Good friends and family

 Last week we were almost out of wood. I called a friend up the road to see if they had any to sell. She said she's ask her husband. So he called and said he'd meet me near their house and I could ride with him in his truck since I didn't have my truck. So off we went out into the cow field to their wood shed. It's got wood that they use for their camp kids in the summer. Another friend came to help load. We got a small truckload. We went to my house and got it unloaded and stacked in the wood shed. It lasted about a week. And it was free!

My husband came home Wed. for the day while waiting on his truck to get loaded. Our friend up on the mountain had some more wood he was giving us again. Back in the fall he had several stacks that we got. So we went on up and found 2 more good sized stacks, all cut and ready for the wood stove. We got our long bed truck loaded down with all that wood. And it was free too.

Also last fall, my friend up the road before our house called and said she was having an Ash tree cut down and did I want it? Of course. She had some guys there cutting it and they loaded it all up in my truck for me. Some of it was really big too. The son-in-law came one day and split all that. Didn't even ask him. They just came out one day and he grabbed the ax and started splitting wood. So my daughters and grand daughters started stacking it in the wood shed. It filled up fast. He likes splitting wood apparently.

So far we have not paid a cent for fire wood. We have an old maple tree that needs cut down. I hope we can get to that in the next few weeks. I like this new wood heater. I can fill my yellow farm wagon up with wood and it lasts at least 3 days. And the house stays at least 70 degrees, give or take a few degrees. Very nice warm heat too.

Then a few days ago, another friend called. he works at a semi truck wash in Ringgold. Said there was a truck with some corn flour they had to clean out and he got 4 55 gallon  barrels of it and could I use it for my animals? Well, I called my friend who has 2 Jersey cows she milks to see if she could use some. So she took 2 of them and I took 2. He delivered them and put them where we wanted them. Now I need some pigs.

I am so thankful for friends and family.

Home

There is no place I'd rather be. I have to make myself go out when I have errands to do. Like today. Just get up and go.

I had to take my vacuum in  to get serviced. It wasn't picking anything up. Then while I was out there, I went to Fresh Market and Hobby Lobby. Just wandered around. I did get bread at FM. Then to Costco for a few things. Wandered around in there awhile. I even went to a cute little fabric-yarn store but didn't see anything I had to have. Then paid a few bills and went to Aldi's. My mom wanted me to get something at Costco, so stopped by and visited a few minutes. Then on to the herb doctor to get more of my happy juice. Then home.

I love my drive home. It was around 5:30 so there was a little traffic on the way out. Then the last 8 miles or so, I'm usually the only one on the road. Then I get to my driveway and I am so happy to be home, like I can breathe again.  All my animals are happy to see me, the one who feeds them. They're all ready for some hay and grain and cat food and dog treats. I rush in the house, change shoes, run around feeding animals. Tonight, I brought the bucks back to the back yard so I could move the sheep over there for shelter. Brought Sandy and Zeeboo back with the rest of the does for the night. It's supposed to be really messy tonight, with sleet and ice and snow mix. A lot of schools are already closed. But haven't heard anything about Walker Co. yet. Every school around is closed but us.

Anyway, it's so good to be at home. I just want to stay here. I really don't need anything. I have all I need right here. And out there in the world, people are rushing around, trying to get here and there as fast as they possibly can. No one hardly even smiles or says hello anymore. Out here, it's a totally different world. I like being at home.

Abby and her (devil) daughters

Last night I put Abby and Iris Josie, who is laying next to her, in a stall. Iris Josie was outside with the rest of the goats this morning, over next door in the field. Yes, I have bad goats. So I put John Henry and Arlo Guthrie the bucks, up front so I could put all the bad does in the back yard so they won't go out. All but Zarah Belle came in. As you can see, she is STILL on the OTHER side of the fence, all by herself. It must run in the family, wanting to be alone. Well, except for the youngest bad baby, who is a momma's girl. Most of the time. They both love their momma.

But Zarah has always been a little skittish. She broke her back right leg when she was just a few months old and ever since she's been this way. She's so beautiful and very pregnant. I so hope she's a good milker like Abby. But she's just so bad.

Then her little sister, Iris Josie, is a devil goat for sure. She is just plain ole BAD. But sometimes she can be so sweet and let me pet her. She's the one I named after my mother. Never do that.

Abby seems to be doing ok today. I'll give her some molasses water. I hope she'll get over this. I think I'll put Zeeboo and Sandy up front with the bucks. I don't think anything will happen. But John is still a stinky boy.