Practice pictures from new camera...

This past weekend was the Springamajig at the main St. Farmer's Market in downtown Chattanooga. I got to bring my 3 bottle lambs. They were a huge hit with everyone, young and old. After awhile, I started letting a few kids at a time inside the little cage with the lambs. They got plenty of clover and loving from all of them. But poor girls were just worn slap out after a few hours and ready to go back to our peaceful farm.

I brought the camera with me to Mrs. T's Friday. Sat in her tv room with her, snapping photos of her. I got several really good pics of her hands. I love her hands. For 96, nearly 100, that woman has nice hands. She used to make the most beautiful pottery with those hands. And painted as well.

Some pics of Mrs. T's yard and sun room/ Just playing with the new camera.

Yesterday, my friend Julie and her grand daughter, came to shear some sheeps. This is Darla, the first to get sheared. She was SO happy to have all that heavy hot wool taken off. She was so good. Then we got Adele up on the stand and only got half her back sheared. Her wool was so think and full of lanolin, the machine kept clogging up. So we had to stop with her halfway sheared.

 

Last night, I went out back and took night time pics. Got some really good ones here.

Then awhile ago, went outside with the goats.  This is Aslan on the rock, with her sister Jewel and I think that's Woody. You can really see Sandy's ribs here.

So finally got the camera installed in the computer, so I can get pictures on my blog and my FB page. I think I like this camera, but really would rather have a small, not so intricate, confusing camera, just to take quick shots and be able to carry it in my pocket. But so far, it's a good camera. I would love to find a class some time to learn more. I learn more by doing, rather than reading.

Hope y'all are having a great Sunday! It's beautiful here. Making some feta cheese with goat's milk! I'm going to once a day feedings with the lambs, so now have extra milk to drink and make cheese. And for a few customers!

New camera and farmer's markets.

I found a camera. A Canon Rebel. I do not know how to use it though. Good grief, I'll have to take photography classes again! So bear with me as I learn how to take a picture.

Today was the official grand opening of the Main St. farmer's market. I took my 3 lambs with me. They were a huge hit with everyone who came by. And they got lots and lots of clover to eat! But oh goodness, were they 3 tired little girls by the end of market. First trip to the city and I think they were ready to get back to their farm. And this Saturday is the opening of the Brainerd market. They'll be going to that one as well. It's so good to be going back to the farmer's markets again. And I have actual produce to sell! Although I will have to replant green beans, squash, zucchini and sunflowers. I should know not to plant these things in April by now. All the rain we got a few nights ago washed so much away.

I will be back in a few days when things settle down here. I hope you all have a great week and weekend too!

Camera shopping

I dropped my camera right in the little pool I had just filled up for the sheep and alpacas today. Right after taking some really good pictures of them all on their new green grass in the yard next door. I'm so upset with myself for doing that.So I'll be looking for a new camera tomorrow or Tuesday.

This evening, right before feeding the bottle lambs, a car came up the driveway. It was a couple who had bought a buck several years ago. They had seen my CL ad about the sheep and wanted to come see them. Diane just fell in love with Clack, one of the quads. He came right up to her and loved all over her. She just melted. Even picked him up and he almost fell asleep on her shoulder. So she wants him and Cora. I'll castrate him in a few weeks. I noticed his brother, Click, is probably not going to stay truly black but I think Clack will. Click has some cream color underneath the black now. Clack is all black, all the way through and so is Cameron, the other black lamb.  I told her there's no telling what they'll look like in a few months. So I have 4 lambs spoken for. I'll be keeping the 3 bottle lambs. So that leaves 10 lambs. And 6 ewes. Possibly 7. I think I could sell Fiona in a heartbeat if someone wanted her. She's the instigator of the flock. She jumps a fence and they all follow her.

I got the new 4' welded wire fence put up this morning for the sheep yard next door. I need to take the 3' fence I took down and put it over the barbed wire fence the sheep like to go through out into the field they aren't supposed to be in. Then take the electric net fence and put down the middle of the big South pasture. Then they can go out there soon. It is greening up. And with rain in the forecast for the next few days, it should start to grow good.

I got to take a nap this afternoon! I love Sunday afternoon naps. I hope you all had a good restful Sunday.

Through the eyes of strangers.

   I always wonder what people think when they ride by my farm. When I'm out in the pastures with the sheep, I see people ride by. Some are looking straight ahead. Some turn their heads and look around. Once, there was a family who went all the way home to change clothes and come back to see the lambs. I've had people stop and get out to take pictures.

There's lots of bike riders that come out here too.  Most of them ride with their heads down, never looking around. I just want to holler at them to look up, see the beauty all around them! It is beautiful out here. I was out in the big pasture with the sheep and lambs not too long ago and actually heard someone say "Look, there's sheep. And there's a lady out there with them." That was strange.

We get a lot of tourists now, because of the Mt. Cove restaurant. It's 5 miles south of us. There is also a huge barn where there are weddings and big events. That's when we get traffic. So many cars and trucks zooming past for hours.

We are right on the road, so it's all out there for people to see. I do have my farm sign with things I have for sale. And people do stop and come in.

So this evening, right when I was finishing up the lambs bottle feedings, a white SUV drove up the driveway. And I am filthy, of course! I'd been working on taking down the old fence to put up a taller fence for the sheep so they can go in the little house yard soon. So all these people climb out and come over to me. And they're all saying how beautiful my little farm is and how long have we lived here and on and on. They were looking all over and seeing all the animals. There were 2 couples, I guess in the 60's, from Atlanta, on their way home after a day of hiking at The Pocket just over the ridge. They saw my sign and decided to stop and see if I had eggs.

They wanted to see the goats, so I took them back there. Showed them all the kids. They just went on and on about them, how cute and sweet and soft they were. Took all kinds of pictures. Bought some eggs and said they'd be back when they were up this way again.

This just made me think about this farming life and how other people see it.After this morning, when the sheep are screaming at me to hurry up with their feed and the bottle lambs are wanting their bottles. Right now! And seeing Leelah, one of my first ewes, laying down, straight legged, like she's in labor, with a glazed over look in her eyes. I knew something was wrong with her. I checked her gums and they were pale. So I ran to get some wormer and a shot of B complex. Had to chase her all over again and got mad and cried because all I wanted to do was help her, stupid ewe.

Then the chickens are all over the yard and gardens, scratching up everything I've planted and mulch all over. I really hate chickens right now. This time of year  is really bad for me. So I have sold 21 of them to my friends up the road, but they can't get them til they get some things done in their coop. A few more days, then there will just be the black hens and Black Bart, the rooster. I'll clip wings or just keep them in the coop and run til fall.

Then yesterday, I took 4 kids to get them disbudded. One of the bucks was not sounding good this morning, so had to deal with him. Then little Jewel's head looked really bad. Her horns were small, so Kendra got a little more head burned. Had to spray her head a few more times.

I know people don't see all this when they ride by. They don't see the sick or hurting animals. Or the messed up fences. Or the crappy gates that are wired together. They just might see 5 seconds of this farm. Not enough time to actually SEE it. Sometimes I just want to leave and never come back. Or sell every animal here. It's not easy sometimes. It's noisy. It stinks. The flies are awful. It's hot! It's freezing!

But then I look at this place with the eyes of strangers. And see the beauty. And the sweet adorable sheep and goats and chickens, all over the yard and pastures. And I get to eat the eggs. And the lamb burger or sausage or chops. And drink the milk from the goats that I just milked this morning and eat the cheese. And wash my hands with soap I've made from milk and herbs I've grown myself. And go out to the garden and pick dinner. And feed lots of people who buy my produce or eggs or meat at markets. I get to DO THIS! And I feel sorry for those city folks who ride by and get to see my farm for 5 seconds and go on up the road.

A walk through Mrs. T's yard today...

I stopped at Mrs. T's this afternoon, on the way home. And I had my camera with me. So I walked through her yard and took pictures. I do this every year. It seems to get more and more beautiful. Most of the azaleas are over 60 years old. My favorite is the bright red ones. But they're all so pretty. You can look out any window in her house and see something in bloom right now. I love her yard. So many paths to wander down and around. And a cute little fish pond, just full of gold fish too.



Y'all can go walk around too. Enjoy!

Bee hives are done!

Finally got the bee hives painted and they are finished! Ready for bees now. What do y'all think? Is it too much? Will the bees get all confused with too much going on? Or will they even care? I don't know.

I've noticed a lot of people name their hives. So I need some suggestions for hive names. The small hive will go out back at the top of the hill in the goat pasture. The bigger hive will be in the South garden. Somewhere out there. I'll paint the names at the top.

I still am not sure which way the entrance should be facing. I'm thinking South, but that might be too hot? Which way do all you bee keepers face your hives? Or does it matter? The hive I had last year faced East.

All kinds of kinds...

Sometimes I have so much to do, I don't know where to start. I have a list and I know what needs to be done. Like my Trooper has had farmer's market stuff in it for a few weeks now. I have markets on Wed. and Sat. so I just leave the tables and canopy and baskets in there. But it needs to be cleaned out. I won't be going to market tomorrow or next Wed. so it will be cleaned out. The 30th is the Spring-a-ma-jig at Main St. market and I get to bring my 3 bottle lambs! And probably Mirabelle too. I've been going with lots of eggs and dandelion greens and flowers and chives. But I only sold 1 dozen eggs the other day and only 3 on Sat. Everyone has eggs and has had them all winter, so people already have their people they get eggs from. But last year, I sold every one I brought. I always sell the greens and flowers and chives, but that's little money and now that it's gone back to 2 hours, it costs $15 and that hurts! So I think I'll wait til I have collards and kale and radishes and lettuce to bring.

The other day, I had let Mirabelle out in the back yard. Went to get her back in and couldn't find her. She was hangin' with her boys. And they were so gentle with her too. I was so afraid they'd kick her on the head and kill her but nothing happened. She's out back now with her brothers and cousins playing.

I don't know if ALL the ants in the world have been at my house since last fall, but I think they were. I am SO SICK of seeing ants in my kitchen and bathroom. I have tried everything I can think of, including sprinkling cinnamon all over. So I got these any traps and I thought they were not going to work because for a few days, I never saw an ant near them. Then whamo, there were millions of ants in the little containers. For a few days. Now I think they are either all dead or left. I HATE ANTS!

And just a pretty shot of green for all of you who might still have that awful white stuff hanging on. Y'all have a great weekend! I'm off to work!