Emily the sheep Wrangler

We took three days off of work to get caught up on things at home........technically, we need about 3 weeks worth, but we started with 3 days.  My sister in law, Emily, is a city gal, but I will never say conversions don't work, because Emily is quickly becoming two very capable extra hands at the OK Acres farm.  

Friday was the perfect day to gather the sheep and do lamb vaccinations and worming, we check eye lid color and only worm those that look as if they have a heavy worm load.  Every year, I worm less than I did the previous year, so something is working.  Emily agreed to help and showed up in her new "farm boots"......see below.

Emily in her new "farm boots"

After a few, pardon the pun, flowery compliments on her new footwear, we are off to the lot to gather sheep. The sheep went in the pen nicely, for ONCE, and so we started checking eye lids, feet, fleece, boy packages, horns, teeth, and conformation as we vaccinated lambs.  My friend, Terri and her son Clayton, were on hand to help out since Clayton will be showing 2 of my lambs at the local Green County Fair this year.  We went through a small hands-on teaching session with Clayton to point out what we were doing.  He's a farm boy, so he caught on quickly and I let him take over checking worm loads, teeth and "packages".  He did a great job!!!  It's so much fun to involve a young person in something that gives you joy.  

Ok, back to Emily..........I waited until today to post this, because today is her Birthday!!!! The next two pictures are ones that I took when she decided she was man enough catch and flip one of the Shetland/Charollais/Texel cross bred ewes on her fanny.  I love this picture, when have any of us had such joy on our faces when we are vaccinating sheep?  (grin)  

Faith doesn't look nearly as pleased-lol

Horses at dusk

Dually, my husband's Tennessee Walker (he has more of a swinging running walk) 

Dallas, my Tennessee Walker heading to the buildings (notice the natural gait of a running walk)

I just couldn't resist a couple shots of 2 of our horses heading to the buildings on Monday night.  They just are so wonderful in motion, I could watch it all. day.  

My Dad

My great niece, Lauren giving my dad a card.

My dad and I (he's much happier than he looks here-lol)

I am blessed with 2 great parents.  My dad was always the ultimate provider and I tried to shadow him no matter what he was doing as I was growing.  He worked 2 jobs for a lot of years to give all of us the things he felt we needed and from that I learned the value of a good work ethic.  He didn't put up with any back talk, thank goodness, because I got to pass that along to my son.  He and I would work in his motorcycle repair shop, I would wash tools and put them away and he did the actual work.  He taught me how to ride a mini bike at the rip old age of 5 and later, I got a motor cyle and spent many happy summers terrorizing the neighborhood with a couple other kids on their motor cycles. 

We raised pigeons together for years, at one time our coop exceeded the 200 mark!!  A lot of fun time was spent at pigeon shows and swaps with my dad.  We would get up before sun up, crate the birds, load them in the truck, and off we'd go............those were great years.  

Then I discovered boys........and dad made sure I understood there wasn't going to be any shanigans tolerated with his little girl.    Once I married and moved away, both my parents have been there every single time I needed anything.  Not judging, not complaining, just THERE.  A lesson that I had to learn when my own son moved away, just be there when they need you.  

Am I lucky, do I feel blessed, do I have great parents?  yes, yes and yes.  

My mom I

9th Anniversary

9 years ago today, I married my best friend..........I have never been happier in my life.  Mike allows me to be ME, and that's the best gift you can give anyone.  He puts up with me when I drag sheep, chickens, rabbits, alpacas, llamas, geese......etc. (you get the idea) home.  He feeds my hoards of animals, never complains and simply wants me to be happy.  Can life get any better than that?  I think not.
So, thank you to my dear husband for making all my dreams come true.  You truly are one in a million.

Dream concert experience, back stage passes, meet and greet, pictures with Jason., all free!!!
And, one of my favorite pictures of us.  (grin)

Farmer Mike

Since I posted the hay day pictures a couple days ago, I forgot to post one of my hubby baling.  And since he's so darned proud to be sitting on that tractor, I had to post one more photo..........

On my needles

Thought I'd share my latest project with you.  Got the pattern on Ravelry, it's called Lingonberry Shawlette.
So far, it's been a pretty fast knit, but I'm just now getting into one of three pattern charts for this project.  Simple YO's, ssk's and K2tog stitches.  Since I bring all my knitting to work to pass time during breaks and lunch, I have to have something that doesn't require a lot of concentration.  I also get interrupted a LOT during my work breaks, and I can hardly say to the ringing phone,,,,,,hang on while I finish this row!

I also just finished up knitting a small neck warmer that will be given to female heart patients as a gift.  My mom is a heart attack survivor, so I decided I could certainly do more than one scarf and found this super cute neck warmer to knit.  I'm thinking I'll make a few more, they are so simple and neat.  

Hay day

What did we do this weekend you ask?  Well, we made some hay.  Our first year of running our own crop ground and my hubby is as happy as a pig in mud.  You can take the boy out of the country, but not the country out of the boy..........and Mike is living proof.  (His brother, Nick, is just as bad)
We started tracking down and rounding up equipment last year and have yet to purchase everything we need, but with the help of a farmer/friend/neighbor, we got our 1st crop hay, cut and baled without rain.  The corn we planted is starting to look pretty good since we finally got warmer weather and the shot of rain we got this morning is another step in the right direction.
Below are a couple shots of the BIG event on Sunday....(yep, that was sarcasm) You'd think we were getting the place ready for the a social event the way those two guys went about things the last couple weeks.  (tiny snicker)

THIS........is the place I sat while watching the boys bale hay.  lol

A Pre-baling conference...............tires inflated? Check.  Hitch pin secured?  Check.
Baling twine in twine box?  Check..........you get the idea.  (once again with the sarcasm)

LET THE BALING BEGIN!!!  

My brother in law, Nick, driving a 520 JD he restored.

If it seems like I'm poking fun at the guys, well, you'd be correct.  But there were so excited by the prospect of doing anything farm related, it was too cute an opportunity to let get by me.  Anyone that knows me, knows I love to pick on people just a teensy bit.  Ok, A LOT!  Sorry, it's my dad's fault, he's a wise @$$ from way back, and his dad was one too.  So, you see, I really am not to blame at all.  (grin)

300 bales in the shed.........my sheep, horses, llamas, and alpacas are licking their chops.  

Good people

For all the snipping and disagreements that happen over little things in life, there's one thing that I can always count on from my cyber friends, blog buddies and everyone in between..........kindness.
Words cannot express how touched I have been by the comforting words I've received from people that I've never even met in person, but I feel like I know them just the same.   Everyone seemed to know that I didn't just lose "a sheep", but a part of my life that was important to me, and for that, I am grateful.
I hit my dashboard on my blog today looking for more "lambs for sale" posts, and I was reduced to tears by the simple act of kindness from Lorraine on her blog ( Lorraine's post )  Now that I've ruined my makeup one more day, I am warmed by the sweetness of so many.  
Do I think that all of us will agree on what is the perfect Shetland, heck no, but I know that every one of you are good people.  We all share the same thing, a love for Shetland sheep, the knowledge of pain over losing one that is special or the heart ache of having to sell a herd that brings us so much joy.  All of these things bind us.........and I, for one, am glad for it.
God bless every single one of you.......and thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Warm regards,