High Ridge Highlights

New Year and Other Things

2012-01-02T16:57:00.000-06:00

Here is all that is new at High Ridge Farm. Jake's two new knees are well enough to have three Corgi's sitting on his lap. When he first came home, he couldn't even handle Lady who is always first to get up on his lap. Now Zippy spends the most time there, but he needs the chair lowered a little to make the jump. Beaver is just happy to get up there once in a while. I am just happy that we have made it three weeks today, and all is well. I am handling all the barn duties, and Jake can operate the Bobcat since Saturday. We are good to go now. He is almost ready to drive the car and is doing his own physical therapy per Mayo clinic.

Wisconsin weather has been odd, but today it is COLD just like is usually is.

Santa's Favorite and update

2011-12-04T19:50:00.000-06:00

Little Beaver got to be "Santa's Favorite" since he turned two years old a few weeks ago.    He was really the only one that would put up with the Santa hat.    The others don't know- that their time will come.

As of this weekend there is a good chance that we will have lambs next year.    Pia from Nancy and Darla from Becky are each in with their own big guy.     Pia is in with Baileys from Karen, and Darla is in with Fluffer.....son of a ewe, Mellow, from Tami Mulder.   I do plan to add at least one ewe to each pen, Cleo from Becky and Wheat from Juliann.     There could be two more, but I do not know if I should breed that many.   The vet came the other day and cut horns on Pops who had teacup horns.   One was infringing on his eyesight, the other had broken off before, but she shortened it also.    After all my worrying, it was a fairly easy procedure.    Thank heavens!   That same week, Linus, whose horns were not massive, but well formed, broke one about half off.    Some blood, but no problems.   The two boys I am breeding are both polled, not perfect, but close.

Our next big day is next Monday.    I think we have most everything done to make the event as easy as possible.    Todd moved back to Florida at the end of November, so our built in dog-sitter isn't here anymore.    We do have plans to make sure the doggies are well cared for by Grandma Helen and Aunt Cindy.    Happily, Aunt Cindy will be able to take care of the cow and calf and breeding pens in the barn. She is an experienced animal person.

Occupy the Chair or How the dogs would do it.

2011-10-14T15:04:00.000-05:00

The High Ridge version of "Occupy Wall Street". or How the dogs would do it.

This is Lady; she chose the couch with an empty Pepsi bottle.

And Little Beaver chose the antique chair on the John Deere blanket.

Zippy and Scooter decided to share the recliner which tells you that Jake was not in the room or maybe at the computer. This sharing the recliner is a new thing for them. I never know when they will come up with some new behavior to add to their act.

I am not sure what they are protesting. They forgot their signs.

Why I Love Living Here

2011-10-01T14:14:00.000-05:00

Why I love living here and why cell phones rock: Jake called me from the field where he was cutting hay. He said that the eagle was sitting in a tree out in the pasture near where he was cutting. I got in the cart with my camera and went out there. I could see the eagle, but when I went through the fence and approached, he flew out of the tree. We watched him circle, hoping he would land in the big dead elm behind our house. We watched him land, and I took off for the house hoping to catch him on camera. As I neared the house another eagle circled the buildings and landed in the tree. Not one, but two bald eagles sitting in the tree behind our house. Excellent!!! That is why I love living here!!!!

The pictures would be lots better if a professional took them, but considering how my camera is operating or not operating these days, I am happy with what I got. The lighting isn't great, but I can tell that they are bald eagles, and they are sitting on a tree that used to shade my rams.

Counting Sheep

2011-09-29T20:29:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to share the new bed and my three monkeys.    Today I picked up our new wool mattress.
Tonight I find out if I sleep better or just count sheep.    Since my sciatic nerve would love some relief (and so would I), I hope it is the later.    The kids had no trouble getting up on top of that gigantic bed, but I fear for them if they don't use the steps getting down.

Maybe you can see that the bed is in the dining room.......................     It will be there until the bedroom is finished.    Now, I am going to retire to the new bed and watch some TV.

Making Changes

2011-08-01T10:51:00.002-05:00

This is a mixed up jumble of stuff. Since early May I have had on my "wrecking hat". I moved our bedroom and back room into the other rooms of the house. We sleep in the dining room. Then, I gutted those two rooms. They were a big bedroom that you entered from the dining room and beyond that a small room with a closet. The closet was added later. From the bedroom you could go outside to the dog yard. BUT........someone in their great wisdon decided to "enclose" that, and I use that term loosely. It leaked and was just a "rat trap". The two rooms are gutted except for the studding between the bedroom and the back room and the built in "wardrobe" which I may tackle when I don't feel like I have been run over by a Mac truck.

Yesterday I sheared two sheep. YAHOO!!!!! When my shearer gave me insufficieint notice that he was coming the day after tomorrow, two sheep could not be "rounded up". I finally got them caught and put into the barn with my new sheep before all the hot weather came. Since the barn is below ground level on one side, it is cooler than baking out in the ewe pasture. The shearing job stinks, but it is done. Although it hurts today, all the girls are outside today. I am inside licking my wounds. The tumble I took when we were just about to the sheep shed, really left me with some aches and pains, but they will go away.

This is wooly girl number one, Ami. She just looks bumpy from the front, but funnier from the side. Her daughter Lucy is guarding the pumpkin plant. The result of feeding pumpkins in the fall.

This is ex-wooly number two. You really can't see how bad her tummy looks, but there is no comparison to how she looked when I got her into the barn before all this heat happened.

This picture is for Becky. These are the two ewes that I bought from her. They seem to be fitting in quite well. They don't cuddle up with anyone, but there is not much chasing anymore. They are still happy to see me, particularly Darla. I love how dark her wool is compared with the others.

This is my lastest project. The porch/ enclosed room in the background is now gone. I got tired of it. I am real good at demo. Behind the window on the left is just the shell of that whole addition. It was a bedroom and small attached room. ( who knows what was supposed to be.) It will become the master bedroom and master bath................whenever.

Removing that "room/enclosed porch" brought tons more light into the house. It also made just one door to open to let the dogs out their yard. I have done all that I can do. Now it just needs a little time from the "master carpenter". I have my rocker out there, and I have put in my wish for a nice chunk of weather so that I can sit and relax in my back yard with my doggies.

(This picture was the first one on this blog entry, but I touched the wrong button and lost it.) This is the new sheep from Juliann. She is real unfriendly, but somewhat better since she had the two wooly girls in with her in the barn. Today is actually her first day outside. I kept her inside hoping she would warm up to me, but that sure didn't happen.

Just thinking, I now have sheep from Nancy K, Tammy Mulder, Stephen, Karen Valley, Juliann Budde, and Becky Utecht. There are 20 sheep now. That should be a pretty good foundation. I will use the ram from Karen and a ram out of Tammy's ewe next fall on the ewes from Juliann and Becky. Hopefully next spring I will have some lambs again.

Yesterday was Mothers' Day!!!

2011-06-08T10:34:00.001-05:00

My son gave me a gift card for Mothers' Day. Jake and I used it for something we needed since we were at out lowest point about then. Yesterday I went to the Growers' Produce Auction and bought my Mothers' Day present. I feel I did quite well for myself and had a good time to boot!

Most of them are annuals. I bought perennials last year. I guess the ferns are the only perennials in the bunch. Lots of moss roses, love them. Geraniums, gerbera daisys, ranunculus, and coleus. You can't buy just the number you want and serious attention is required. Since the weather has been so BAD, I didn't have a flower planted anywhere. I was afraid that the auction would be done with their flowers. WRONG! Lots of flowers and, bonus, few people yesterday........ equals good prices.

In the first picture, I forgot the two hanging baskets I bought. I even forgot them at the auction and had to drive back to get them. It was worth the horrible cost of gas since I only paid four dollars for the two of them. You just have to sit quietly and pay attention and small lots are available. These two don't exactly match, but they are showy.

This is the whole thing including six tomato plants and three "trees". They came up at the end and two of them were pussy willows and one was a weeping willow. I have wanted pussy willows here forever, and I can junk the weeping willow or plant it and let someone else worry about the mess when it gets big.

Now the work begins. I can only work for a short time outside today because of the temperatures and dew points, but I will get it done in short bursts with some help from multiple Cardigan Welsh Corgis

High Ridge Sweet Woodruff

2011-04-02T15:01:00.000-05:00

This is High Ridge Sweet Woodruff. He is a registered three year old ram who got a haircut the day before this picture. He is available now. Please make inquires through comments on this blog.

Take a look at his picture. Can you tell who has an "attitude"? But it is a good attitude. Guess I will get them in from outside and see just how dirty Lady got. Zippy, Mr. Attitude, is also a neat nik which is wonderful. Beaver is just Beaver.

We like treats!!!

2011-03-26T14:53:00.001-05:00

This is a good example of the dynamic duo plus one.    Zippy can sit up perfectly for any length of time. Mandy is the polite little lady.    Beaver is the loud mouth.    At least we know how to get their attention. Jake took this, and he sure knew how to get their eyes on the target.

There isn't much new here.   No highlights except the ice storm last Tuesday.    We still have evergreens that are bent down to the ground since the temperature has been much too cold ever since the bad weather. We even were without power for six hours.     That is the longest in the nine years that we have lived here.

Jake's shoulder is doing fine --- only needs strengthening.    Spring can't come soon enough. The only good thing about this freezing weather is that the dogs aren't muddy anymore.

PJ's Kids

2011-02-04T19:58:00.002-06:00

Miss Mandy and Zippy, daughter and son of PJ, respectively. Now what Daddy wouldn't be proud of these two handsome Cardigan Welsh Corgis?

What Snow Storm?

2011-01-31T12:49:00.002-06:00

Who said El Paso dogs don't like the snow and cold? Obviously not this dog. A few minutes ago she was happily LAYING on the side of the "snow mountain". She shows no sign of noticing that she lives in another climate from where she was born. No need to buy a jacket for a dog with all that beautiful fur.

They are also learning to run and chase Cardi style in the backyard.

Just in case you didn't know that Cardi's could fly. Must be the influence of the "flying" dogs at Solstice Kennel. Nothing makes me smile more that seeing flying Cardis anywhere, but they are double cute outside where they can go "all out". Do I see a smile on her face?

Grandma Jinnie, (My new northern grandma said I could write to you cause I miss you so much.)

This is me sitting in the dining room at my new northern digs. It is really strange up here, but I am trying to fit in the best I can. I miss you and great grandma and all the dogs at home.

This is me and my new, sort of, friend. We are kind of tired tonight because we were outside in that snow stuff running and chasing. I will write to you some more later, but I am just gunna sleep now.

I still love you and great grandma in Texas,

Mandy

Good Bye 2010-----and Good Riddance

2010-12-31T16:43:00.000-06:00

No bragging and happy rememberences of 2010.    As far as I am concerned...........the whole year sucked!

We lost Jake's dad, our young collie, four cows and their calves, one of our inside kitties and will have to sell all the heifer calves that were born alive.    I wasn't able to breed any sheep because of Jake's illness.

Jake was sick for nine weeks and is still recovering.

What was good about it?    Jake's total shoulder replacement is making excellent progress. We have a new Cardigan Welsh Corgi who is a real joy.    I have been healthy.   I had a great time at my high school reunion.   Our crops were successful even though it took some wonderful friends to get the corn all harvested.   I got an extension on my dog yard for Mothers' Day. I bought a beautiful polled ram .....even though I wasn't able to use him.   The corn we grew is heating our house.

Looking back on it, it is difficult to remember the good things that happened, but maybe time will take care of that.     We are looking forward to a much better 2011 and wish everyone who reads this has the same.

Happy New Year!!!

from:

Sharrie, Jake, Scooter, Zippy, Little Beaver, Toonces, Pansy, and Junior    ----- in the house

Fat Mom, Puff, Junie, Spotty, Itschi, Gray, Goldy, Schnuffels, Shaggy, and Booty - outside cats

About 40 cows, calves, steers, and a bull, and 11 ewes and 6 rams

All total = High Ridge Farm

Climb Every Mountain

2010-12-28T15:14:00.000-06:00

Little Beaver is Mr. Adventure. I knew that he would climb the mountain in the back yard, but I wanted a picture of him on top. It is easier said than done. He needed some incentive, so I thought throwing a toy up there would induce him up to the top. It was not to be.

He needed me to convince him that getting to the top was a worthy goal. With me there, Zippy was the first one to make it up followed by LB who made it to the tip top. You can't really get an idea of how tall the snow pile is from this view. It must be close to seven feet at the top. Jake had to take the Bobcat in there to create a path for the boys to run on. They were very thankful because it was much to deep for Cardi legs before the Bobcat came. Now they have a figure eight path to chase on, and all three of them are enjoying it.

Home again, home again, jiggity jig

2010-12-07T16:11:00.001-06:00

Little Beaver on bunk bed with the doggy bed that Grandma Helen gave him.

Junior is real happy that the bucket to fill the humidifier is in the house now.

We got home again last night about 10:45.    We had to talk our way out after they changed their minds about discharging Jake.    This morning we went to the clinic for dressing change, but now we are settled in again.   I have enough work for weeks, but I will get it done whenever I get it done.   Jake is out of the fancy sling and will start physical therapy on the shoulder on Thursday.    He is really happy to have the use of his left arm again.    There is no pain there, and he was given the green light to start it working again.

His Cardigan WC's are back to their nursing chores.    They especially are good at helping him nap and sleep at night and making him smile.    Such hard workers!

Thanks for all your well wishes.   His continued good health will be all that I need for Christmas this year.

Setback # 2

2010-12-05T09:55:00.001-06:00

Jake has been back at Mayo, St. Mary's, since last Thursday night. He even got an ambulance ride up here. There are still no definite answers about what caused his problems. He might get to go home on Tuesday. 2010 has not been a good year for us.

Note to Peti: Now you know why I wasn't there to answer your phone call.........if you called.

Setback

2010-11-13T20:37:00.001-06:00

Jake had to reenter Mayo Clinic Methodist Hospital on Thursday night. The incision was infected. They reopened and cleaned the site on Friday morning. Now he is recovering in the hospital probably until Tuesday. We left home with no plans of being away for very long. I came back this afternoon--two whole days later. That shower sure felt good tonight.

I am going back Sunday evening so that I will be there when the doctors return on Monday to make sure I know how to handle the new situation. When it rains, it pours.

Versatile Nursing Assistants

2010-11-02T11:29:00.000-05:00

I can even get help from the nursing assistants. I got three of them to help me. They go out to help feed the cow in the cow hospital. Then they go along to feed the rams who are confined to a small area together getting to know Bailleys. Jake, the real patient, caught us coming back to the house to let them off before I put the cart away. Who could ask for anything more?

Recovery with furry assistance

2010-10-31T19:39:00.001-05:00

This was the scene this afternoon. Jake is six days post surgery and doing well. The passive exercises are difficult for both of us. He takes naps, but seldom alone. There is a recliner under the blanket in this picture. The corgis decided to join him. It doesn't take much to convince them to take a nap.

A friend came by to put out bales for the cattle and sheep. It was much appreciated since I don't want to try to do that with the Bobcat. Jake is mobile, but he must keep the sling (with pillow keeping it about six inches out from his body) on for six weeks. It has already gotten old. I hope that his knees will improve with the lack of abuse while he recovers.

Through the fence

2010-10-18T15:49:00.001-05:00

He's got his eye on you! Our newest sheep......a polled ram from Upper Michigan.......Bailleys. Who couldn't love a sheep the color of milk chocolate?..........besides the fact that he is a wonderful young man.

Our house guest. He isn't quite four months old. The Cardis think they liked him better when he just came for a short visist.

Little do they know just how big he will be in the future. Then, I think, he will calm down a bit.

Pearl and Sammy who rush to the fence because they know I carry treats.

Our newest cat, Boots. He is big and intact and friendly. He recently joined Shaggy, a striped tomcat, who came earlier. They both need to visit the friendly neighborhood vet clinic. Someday I will take a picture of the big red "S" on my forehead. Those cats see it and decide to join the group on our farm.

Welcome to fall!

2010-10-18T11:58:00.001-05:00

The boys decided to wait for me on the nature trail part of our path.

This tree decided to be the brightest on this year.

The tail end of all three boys as they explore.

Nearly back to the house. Zippy even got tired out on this trip.

The Cardis were just awesome looking in the fall leaves, but the photographer wasn't up to par.

The autumn has been just about as wonderful as the summer was awful. Jake has the beans off the field, and the combine is set up for corn. He says that I will drive the combine after his surgery. He will ride shotgun and give the orders on what to do. That should be a real adventure. The surgery is a week from today, and we go to Mayo for a physical on Wednesday.

The Three Amigos

2010-09-13T21:19:00.000-05:00

I caught the three boys on the love seat that they have remodeled in their spare time.   I guess it is big enough for two Corgis and one collie.

We had a big weekend.    On Saturday we went to the WI Sheep and Wool Festival in the morning.   The Corgis got tested to see if they had any herding ability, and I am happy to say that the testor said that they both had potential.    Now we just need some ambition from their human.    In the evening we went to Kenosha to my 50th (OMG) high school reunion.   It is the first reunion that I have been to.   You can guess that high school wasn't the greatest time of my life.   However, the reunion was great because two of my high school friends saved us a place at a table where there were six friends who had hung around together in the "old days".     It was great catching up with them.   Jake was a real trouper.   He said that I go places and spend time at things that he wants to do, so............      There were over two hundred people from our class there.   The whole class was over five hundred in 1960.   I hope that anyone reading this is able to experience a 50 year reunion.

Up here on the ridge, it turned fall on September 1st.   I love this weather. The grass is still growing like it is spring, and I am way behind on the mowing.    I am nursing a sick kitty who has failing kideys in her old age.   We are getting a new bull --maybe this week.    Jake is having the total shoulder replacement on October 25.   His right knee is totally shot, and he wishes he could have that replaced at the same time. He will be off work for three months.   I wonder how I will be able to get him to go back.    The corn and beans look real good, and he is hoping for an early harvest so that he can get it done before the surgery.

That is about all the news from up here.

P.S. (To Dr. Peter: You could leave a comment so I will know that you are still over there.)

Prototype

2010-08-23T20:51:00.000-05:00

This is prototype #1 for our new sheep feeders. Due to the impending total shoulder replacement at Mayo Clinic for the "farmer", we needed to find a way to eliminate the use of small square bales which I have been feeding to the sheep. After extensive research, he settled on this design and made up this prototype. So far it is working very well, but it has only been in place since Sunday. The rams got their model tonight with heavier gates to accommodate for their horny behavior. The five of them around the feeder is about the right number, and maybe the girls will have to have two feeders in their pasture. It is real crowded if all eleven of them crowd around the feeder when they all get hungry at the same time. I will enjoy not having to feed them every morning and evening. They still start up their noise when they see me outside. They will learn.

It's August Now

2010-08-03T17:39:00.000-05:00

Jake and his new invention to cut down my mowing time. He bought an old Dixon for cheap which the dealer stripped down. Then he added the hitch so that it towed alongside the mower. Now, when I get brave enough, I can cut twice as wide on the paths around the farm.

Junior in my new weaving bench. I don't have a picture of the loom, but I finally got my friend to sell me her loom from Sievers. It folds up and fits upstairs. Having her come to visit motivated me to get the upstairs rearranged to make room for the loom.

Little Beaver posing last week. He is a wonderful little guy except for the marking he was doing around the house. Hopefully, his "surgery" will take care of most of that.


The boys and two of their three cats. One is alongside Zippy and the other one is climbing the fence. The ladder helped when Jake put the new window and the window AC in the upstairs. Now I can work up there during the summer. It was impossible up there this summer. It is so nice to be able to see out of that window.

Since Memorial Day we have had a real set back in our cattle raising operation. We have lost three cows and four calves because of large calves that couldn't even be pulled. Two of the cows had to be put down. It has been heartbreaking. We thought we were doing so well. Our vet says that all of the get from this bull will carry the gene for the large calves which means we will not keep the bull or his offspring. That leaves us with two heifers from cows that we bought bred to another bull instead of eight heifers to add to our herd. ------- This has been a hard pill to swallow. Hobby farm......my foot!!

And the Winner Is............

2010-06-10T20:29:00.003-05:00

This cow won the "whose calf will be the most flashy" contest this morning. That is so far. All of the other calves just have white faces and maybe a few white feet. Little Nellie is a real flashy little heifer.

We have nine calves now. Eight were born since last Thursday including one who was born this evening. Today is the first double day. The other interesting fact is the sex count. There are seven heifers and two bull calves. Six are red and white and look like their daddy, a Hereford. Two are black and white. And....of course, there is Nellie. There are nine more cows who could calf, but at least one is not pregnant or not very far along. The calves are adorable and fun to watch.

There are five of the new calves in this picture. Four are easy to see, but the fifth one is laying down behind the calf that is standing and is nearly invisible from this distance.

May Day

2010-05-01T20:45:00.002-05:00

This is what the first day of May brought to the ridge........our first real Hereford calf. Willy was here when I went out to feed this morning. He was a bull calf, darn, but is doing well. His mom is one of our new cows that came to us already bred. His name (I still name most of them.) will be Willy Mays in celebration of his arrival date on May Day.

Yesterday I found and bought a new toy for the boys to have in their backyard. They seem to like it. They don't know yet, but their backyard is going to grow next weekend. I found a place to buy wire that matches the kind they have around the yard, so we will enlarge their play area. They should appreciate having more room to run.

They are not easy to photograph. I don't know how the Cardi people do it because they get great pictures of their dogs. As you can see Little Beaver is growing. He is five months old now. Zippy is doing a tremendous job of bringing up his puppy. Jake just can't believe how easily Little Beaver has fit into our household. He sleeps on our bed and has for about a month. He now is left out of his crate when we are not in the house. Today we were gone for seven hours, (not planned), and the only surprise we found when we returned was one unstuffed toy. Someone sure did something totally right with this puppy. Let's hope his adolescence is just as easy as his little puppy hood has been.

The month of April was totally wonderful "weatherwise". It sure was nice to have good weather. I am back to mowing the lawn and the few flowers that I have are blooming. Jake is plowing and planting. We are preparing for some surgery for him since he needs a total shoulder replacement. I think it will be done at Mayo since they don't do it at our hospital. He needs to have that done before he gets "new" knees. They also need replacement. He will be out of work for three months more or less with the shoulder. It should be interesting.

Happy Easter

2010-04-03T10:09:00.001-05:00

Hope that everyone has a wonderful spring weekend. Here in WI we are still looking surprised that the weather has been so warm all the way through March and now into April. After we got a few drops of rain last evening, everything looks twice as green this morning.

As you can see, the Beave is a fast mover whenever he choses. The two Cardis aka Beavis and Butthead are enjoying the green grass and warm temperatures. So far they have not been naughty outside. I am sure that will not last, but I am enjoying it while it lasts.

We won't be having any lambs this year, and our shearing got done a week ago. We are expecting calves near the end of spring. Other than that there are fields to ready for planting and much to do to remove the debris left by the winter. Taking the dogs walking on the road and on the path around the farm are also priorities since I value what sanity I have left. Evenings are much too wild when we cannot get out and get our exercise.

Growing Up...........

2010-03-24T12:58:00.001-05:00

Hi, Everybody,.........................Little Beaver here...........

Mom said I could tell you my news. I am growing up!!!! I have lost at least two of the teeth that Mom calls my "pincers". She says they pinch her arm when I give her "love bites". What do I know?

How do you like my "arrangement"? It has everything that I need............ toys, a place to sleep, steps for me to climb. Mom laughs real loud when I climb up there and dig for the toys that I want to play with. I was digging when she got her camera, but I knew that I should pose for a really good shot. I wanted you to see how I am growing up to be a handsome lad. I am even bigger now because this is already eleven days ago, and I grow fast!!

Again........No Picture

2010-03-12T19:52:00.000-06:00

On our second walk today, we had another highlight. We were on our way back home walking on the road when a bald eagle flew over us toward the house. At the house, he turned around and flew over us again. Wow!!!!! That was cool! We have seen lots of eagles, especially by the Missisisippi, but we had not seen one around our house. The eagle was quite low about twice the height of the utility lines.

I hope he didn't think that Little Beaver looked like lunch.

What did you expect?????????

2010-03-12T09:52:00.000-06:00

Well, duh!!!!   Anyone knows that if you go into the fields tooooooo soon--- all you get is mud and water.
BUT...........I just couldn't stand walking on the road anymore.    When we got to the corner on the road, we took off into the field to return home.     It was muddy, but we have been muddy before.    We kept going until we got to the area where the berm was located to direct the water and hold the soil.    Long story short........Scooter and I both were forced to ford the ditch which looked frozen.........but wasn't.   Lucky Cardi's, they just kept going unto the high ground mostly on top of the snow/slush.    Scooter, Mr. Timid, had to continue across the ditch through the water to get to where we were. Little Beaver even ventured out a few feet to encourage his big furry friend.    Scooter got over it.     I was up to mid-calf in quite cold water, but laughing all the way.     It was so good to get out on the land again.

Little Beaver had his first time really off leash.    His recall is pretty good.     He follows Zippy like a little black and white shadow.     Just as we had gotten back, almost to the lawn and the baby forest, they both took off across the alfalfa field after a bunch of birds.    When the birds flew, they returned to my call.   (Thank heaven!!)

Now my shoes and pants are in the washer, and the pups are wiped off.    Why bother with getting them sanitary??.................we drag mud and sand in here all the time in the late winter

AND................there were red winged blackbirds on the wires when we were walking on the road.    Spring is almost here.

He Ain't Heavy........

2010-03-02T20:28:00.000-06:00

He, ain't heavy, he's my brother. When Zippy literally flopped down on the rug, Little Beaver decided to join him. They were tired from a wild run that they had around the house and through the furniture and the tunnel. I guess they are getting along just fine. LB is three months old. now.

Last night, Pansy joined Little Beaver on the bunk bed (that's what we call it.). LB's steps are in the foreground of the Little Tykes sandbox that has become an animal bed. The dogs and the cats love it. Instead of a sand box, it is a toy box. It keeps the toys off the floor and is tall enough for Cardis to run under it.

The last picture is Snuffels the cat on top of the hay bales. I was sewing in the upstairs in front of a window that looks out over the driveway and towards the barn. I watched Snuffels go up onto the first bale and the second. Then I hustled ( as best I can ) downstairs grabbed the camera and made it outside to get a picture of him on the top surveying his kingdom. He wasn't there for very long. Can't believe I got the picture.

I'm Handsome, Too!

2010-02-27T07:27:00.001-06:00

Hi, Little Beaver here,

Mom said that this is the High Ridge pin-up pose. I think that I look just as sexy as Zippy did in his photo. I am now almost three months old; I have ears that stand up; and I have that come hither look in my eyes. Life is good around here. This weekend we are having a party because Zippy is going to to have a birthday. It should be fun if there is extra food. I really do like to eat and run and play fight and sleep. Like I said, "Life is good for us dogs at High Ridge!"

Room for Two?

2010-02-15T19:00:00.002-06:00

Both of these two dogs have taken to sleeping in Jake's recliner, but I never expected to find them in it together. I was totally surprised this morinng expecialy since Scooter often vacates anyplace when someone decided to join him. Guess they get along quite well

Time for Westminster. Got to go! Hooray for Harvey, Scout and Sax!!!!!

Ears?

2010-02-10T19:32:00.003-06:00

Hi, Everybody,

It's me, Little Beaver. This is the first time that mom has let me write some stuff on this thing she calls a blog. Now, we, ....Mom and me, were having an argument. I say my ears are near perfect now. She says we might have to put that horrid tape on them again. I am appealing to all of you to set her straight and tell her that my ears will stand up more straight if she just loves me a lot and lets me lick her a big bunch. It is up to you all to tell her how it is. I am a real big boy now, and I can take it if you give her the wrong answer. You won't will you?

Oh, by the way, she says I am going to school tomorrow night. I hope it isn't as bad as the ear thing she told me was going to happen.

Thanks,

The Beave

Red Ryder and Little Beaver

2010-02-08T13:13:00.004-06:00

I was doing dishes just now, and when I turned around, there was Little Beaver with his head resting on his new best buddy, Zippy. At that moment, nothing could have made me much happier. Scooter loved to sleep with his head on Suni, our cocker spaniel when they were our two dogs. The two Cardi boys play hard and run hard, but I guess Little Beaver doesn't mind if he is willing to sleep with his friend.

Little Beaver got his ears taped last night. He sat and took that like a trouper. The tape takes a beating in their play, but Zippy isn't bothering it. I was worried about that.

Right now everyone is taking his afternoon nap. Zippy is on the love seat and whimpering in his sleep.

Scooter is out flat on the floor behind me. Little Beaver is taking his second nap outside of his crate. He was curled up on the blanket like the photo shows, but now he is is laid out on his side. It is quiet now,..................but it won't be for long.

This little guy is photogenic; who wouldn't love a puppy that looks like that picture.

Garrett Could Be Right

2010-02-03T15:32:00.002-06:00

Now, is that adorable or what? Garrett gave him his blue blanket, and Jinnie contributed the blue collar. I would say that he looks good in blue. Right now he has discovered the cats to bark at and that a Nylabone can be fun to carry around. Unfortunately, the cats are bigger than he is .........now. The bone looks kind of funny, too. All three dogs had a good run back and forth in the house a while ago with Zippy in the lead. Little Beaver did not make the whole loop each time, but he got some running done. Even Scooter got going.

I can already see difference between the two Cardi's. This one seems to be more of a people dog although the circumstances are different. He is sitting under my computer chair right now. Zippy never did that. And, he can't hold his licker at all. Zippy is not a licker except when he first gets into bed at night. Little Beaver runs is tongue 24/7. It will be fun to watch them grow together.

We are ready to Hit the Trail

2010-02-03T10:11:00.001-06:00

Garrett's Crockett became Little Beaver about 12:30 yesterday afternoon. We all survived the ride home and the first night. Scooter is learning about having a little brother. Sometimes we have to declare a time-out to let LB recover his dignity, but they have had moments of playing together correctly. LB quickly learned that chairs were his friends. They are a good place to hide from the monster corgi. The uber-monster collie hardly knows that the puppy is here.

As I write this the two big dogs are outside. Little Beaver is doing his first wind sprints at his new home complete with toy in mouth. He shouldn't want for toys. We have a boatload.

I took three pictures which are not great. Better ones will follow, but Blogger says I have met my picture limit for this post.

The Wild, Wild West

2010-02-01T14:36:00.000-06:00

Well, if you are old enough to recognize this image, I can connect with you. Little Beaver arrives tomorrow to join his big pal, Red Ryder and his sidekick Buckskin. Some of you might recognize the name Red Ryder from a Christmas movie with a BB gun. We kicked around lots of names, but finally settled on Little Beaver, who was the child sidekick of Red Ryder. The three of them will be our version of the Wild, Wild West in Wisconsin. If what Cardi breeders say is right, it should be wild with two Cardis in the same house. It will be nothing like the homes with multiple Cardis, but Zippy will be so happy to have a friend to play with again. Scooter mostly supervises. Hopefully, Little Beaver will be a happy playmate and conspirator for Zippy. He surely needs that now that Libby is gone. This weekend Zippy was so happy to have his doggie cousins, Birch and Rover here for a day. Then to top it off..........Sadie, the sheltie, came on Sunday. He was so happy to have doggies to play with again. Now, Little Beaver should take up the slack in that category.

Waiting for Little Beaver

Spring?

2010-01-20T19:58:00.000-06:00

Look carefully and you will see the pussy willows that are sprouting at my house. I am almost as lucky as Michelle in Oregon. ...........Sorry, it was just a way to keep my spirits up. It really did remind me of pussy willows. All it was is the frozen fog we had for several days this week.

To all the wonderful dog people out there that might read this simple blog: Would it be a bad idea for me to get another male dog? It would be a Cardi, and it would be neutered as soon as possible. The other two are also neutered. Although the loss of Libby eats at my heart, I know that Zippy needs a playmate if I am to retain any semblance of sanity. Scooter doesn't play with him like Libby did, and even though we went for two long walks today, one through deep snow, he was still going to eat my catalogs after supper. And that was after he had run many wind sprints from one end of the house to the other. He just stands outside now . Before he was always on the move.

Do you think I need to get one sex or the other? I would love your input. Jinnie told me how she feels about it and I value her opinion. I just wonder what some of the other dog people think.

Frosting on the Dogs

2010-01-19T10:19:00.002-06:00

We are having a period of frozen fog.    The dogs couldn't wait until it cleared today, so we went for our walk in the fog.     We all got frosted.    The dogs looked just adorable with their icing on their fur.    Scooter got a whole lot more than Zippy did.    It also frosted their leashes, my gloves, and my hair,too, I think.

Zippy needs much more attention since he doesn't have his Libby to take care of him.    He gets into things he has never even noticed. I guess I sure didn't realize how much they took care of each other.    Scooter only allows himself to play once a day whether he needs it or not, so he doesn't help much with the babysitting. We will just have to make this work until we can get a new playmate for Zippy.

Thank you to everyone for your kind words.    Somehow this loss is the worst animal loss I have suffered in the 40 plus years I have lived with my furry friends.    All the other times, I knew that I would be losing my dog in the near future.    This shock just knocked me for a loop.    Scooter and Zippy probably don't mind he extra lovin' though.

Libby

2010-01-16T13:59:00.000-06:00

You certainly never know what life has to offer you on any given day. We lost our Libby today. The snow was very high by the far end of the fence. It was difficult to dig out because of the layer of ice that was about half way down. I had started to dig a mote so that she could not get up to the fence. She was outside by herself. The mailman must have gone by and she jumped the fence and chased after him. He followed him up our road and to the coutry road where our road ends. She turned west and got killed just up the road a piece. Jake found her in the middle of the road and brought her home. I still can't stop crying. She had a fenced back yard, and I knew that she hated moving vehicles of any kind. I can't help but feel responsible because I didn't bring her in with the other dogs and because I didn't dig a mote around the fence to keep her away from it. I have never lost a dog in an accident in the 40 years that I have dogs. I have never even had one hurt on a road. My poor baby; she seemed to have an obession with moving vehicles. and I didn't work hard enough to help her overcome it. Other than that she was a sweet dog and a wonderful playmate for Zippy the corgi. She will be sorely missed. Jake said that she could not have suffered as her injuries were extensive, and she was dead when he found her.

Now I fear that no one will ever sell me another dog because I was careless and let this dog escape from her fenced yard.

Libby................run free whereever you are and remember that we loved you and that you were a beloved member of our family.

Junior Poses for a Picture

2010-01-07T18:37:00.000-06:00

Junior has discovered that there are outside cats living on the porch attached to the bedroom. (also the way the dogs get out to "their" yard. He sits and watches them when he doesn't have any other pressing things to do.

I guess I will do this one picture at a time.

The new year

2010-01-07T10:31:00.007-06:00

The birds are very happy that I filled the feeders this morning.   The picture is taken from the kitchen window and is blurry because of that and the fact that is it snowing.   The Christmas tree is providing some shelter particularly to the cardinals. I am glad I put it out there yesterday. Earlier there were seven male cardinals around the feeder.   They are so brilliant in the snow.   This picture only captures Mr. Flicker just above the snowman's hat. The cardinals fly in and out to the big fir tree in the background.    The road is not visible in the top of the shot because of the snow.   Isn't it nice that all of us in the U.S. can share in this horrible weather.    I am just kidding, but we are sure "united" in our misery.

Second picture is Zippy and Junior resting on the wool roving rug in front of the stairs.    Zippy often rests there.

Short post since Blogger will not let me add any pictures.    Maybe more later.

Greetings

2009-12-31T21:30:00.001-06:00

Happy New Year to everyone!

Life is quiet, just like I like it, up on the ridge. It is "big time" winter. The Christmas storm left a thick layer of ice which has been covered up with a few inches of snow since then. The day after Christmas we went down to Kenosha. What a mistake! It snowed half the way there and all the way back. But it was great to see Jake's family. I guess the science of meteorology still needs some improvement. Libby and Zippy went along with us, and Scooter stayed home. He just wouldn't come to us to go and get into the car. He really doesn't like riding in the car. The other two were just fine. Tonight and tomorrow are just quiet days ------ only special because Jake is home.

Blogger won't let me add any pictures or change the side color, so I guess that's it for now.

White Christmas

2009-12-23T18:56:00.001-06:00

We are having a blizzard.   It is expected to last through Saturday. One time today the wind speed was at 40.0 m.p.h. when I looked at it.    The cows are in their lean with fresh straw and three round bales of hay.     The sheep got fed in their sheds tonight.All the outside cats are in various protected places either in the heated milk house or on one of two porches.   Todd is enduring the second blizzard already this season.......not happily, though.   Jake will probably have to work on Christmas.   Even the dogs don't go out to play tonight.......it is tooooooo windy and snowy.

(Garrett thinks this if fun?)     At least we don't HAVE to go anywhere tomorrow although Todd has to go to LaX for a doctor's appointment.

We are all warm and safe.    Merry Christmas to everyone and stay safe if you are involved with this storm.

P.S. Thanks to anyone who sent birthday wishes to me in November.    I can't write to my FB account. I don't have any idea what is wrong. Any ideas?

The Upper Crust

2009-12-01T19:56:00.002-06:00

Or.............Why We Live in a Gated Community.

We have found that our culture forces us to live in a gated community. We just couldn't exist if we were forced to live in a home where all the "riff raff" mingled in one messy group. The pictures should explain our predicament. Here Libby is locked in the living room. This is unusual for her since she is usually locked out because of her barking at the big window

Then we have the bedroom. Sometimes no dogs are allowed to be in the bedroom either. Usually Zippy is on the other side of this gate in the dining room. The restrictions from these two rooms is usually because of wet feet.

Then there is the gate into the kitchen where the dogs get locked now and then. They also get separated twice a day when they get fed because Scooter is a FINICKY eater, and everyone finishes before he does.

In the kitchen is the stairway. It has two gates mostly to keep Zippy from climbing the stairs since the collies don't do stairs which is OK with me. The cat "stuff" is upstairs as is my quilting machine, so I really don't need dogs up there. The gate in the front swings over to separate the dining room and the kitchen.

Lastly, there are the two extra gates which help with any other riff raff that may show up. One needs fixing, and I think that will be tomorrow's project.

Here is some of the Thanksgiving riff raff that showed up with my son Dave. Zippy really had a ball with the dog on the right, Rover. We really had the long and the short of it because one of Rover's parents is a Bernese Mountain dog. They were fun to watch and provided comic relief all weekend.

What next?

2009-11-14T20:50:00.001-06:00

This is a picture of the excitement that exists on a Saturday night on the ridge. A few seconds earlier the cat and dog were touching as they slept. BUT..............would you believe that is the same dog that locked his family out of the car with the keys in the ignition at the gas station this morning? Well, it happened. Love those automatic locks. He just stepped on the lock button as I was finishing the gas fill, and Jake was getting some soda in the store. LUCKILY........Jake had his wallet on him with the OnStar card in it. One call to them and the fact that there was a dog in the car produced an unlocked car as soon as they were sure who I was. Thank heaven for OnStar, and I will never leave the keys in the car when the dog is alone in the car. That could have happened any time that I was filling the car and had the dog along with me. Then I might not have my cell phone, and I certainly would not have my purse since I use a credit card to get gas. Oh well...............learned a new lesson today thanks to Mr. Zippy.

As a reward we took him to his favorite store, TSC (Tractor Supply Company) so that he could comb the dog food aisle for treats besides getting treats from his favorite store employee. He really loves that store.

For Michelle

2009-11-14T16:02:00.000-06:00

Here are some pictures of the bullies. I can't get good pictures since they come running to the fence when they see me. I will have to think about how to produce better pictures of them. The first one is Sammy as he is approaching. The second one is Sammy being naughty.

Here are two bullie faces trying to figure out what the heck I am doing.

Last but not least are the three dogs in my backyard looking at the house that Jake has spent a week of vacation trying to save. His vacation is over Monday, and the house is a wreck. It is an old one room school house that was moved to this property. The former owner was not a carpenter, and the house is sinking into the ground. Jake is madly jacking parts up and replacing beams under the house where there is a hole. Water flowed under the whole thing and caused a lot of rot. Luckily Todd doesn't HAVE to come home until Wednesday. By then, I think, Jake will be able to get the house closed up so that it is "livable" again.

Through the Spinning Wheel

2009-11-05T08:19:00.000-06:00

Well, I don't have a picture of this, but I will do my best to describe it in words.    It was just a few brief moments while I was spinning last night.    I was sitting on the couch with my wheel in front of me.    Spinning is new to Zippy. All of a sudden I looked up from my drafting, and there was a little Cardi head going round and round on the other side of the wheel.    He did it long enough that Jake was able to see it.
You know how a dog will follow motion with his head?   Well, this one was going like around in time with my wheel.    It sure made for a real funny "Cardi moment".

The funny moment may have been to make up for his trick in the morning.   As I was sitting at the computer he went over to the wheel and jumped up on the couch and took the whole ball of roving I was spinning from and treated it like one of his toys.    Luckily I caught him before he had torn up the whole thing.    It took some time last night to pull the ball apart so that I could salvage the parts that had touched the Cardi lips.    Very little was lost, and the act last evening more than made up for the mess in the morning.

Sunny, frost, and calm up on the ridge this morning.   Looking forward to some mild temperatures today.
Time to go for our walk.

I just went and did it anyway!

2009-11-04T15:48:00.003-06:00

Hi, Everybody...................Zippy here!

Just me hanging out on my new playground equipment.

My UN mom knew better, but she put up a bell for me anyway. She tried to teach me to ring the bells when I wanted to go outside. Yahoo!!!! This is great!!!! I learned just like she wanted me to, and I ring those bells whenever I want to go out...............whether it is to play or to do my "business". She had been told not to, but I am glad that she did not pay any attention to what other people said.

As you can see from the picture, I have a good time when I go outside. Libby is the greatest playmate. I can almost keep up with her now, and we have fun chasing in our yard.

Now, Mr. Scooter just doesn't always know what we are up to. He usually just stands and watches us run all over the place. Sometimes he even joins in. That is real fun.

I thought you would like to see my second favorite playmate. It is a cat, but I pretend it isn't. We just play like two dogs. BUT.......I have to be careful when he swats at me because his nails are sharp.

UN mom says she has a surprise for me one of these days. I have no idea what she is talking about because she keeps talking about something called "snow". Oh, well............I will just let her have her fun.

And the Dogs

2009-10-21T16:46:00.006-05:00

The dogs are enjoying the fall except when it rains, and we can't go for a wal

Libby looks kind of put out with me. She really was having a good time.

And Zippy got a new toy to play with. My sister-in-law told me about these toys for dogs, and we finally found one. So far he jumps up into it, and today he has used is as a place to get drinking water since a few puddles form where he is standing.

And I am learning about this new form of Blogger, so I am sorry about the poor organization.

Sheep and ........nothing else right now.

2009-10-21T11:52:00.000-05:00

The sheep come running when they see me or hear me. I know it is only because they expect food, but it is fun anyway.

Looking for cookies.

That is all for now since Blogspot won't let me download any more pictures.

Fall Update

2009-10-20T20:54:00.003-05:00

Well, Jake has been installing our new corn stove/furnace. We sold the wood boiler and bought this new one that burns corn or wood pellets. In the picture you can see how it looks now with the grain bin set up alongside. The second picture is just getting it set up. The third is self explanatory and depressing for October.

The day it snowed like this left no evidence after it was over.

Three on a Couch

2009-09-14T15:56:00.002-05:00

For once, a photo op, did not disappear when I finally got the camera out. I was cleaning in the dining room, and Zippy and Scooter were on the love seat together. That was a first, also. Zippy had let out a couple of real high barks at the vacuum that got Libby into the room. The next time I looked, the three of them were together on the "dog couch". They won't fit much longer if Zippy has anything to say about it. His worst trick is to pull the blanket and cushions onto the floor and to shred the foam rubber of the cushion. The corners are beginning to disappear. As you can see the dogs have worked on other parts of the couch, too, but they can still sleep on it. If Zippy does in the cushions, we will have to make some adjustments.

Those three are 3/7 of the Brockhaus Fur Farm although they contribute much more than 3/7. The other four contributors are just cats.

Fur Farm

2009-08-26T14:59:00.005-05:00

This is the time of year for tractor shows. Jake can't drag me to them unless they have a flea/antique market. We went to Baraboo on Saturday. The man in the booth with the sign thought I was nuts. Not a reaction that surprised me. When I saw the sign, I just started laughing. I had to have it. It could have something to do with the fact that our two collies are just in the final stages of a massive "coat drop". It felt like a fur farm around here for several weeks. Things are getting better now, but they lost a massive amount of fur.

Zippy has chosen this spot on hot days. It must be cool along side of the water tank, i.e. rain barrel, and lying on the green plants.

Last night, Libby decided to lie down by Zippy when they were up on the bed. It was a "Kodak" moment. It doesn't happen very often.

Innocent is not a word that I would ever use to describe either one of them.

A study in brown and more

2009-08-17T15:44:00.007-05:00

Don't I look good in brown?

A walk around the farm with my husband, two sons, daughter-in-law, and seven dogs.

Dave and Holly's dogs are not purebreds, but they sure are big!

Not a flattering shot of Holly, but it shows the path where I walk with the dogs.

Dave and five of the dogs.

Time to go up the hill back towards the barn.

Coming around the last corner, I finally got into the picture.

Zippy Update

2009-08-05T17:09:00.006-05:00

Hey, Zippy here!

These are just some pictures that UN mom took after I got my bath. I just wanted Down South mom to see how I am growing into a real little handsome dude. They aren't prize photos, but you can see how I have grown into my ears, which are standing up now, thank you very much!

You can see all of me here but my head. I heard my cousins over at their house and just had to take a look. I have nice white feet, but they are hidden in the beautiful green grass that I play in. It is nice and cool where it grows behind the water tank. I like to relax there when we are outside playing.

In our House

2009-07-29T10:05:00.002-05:00

Yes, there is a cute Cardi in the picture, but look IN the toy box. Sammy decided that sitting on top of the toy box was a safe place to chew on some rawhide. Whatever!

Cute Cardi was tired out from our walk this morning. In fact all three dogs are sleeping peacefully. Zippy deserves the rest more since he had to take so many more steps than the collies did.

They're Here!!!

2009-07-26T10:32:00.003-05:00

Scooter, Libby, and Zippy met their young cousin, Sammy, this morning. There were no problems, and Zippy and Sammy did a little running in the yard. I am sure there will be MUCH more to follow. Problems and running.

They explored the pool together. Zippy went all four feet in, which I have never seen before. Glad to see that. Sammy is a tax child, born on April 15 which means he is 3 and 1/2 months old. The two puppies are about 6 weeks apart in age. Zippy looks like a monster now. They are the same height, but not the same length. Each one has his forte.

Needless to say, I am happily at home, with elephant ankles and shaky everything from the caffeine. Let's just make a movie and call it "To Hell and Back" because that is how I will remember it. If I never go to Fl again, it will be toooooo soon.

Mr. Schnuffels

2009-07-15T19:42:00.005-05:00

Zippy here,

I just wanted you to see my newest friend up here in the north land. UN mom and Jake call him Mr. Schnuffels. They said that he is from some comic strip called "Pearls Before Swine". In that comic strip they have a terrorist cat. They, Un mom and Jake, said that Mr. Schnuffels acts like a terrorist. I don't think so. Take a look at these pictures. He really likes me to chew on his ears. That is fun.

The other dogs went into the house, but we stayed out to play. Mr. Schnuffels comes into our yard through a hole in the fence. He is a lot of fun, and sometimes he even chases me. I sure do love to run.

Un mom says not to worry because my cousins will be here in 10 days. I have no idea what she is talking about, but I trust her. She says one of them is only six weeks younger than I am. His name is Sammy. He should be fun to run with. I hope he likes me. I am trying to get my ears to stand up so I look like a real Cardigan when he comes. UN mom says he is coming from a place where it is very hot just like I did. He should like it up here in the North.

That's it from here, but I just wanted you to see my newest friend. Mom says it is only 7 days until she is going to get Sammy and Pearl and Todd.

Hey! What about me?

2009-07-10T19:04:00.003-05:00

When I was ready to go to bed, I found this group on MY side of the bed. We were only missing three cats.

Could be something really neat happening here tonight. I have my fingers crossed.

12 days and counting.

Why I Live Here

2009-07-07T16:45:00.004-05:00

I am the designated hay raker if I am able. Yesterday, I was available. While I was driving the tractor I realized that this was one of those special moments. I was so content doing that work. The view was awesome in any direction because we live on top of a ridge.

The orderliness of the hay raked in beautiful rows was pleasing to the eye.

The adjacent field was in full bloom and heavenly to smell, and the temperature was warm but not hot with a wonderful breeze.

And to top it off, I had my headset radio to dampen the noise of the tractor tuned to WPR. Those are just a few of the reasons why I love living here.

Now see what you have done!

2009-07-06T16:58:00.007-05:00

Zippy here!

First of all here is a picture of my Libby. I just love that girl. She is so much fun to hang on to. Sometimes she gets a little upset with me, but mostly she just likes to play like I do.

The rest of this is so sad. Look what happened to me. UN mom did this with her eyes closed after she had been drinking some "stuff". I look just awful. It is a good thing I have such a wonderful personality, or who would want me in their house.

I sure am glad that we aren't going anywhere today because I would have to hide in the tall plants outside like I did the other day just because I am so ashamed of how I look. I sure hope she takes this tape off of me tonight even though it will hurt.

Maybe UN mom was upset that she had to rake the hay today, and that is why she made such a mess of my beautiful ears.

I will let you know what happens next.

Who's right?

2009-07-05T18:30:00.003-05:00

To everyone out there in Cardi-land from Zippy,

UN mom and I are having a bit of a disagreement here right now. She thinks I should have some more of that awful tape on my ear/ears again. I totally disagree with her........TOTALLY!!!!

What do you think? Do I still have to have my ear/ears taped, or is that left one up enough now? I have four new teeth on the bottom and two on the top, and UN mom said she wished I would hurry and get something besides the "little needles" that I have in my mouth now. I don't have any idea what she is talking about.

Oh, I forgot. I have gone to my favorite store twice this weekend. How is that for a holiday weekend? ...........My favorite store is TSC. They like me there because I keep all the dog food off of the floor so they don't have to worry about rodents. That is a great place!!!

Let me know what you think about the "ear thing". Here is what I look like now.

Livin' up to my name!

2009-06-30T10:32:00.006-05:00

Zippy here! (a.k.a. Solstice's the Flying Farmer)

Now, just so you know, UN mom calls me Zippy, mostly, but today I was really living up to my name. First she took me out to feed the sheep. Now, we have done this before, but not for a while. I think she got kind of upset when I went under a wire and was feasting on something. I thought it was an eating contest. My face was real dirty. I think she said it was a "pie". She eats pie. Why shouldn't I?

Well..........Today we went to a different spot in the fields. Boy, did we fly in that little cart. I just put my nose up in the air so I could catch all the different smells that were out there. It was grand. Then we had to do some work.

UN mom filled the card and the wagon with green stuff for the sheep because she said there wasn't any in the barn. I just wandered around looking at everything. I sampled some dirt and stuff in the newly planted corn field. I am the only one allowed to walk in there because I am such a light weight. Then we got in the cart again and went back to the sheep pasture.

As you can see, I am still in my training crown. UN mom said I am giving her fits with my ear. I don't have a clue what that means. But I know that some of my teeth are already coming out, and I am getting new ones. I wonder if that makes a difference to my ear?

I guess I would do this again because it was good Cardi fun-----flying and farming.

For Peti Jr.

2009-06-25T15:55:00.005-05:00

This post if for a young man in Hungary a way across the ocean. Peti, Zippy would love to play with you.

It is too hot here for the dogs to even stand up and play. Soooooooo, they lay down and play mouth games. Most of the noise comes from Scooter. Zippy is pretty quiet when he plays with his collies.

Although there are a lot of teeth showing, it is all in fun. Even with that ferocious looking set of teeth, they were only playing. Scooter seldom gets really upset with Zippy. Libby is more likely to react when she gets too much of the little razor teeth in Zippy's mouth.

For Kristi

2009-06-24T13:34:00.003-05:00

Here is Zippy today with his collies. No action today. I knuckled under and got out some new rawhide and let them go at it. It is too hot for anything else. Even the FL dog wants to come in from outside. Little Texas goes and lays in the weeds when he gets too hot. Sometimes, I can't even find him. Guess I had better get the weed eater out and knock down those weeds.

I just go outside and do some work and then come in and watch some more of the NCIS marathon. What a day for that.

To P.J.

2009-06-21T10:25:00.004-05:00

Hi, Dad,

It's me, Zippy. I hope SW Jinnie lets you have lots of fun on this Fathers' Day. I hope I grow up to look just like you. I am sorry about my ear this morning, but I am having a terrible time with it. I think that maybe my ears are a mite tooooo big. I promise I will keep working on it.

I am having a good time this morning with my collies. We are running and chasing all over the house. Right now I am hiding under the chair with a hedgehog in my mouth. Then sometimes I burst out from under whatever and run like the devil. Of course, they can't catch me because I am sooooo fast. UN mom took me outside for my formal portrait. I sat on the rock just like she told me to.

TTYL, love,

Zippy

Differences

2009-06-20T07:37:00.008-05:00

Just some lamb pictures, the horny ones in particular. There is such a difference in horn growth

These two were born one week apart.

These two were born four days apart

These two are again four days apart.

This is the first born and largest and friendliest lamb. It doesn't show anything good about him except his horn growth.

I wonder if Lucy's twins with the white caps may not have huge horns. There is nothing really showing now unless you look closely at "one foot". "Two foot" just seems to have little buttons now. I will catch them soon and give them "the once over".

Water Baby

2009-06-16T16:46:00.004-05:00

We don't have a lake nearby like some lucky people do, but we have a new pool. Isaac was willing to sacrifice his body and go into the pool. Zippy wasn't to sure about the water thing.

The miracle of animal crackers!!!! Zippy is in the pool.

After a while, Zippy was willing to discuss the pros and cons of swimming pools with Isaac and Mr. Snuffles....formerly Fuzz Nutless.

And This Week........

2009-06-15T06:38:00.004-05:00

First, Zippy graduated from puppy kindergarten. It is beyond my ability at this time to assume the pose of the other participants. Zippy had a major weekend---activity wise. He almost made it walking and running around the grass path out in the field twice. It was pretty warm yesterday afternoon, so we had to stop several times. He finally needed to be carried for a while before he could get his energy back. The troup was the two boys taking turns driving the golf/utility cart and Kia and I with the dogs, Scooter and Zippy off leash, and Libby on a long lead. A good time was had by all.

Former neighbors come to visit. The two boys worked at cleaning the rock that broke the plow out in the field.

Isaac, the older boy, and I were great friends when he was small, and we lived next door to each other. He is staying here at the farm for the week. Now he is old enough to really work and play with me. We are going to get lots done and for sure ride the Sparta/Elroy bike trail.

This black dish seems to be a favorite of the white lambs. I had hoped to catch one of them using it as a bed. I think that is my last born lamb, a single out of Justalitl Millie. Happily, SHE, is doing fine. That made my total, 5 rams and 2 ewes. That is even worse than the calf ratio.

Sibling Rivalry

2009-06-09T21:29:00.002-05:00

Note to my SW mom and grandmom,

I did not want you to be ashamed of me because my ears would not stand up, so I made UN mom take the tape off tonight. I look awesome. She took two pictures while she was sitting at the computer so you could see that I have "big boy" ears tonight. Heaven only knows what they will look like in the morning since I like to sleep in all kinds of funny positions in my little house. I hope they are still standing up because the tape is not that much fun.

That's it from here!

Two and a Half Dogs

2009-06-05T22:17:00.005-05:00

Hey, Zipppy here!!!! I have been very busy lately learning stuff that my UN mom thinks I need to learn. But when I look at her like in this picture, she lets me play with the "big dogs".

She even bought us some new toys because we were getting low on stuff to play with. They were great because we could play "tug of war" with them.

Hey!!! That's me on the right side of the picture. Just a little corner of my fur underneath all that wonderful collie fur. I just love their fur. It is so much fun to hang unto.

At first Scooter didn't really like to play with me, but now we have a great time together.

Now you have some idea of how we play when UN mom lets us. We have a great time!!!!

Six lambs

2009-06-05T12:59:00.002-05:00

Nothing spectacular here, just four little ram lambs and one of their mothers. You can easily tell who the sets of twins are.

Snowy's white twins. The ram has a pink nose, and the ewe has a black nose. What does that indicate? (I assume that it indicates something since everything else in the Shetland world is significant.)

Highridge Polka Dot showing off her dots.

One Is Better Than None

2009-06-02T15:13:00.004-05:00

Sheltering Pines Snowy had twin lambs this morning. Happily, one is a ewe lamb.

I think I may call her Polka Dot since she has a black dot on each of her legs on her left side. Her brother has real thick horn buds. Snowy did fine except she chose to lamb outside, and I had to put up a fence to protect her from one of my yearlings.All is well, and they are in the shed for bonding time.

Lucy and her twins will come out of their jug in a little while when I feed everyone.

Another Super Tuesday!!!

Ram-a-lamb-a-ding-dong

2009-05-30T20:35:00.003-05:00

Well, the ewe that had the flashy pair at the top of this page gave me two MORE ram lambs today. They are both black with big white patches on their heads and white around their noses. Luckily one has two short back white socks. Now I will be able to tell them apart. The pictures are not good because it is dark in the garage where Lucy decided to give birth. We had to make a bonsai run to Milwaukee this morning to see Jake's father who had a stroke yesterday afternoon. He is doing fine today. When we got home at about 3:30, Lucy had delivered one, and then the second one arrived a little bit later. All is well in the garage except for the sex of the lambs.

They are equally sized which is quite different from the first two. They are crimpy from head to butt and have nice short tails. One has horn buds, and the other one has something different. I can't tell what just yet. The first two that were born on Tuesday have significant horn buds and may have horns like their father. The little grey/brown one has crimp right down to the end of his tail. It is really cool. I sure wish he was a girl!!

I am 0 and 4 now. That is not a very good score.

Productive morning

2009-05-26T13:05:00.004-05:00

Lolly had twin ram lambs this morning.

This is the smaller one. The bigger one weighed 7+ pounds and the smaller one 5+.

They both know where to go for food. The little one was second born and is still kind of shaky. He just needs a good shot of food. Lolly is being a grand first time mother.

(I won two things in the church lottery) How is that for a good morning?
Two lambs and two prizes.

2009

2009-05-25T11:37:00.005-05:00

That was then; this is now.

Sheltering Pines Snowy on the left and Sheltering Pines Lolly on the right are going to be mothers any day now. It may be late, but we don't have anywhere to go.

This is my "rose garden". Last year it didn't even exist because of all the stress in my life. This year it has risen from the weeds to give me great joy again. I love having cut roses in the house and will probably keep having them as long as I am able.

Oh, on Tuesday we got rid of the steers, bulls, major bull, and two cows that never calved. Hooray!!!!! We had to cut out one heifer and one cow, who didn't calve yet, and one steer for little white packages who were mixed in the the group. There is our seed money. Last evening, Jake comes out to where we were leveling the yard with dirt using the Bobcat and says, "I think there is a new calf in the pasture." Well, knock me over with a feather.........There was a new calf in the pasture.....A HEIFER. She is all black and maybe we should call her "surprise" because I sure did not know she was coming. Her mom, the heifer, did a good job.

So far..........2009 is way better than 2008 even though of being!!!!

WOW!!!

2009-05-24T22:13:00.003-05:00

UN mom is awesome!!!! Today she built a dirt pit for Libby and me to play in. Tonight we were chasing in the back yard when we stopped for a drink. Playing is hard work. After our drink, we went to our new dirt pit. But.......wouldn't you know it, just then, UN mom wanted us to come into the house. Being the good boy that I am, I trotted over to the door. UN mom picked me up and started laughing. I didn't get the joke. Then she made UN dad hold me and took our picture. I still don't understand what was so special that I had to have my picture taken and then get a face bath. Oh, well, just another day in paradise.

I am out of here!

This Ain't No Fun!

2009-05-20T20:32:00.001-05:00

She calls me her "little man"

I can't believe she did this to me. She keeps saying that she loves me. Now, I ask you, would you do this to someone you love?

The other day I had Pansy over for a play date. We had a good time.

Bye now; I have to go sulk in a corner.

Jus playin............

2009-05-18T11:14:00.005-05:00

It's Zippy Time!!!

I been doing a lot of playing lately. As you can see, my Aunt Libby is WAY bigger than me. I try not to let it bother me. When things get real wild, I flop over on my back and wiggle my feet in the air. OR I scamper as fast as I can to somewhere she doesn't fit. There are lots of places in my new house.

UN Mom took this picture of me coming out of one of my "safe" places. It is under the dining room table. Even UN mom has trouble grabbing me if I am in there. I take my raw hide and "My little pony" with me. (UN mom bought it for me on Saturday, and it is a great toy and pillow).

My Aunt Libby is real nice. She lets me crawl on top of her and nibble on all different parts of her body. When I get toooooo rough, she always lets me know. We get real loud when we play, and UN dad had to turn up the TV so he could hear the drag racing last night. But during the day we can get as loud as we want because UN mom never has the TV on.

OH, one last thing, UN mom says that we are lucky that it is warm out because we keep going outside real often. That is great because it is fun to run and play out there. I hope I can learn to run faster cause Aunt Libby wants me to chase her, and I can't run fast enough yet.

I am out of here!!!

Pansies in the Spring

2009-05-14T13:28:00.002-05:00

Zippy here!!

Now this is my new friend, Pansy. Isn't she beautiful. I think UN mom must like those colors because Pansy looks like the big dogs. This is the condo that UN mom bought for the cats. Pansy told me that she went in it ONCE. UN mom got lucky and got a picture of her.

I didn't want UN mom to feel like she wasted her money, so I decided to show her that I could use it for a teething toy. She wasn't that happy about the idea, but she still tried to take my picture while I was in there. She wasn't quick enough because I am all blurry. But......you get the picture. I think it is an awesome chew toy. I get to lay in it and chew on it at the same time. Cool!!! Wouldn't it be too much if Pansy would get in the top, and I could be in the bottom. You know, Pansy is a real cool cat, and I try to pay attention to her so she won't feel neglected. She doesn't always appreciate it, but I will keep trying.

Got to rest up for the big class tonight. UN mom said I will be a star at school
because I don't like to walk on a leash yet. That thing is a real bother. I don't think she was being serious, but I do know how to do some of the things we have been work one.

I am out of here!!

P.S. To OSW mom and OSW g-mom. UN mom told me that she had it in writing that you were going to come and see me at my UN house. That will be so cool. Can all the dogs come along? I have lots to show them.

Zippy Live!

2009-05-13T19:36:00.002-05:00

Boy, are we having some fun up here. Let me tell you!!!

Well, it all happened on Monday. Aunt Libby decided that I was big enough to play with. We had a real great time. I get rides when I hang on to her tail. Sometimes we go in circles, and I fly around just like my name. Sometimes she goes straight, and I can slide like on the kitchen floor. It is fun! But when we all go outside, I have to be careful if those two big dogs are running and playing. Some of the time I have to just lay on my back and wiggle my feet while they bark. Then I get real brave, and I jump up and snap at their noses and run away. I can get into places that they can't get into. I don't thing they know how easy it is to latch onto their fur. We get real wild especially at night after supper.

I am just an innocent little puppy...........sometimes.

P.S. My up North dad can really laugh when we get to playing. I think he likes me.

Farmer Boy

2009-05-11T10:12:00.005-05:00

Zippy here!

This morning I got my first lesson in raising beef cows. We all went to the barn, even those two giant dogs that I live with. BUT...... UN (Up north) Mom left those two giants in one part of the barn, and she took me further into the barn to feed the cow and two sheep. But.....she tied me up so I wouldn't get into trouble. While she was watering and feeding, along came this humungous creature. It came right up to me, and we touched noses. I scared that big guy. He jumped back. Fortunately,
UN mom was watching because he came back up by me. By then, my good sense had returned, and I went back my UN mom's feet. I felt safe there because that thing was a real giant. This farming stuff can be very dangerous.

Then UN mom took the other dogs into the house, and we went out alone. We sat on the seat of this moving vehicle and went to feed the sheep. I had helped with this before. The riding was kind of fun. UN mom just wouldn't let me sit on the seat without her, so I wandered around and checked things out on the ground.

After we put the cart away, we went back into the house, but I had to stop and sample the flowers up by the house. I hope they don't make me sick because I think I might have eaten one of them.

Now you can see that I really have my job cut out for me up here. Over the weekend, I met three people and played and slept a lot. UN mom won't let me eat with the big guys, she makes me eat in my "little house". (That is what she calls it.) It looks like a crate to me. I even went outside in the rain on Friday night. So far I haven't gotten into any terrible trouble. I am pretty proud of that fact.

I am out of here!

Up Nort With Zippy

2009-05-09T18:32:00.003-05:00

Hey, Zippy here!

Well, things are settling in around here. Well..........it isn't really settling down because things get pretty wild here sometimes. Those two big dogs step on me sometimes. This morning I got up close to that girl dog and just tried sampling her tail. She didn't get too upset too quickly, but I didn't get to do that for very long. She gets more upset with me than the boy dog does especially when she is working on some rawhide. It's cool.......I'll work it out.

Then sometimes, my Northern Mom lets me sit up on the couch with her. Mostly I fool around and chew on something or on her, but after a while, I get tired. She is always there and doesn't let me sleep by myself on the couch.

I like going outside with the other doggies. We can be out their by ourselves without getting into trouble. The other day, the grass got shorter. I have no idea how that happened, but I can't hide in it anymore. Out there, I can always find something to chew on. I seem to go out there lots of times. I have no idea why that happens, but Mom usually carries me or gets upset if I don't follow the gang.

Boy, I almost forgot, Thursday night I went to school for the first time. I really did a good job. You could almost say I was the star of the show. But......at the end of the time that we were there, they had something called "play time". It meant that everyone got wild and ran all over the place. I really did not want to take part in all of that wildness. Those other three dogs had legs that were longer than I am tall. I never could have kept up with them. The leader lady said that sometimes on the first night dogs are shy. Well, I am not shy, but I just watched.
Maybe next week I will take part. I am learning all my lessons because Mom gives me food when I do what she wants. That is way cool!!

Mom is a little worried about all the mess in the house because all of our toys are everywhere, but she handles it pretty well.

I am out of here!!!! If anyone sees my Texas G-Mom or my Texas Mom, tell them that Zippy says, "Happy Mothers' Day!!! and give them a big slobbery kiss from Zippy!!

The Zip Report

2009-05-06T18:50:00.003-05:00

Zippy here. Let me tell you how things are "up North".

Why do I have this smile on my face? Well, someone (I think it was my Texas mom) decided to put me in this house way up North. This place is not so bad. They have dogs and cats in the house. They have bunches of cats outside. That is cool. They have a toy box for dogs that is huge! I can find something to play with whenever I want to. AND.....today, my up North mom gave all of us dogs some pieces of rawhide.
I just took mine and went and laid on a furry thing on the floor that made me look like a little angel. I had to fight to keep the rawhide sometimes, but I sure had a good time with it.

Later my northern mom made me go outside when strange stuff was coming out of the sky. She said it was rain, but I don't have any idea what she was talking about. Must be a regional problem.

Now things are really nice. She send the furry dogs outside, and I am just sitting on the floor in the living room with my rawhide. All is good up here!!! Don't worry mom (Texas mom). I am doing fine.

Zip Trip

2009-05-06T08:30:00.003-05:00

This morning we went on our first Zip Trip. We got all the way to the mailbox and back. That is not to say that it was a short trip, time wise. It took us a pretty long time since Zippy has to stop about every ten steps, those short little puppy Cardi steps, to scratch his collar. We got down to the mailbox real slowly, but coming back, we made much better time.

Zippy seems to lean towards the other male in our three dog household. Scooter is his mentor at the moment. He tries to play with Libby sometimes outside, but he hangs with Scooter.

So far, he is a wonderful puppy. He runs outside when I suggest it, he motors into the house when he hears the door opening, he sleeps in his crate by my bed, he eats up his food like a real dog, he makes us laugh, he naps with me, and he sits on the couch with me at night. Now how much more could anyone ask for?????

Yesterday, we went to the vet. Everyone was good. Scooter is a wuss, he whined the most. It was an interesting trip since it was raining when we went, but we made three stops and were very successful. Zippy is still a bit put off by the cats, but he is learning how they operate. It may take a while, but the cats don't seek him out. He doesn't bother them when he happens to meet up with one of them. I am sure that may change several times.

Puppy update: Successful transition to up north in WI. By the way, he seems to love the grass and sometimes just melts into it and looks happy.

Yipee!!! Zipppy!!!!!

2009-05-04T19:13:00.006-05:00

We have a Cardigan Welsh corgi puppy. He is the "Z" boy!!! His call name is Zippy
He flew in from El Paso, TX to O'Hare Field in Illinois. He was not happy until we got out of IL. Then he was fine.

The collies seem to take him at face value. Libby is more curious than Scooter.

He is nine weeks old and a fabulous traveler. He slept all the way home from Grandma's house. Right now, he follows us around and is absolutely awesome. He is everything I wanted when I decided I wanted one of these little guys.

Weekend

2009-05-03T13:42:00.002-05:00

We had a great weekend with Dave and Holly. Even the dogs had a good time together. They all slept real well last night. Rover rides behind Dave on the bike. It is a hoot. We rode the Sparta-Elroy bike trail. I haven't been on my bike for two years. The tunnel we walked in was wet and drippy.

Tomorrow is "Z" day. Stay tuned for more.

Happy May Day!

2009-05-01T13:26:00.004-05:00

I discovered this week that I will be having lambs this year. Lucy, mom of last year's flashy twins, is prego. (Standing behind her daughter in the picture.) The ram was only in with the three girls for two weeks because of his "problem", so I wasn't that sure that any of them would have lambs. Lucy will, but I am not sure about the other two, Lucy's mom and her younger sister.

It is time to use the lawnmower for the first time, but it will only be removing the bumps as the grass is growing in fits and starts.

Looking forward to having Dave and Holly up here this weekend. Haven't seen them since Thanksgiving.

Monday is "Z" day. Oh, boy, oh, boy, oh, boy!!!!!!!

Improvement

2009-04-20T10:55:00.005-05:00

This is how our house looked with a porch added onto a porch. Don't ask why!

This is where the door was. I had already started the demolition.

After the windows came out, Jake took off the worst part of the roof with the Bobcat.

Now, it still has a half roof. That will become shade for the pasture when he attaches it to the back of the garage. Now I don't have to be quite as embarrassed about how this house looks. As you can see, it really isn't green here yet. The washing machine got left out because that is where I wash my wool, and I still have to work on that task.

New Sheep?

2009-04-09T19:38:00.005-05:00

All the excitement was on Wednesday night. The sheep got sheared. I let them out today and tried to take some pictures while they were still in the small pen. The girls were real interested in the dogs. They look like new sheep. I hardly recognize them.

**************************************************************************************

This is my poor little Pia. Doesn't she look pathetic? She is so small. I think she needs to put on a few pounds. (Hey, Nance, What do you think?) She is still as lively as before, but it sure is hard to tell if they are getting enough food until after they are sheared. It is a bad picture of her; she is usually not hunched like that.

Weekend Visitor

2009-04-05T19:11:00.002-05:00

This is Sadie. She belongs to Bridget, Jake's daughter. Sadie stayed with us from Saturday morning until Sunday afternoon. Now I remember what it was like to have an active dog. The collies just don't qualify in that category.

Sadie was a real athlete. She would play ball until the "cows came home". She was also an expert at dribbling the ball. It was like she was at the free throw line. She would dribble a few times, and then she would let you throw the ball. What a hoot. She was a easy house guest.

And.......Scooter, well, he couldn't be more uninterested in the proceedings. Libby was more interested and active, but she doesn't play ball. She just ran along and caused trouble.

Bob the Builder

2009-04-03T11:02:00.004-05:00

Well, Bob the Builder had better look out for me. This morning I took things into my own hands and got my ewes out of their confinement in the garage. Last weekend, Jake cut a hole in the back of the garage which is part of the ewe pasture. Then we fed them in a small pen in there so that they would be ready for shearing. Well, the shearer called and said he was coming early in the week. So I got all the girls into the garage on Saturday so they would be dry for the big event. Well......(short dumb story) he did not come, and they have been confined in the garage for toooooo long. I wanted them outside. The result was my construction fit. If I don't say so myself, it turned out pretty well, and the girls love it. I am much happier now.

I should have been cleaning since Jake's daughter is coming up tonight, staying with us for the night, leaving her dog here to play with ours, continuing up to the Cities, and returning on Sunday to go home. The "little house" was a pigsty from the whole winter of being a "cat house" and having the pipes freeze and spray water all over the bathroom. The water works now, no hot, but the toilet works. I will finish cleaning and make the bed up. I love that she is coming for two reasons. We get to see her, and I got the house cleaned. Double bonus!!

High Ridge Abby's Little Countess

2009-04-02T10:21:00.005-05:00

This is Abby. She was named because of the black bangs she has on her forehead which reminded me of a character from my favorite TV show-----NCIS. How could she be named anything else? (If you don't watch that show, some of this just won't make sense. Humor me.) She was the last heifer expected to calve in our barn. I knew she was nearly ready and was expecting to find a calf any day now. Well, last night was her time, and she made her presentation this morning.

Being "Abby" she outdid herself. First she hatched a heifer!!!!! Second she dressed her up "Abby" fashion. Her little girl is black with a white face. So far .......OK. Then Abby added a wide white belt, thigh high white stockings in the front, white sport socks in the back, and a white tip on her tail. Nice job, Abby!!! Way to dress up that little girl.

Meet Duchess, or as she will be known.......Duchy

Family portrait (not done by professionals) Happily, Abby and Duchy are doing just fine. Duchy is jumping around, and I saw her nursing. I knew she had arrived even before I got to the barn because I heard Abby doing that "mama to baby locater mooing" which meant there was a new baby born.

Sleeping Beauty

2009-04-01T09:12:00.003-05:00

This is the same Libby, but it is exactly how we both feel about the weather we have been having lately. It makes us just want to take a nap. It is the first time that I have seen her sleeping on her back. What a hoot!

This Quilter's Friend

2009-03-28T11:07:00.004-05:00

Every quilter needs a friend. Mine is furry. She is soooooo helpful when a wall quilt needs to be changed behind the bed. She is helpful when the bed needs to be made. She is helpful for anything that involves the bed.

She just looked so cute when I threw the fall quilt off the wall, and it covered most of her since she was lying on the bed.

She is my helper girl even if it means being on a leash tied off in the barn while I do chores. She waits so patiently......and quietly. That is fantastic since my cocker spaniel would have barked her head off and lunged to get free to roam in the barn. Libby and Scooter would like to be free to roam in the barn, too, but they both wait patiently for me to do chores. Maybe they wait because we go for a walk when I am done, but do they really know that? Oh,.......if I only knew what they were thinking.

A Lady and Polka Dots

2009-03-27T13:20:00.015-05:00

Some people have commented about how much work there is involved with calving. Well, it shouldn't be as much work as it is, but due to all kinds of problems which won't happen again, we ended up with all this work. We wouldn't normally have put the cows and their calves in the barn. BUT......the calves were born much tooooo early, and we need to ship the rest of our small herd. Now, what is left outside needs to be shipped except for one cow who did not get bred this time. So........as soon as the boys and two cows that never did settle are shipped, everybody can go outside. I say, "The sooner, the better." There should only be one more calf, and we have that heifer in the barn already.

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This is today's calf. Isn't she quiet a lady. Now there are four girls out of eleven, two black and two red. Her mom is black and white. Doesn't she just look like a little girl?

The is One Dot. Mom is 1/2 Holstein, 1/2 Hereford. Dad is black with white belt.

This is Two Dot, yesterday's calf. Mom is black. Dad is black with white belt.

This is Hoppy. Mom is 1/2 Holstein, 1/2 Hereford. Dad is black with white belt.
He is the one without a tail. I think he could live in a place where he was alone or with one other cow. He wouldn't do well where he had to compete for food.

The One that Got Away

2009-03-26T14:07:00.002-05:00

As the dogs and I were going down the driveway this morning, we could hear a cow bellering. That was a familiar sound. To me it meant that her calf was somewhere she couldn't go. Well, I was right. Her calf was in the grass between the road and at the pasture. We got it back in. Of course, it was a bull calf, black with white face. When we returned from our walk, I put the calf back in the pasture for the second time. I "helped" him get almost up to the barn where I could make him a captive. We went through a second fence and were free of him mom. By the time that I had him almost up to the barn, she had gone around the fences and came storming up to us. Well, that was the end of me steering him to the barn. He got away. Jake will have to help with this one. I think he was born yesterday evening after dark because he was totally dry this morning and feisty as hell.

I think these sheep people should be impressed with my array of calf spots. How about the two spots on this guy's forehead. Isn't that a hoot? This bull sure throws a bunch of spots. Guess I could take some pictures and just do one post on spots.

I did, however, manage to accomplish something today. I happened to be looking out the kitchen window and see a heifer who is due to calf soon moving up to the lean to get a drink. I managed to get out there, chase another steer out of the barn, and shut a gate that will keep her in the barn. At least that calf will not have to be chased!!!!

I'm an Old Cowhand..........

2009-03-25T10:43:00.003-05:00

Notice that I didn't say that I'm a cowboy. This morning's calf is a heifer!!!!! She is red with just a white face. When I went out to check, there she was. As the only cowhand here, I managed to get her up to the lean with mom following and complaining. She is still wet and probably was less than an hour old when I found her. As you can see, mom and baby are tired and resting. Mom is close enough to keep licking. Baby is quite strong, she walked all the way up to the barn with me pushing from behind. (Sure glad I took a shower this morning before I went outside.)

Hopalong Cassidy is doing much better than I thought he would. He was the one born without a tail. The defect included his spine in some way because he is unsteady when he stands up and can't move his back legs independently. He hops. BUT.....can he motor. He does wind sprints up and down in the pen. You wouldn't know he was imperfect because, when running fast, those back legs act in unison. The problem will be what to do with him because he won't fare well in a large group of cows.

Tally: 6 and 3 at least 2 more expected

Same old, same old

2009-03-22T12:20:00.004-05:00

Presenting number eight. He is a real flashy little guy. Born yesterday to Poppy one of the original cows we brought up to this farm. She is a real good mom, and they are both doing fine. Count: 6 boys and two girls. That doesn't bode well for my lamb crop.

Hand is doing well. I took off the bandage/splint this noon. It is covered with the ace wrap and my old wrist brace from the drug store just to protect it. Minimal pain.

Main man is making a new place for my ewes in the front of the garage. Will document with pictures when it is finished. It was his idea and has something to do with having no room for the ewes in the barn for shearing. No room because the cows and calves are continuing to increase.