The walk: part 4

Ok, 1 more after this and we're done.

Zeeboo said to go this way. Bubba is already over there, ready to go down. Look at that pretty bright green moss. So green.

Now across this ridge. It only went so far, then stopped. There were a lot of trees across the end, so we just headed straight down toward the house. Don't these guys look worn out?

Through this limb, that long white shiny thing is the roof to one of the chickens houses across the road from us. I think there are about 5 or 6 at least. But I never knew they were there when we bought this place. The house we moved from in Ringgold had 7 chicken houses down behind us. And they really stunk bad. That's one of the main reason we moved. But these houses are way across the road and back over the hill, so we really never notice them. Just every once in awhile, after the chickens have been taken away, when the houses are cleaned, that's when we smell them. But not always.

What we are walking down. It was pretty steep in some places. I found 2 pretty long branches for walking sticks and I'm glad I did. They saved me several times from rolling all the way down. It was pretty slippery.

Aw, down in the valley at last! Just look at that view. That's Pigeon Mt. You can just see the shine of the garage roof to the left through the clearing. To the right, that shiny spot is the pond the dogs love to swim in when they get out.

This is the little hill I usually climb up when we walk out back. It's got the best view right there.

                                             So I sat down and took a break. I love it here.

Poor Bubba was quite worn out here. Stella was way down the hill, waiting for us. But we stayed here a good 20 minutes, just resting.

I'll do one more post because there are some really good pictures of the goats.

It's a beautiful day today. There might be some rain later, but tomorrow close to 70! It was amazing yesterday too. I told all the pregnant ewes they can go ahead and have lambs now. I am thinking Adele is just about to lamb. She is getting pretty loose in the back end and walking really slow. I keep hoping I'll go out and see a few little lambs but she's holding on. I think I put the ram in about the beginning of October. So they may have a few more weeks to go. They are all SO huge though. It's so exciting waiting for lambs.

Right now. This minute.

I'm not gonna lie. I do not like winter. I used to love it. Til I hit 50. For some reason, after that, I just cannot get warm enough. And I think it has a lot to do with having a farm with lots of animals on it. They are messy. They tear up the ground. They aren't big animals like cows or horses, but they can still tear up the ground. And where animals are, it's a mud pit. And I feel bad for them.

This winter has been cold. And wet. And lots of snow. More than we have had in years here. I like snow ok. For about a minute. Then I'm all over it and ready for it to go away. But these snows seem to like to hang around. I think on the news last night, they said kids have missed 17 days so far from this crazy weather. And that's just since January. They went one day this week, Monday.

So last night, I was a bit depressed about all this mess. My farm is literally a mud pit. From front to back. All mud, everywhere I look. Brown ugly wet slushy ooey gooey mud. That's it. Til the snow came and covered it all up with about 7". Yes, it was beautiful. For a minute. Then here comes the dogs. The sheep. The chickens. Not the goats, because they will not go out in this. And where ever they step, they made mud. So pretty soon, it was a mud pit again.

Yes, I went to bed depressed. And I cried a little. Wondering if this will ever be over. Will I ever see green again? Will the ground ever be dry again? Will I ever mow again? Or even get the tiller in the garden again? It was bad. I just wanted to stay in bed til summer.

I know there are people who love this snow. I saw people actually having fun. Sledding and skiing and laughing and building cool snow people. Snow is beautiful and fun and serves a purpose I suppose.

Then I thought of how people are all basically the same, physically. We all have hands and feet and a head and all that. But God put something different into each one of us. He made some people love the cold and some love it hot. He made some people dare-devils and want to jump off and out of things. He made some people want to fly like birds and go higher and higher, into the heavens. He made some people want to be doctors and lawyers and business managers and want to stay up all day and night. And love it. He also made farmers and ranchers and butchers and vets. We are all different and I am so glad I am who I am.

So I have been thinking about all this today. Because I woke up to this. A totally different world. It looks dry out there, doesn't it? I was amazed that just last night, when I went to bed, it was all muddy and still snow all over. But right now, looking at this picture, I feel hope. That soon, this will all be green again. And the trees will have leaves again. And I will mow all this and probably complain about it. And also complain that it is so dry and when will it ever rain again? The ground will be so hard and dry I will pray for rain. I know I will. Because I am human.

And God knew this would happen, way back before we were ever here. He knew that we, as humans, would not be satisfied with summer 12 months long. Or spring 12 months long. Or fall, even with all it's glory, we would not be happy with it for 12 long months. So he gave us seasons. That only last 3 months at a time. Thank you, Lord!

Because I remember saying last summer, how I wanted it to be over. It was a crappy summer. Nothing in the garden was growing right. I had to replant so many times. I wanted it to be over so I could start all over again. With a a better garden. And now, I am saying I just want this horrible winter to be over. Why can't I just be happy knowing that this too shall pass? And that it will be spring soon. Then summer again. And I will long for fall.

So I think, right now, this minute, I will be content to wait. Because I know.

Part 3: up and across

 Here's my mountain goats! I don't think any of us realized how high up we would be going. But I think we were about as high as Pigeon Mt. to the East of us. Pretty far up there. But it wasn't really that hard. I wasn't winded or having to stop as much as I thought I would have. Just kept on going.

                                                            The stream, going down.

                                I found this really pretty mossy fairy castle. Almost a heart shape.

A little level spot on the way up.  Looks like the goats are wondering which way to go.

 This is looking straight up to the top. Not much farther to go now!

Here we are, at the top!

 There's Lookout Mt. I have always wanted to go up this ridge to see what was on the other side. There is a valley called Crowe Gap. Lots of chicken houses back there. But really beautiful. Couldn't see too much with all the trees, but I did see some houses.

The goats are ready for a little rest by now. I am too.

Looking straight up this very tall pine tree. So beautiful.

Bubba and Stella, getting tired by now.

Stella looks like she is wanting to go home! She's pooped. She has done nothing but run the whole way up. Time for a little rest before heading back down.

Grand Adventure: Looking for spring, part 2

 We got up to the big old oak tree to see if there were any daffodils up there yet. It's so beautiful up there. I would love to have a little cabin right on the little knoll under the oak tree. Very peaceful. I wonder if there used to be a homestead there a long time ago? It's just the perfect spot.

We did find the daffodils! Not very many, but they were popping up! Really short and had some buds on them too. I'll go back next week after all this snow is gone and pick some. I love to have them all over the house this time of year. Makes me feel all springy.

Also saw some leaf buds on some of the tree branches. So exciting to see those! You can see in the background, the brown hill. That was at the end of this journey, when we headed back down.

So, I spotted this little stream on the other side of the oak tree down below it. I decided to follow it to see where it came from. That's where the real adventure began!

I am amazed, that even way out here, in the middle of no where, there is still trash. So sad to see this.

And there was more green to see. Ferns on the little banks of the creek, all pretty and happy. I love ferns.

And here is the stream we followed that day. It went up and up and up some more. At one point it split. We decided to go right. Isn't this beautiful?

To be continued....

No spring here.

 No spring anywhere around these parts any time soon. Woke up to this this morning. My fired personal weather man told me this wasn't supposed to happen til this afternoon. Huh! So I made him take me to town to get feed and milk and all that stuff that I was out of.

 Before we left, I saw a snow plow flying down the road going South. So I knew the roads would be ok. Plus my mom lives in Ft. Oglethorpe and my daughter Abby works in Chattanooga. They both said there was not a bit of snow anywhere to be seen. And all over FB, all those to the North of us were fine. So we took off. It looked like this til we got past High Point, about 13 miles North.

Then this is what it looked like. A totally different world. And here we are with 5" of snow all over our Trooper. People were looking at us like we were aliens! It was so funny. I needed to go to the feed store just up the road from here and they were closed. Yes, closed. Could not believe they were closed. So we went to get bread at the place I get day old bread for the critters, then Whole Foods. Then to Ft. O to Tractor Supply. I knew they'd be open. So we had a truck load of stuff when we headed home. 

Or I would have throw these 2 in the back. Yes, 2 goats, right in the road in High Point, Ga. The white one was a buck but the little brown one is a doe. But I didn't have room. I guess Tiny could have held them.

Got home and I unloaded the car. I feel so much better knowing all my feed barrels are full. Now anything can happen and my animals will be fed. Although I am down to about 15 bales of hay. And I had my friend put the new round bale next door. And the sheep are over here til this "snow"pocolypse is over.

And this is what I found when I came in from feeding all the critters. THIS is why the man can't sleep at night!

From what I've been hearing, this was just the first round of this snow storm. The rest is coming later tonight and tomorrow. But I'm ready! Just wish all this would freeze. It's the nastiest mess out there.

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.