Minnie Me

I think her name will be Minnie Me.    She is a carbon copy of her mom, hence mini me, with a new spelling to honor my maternal grandmother, the farm wife, Minnie Lauer.   I can't get enough of watching the two of them together.   Cleo is the most possessive of the three moms so far, and Minnie is on her like glue.   Of course, today, Minnie is more adventuresome, and Cleo is a little more lenient.  I guess my  excess interest in these lambs is tied to the fact that I haven't had lambs in some years, and the fact that only four of them were bred.

 I am not getting much done these days.   Oh, well, it is cold and rainy today and too wet to plant my few remaining plants.    The way it is going, I am beginning to wonder if we will still get another temperature below freezing.

Cleo's time has come.

Here is Cleo's shaela gulmoget ewe lamb.   She was born this noon.   Unfortunately her twin brother was stillborn.    I am more than thrilled with her.   Cleo feels the same.   Sorry her eye is closed.   I guess she is camera shy.    It won't be long if things continue along  -- that she will join the three other little girls in the pasture.

The other three are growing and racing around with many fancy leaping maneuvers included in the routine.   Two out of three of them are very friendly  --- bordering on pesky.    But........I love them that way.    Cleo's little one is unnamed, but I am working on keeping her friendly and easily handled.

Becky's girls must be very strong --- they reproduced themselves very well.    They gave me two beautiful lambs.

Meet Juni B

Well, Darla did a great job, too.    This is Juni B, her single ewe lamb from this morning.   She is good sized being a single -  weighs about 8 pounds.     My weighing mechanism is not "state of the art".   Beth, my friend who is visiting, helped, and between the two of us, the weight may be a bit inaccurate.    But Juni B is a might bigger than Toonces from Pia.    Juni B is the spittin image of her mother and super friendly just like her mom.

Thanks, Becky, for selling Darla to me.    She is a real precious ewe, and now she has a daughter at my house.  I am so happy to have a healthy ewe lamb delivered with no help from me.

Finally..........

Finally we have lambs at High Ridge.   Pia  had a set of ewe lambs yesterday.   They are a pound and a half different in weight, but both seem to be doing fine.    She did great for a new mother, since the whole thing was a total surprise to me.   Pia was my lamb who broke her leg when she was just months old.    Their dad is Bailey's, who Bubba resembles in color except for the stray white hairs on her head.   They are named Toonces and Bubba,  after our two cats that we had for nearly 20 years. 

 Darla is showing signs this morning of pre-labor, so maybe these two will have some playmates soon.

Bare Naked Ladies

There they are  --   my own version of Bare Naked Ladies, and I couldn't be happier.  They became bare naked yesterday, and everyone survived the whole situation.   AND.........everyone even got moved into their respective outside pens.    Four ladies and two gentlemen had been inside since breeding in December and January.    I decided to just leave them inside until after shearing, and it worked out OK.

This afternoon I had such a wonderful time.    The girls are allowed to go into the garage into a pen.   I opened up the pen to the other side of the garage where I set up my skirting table.    I had gates over the opening of the garage so there was lots of light.   The girls wandered around while I worked.    The four girls from the barn spent most of the time with me.     Becky's Darla was on me like three coats of paint.    Pia from Nancy was next.   What a peaceful restful afternoon, and we get to order a pizza for supper.    What more could I ask for?

And...yes;, that is my Christmas tree they are snacking on.   The tree seems as fresh as the day we bought it.     What are they doing to the trees these days?    I remember bare naked trees being taken out of the house after Christmas.    Different.

Finally here are the three entertainers.  Jake has his regular recliner back, and the kids think that they can sit there, too.  Jake is back at work since Valentine's Day,  one month at light duty, and two days, so far, of regular work.   It has been difficult for him since he is still in considerable pain. 

AND, the weather here is beyond belief.   You sweat if you work outside.    It seems we don't do anything in moderation here in Wisconsin..............only extremes!

Kitty Kamo

This is our version of "Caturday" one day early.    (I don't know how to spell our kitty's name.  ((update)) It is Kitsci)   It means 'little' in Hungarian.    Anyhow..........I had some old fleeces that had not been washed and were several years old.    I decided that the outside kitties could sleep warmly on the former back porch room that is now enclosed with plastic and used for storage of outside dog furniture.   I found this kitty on this chair just lying on a folded towel.   I decided to add a fleece and see if she would sleep in it.    She did, and she promptly disappeared because she matched the color of the fleece.    I am sure she was warmer that way because it has been her bed for several nights now.   We call it Kitty Kamo.

First Baby of 2012

It's a girl and her name is Sadie.    She wasn't planned, but here she is.    We knew she was coming and had her mom in the barn with another late baby and her mom.   She was up and nursing by the time I got into the barn this morning.     Happy me!  She got the small calf jacket, but she is bigger than I thought she was.    A regular black calf jacket will be replacing this red one soon.  

We are enjoying a week with Jake's mom and sister.    They came up to deliver a Staffordshire to Minneapolis for breeding.    They took the bitch up there yesterday, and we have the rest of the week to just do our thing.    It is great to have them to talk to for an extended period of time.    We only see them at holidays and special events.    The little school house has three dogs and two people filling it up this week.   It is serving it purpose quite well.   They also came and ran the farm and the "kennel" while we were at the hospital for the knees.    We really did not get to spend much time with them then.   This is a special time since Jake is not home like this normally.   It was nice that Sadie arrived this week.

I hope that Sadie's arrival is the first of many uneventful calf and lamb births at High Ridge this year.

New Year and Other Things

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

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.

          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

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

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

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.     

 T

 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!!!

 

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! 

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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

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!!!

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

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?

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

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

 

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.