worse.

But, we're on the downhill slope now toward spring! It's just not like this in spring, summer or fall. And I do apologize for being so negative. But really, all these perfect farms with red barns and wreaths on the barn doors and perfectly clean nice little goats that wait their turn for cookies. It just makes me want a farm like that. And it ain't gonna happen.

Reflections: last half of 2013

 This is full of pictures. Lots of things happened from May til now.

My step dad, Gary, went into the hospital the 2nd week of May. And he died 3 weeks later. On my husband's 65th birthday. I had no idea that he wouldn't ever get out of the hospital. He'd have good days then more bad days. Mom was there all day, from before sun-up to after dark. We all miss him.

We had Gary's memorial service at their home, the end of June.  Most of the family came. It was like a little family reunion.

The 1st weekend in Ausgust is the Sherrill family reunion up in Crossville, tn. Lots of Indiana people come for this. We have been meeting at my husband's sister's house on the lake in Spring City, Tn. on Saturday. The kids love it. There's usually a boat on the water with the jet skies going. Lots of fun. Then on Sunday, we all meet at the park in Crossville. Lots of good food and family.

I got a bunch of young, very expensive laying hens. They are all finally laying now. I was so happy to see eggs here again!

Then later in Aug. me and Mom went to Colorado Springs to visit my brother and sister and all their kids and grand kids. We stayed a week. Went to the Garden of the God's and Manitou Springs. Had lots of good get togethers with all the family. Lots of fun.

In September, right up the road from me, was the 150th Civil War re-enactment. Thousands of people, from all over the world, came here to be a part of this.

I also acquired 2 male Alpacas. A friend owns Little Darlings Alpaca farm and she talked me into getting these 2 boys. The red one is Misha and the white one is Gandolf. They are half brothers. Can't wait to get all that wool to spin.

I also learned to skirt and wash wool. Also card it. I bought brand new carder and spinning wheel. I finally got the carder to work for me but still haven't gotten the wheel to work. I'll take it to my friend to see if she can get it going for me. So I can spin up all this wool I've been carding.

I got a new hair ram for my hair sheep too. His name is Bilbo Baggins. he's really small though, next to my big huge ewes. I hope he grows a lot more! He sure is a fat one though.

 Took 2 of the ram lambs to the slaughterhouse. I had all 4 halves sold. I took them up on the mountain because there is no waiting there. I found out why. At the cost of the other ram lamb. They just do not know how to cut up lamb. I'll never ever take anything up there again. Big costly mistake.

 And, in Nov. my husband got really sick. Could have lost both feet. Somehow, he burned both ankles on the heater in his new truck. He has neuropothy, so cannot feel anything below his knees. So he didn't know he was burning his ankles. Ended up really sick and in the hospital for a week. He's been home ever since, on sick leave. He'll officially retire when his benefits run out.

                                              And it looks like 2013 will end like it started. WET.

Here is my very relaxed happy husband, in his recliner. Trying to look like a wise old guy. He's doing SO much better now than when he first got back home. We really don't know where this new year will take us. It'll be an adventure for sure. He's going to help with the farming when he's able to wear boots again. And he may do some part time driving. We'll just see.

So that's my year. I think I'll have to make some changes in the animals and maybe downsize the sheep and up size the goats. I don't know how the Alpacas will fit into the farm either. But things will happen the way they should, I guess. I just never know what I'll be doing really. Til it happens. And that's the fun of it all.

Reflections: 1st half of 2013

2013 started off wet. We had rain every day here. Floods all over. It was messy. And cold too. Not a good way to start a new year. And it flooded the gardens every time I'd plant them. Never did get a good garden to grow. The fall garden did the best.

I had bought 2 new does in December. One was pregnant. Very pregnant. Trudy had twin kids in Jan. A boy and a girl. She was the first of many to kid and lamb here at Outback Farm this year.

Next was Abby and Penelope. They were in the same stall and had theirs the same morning. I could tell right away who's was who's. So I took Penelope and her twin doe kids to the other stall. Got them all situated and fed. Penelope was a first freshener. I sold her kids at just a few weeks old and milked her every day til last month.

 Abby had twin buck kids. Looked just like her. She was 12 years old when she had them. She had trouble before they were born. And she went down hill after. She never did get better. I put an ad on CL, trying to sell the kids and take some stress off her. They sold that day. But she kept getting worse and worse. I had her put down late on a Sunday night. The saddest day ever. First goat I ever lost. I had her 9 years. I miss her still. She was  the best milker I have ever had.

Then the sheep started lambing. It was wet and so cold. The ewes got sick, one after the other, right after lambing. Had the vet out and got them all straightened out. We had 8 new lambs.

  Fiona didn't want her little red lamb. I found her outside that morning, trying to find her mommy. I had to go get matching sweaters and put them on the girls. She finally would let little Bonnie Belle nurse without trying to kill her. But she could only nurse from the back. She's the prettiest sweetest lamb ever.

I also got pigs. I had them about 3 months. Then sold them to a friend up the road. Didn't miss them at all.

  Got 2 doe rabbits too. I kept them several months. Then after they kept digging out from under the pen too many times, I sold them too. I guess certain things are just not meant to be  for me.

 And I got a hive of bees. I loved those bees. Had them a few months. Then wax moths got in and took over. Lost all the bees. They just left. I will have more in the spring.

That's the first half of 2013. I'll try ti get the last half up tomorrow. It sure was a busy full year here. Lots of good times. And lots of sad times too.

Wishing you all a very happy new year!

I don't feel too good.

I don't normally get sick. But when I do, it's good. My throat hurts SO bad right now. And I have a fever. Stuffy. Feel like crap. All over.

So I found a recipe for a hot rum toddy. I have everything I need to make it. But I'll wait til I'm all done with the animals. I've been taking care of my friend's goats and chickens while they're off in sunny Florida for a week. I think some of them will be back tonight. So I'll have a nice hot shower and get warm jammies on and my big thick comfy robe and socks. Then boil the water and have a hot toddy. Might watch a movie if I can find a good one.

I also made some chicken pot pie with one of my Freedom Rangers. I have already had a cup of broth. It's so good. So I'll have that some more too.

And the sheep. I got some Nutri-Drench at the co-op a few days ago. And while at Walgreens. waiting on Tiny's prescription to be filled, I found some Vit. E oil. On sale. BYGO. So I have been mixing them together and giving this to Buttercup and Abraham. And I am seeing a difference in their walking. Not stiff legged so much now. I am also adding more sunflower seeds to their feed. And lots of kelp and loose minerals.

I've been making these ear warmers for Christmas gifts. And now am trying to sell some. My daughter Abby has already sold these 2 to a friend at work. I hope to make a bunch more and try to sell them on line. They are just $10 each. And I can make kids sizes too for $7. I also have some hand spun Alpaca in a light brown and also a dark brown with cream.I'll sell these for $15. So if anyone needs some nice warm ears in this crazy cold weather, I can mail them to you for a small postage fee. They don't weight hardly anything, so it shouldn't be much. I can stick them in a long envelope probably.

I hope you all have had a wonderful Christmas. Mine was nice.A little sad because my step dad was not here. It will take some getting used to. We all miss him a lot. Mom is now volunteering at the hospital and she loves it. She brings goodies in for everyone and they gobble them up! She is the baker in this family. I just didn't feel like it at all. And my kids don't bake either. Mom makes the best pound cake too.

So if I don't get back on here for a few days, I wish you all a very happy, healthy new year, with lots of sweet healthy pretty lambs and goat kids and calves and chickies!

Sick sheep. And Merry Christmas to all!

 We had so much rain night before last and most of the day yesterday. Everything is such a mess. And the temperature is so up and down. Hot one day, cold the next. Wet, muddy messes all over.

Not the ideal circumstances for sheep.

So yesterday morning, while feeding sheep in the pouring rain, I noticed Adele laying down. And Darla was outside by herself. And Abraham is really slow too. I was hoping they weren't getting pneumonia. Because with the weather all wonky like it's been lately, that's what can happen to sheep.

This morning, I went ahead and made up a bunch of syringes of Combi-Pen 48 and    B Complex for these 3 woolies. I keep records of all my animals and each one has their own pages. Well, Adele only has when she was born and who her parents are. Darla and Abraham each have about 2 1/2 pages. So this is the first time I've had to do anything to Adele, thank goodness. She's not the friendliest lady. But I caught her and gave her the shots. And somewhere, in all that wool, is a needle that came off. I hope it falls off. And I hope they all feel better soon. I'll give them all more for several days. I WON'T give them LA 200 though, ever again. I don't want to lose any more wool. And Darla and Adele's wool is looking really good right now.

The wet muddy mess that's the chicken-sheep area. I went ahead and moved the sheep back over to the other pasture. It's lots drier over there right now. I sure hope it quits all this raining. I just want to get a couple dump truck loads of concrete and put it out here, so they'll have something dry to stand on. Next, they'll all have foot rot.

We fired up the wood stove again. Gonna be COLD this week. And I am going to the Main St. Farmers Market one more time before Christmas. They're having it this afternoon.

I hope every one of my cyber friends out there have a most wonderful joy filled Christmas!

Pinto beans on the wood stove.

Last night, I put on a pot of pinto beans. On the wood stove. They were boiling within minutes. Had to put the top down and just set them on top of the stove for the night. Then this morning, opened the lid back up and set the pot on the hot top. They are almost done. The house sure smells good.

But it's supposed to get warm the next several days. So we'll let the wood burn down. It's going to be in the 70's by Sunday, but stormy with lots of rain heading our way. It's been nice the last few days too.

Yesterday afternoon at the market, I got a sunny spot. Didn't even put my canopy up. It's just an hour now, from 4-5. I had on short sleeves with a vest. When that sun went behind the building across the street, it got cold! And then I couldn't get warmed back up. This morning it was only about 28. But in the 60's by this afternoon. I'll take it!

Just that kinda day.

 It's beautiful outside today! Bright blue sky, Sun shining. Just the perfect breeze blowing. So I washed a load of towels and sheets and some rugs. Hung them out back. The poor alpacas still aren't too sure about these things flapping in the wind. But I sure do love it.

I'm taking a needle felting break. It really is tedious work. So I get up and do other things in between making a sheep or something.

I sure hope it's a beautiful day all over the country, so everyone can enjoy this too. Maybe I might get more than 5 eggs today too.