MONKEY TAG....

I'm 56 years old and today I learned how to play "Monkey Tag"
No, it's not a video game. Although, that IS what I found my oldest (Josh) and youngest (Nick) Grandsons doing when I went into town to spend some time with them this morning.

After running to the door to greet me with hugs and kisses,

they ran right back into Josh's bedroom to resume their game. Middle brother, Matt, was in the family room, watching T.V.

The boys were less than enthusiastic thrilled when I suggested we go outside for a walk. I suggested they could show me their favorite places in the neighborhood and they assured me that we were already IN their favorite place in the neighborhood!

Smart kids.
Take after their Grandma.
After a sprited board game, we finally ventured outside and Josh and Nick decided to ride their bikes, while Matt prepared to roller blade ~

We were going to the park!

Nick, was particularly thrilled at the prospect.
I borrowed my daughter's bike and we were off.

Of course, I made sure the boys were safely attired for the trip...
I even insisted that Josh wear his LIFE JACKET ~ one never knows when one might encounter a deep puddle on the way to the park! (Josh is SUCH a good sport!) Don't worry ~ Josh knows his Grandma is a kidder and he took it off before we actually left for the park...

We had a BLAST!!!

The boys taught me how to play "Monkey Tag".
The person who's "It" has to close their eyes tightly ~ and keep them closed the whole time. They count to 15 and then have to find the other players, somewhere on the playground equipment ~ without ever opening their eyes!

Let me tell you, it's scary keeping your eyes closed as you feel your way around on that equipment! Every once in a while, the "It" person (Monkey???) yells "LAND". If anyone is touching the ground (running from one piece of the equipment to another), they are caught ~ and therefor, "It". I got caught twice by being on the ground ~ running from the slide to the steps or the ladder to the tunnel.

I can't remember the last time that I had so much fun. (Probably Italy with La Mia Bella Bambina!)

I'm going back next Friday and we're going to play AGAIN!!!

Thank you Josh and Matt and Nick for a GREAT morning!

Storm Clouds Brewing...

This morning it feels like one could almost pick the weather they want!

The sun is shining and the sky is blue...

There's also an area of party cloudy sky...

Then there are the dark, forboding clouds that promise rain...

The sheep are grazing before the rains come.

Have a Happy Day!

Of Scurs and Skirmishes...

As I suspected, ZARIA's beautiful ram lamb is half polled. He was developing a "snail scur" (a small scur that curls around ~ following the shape of the scull and threatens to grow into the eye) on his right side. It was just about time that I was going to have to trim it to keep it from growing into his eye!

Then I got the bright idea of putting the two remaining ram lambs in with Hunter. I was actually hoping that Eureka would knock off the threatening scur. And he did! By the next morning. The scur was knocked loose and standing up on his head. It was actually, just hanging on by a flap of skin and I knew it would be completely off before the day was done.

Sure enough, the offending scur fell off and imminent threat was avoided! This s how small the scur was:

HUNTER was quite happy to have new companions! He was missing Bling something terrible and begging for attention ever since Bling left on Friday. I think the two bawling baby boys were a bit overwhelming for him. But they soon settled into a nice little bachelor group.

This photo shows a good example of the color Shaela (Eureka, the lamb in the back) compared to black (Zorro, the lamb in the front of the photo)

Unfortunately, Hunter (Kimberwood Hunter ~ sire to all my 2009 lambs) was feeling a bit 'full of himself' in his new role as "Lord of the Lambs" and apparently thought he had to show the new boys how tough he was. He decided to butt ME!

NOT a good plan, my beautiful, Golden Boy!!

I grabbed one handful of his beautiful, mioget wool and one horn and we did a dance around that paddock ~ grunting and groaning like a couple of drunken sailors, duking it out. Sorry folks, no pictures ~ I had all I could do to hang on and keep BREATHING!!

I finally managed to roll the big (by this time very frightened) galoot onto his back and straddled him. I slapped him up and yelled at him and sat on him until he seemed duly contrite.

It must have worked because once I released Hunter, the three boys went back into the barn and Hunter laid in the corner like a bad boy doing his penance!

Poor baby.

Don't worry. Hunter didn't hurt me when he butted me. It wasn't like a wild charge trying to take out a mortal enemy. More of a shove to show me (and the two ram lambs) who was boss.
I guess I settled that issue!
For today...

;-)

NEVER take your eyes off an intact ram!!!

DAZZLE says...

"You better stay away from those boys and just come sit with US, Mom!!"

Good idea, my beautiful Dazzle ~ I'm on my way!

Lonely Boys...

I put Ann Margaret in with the other hens. So now, Annie, Oprah (Buff Orp), Goldilocks (Buff Orp) and Elvira & Star (Easter Eggers) are all living together in the chicken coop.

POOR BRUCE SPRINGSTEIN!!!

He was most defintely missing his mate!



After two days of Bruce pacing back and forth outside of the chicken coop, I finally put him and Luca in with the hens.

Even though, Luca didn't seem to mind just "baching it" with his Dad!


All are now happily living in the coop.
There is a ladder (that I MADE!) that goes up to the open window so that they can go outside but, thus far, nobody has seen fit to venture out. Of course, I do shut the window at night...

Out of the Blue...

I got a phone call on Saturday. It was a local farmer (whom I've never met) saying that he just picked up a gorgeous crop of second cut grass/alfalfa hay out of his field and that he heard I might be looking for some. He brought over a sample bale and asked me what I thought a fair price would be. I said $3.00 a bale/delivered.

The hay was nice, so I said I'd take 200 bales. As it turned out, the farmer brought his (VERY handsome!) son along to help him unload the hay.

All I had to do was put down the pallets and the two men unloaded and stacked 168 bales! (I'll get the rest in a couple of weeks)

Mr. Farmer did suggest that perhaps I'd want to show my appreciation for all his and his son's hard work but throwing in a little extra cash for all their hard work. I really couldn't argue with that.

I pitched in an extra $40 and everyone was happy.

Especially my SHEEP! I put a woven wire fence panel up against the freshly stacked hay and let the girls into the barn. As you can see, the fence panel did NOT deter them. (poor, starving creatures that they are!)

FLASH DANCE and DREAM say...


"We just wanted to check it out to make sure that it's good and you were spending our your money wisely..."

They MADE IT!!!

My babies are all safe and sound in their new home in Maryland! I got an email from their new owner this morning saying that they arrived around 4 o'clock this morning and spent an hour eating and drinking. I am SO relieved to know that they are there and safe.

In the meantime, back in the Bluff Country...

My other girls are doing their best to fill the void in my heart left by saying good-bye to 15 of my best friends.



I have to admit ~ they're pretty good 'medicine'!

DAZZLE

FLASH DANCE

DREAM says...

"Don't worry, we've got everything under control..."