Iron Man race...

Yesterday was the Iron Man race here. It started Sunday morning about 7 AM with a 2 1/2 mile swim in the Tn. river, then a 112 mile bike ride  5 miles past my house to Mt. Cove Farm then down Hog Jowl Rd. They had to make a loop 2 times that way, past our house. Then through Chickamauga, then back to Chattanooga. Then a 26 mile race on foot around Chatt. twice to finish the race. They had til midnight to finish.

That's a long race. I still haven't been all the way to Mt. Cove farm on my bike yet and it's just 5 miles there from here. I am going to do it. Now that it's getting cooler, I may attempt it. I just can't even imagine swimming for 2 1/2 miles in the Tn. River.

So the 1st 4 bikes came past us about 9:15. The rest took awhile longer to get here. It was amazing to watch them. There were about 2,181 people entered. Haven't really heard all the news about who won and home many finished. I did hear about the girl from another country who came here to train for this race. She had to quit because of cramping. And there were so many people who raced for other people who weren't here.
Like the man who was hit and killed while running last week. His dad ran and crossed the finish line at 11:30 last night. And the man who's son had cancer and met him at the finish line last year. His son died in May. So many stories like this. So seeing these people riding past our house was so amazing. The determination people has is awesome.

All day it was like this. There were some by their selves, but so many in packs. There were a lot of places where people gathered to cheer them on and give them water and encouragement along the way. It was just an amazing race. Great way to spend a day.

Last year, they didn't come down our road. The year before, someone had thrown oil and nails across the road and several people were hurt. So they went on up 193. But I guess they really monitored the roads before any bikes came through this time. Really make ya wonder about people when things like this happen.

A good shepherd.

A good shepherd knows her sheep. I feel like I am a good shepherd. I know the sounds they make. I know if it's a happy sound or a distressed sound. I can tell when they want to move to another pasture.I just know my sheep.

So this morning, I was going to feed the chickens when I heard a sheep way down at the bottom of the pasture. I looked and all the sheep were up under the shelter of the garden shed. So I called "sheep" and they all looked at me. And I heard the sheep again, way down by the road. I kept calling and it answered.

I looked at all the sheep so I knew who it was. My favorite lamb baby, Campbelle. And it was raining. Had been all morning. I slept in too, so it was about 9:30.

I got halfway to where she was, way down in the corner. In the picture, the fence line meets way down by the road, and she was smack in the corner. So I went to get fence cutters and ran down to her. Poor baby. All I could see was her rear end. She was stuck between the 2 posts in the corner. Just enough room for a small sheep to squeeze in there to eat the bushes. She couldn't go forward any more, but didn't know to go backward to get out. So all I did was pull her backward and out she came. I guess I better put something in there to keep this from happening again. Because it will. Sheep are not the brightest of creatures.

That's her by the fence. No telling how long she'd been there like that. Poor baby girl. She was fine though.

This is what I see out my back door of the studio. Goats in the barn. It's been raining since yesterday. I need hay bad.

They finally mowed the hay fields next door to the South of us. Not to the North of us yet. I hope they get to mow it soon. I love to see hay in the fields. I think most people have cut hay 4 or 5 times this year. It's been a really good hay year here.

This is out the front door of the studio.

I planted some more kale in the big bed by the green beans a few days ago. They should be popping up in a few days. I gave the beans a good shot of fish emulsion a few days ago. They were looking a bit yellow at the bottom. They look better already. And the radishes I planted a few days ago are already up. I don't see carrots yet but should after all this wonderful rain God has provided for them. The kale and turnip greens look amazing. I can pick some kale already. I am SO thankful for this rain.

Nice cool rainy day here. Good day to stay inside and get some knitting done. And soap wrapped. And dryer balls made. And so much much to do.

Yay, 3 more weeks to procrastinate!

Plans have changed yet again. We have rain in the forecast for this weekend. So Valley Fest has been postponed to Oct. 17th. And moved to the high school as well. So right now, I have 3 more weeks to procrastinate. I am good at that.

It has rained since last night. We really need rain. I don't think I have ever seen leaves changing colors in September. Ever. But they are around here. The nights are already cooler too. On the way home today, I saw smoke coming out of someone's chimney. Not ready for that yet. But we do have lots of wood. And more up on the mountain at a friends house, waiting for us to go get it.

So since, I didn't have to keep wrapping soap today, I went to town and paid bills. Went to see my mom too. A little different Friday for me.

Sunday, the Iron man race will be coming down our road again! They turned before our road last year because the year before last, someone put oil and nails on this road. Not a good thing.  But they will be back this year. I missed it 2 years ago when my mom fell and I had to stay with her at her house. We will not be able to leave Sunday. Churches won't even have a morning service. Pretty big thing around here.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!