Sweet dreams

I got my Taproot magazine a few days ago. The 5th issue of this great new magazine. I love it. If you haven't already heard of it or get it, you need this one. No ads at all. Great illustrations, frame worthy. Great homesteading and farming and livestock articles. And this issue has an article about bees! Of which I will be getting soon, from my friend at Sale Creek Honey. He is selling out. I'll get them in about 6 weeks or so. And the middle of April, I'm taking a bee keeping class at a fellow blogger in Ringgold, not too far from me! So, looks like things are coming together for the bees. I have wanted bees for so long. But I don't know anything about them, other than we need them to pollinate plants and trees. Without them, we won't last long.

But all the things that keep a person from doing something like this, I have been through. First, I know not a think about keeping bees. Next, bees can be quite pricey. Not only the purchase of bees, but also all the bee paraphernalia that goes along with bees. Suits, smokers, hives, food, extractors .... the list goes on and on. (I did put an ad on CL for used suits and things, Or if anyone who reads this blog has anything, let me know.) Then, what if I kill the poor things? What if a disease gets in the hive and wipes them all out? What if  make too much noise and get attacked by the whole hive of them and killed in one outing?  Oh yes, I have thought a lot about this. All the horrible things that could go wrong. I would be responsible for them.

But ya know what? Sometimes there is no "right" time to do anything. Ya just have to do it. Jump in and get the feet wet. learn as you go. Just like having children. No right time there. It just happens. And you survive somehow. And so do the kids. Or the animals. Or whatever. Ya just have to do it.

And right now, with Eddie selling out, is the right time for me. And the class, the right time. It's all falling into place for me to get my first bees. I am jumping in, feet first. And I just have to believe that these sweet dreams will come true. And I will have hives of bees here on my farm.

I would love to hear you bee stories if you'd like to share. I will need all the help I can get.

If you're interested in Taproot magazine, here is how to order it . taprootmag.com or 802-472-1617. It's just as easy as that! And I promise, you will love it too.

Slow day, like a traffic jam

It's kind of a slow Monday here for me. Kind of like this picture that looks like a traffic jam. Not much going on.

I've had a really hard, sad weekend. I feel like it all ended last night. After a very long 6 week illness, Abby finally gave up. I had to bury her this morning. Not the way I had hoped it would end for her. So, I am just grieving right now. I need to process everything and remember. I had Abby almost 8 years. She taught me a lot. I will miss her.

Fiona's little lambs

 Fiona had her lambs this morning. I had just gotten up and let the dogs out, then ran out to check on her to see if she had any lambs yet. There was a little tiny wet red lamb out in the middle of the other sheep and being pushed around by them and attacked by the rooster. So I grabbed the lamb and took her back to her mamma  Well, Fiona had another lamb that she was talking to and licking. She didn't want the red lamb. She kept butting it and trying to kill it. Poor baby. So I grabbed them both and started rubbing them together and then rubbed each lamb with the other's scent. Then stuck my hand to Fiona's nose. She finally did let the lamb nurse some. Then she'd act like she was going to butt her, but didn't. They are both ewe lambs!!!



So I decided to got to Walmart and get 2 identical sweaters for the lambs. I needed a few other things too. Well, I cannot believe that all they had was spring and summer sun dresses. For dogs. Really? People actually put dresses on their poor little dogs? All I wanted was 2 little sweaters for the little lambs. so Fiona would get confused and think they were alike then. I didn't get sundresses for the lambs.

Went over to the pet store and they had a rack of dog clothes right in front. And 25% off! I found these 2 cute shirt type things. Not really sweaters. More like tank tops. Good grief. Anyway, aren't they just the cutest little cowgirls now?  I rubbed each lamb with the opposite shirt and put them on. So far so good. And the little red lamb walks over to me now. She's adorable! And the white lamb is a little snobbish. Like a mamma's girl already.

So here are #11 and #12. So far, of the 4 ewes that lambed, there have been 3 twins and 1 single. 3 ram lambs and 4 ewe lambs. Not too bad.